The VMI baseball coaching staff announced its 2020-21 recruiting class Aug. 12 with 15 freshmen and one transfer out of 16 newcomers.
“It is with great excitement that we welcome our 2020 recruiting class to post,” said Jonathan Hadra ’04, head coach, entering his seventh year as head mentor of the program. “The class consists of 11 position players and five pitchers. Our staff worked hard to try to identify our short term needs as well as predicting what our future roster needs may be moving forward. We feel that this recruiting class meets both our immediate needs as well as our future ones.
“Character plays such a huge part of the recruiting process, and we feel that this class consists of cadet athletes that enjoy the work, are competitive individuals and have the necessary internal drive that it takes to be a successful collegiate athlete. There are players in this class [who] will compete for playing time early in their careers and also players [who] we are excited to see what their long-term development will look like as young men and players.
“It has been five long months since baseball was played at Gray-Minor Stadium, and I am beyond excited to see this class, as well as our returning guys, out there playing, competing and moving our baseball program forward.”
Griffin Agee
Position: LHP
School: Jefferson Forest/ UVa
Travel Team: Canes National
Hometown: Goode, Virginia
Height/Weight: 6’5 230
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 1 Player in Virginia in 2019
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 1 LHP in Virginia in 2019
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 5 Overall Player in Virginia in 2019
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 1 LHP in Virginia in 2019
Intended Major: Psychology
Before VMI: Four-year letterman at Jefferson Forest under Ryan Gilleland … three-time All District, two Time 1st Team All Region, 2nd Team All State (2019), Honorable Mention All-State (2018) … Pitched a perfect game for Jefferson Forest in 2019 … was ranked the No. 349 prospect nationally in the 2019 recruiting class according to Perfect Game … Perfect Game Preseason 1st Team All American.
Jed Barrett
Position: INF
School: Osbourn Park High School
Travel Team: Stars
Hometown: Manassas, Virginia
Height/Weight: 5’11 165
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 134 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 30 SS in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: NR
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: NR
Intended Major: Economics and Business
Before VMI: Three-year letterman for Coach Jack Ferrick at Osbourn Park High School … 2x 2nd Team All-Conference … Honor Roll student for four years … 2019 batting average of .333, .514 on base percentage, six extra base hits, 16 base on balls, 23 stolen bases.
Nic Besecker
Position: RHP
School: New Castle High School
Hometown: New Castle, Indiana
Height/Weight: 5’11 165
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 57 Player in Indiana
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 22 RHP in Indiana
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: NR
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: NR
Intended Major: Economics and Business
Before VMI: A three-year letterman for Brad Pearson at New Castle High School in Baseball … also a three-year letterman in football as a quarterback … was 1st Team All County, as well as Top 3 in the Hoosier Heritage Conference in ERA, wins, and strikeouts.
Brett Cook
Position: INF
School: Benedictine/IMG Academy
Travel Team: Virginia Cardinals
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
Height/Weight: 5’8 190
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 31 Player in Virginia in 2019
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 1 2B in Virginia in 2019
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 14 Player in Virginia in 2019
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 4 MIF in Virginia in 2019
Intended Major: Psychology
Before VMI: A two-year letterman under Sean Ryan at Benedictine, as well as a two-year letterman at IMG Academy under Chris Sabo and Kason Gabbard … Benedictine single season stolen base record (42-44), as well as tied single season Homerun Record (8) … graduated magna cum laude … 1st Team all-Metro, 1st team all-state, 2nd Team USA Today All American … had a senior had a batting average of .438, eight Homeruns, 31 RBI, 42 Stolen Bases, and 40 runs scored … helped lead Benedictine to the 2019 State championship as well as a #9 National Ranking (USA Today).
Isaih Dailey
Position: OF
School: Prince Edward High School
Travel Team: RISE
Hometown: Cullen, Virginia
Height/Weight: 5’11 190
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 79 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 12 OF in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: NR
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: NR
Intended Major: Computer Science
Before VMI: A three-year letterman at Prince Edward High School for Coach Brandon Kenny … also a three-year letterman in basketball and was an All-District Shooting Guard … All District Outfielder and Pitcher … had a career batting average of .376, 24 RBI and 21 stolen bases … 2017 WWBA All-Tournament Team, 2018 WWBA All-Tournament Team.
Ryan Dooley
Position: OF/MIF
School: South Lakes High School
Travel Team: Stars
Hometown: Reston, Virginia
Height/Weight: 5’10 180
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 45 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 10 SS in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 58 Overall Player in Virginia
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 12 MIF in VA
Intended Major: Economics and Business
Before VMI: Played for Coach Morgan Spencer at South Lakes High School … a four-year letterman in baseball at South Lakes … 2017 2nd Team All District, 2018 and 2019 1st Team All District … 2019 2nd Team All Region … hit .397 in 2019 … South Lakes Booster Athletic Award … 2019 Commonwealth Games Gold Medal with Team North, 2019 American Legion State Champion and Regional Runner up with Vienna Post 180.
Jacob Farrar
Position: INF
School: Prince George High School
Travel Team: Virginia Cardinals
Hometown: North Prince George, Virginia
Height/Weight: 6’ 195
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 50 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 11 SS in VA
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 52 Overall Player in Virginia
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 4 3B in Virginia
Intended Major: Economics and Business
Before VMI: A four-year Letterman at Prince George High School coached by Coach Mickey Roberts and Jarett Vaughan … received the Academic Excellence Award … 2017 WWBA All-Tournament Team, 2018 Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All American Teams, 2019 Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All American Team, 2020 Perfect Game Preseason All-American and All Atlantic Region Team.
