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VA/DC Ground Forces Scout Blog: Volume 4

March 27, 2026
Staff
Prep Baseball Virginia/DC


 
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The Prep Baseball Virginia/DC staff makes their way across the Commonwealth and DC throughout the spring to assist high school players in gathering evaluations, including video and some data, that allow our staff to assist in the potential recruitment of student-athletes.

With the staggering start of private and public schools, we have a deeper collection of notes and video on players in this first edition of the Ground Forces Scout Blog.

*Schools and player names are in alphabetical order.*

*If a player does not have a profile, we will not feature them in the story. Create a FREE PROFILE* 

Alexandria City

Jason Kruczek RHP / OF / Alexandria City, VA / 2026

A dominant outing for Kruczek, the East Carolina commit. He worked 4.1 innings for Alexandria City, not allowing a run or walk, striking out nine, and only allowing two weak singles. Kruczek works from a shorter arm action and primarily mixes between a hard fastball and a sweeping slider. Kruczek’s velocity with the fastball was consistent throughout the entire outing, maintaining 91-93 and topping 94 once. It played with life in the zone, working to both halves and working well at the top of the zone. His slider got plenty of whiffs and landed in the zone multiple times. The slider was 84-85, and Kruzcek could throw it in any count. Also flashed a curveball in the low 80s. 

 

 

Connor Pollock SS / Alexandria City, VA / 2027

Pollock came in relief for the 7th after manning shortstop for the other six innings of the contest. Pollock used the fastball early and often, working between 84-86 and topping 87. He struck out his first batter with three straight well-placed fastballs. His other two outs also came via the punchout, while pitching around limited traffic. Pollock showed a slider from 72-74, but mostly stuck with the fastball. He tallied seven whiffs in his 1IP. From the leadoff spot, Pollock reached base three times. He drove a single into center field in the 3rd, later scoring after stealing both 2nd and 3rd.

 

 

Bishop O'Connell

Shota Fogus RHP / OF / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2026

Fogus had a big performance in this game, making a ton of big pitches in big moments and rising to the moment consistently. He also did a good job of controlling his emotions and staying in the moment; the umpiring was a bit rough, and he never let a missed call impact his next pitch. Fogus threw the last four innings, allowing just 1 run while striking out 8. Showed a three-pitch mix with his fastball working 87-88 and touching 90. He showed the ability to dot the low and outside spot consistently and attacked the strike zone with it. The curveball had good arm speed and sharp break at 72. The changeup was outstanding, with great arm speed and a lot of two-plane life to it at 76-79. 

 

 

Lucas Grubb OF / RHP / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2027

Grubb hits from an open stance and has a lankier, athletic frame. Had two hits in the game; the first was a smashed double up the left-center alley, and the second was the game-winning hit down the left field line. He showed some barrel feel and a pull approach, with no issue getting the barrel around on velocity.

 

 

Bryant James SS / Bishop Denis J. Oconnell High School, VA / 2026

His speed on the bases is a weapon. He drew a walk to leadoff the game, promptly stole second, and aggressively took third when the throw skittered away into the outfield, allowing him to score on a groundout. In his final at-bat, he absolutely punished an 0-2 pitch that was too close to the zone and ripped a line drive over short that went up the alley for a double.

 

 

Drew Markey RHP / RHP / Bishop Denis J. Oconnell High School, VA / 2026

Markey throws from a very low three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action. Sinker/slider guy who relies on changing speeds and keeping hitters off-balance to create soft contact. The fastball was 79-81 with sink. Slider was right at 70 with a 10/4 break to it. The changeup really was a strong pitch the second trip through the order, with good arm speed and heavy sinking fade to it.

 

 

Chaz Walker OF / 1B / bishop o'connnell, VA / 2026

Physical athletic frame. Moves well in center field and gets good breaks despite his size; he is a pretty good defender and ran down some balls that were impressive to get to in the game. At the plate, he impacts the baseball with authority consistently. He is strong at contact and showed barrel feel even against different looks all game. He has easy doubles or more power to all fields.

 

 

Jack Woda C / OF / Bishop Denis J. Oconnell High School, VA / 2026

Strong physical athletic frame. Hammered two balls during the game and took consistent good at-bats. He showed feel for the barrel and his power. The first hit was a double that was just a smoked low line drive that went over the center fielder's head. The power on the hit was impressive because he had to go out and really get the ball to make contact. His second hit was a bread-and-butter pitch middle-in that he smashed into left field.

 

 

Brookville

John-Parker Newman RHP / 2B / Brookville High, VA / 2027

Had an impactful day at the plate going 2-3 with a single, an RBI triple, and a walk. Athletic corner infielder, level barrel path with some speed in the swing. Gets out of the box well.

 

 

Chantilly

Tanner Garey RHP / OF / Chantilly High, VA / 2026

The Richard Bland commit had one of the better swings on the day for the Chargers, sitting back on a curveball below the zone and roping an RBI single into left field. Garey also worked a competitive at bat in the fourth before grounding out.

 

 

Fairfax

Memphis German RHP / 3B / Fairfax High, VA / 2027

German mixed his pitches well in 3.2 IP for the Lions. He showed two fastball shapes, a four-seamer that was up to 84 and a sinker from 79-80. He used a slider and changeup in any count, both showing in the mid-seventies. German limited hard contact, only allowing two hits and one earned run. While he did struggle getting deep into counts, he did finish with six strikeouts.

