2026 VA/DC Player of the Year Watchlist: 20 Picks to Click

March 16, 2026
Staff
Prep Baseball Virginia/DC

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Our staff has compiled a Preseason Player of the Year watch list that is made up of twenty high impact players from across the state. These are players that have the ability to impact the game in multiple facets. More importantly, these are players who if removed from their team, their team would look significantly different because of the level of importance they bring to that roster. Most of these players are either positional or two-way players, while there are a few pitcher only's that are the heart and soul of that team/pitching staff. Although there is a good chance that the Prep Baseball Player of the Year comes from this list, potential candidates are not limited to the twenty inside of this list.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCHLIST

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Barrett Bucholz	2026	OF	Atlee
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. From the top of the lineup, Bucholz changes the way this Atlee team plays the game. When he gets on and when he is producing offensively, they are hard to beat. When a team can keep him offf base, this Raiders team becomes a whole lot easier to manage. Bucholz hit .544 last season from the top of the order and scored 30 runs in a program that is not dead set on an explosive, big inning type of offense. In addition to his offensive production, he is a vocal leader. If he can have a similar year for the Raiders, I would expect this team to be back on the path to a state title run.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Logan Clark	2026	RHP/OF	Halifax County
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Clark has the most electric stuff in the state. He has the type of stuff that when you show up and he is on the mound, you just hope that he isn't dialed in. The NC State commit consistently gets into the mid 90's with the fastball and can land multiple secondary pitches. In addition to his ability to take over a game on the mound at times, Clark hit .400 last season with 8 homeruns and 33 RBI. His future is definitely on the mound, but he can change the numbers on a scoreboard in a hurry. His two-way impact on the game made him a no doubter for this Player of the Year list.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Casey Cuddyer	2026	IF	Great Bridge
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. For the Great Bridge offense and infield, Cuddyer is the guy. Without in that lineup, they look totally different. He gets on base, he steals bags, he drives guys in, and he tends to show up when it means the most. Last season the UNC commit hit .486, and while that may have been second best on the Great Bridge team, his 9 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homeruns, 26 RBI, 34 Runs, and 18 stolen bases. These were the reasons that he was Prep Baseball 1st Team All-State. He is the glue for this Wildcats team that has big aspirations in 2026.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Aaron Dierks	2026	RHP	West Springfield
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Similar to Clark, Dierks has the stuff to takeover a game. While he doesn't have the big offensive numbers like some of these other two-way candidates, his presence on this West Springfield is an absolute must if they want to challenge for a state title. The South Carolina commit has taken a big leap from last spring to the fall and while he was very good last spring, his velo jump could put him on a different tier. The Spartans will need a dominant season from Dierks if they want to be in the hunt for a state title, and we anticipate just that type of season for the right hander.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Aiden Gallagher	2026	RHP/C	Paul VI
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. While Gallagher and teammate Carter Perdue (East Carolina) could both be on this list, Gallagher's contributions behind the plate, at the plate, and on the mound bring an immense amount of value to this team. Gallagher is one of the best catch and throw guys in the state and he is an absolute menace on the mound. In additon to those two strong suits, he must also be a big piece of the offense if this PVI team wants to win a WCAC or VISAA title. He brings tremendous value every single day, not just when he pitches.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Michael Gambone	2026	LHP/1B	Centreville
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Arguably the most fierce competitor in this group. Gambone is must watch tv when he is on the mound. The App State commit has been a big game hunter since he was a freshman, throwing countless big games and giving the Wildcats a chance to win every night he is on the mound. Last season Gambone threw more than 40 innings and piled up more than 60 strikeouts, as well as helping his team on the offensive side with a batting average over .325. This Centreville team could be a sleeper in 2026, and Gambone will need to have a stellar season with Player of the Year type numbers if they want to make a run.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Lee Garris	2026	OF	Maury
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Probably the biggest stock riser in the entire state last year, Garris was lights out all year for Maury. The JMU commit hit .508 last year with 8 doubles, two triples, four homeruns, 19 RBI, and scored an insane 44 runs on the year. In addition to his 44 runs, he stole 34 bases and was almost an automatic double once he got on base. He is arguably the most aggressive baserunner in the state, at least from what our staff has seen. He is looking to get into scoring position from the first pitch after he reaches, and this year especially, he changes the way you have to navigate this lineup. Garris will not have quite as much protection around him this season and his ability to impact the game at the plate and on the bases will be pivotal if Maury wants to get back to the Class 5 State Tournament.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Colton Hicks	2026	1B/RHP	Independence
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Hicks is coming off of a season that saw him named as District Player of the Year. The Gardner-Webb commit hit .475 last season with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homeruns, 24 RBI, and only struck out 3 times all year. Hicks bolstered an OPS of 1.400 and reached base 55% of the time. While his contributions on the mound were not on the same level as his offensive success, with Indy losing staff ace Chase Obstgarten, we feel confident that that role, and it's importance, could increase. Hicks' value lies not only in his batting average and ability to reach base, but he is one of the few "impact" bats in this lineup and it is an Indy team that could use run production behind some of their hit tool type of hitters.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Tristan Lange	2026	RHP	North Cross
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. While every team has that one guy that is just huge for their team, Lange is a different level of important for this North Cross team. While the strength of schedule could use a bump at times, it basically does not matter who this team is playing, he is putting up foolish numbers on the mound. Lange punched out 123 hitters in 64 innings of work last season and eclipsed the 300 Strikeout total for his high school career. He is the straw that stirs the drink for North Cross, there is absolutely no denying that. In addition to his importance on the mound, Lange also hit .441 last season and scored 36 runs. Just from a sheer numbers and importance standpoint, Lange has to be the frontrunner for the Player of the Year award for 2026.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Teagan Leach	2027	1B/LHP	Battlefield
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Battlefield, because they are so talented and deep, was a tough team to really decide if in fact they had a real difference maker that changes the outlook of that team if they aren't there. We think Leach is that guy. His power, hit tool, ability to reach base, and steady production at the plate is very pivotal for this team. He has legitimate in game power that he pairs with the ability to consistently get to quality contact. While the Virginia Tech was not on the mound last spring, we believe that this is where his Player of the Year stock really increases, especially with the loss of Sam Michel, the former Battlefield staff ace. The Bobcats do have some quality arms, but Leach could take that 1A-1B role along with senior Josh Weppner and become a staff that has the depth to carry them to a state title. In limited action last year Leach hit .500, had 5 doubles, 2 homeruns, and drove in nearly 20 runs, while only striking out three times versus his 11 walks. In addition to all of that, the pitching that he will see in district play has taken a significant step back this year and he should feast even more at the plate.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Bryan Miller Jr.	2027	C/RHP	Woodgrove
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Since h