Cole Garrett
Position: Catcher
School: Thomas Dale High School
Travel Team: Virginia Cardinals
Hometown: Chester, Virginia
Height/Weight: 6’ 190
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 33 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 3 C in VA
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 68 Player in Virginia
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 4 C in Virginia
Intended Major: Biology
Before VMI: Played for coach Chris Marshall at Thomas Dale High School … a four-year letterman … 2019 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All Region, 1st Team All-Metro … 2019 .390 Batting Average, 26 RBI, 7 homeruns … Set school records for runners thrown out in a single season (18), as well as most homeruns in a game (3) … 2X WWBA AllTournament Team
Cole Jenkins
Position: INF
School: Lee Davis High School
Travel Team: Richmond Braves
Hometown: Mechanicsville, Virginia
Height/Weight: 6’2 180
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 109 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 26 SS in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 111 Overall Player in Virginia
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 27 SS in Virginia
Intended Major: Economics and Business
Before VMI: A three-year letterman for Tyler Johnson at Lee Davis High School … .385 Batting Average, 3 homeruns, 33 RBI … also a two-year letterman for Davis Ellenburger in volleyball … was 1st Team All Region and 2nd Team All State in volleyball.
Alex LaRou
Position: RHP
School: Cosby High School
Travel Team: Virginia Cardinals
Hometown: Moseley, Virginia
Height/Weight: 6’6 230
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 60 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 21 RHP in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 18 Player in Virginia
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 6 RHP in Virginia
Intended Major: Economics and Business
Before VMI: Played for Coach Tom Nelson as well as Coach Dean Grant at Cosby High School … a three-year letterman as well as receiving the scholar athlete award … Rawlings Underclass All American, Rawlings Atlantic All-Region 2nd Team, 2018 Perfect Game Junior National Showcase.
Will Riley
Position: INF
School: James River High School
Travel Team: RISE
Hometown: Midlothian, Virginia
Height/Weight: 5’11 180
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 78 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 18 SS in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: NR
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: NR
Intended Major: Computer Science
Before VMI: A two-year letterman at James River coached by Pete Schumacher … 1st Team All Region as a Junior … had a .350 Batting Average with four homeruns … National Honor Society, World Language Honors Society, Social Studies Honors Society, BETA Club … brother Aidan is a rising junior on the VMI lacrosse team.
Colton Robinson
Position: LHP
School: Salem High School
Travel Team: Tidewater Orioles
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Height/Weight: 5’10 165
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 95 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 10 LHP in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 104 Player in Virginia
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 15 LHP in Virginia
Intended Major: Economics and Business
Before VMI: A three-year Letterman at Salem High School, coached by Vincent Trypuc … 2018 and 2019 WWBA All-Tournament Team … was also a two-year letterman in volleyball … played for the Tidewater Orioles, coached by Lee Banks … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason All-American and All Atlantic Region Team.
Shane Saunders
Position: OF
School: Osbourn Park High School
Travel Team: Canes North
Hometown: Bristow, Virginia
Height/Weight: 5’8 160
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 106 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 17 OF in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 91
Overall Player in VA Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 17 Outfielder in Virginia
Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering
Before VMI: Played for Coach Jack Ferrick at Osbourn Park High School … 2X All Conference, 2X All Region, 2nd Team All State, honorable mention All-Metro, Nova Nine Finalist, as well as 2X Osbourn Park Hitter of the Year … 2019 Stats .477 Batting Average, .596 On Base Percentage, 31 Hits, 27 Stolen Bases, 27 Runs … also selected to the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Students Award of Excellence, The President’s Volunteer Service Award-Silver.
Sebastian Silva
Position: Catcher
School: Norfolk Christian High School
Travel Team: Old Dominion Hitters
Hometown: Norfolk, Virginia
Height/Weight: 6’1 185
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 70 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 10 C in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 81
Overall Player in VA Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 6 C in Virginia
Intended Major: N/A
Before VMI: TCIS all-conference 2nd team, sophomore year 2018 WWBA, all-tournament team for hitting freshman year 2017 … a member of the National Honor Society … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason All-Atlantic Region.
Ty Swaim
Position: INF
School: James River High School
Travel Team: Virginia Seminoles Phillips
Hometown: Midlothian, Virginia
Height/Weight: 5’11 175
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 72 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 1 2B in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: NR
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: NR
Intended Major: Economics and Business
Before VMI: A four-year letterman at James River under coach Pete Schumaker … top three in career hits, career stolen bases, games played and on base percentage … a three year letterman in basketball, a four-year letterman in golf, as well as lettering in volleyball … the only student in James River history to make it to states in four sports, including three in one year … the 2020 male athlete of the year … earned the Carrie Roarity Scholarship for Outstanding Service and the Chemistry Award.
Jack Thompson
Position: RHP
School: South Lakes High School
Travel Team: Stars and MVP Royals
Hometown: Reston, Virginia
Height/Weight: 6’ 180
PBR State Overall Ranking: No. 135 Player in Virginia
PBR State Positional Ranking: No. 44 RHP in Virginia
Perfect Game State Overall Ranking: No. 85 Player in Virginia
Perfect Game State Positional Ranking: No. 28 RHP in Virginia
Intended Major: Economics and Business
Before VMI: A four-year letterman for Coach Morgan Spencer at South Lakes High School … was a cadet captain in Army JROTC, as well as playing ice hockey … played in the NOVA College League this summer striking out 15 in 12 innings … 2017 WWBA All-Tournament Team, 2020 Perfect Game Preseason All-American and All Atlantic Region Team.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published on vmikeydets.com.