 

 

Kyle Parker SS / 2B / Fairfax High, VA / 2029

It was an impressive showing from the freshman. Parker hit leadoff for the Lions against a high-velocity arm and did not back down. Parker had one of the Lions’ three hits in the ballgame, a hard hit single into right field in the 6th. He would later come around to score.

 

 

Highland

Jack Arft C / 1B / Highland School, VA / 2028

Arft is another physical presence with a strong, athletic, taller frame. He did a good job working behind the plate, receiving. He worked hard to stay low in his crouch and present a good strike, and when the dugout got chippy on some calls, he did a good job of how he carried himself. At the plate, he has power to all fields and strength at contact. His home run was an elevated outer-third fastball, and he just went with it and hit a 320-foot line drive to right. Later in the game, he turned on the ball and two-hopped the left field fence in the corner.

 

 

Liam Bunner RHP / Highland School, VA / 2026

It is a athletic frame with a longer arm action. Throws from a tick above true three-quarters on his slot. The fastball was 86-88, touching 89 a few times; the pitch gets a bit of armside run when down and rides a bit at the top of the zone. Curveball was 73-76 with good arm speed and has an old-school, overhand curveball shape; it gets an 11/5 tilt because of his slot, but it is a true curveball.

 

 

Antonio Burke 3B / RHP / Highland School, VA / 2028

Burke has a taller, lankier, athletic frame that has projection left to it. Arm slot is low three-quarters; he is short and clean on the backside and gets extension through release. He creates a bit of deception with higher, closed-off shoulders. Fastball was 88-90, hitting 92 once. Threw a very fastball heavy mix, just two breaking balls at 74 in about 3 innings. The fastball rides some and really plays up at the top of the zone.

 

 

Jake Gunning 1B / OF / Highland School, VA / 2026

It is a physical presence at the plate, has a ton of raw power, and gets to it easily. He has a pretty good feel for the strike zone and a patient approach. Only had the one hit in the game, a solid line drive single to left field.

 

 

Ryan Gaines RHP / OF / Highland School, VA / 2028

Gaines has an athletic pitcher's frame with room to add strength. A low three-quarters arm slot with a short, quick, easy arm action. The fastball was 88-90, mostly just sitting at 90 during his inning plus of relief. It is a true slider with good arm action and a late, tight 10/4 break to it, showing the ability to change speed/shape. It ran 75-79 in the outing, getting a bigger break at the lower end.

 

 

Highland Springs

Alston Archer C / OF / Highland Springs High, VA / 2026

Archer continued to showcase the hit tool, as he was on the barrel all night. To jumpstart the offense late in the game, he sent an outside pitch into right field. As the ball rolled all the way into the deep corner down the line, he was able to make his way around for an inside-the-park home run. On defense, Archer finds himself in a new position this year, playing shortstop rather than catcher. In the last inning he made two incredible defensive plays, showcasing some range. One being a backhand play in the hole and the other being a slow roller that had everyone tipping their caps.

 

 

Elijah Archer OF / 1B / Highland Springs High, VA / 2028

One of the best hitters in the state, regardless of graduation year. He showcases hit and power tools that impact the game. The hand and bat speed through the zone is elite, resulting in loud contact consistently. He did not get many pitches to hit in the game, collecting two walks and a hit by pitch. One of the hittable pitches thrown to him was turned around for a double off of the wall in right field that came off the bat with high exit velocity. Archer was also able to pick up two stolen bases and three runs scored in the win.

 

 

Lakeland

Cash Harrington RHP / 3B / Lakeland, VA / 2026

Hit a no-doubt home run to LCF, showcasing some gap-to-gap juice. Multiple quality at-bats during the game. He was 87-89 on the mound from a loose arm action. He collected seven strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work. 

 

 

Maggie Walker

Lewis Dunn C / 1B / Maggie L. Walker Gov. Sch., VA / 2027

Physical catcher with bat-to-ball skills and impact to the gaps that has proven to hit all year round. At the plate, he has a balanced stance with a heavy barrel through the zone. Dunn’s strong start to the season continued in this one as he picked up multiple barrels, one being a double in the gap and the other being a single off of the umpire. Behind the plate he was making accurate throws on the base all night.

 

 

Marshall

Jonah Maco RHP / 3B / MARSHALL HIGH, VA / 2026

Maco was a major contributor for the Statesmen offense, barreling two singles. After working a walk in the first, Maco struck in the second with a two-strike RBI single into left field. In the fourth, Maco lined another one hard into left field for his second knock. Overall, a great day of at bats for Maco. 

 

 

Luke Torres 3B / OF / Marshall High, VA / 2028

Torres has constantly impressed in front of our staff. An East Coast Super Sophomore and Junior Future Games alum, Torres has always put his strong bat-to-ball skills on display. Thursday was no different, with two hard hit balls to the pull side. Leading off the contest, Torres kept his hands inside and rocketed a single into left field. In the third, Torres hit one hard into the left center field gap, but it was tracked down. Torres has also shown his defensive versatility, starting in center field on Thursday when he’s also manned third base in the past. Torres showed big strides at the NOVA Preseason All-State this winter, and he is primed for a big sophomore campaign.

 

 

Nansemond River

Jackson Martin C / 3B / Nansemond River High, VA / 2026

It is a physically strong frame. Was 2-4 on the day with 2 RBI’s. He jumped on a fastball for a line drive through the left side. He displayed strong defense and threw out a runner at second in the later innings. 

 

 

Ian Wilcox RHP / 2B / Nansemond River High, VA / 2026

He was strong in his outing, going six innings, only giving up four hits and one run. The fastball induced a lot of weak contact. He had a strong feel for the slider in any count.