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Daniel Nienaber	2026	RHP	Glen Allen
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Nienaber stacked up nearly 50 innings last spring and had nearly a 13 K/7 strikeout ratio last spring, making it one of the more impressive strikeout rates in the state. In addition to that, he always managed to have the ball in the biggest games. The Mississippi State commit pitched 11 innings in two starts versus Henrico foe, Mills Godwin. In those two starts he allowed only 2 runs, 5 hits, and struck out 20 versus one of the better teams in the state. Similar to Dierks, if you remove Nienaber from this team, they are completely different team. When this overpowering right hander is on, he is a matchup nightmare for opposing hitters. He changes the game and changes this team, that is why he is a Player of the Year candidate.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Camden Spangler	2027	OF/RHP	Northside
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. In 2025, Spangler was named Co-Underclassman of the Year. His .516 batting average, 30 RBI, nearly 3:1 BB/K ratio, 16 stolen bases, 48 innings pitched, and sub 2.0 ERA are the reason he brought home those honors. While there are some other talented offensive pieces on the Northside team, if the Vikings want to get to a state title game, or make a deep run, he will need to be the guy to carry them. This is a Northside team that does not have a ton of quality depth on the mound, at least not to the level that Spangler is, so he is instrumental in their success. When he is not on the mound he can be seen in the outfield, but you can really use the Future Games alum just about anywhere on the field. He is a player, he impacts the game in a variety of ways, and he has the numbers to back that up. Will we see another huge year from the Northside junior?

