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Top 10 Class of 2022 baseball players in Virginia
Hanover pitcher Levi Huesman is among the top seniors in the state of Virginia and could hear his name called in this summer’s MLB Draft. (Courtesy: @levi_huesman14/Instagram)

Top 10 Class of 2022 baseball players in Virginia

Logan Hanson

Logan Hanson

Updated:

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (BVM) — With baseball season in full swing, Virginia high school baseball fans have gotten to see many talented players return to the diamond for a full slate after two COVID-impacted seasons. Seniors will now get one more chance to impact their programs and perhaps even bring home some hardware and here are some of the Commonwealth’s best this year: 

1.  Levi Huesman, pitcher (Hanover High School, Mechanicsville)

The 6-foot, 185-pound left-handed pitcher has been near the top of most recruiting radars in the state as both a college and professional type talent. After recording a 0.77 ERA with 66 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 36.1 innings pitched a season ago, Huesman was named to the Baseball America, Perfect Game and MaxPreps preseason All-American teams and was selected as the top lefthander for the National High School Invitational Pre-All-Tournament Team. As the No. 58 2022 MLB Draft prospect by Prospects Live, Huesman may choose to go straight into the professional game after the season rather than go to college where he is signed to play for Coastal Carolina.

2. Jack O’Connor, pitcher (Bishop O’Connell High School, Arlington)

Another elite pitching prospect, O’Connor is a top player in the state as well as nationally. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound righthander played well in a limited capacity during Bishop O’Connell’s COVID-19-shortened spring season as he had a 4.08 ERA with 17 strikeouts in just 10 innings. A member of the 18-under 2021 national baseball team, O’Connor has the pedigree to be potentially dominant at the next level as he will join in-state power University of Virginia following his graduation. He is currently ranked as the No. 174 MLB Draft prospect by Prospects Live.

3. Griffin Stieg, pitcher (McLean High School, McLean)

Stieg has been a steady force for the McLean program since his freshman year. Though the team as a whole struggled in 2021, that wasn’t due to Stieg who was efficient throughout the year. Stieg increased his status away from McLean during the offseason through a number of national showcases including the 17-under Perfect Game World Series and at the New Balance Future Stars Series where he pitched at New York City’s Citi Field. The younger brother of current George Mason University player Andrew Stieg, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed pitcher has the college pedigree to succeed at the DI level and is committed to play at Virginia Tech, but could hear his name called in the draft as he is ranked the No. 164 MLB Draft prospect by Prospects Live.

4. Luke Hanson, shortstop (Lafayette High School, Williamsburg)

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The top position player in the state, Hanson has shown off his athleticism in droves especially last year as he played both baseball and football during the spring season and helped Lafayette win its first state football title in over 20 years. On the diamond Hanson wasn’t bad either as he batted .541 with 22 runs and stole 10 bases while also going 4-1 on the mound with 48 strikeouts. Another University of Virginia commit, Hanson impressed throughout the offseason, even earning mention from Prep Baseball Report vice president of scouting Shooter Hunt who selected the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder as one of his standout position players during the company’s Super 60 event. A possible MLB Draft pick this summer, Hanson is ranked as the No. 298 prospect by Prospects Live.

5. A.J. Shepard, catcher (Patriot High School, Nokesville)

A 5-foot-11, 205-pound backstop, Adam “A.J.” Shepard has made himself one of the top catchers in the Commonwealth regardless of where he has played. After playing a couple strong seasons at Osbourn Park, Shepard joined Patriot and has gotten off to a good start there as well. As a member of the nationally-recognized Canes travel team, Shepard has been able to establish himself on a national level as he also participated in the PBR Super 60 event. The Indiana University commit is seen as a potential draft pick as well, ranked at No. 301 by Prospects Live.

6. