2026 VA/DC High School Breakout Season

March 17, 2026
Staff
Prep Baseball Virginia/DC

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From year to year the expectation changes as rosters evolve. More weight is placed on certain parts of a team and the individuals inside the ever-changing high school roster. In addition to all of the internal changes that happen in a high school program, players develop at different rates. This list below is a list of players that our staff believes have the capability and are in position to have big breakout seasons. Some have taken major personal jumps, some have larger roles than they have in the past, and some are coming off of injuries. Regardless of the reasoning, we feel as though these ten players are in prime position for a potential big year in 2026.

BREAKOUT SEASON CANDIDATES

*Players are listed in alphabetical order.*

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Waylon Ammons	2027	IF	St. Anne's Belfield
+ Click here for notes & video on the Breakout Season candidate. Ammons was a regular in the lineup as a sophomore and showed flashes of being the next up at St. Anne’s Belfield in an already talented lineup. Offensively, he has taken some tremendous strides throughout the summer, working into the fall, working his way into an impact bat. Ammons is physical at 6-foot-1,189-pounds and looks to lift the baseball to the pull side with legit power potential. With playing in a hitter friendly park, he has a chance to break out with some eye opening power numbers this spring.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Jacob Babcock	2027	IF	Mills Godwin
+ Click here for notes & video on the Breakout Season candidate. It was a slow start to the spring, but it picked up on the back end of the year, and that carried into the summer. The ability to impact the baseball picked up at a tremendous rate, which could help this Godwin team with run production. He brings a combination of hit tool and power that could blend in with the athleticism at the top of the order. There are some veterans returning to the lineup that give Babcock some protection around him that could allow a breakout in a big way for the Eagles.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Hank Brown	2026	IF	Cox
+ Click here for notes & video on the Breakout Season candidate. Brown was a regular in a talented lineup last spring, but with a lot of those players moving on from graduation, he has a chance to be a run producer in the heart of the order. He brings physicality from the left side that can also hit for average for the Falcons. What he does offensively will be important for their run production. He could also be just as important on the mound. They lost some innings on the mound, and he could step into a bigger role and be a high end two-way player for this team. If he can impact the game on both sides, then he can easily break out in his senior season.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Griffin Bryant	2027	RHP	Liberty Christian
+ Click here for notes & video on the Breakout Season candidate. The Bulldogs seem to be an arm factory year after year as they reload with talent on the mound, and Griffin Bryant looks to be next in line. Bryant threw quality innings as a sophomore in some important games and looks to build on that. With losing their frontline arm to graduation, Bryant is a prime candidate that returns with that experience to take that frontline arm role. He has the pitch ability and the confidence to take the reins of this pitching staff and help this team go on a run this spring.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Charlie Harrington	2027	RHP	Goochland
+ Click here for notes & video on the Breakout Season candidate. Harrington has been a regular contributor on the varsity level since his freshman year, but he has made some strides over the last few months that could help him and his team break out in a big way this spring. He has always had the ability to attack the strike zone with multiple pitches for strikes, but the stuff has made an increase that helps the ability to miss bats in and out of the zone. With some veteran pieces in this lineup, he could have some run support that could lead to more wins with quality outings on the mound. If he can continue the trajectory he is on that he showed in the fall, then he is an easy breakout candidate for the spring.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Thomas Knight	2027	1B/LHP	Turner Ashby
+ Click here for notes & video on the Breakout Season candidate. Knight has been a steady presence for Turner Ashby, but with returning for his junior season he could be the true difference maker to get the Knights over the top this spring. He has shown two-way ability, and that could be a huge asset down the road. He provides an impact bat from the left side that could help generate runs for this offense. He also gives this staff a left-handed arm that has had some experience on the mound. If he can take it to the next level and change the game on both sides, then it will be the difference maker for this team.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Hudson Large	2028	IF/RHP	Abingdon
+ Click here for notes & video on the Breakout Season candidate. Abingdon reloads with talent every year, and Large is one of the upcoming talents from out west. He got some time on the varsity level as a freshman, mostly on the mound, but this spring he could add more impact to this team with what he brings offensively. The Falcons have had success with two-way talents being impactful, and Large could find himself in a similar role this spring. He brings a competitive edge on the mound and has shown the ability to impact the baseball at the plate. With a hole needing to be filled up the middle, large could make a statement in a big way.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Brady McCormack	2027	RHP	Monacan
+ Click here for notes & video on the Breakout Season candidate. McCormack took a huge jump this summer, showing the signs of being a premier arm, and has the chance to show that this spring. Monacan loses their frontline arm, and the spot is up for the taking for McCormack to slide into that role. He has the physical build and the stuff that oozes the potential of a premier arm in the state. Staying healthy and keeping the foot on the gas pedal in his development will be key for the future Rebel. The opportunity is in the forefront for McCormack to take and run with.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Blake Mingo	2027	IF	Briar Woods
+ Click here for notes & video on the Breakout Season candidate. Briar Woods has had talent in the dirt for the last few years and Mingo is the next in line to take over in a bigger role up the middle. He has shown the ability to be an infielder that can impact the baseball, and that will be needed for this team this spring. This fall he has shown tremendous strides on the offensive side that could push him into an impact bat in the heart of the lineup that can manufacture runs for the pitching staff. If he can ease himself into that role with some of the pieces that they lost, then with his ability, it could lead to a breakout year.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Grayson Morris	2027	IF	Monacan
+ Click here for notes & video on the Breakout Season candidate. Morris burst onto the scene as a sophomore for Monacan, showing some offensive upside. With Monacan graduating some offensive pieces, his production in the middle of the order will be heavily relied on. The bat is more of a hit tool type of bat but has flashed some power production to go with the strong 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. The ability to impact the baseball on a consistent basis will be important to the production as well as what he can do on the mound.