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Tyler Ruhl	2026	RHP/IF	EC Glass
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Although no stats were submitted for postseason honors last year, Ruhl was certainly deserving of the recognition. The VMI commit had a heavy weight to carry last season for the Hilltoppers, throwing in every big game that he was available to throw, and racking up 53.2 innings pitched in 2025. Ruhl struck out 90 players and had a .913 ERA for EC Glass while leading them to five wins and two saves. In addition to his contributions on the mound, Ruhl hit .317 which was fifth on the team. He led the team in doubles, triples, homeruns, and RBI. Glass will once again have some missing pieces surrounding Ruhl and company, but his ability to take over a game on the mound is something that leads him into the Player of the Year discussion.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Matthew Swanson	2026	RHP	Walsingham Academy
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. In a year that saw the JMU arm on the shelf for a little bit, Swanson was still able to manage 36 innings of work and striking out 57, while only walking four hitters. The 6-foot-4 right hander is in the low 90's fairly regularly and can land two secondary pitches. His attacking demeanor and solid secondary mix make him one of the best arms in the state. While his most important role on this team is certainly as staff ace, but he has shown the ability to be an important contributor at the plate as well. The Trojans are certainly the odds on favorite for VISAA DIII, but if they want to be in contention for a Power 25 ranking during and at the end of the year, Swanson will have to have a big year for Walsingham.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Sam Szefc	2027	IF/RHP	Blacksburg
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. There were some huge losses from last year's Blacksburg team that went 16-4, but there is one major returner. His name is Sam Szefc. The dynamic, uncommitted two-way talent hit .452 last season with 8 doubles, two triples, one homerun, 27 runs scored, and those are only his offensive stats. Szefc also threw just south of 30 innings while striking out 48, and also going 6-0 with a 0.98 ERA. The one concern is the lack of protection in the lineup with the losses of guys like Brice Abbott and Reese Tysor, but with the variety of ways he impacts the game, as well as the impact he has on this roster, he is the most vital part of this Bruins team.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Landon Turman	2026	LHP	Abingdon
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Turman is the senior leader and steadying presence that this Falcons team will need if they want to get back to the Class 3 title game in 2026. The East Carolina commit threw 51 innings last year on his way to a Prep Baseball 1st Team All-State selection. During those 51 innings on the mound he struck out 91 hitters, threw 5 complete games, collected 8 wins, and had a 1.31 ERA for the season. Turman has seen time at the front of the hitting lineup and last year spent some time in the middle of the order, but regardless of where he is at in the lineup, he has shown the ability to have a big impact at times. This is a talented roster, but without Turman brings a track record of consistent dominance on the mound that they may otherwise lack at times.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Mark Van Tuyle	2026	RHP	Heritage (Leesburg)
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Van Tuyle spent a little time on the shelf last spring, but when he healthy and playing, it is hard to argue his production. In only three games last year he threw 19 innings, did not allow an earned run, and struck out 27 hitters. Because of the fact that it was such a low number of innings, he did not qualify for any post season honors, but hopefully with a fully healthy 2026, the George Mason commit is surely in the mix for Player of the Year consideration. As few of innings as he had last year, he had even fewer at bats, but Van Tuyle will almost certainly be a factor at the plate for the defending champion Pride. His two way production, value to the Heritage specifically, and his ability to consistently land one of the best sliders in the state make him a cannot miss player this season.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Kason Wagner	2026	RHP	Miller School
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Wagner was Prep Baseball 1st Team All-State last season after he threw just over 45 innings to a tune of a .618 ERA. While others may have gaudy strikeout numbers, Wagner put up that ERA and performed in a huge way versus the best teams they faced. They have the hardest strength of schedule in the entire state and maybe the region, and the Coastal Carolina commit handled it the way you would expect. Madison HS was one of the best teams in the state last season, he threw a no-hitter. He threw 4.2 IP versus Stoneman Douglas last season. During that outing he gave up only three hits and zero earned runs. For reference, Stoneman Douglas was the #1 team in the country last season. Wagner is the key to this pitching rotation, and has been for quite some time. If they want to get back to another state title, he will need to have another dominant season, something that has almost become second nature at this point.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Will Yow	2026	SS	St. Anne's Belfield
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. The biggest helium prospect in the state lies in Charlottesville at St. Anne's-Belfield. Will Yow changes the way that STAB plays the game. While last season was up and down due to some missed time, his breakout summer and fall lead us to believe he is primed for a big year. More importantly, he will have other pieces surrounding him that allow some protection in the lineup so he can produce the numbers that we anticipate. While there are other very important pieces on this team, we are not sure any are more vital to their success than Yow. His speed, athleticism, defensive ability at shortstop, and ability to change the scoreboard at the plate provide immense value. He is their shortstop, their leader up the middle, and when he goes, they go.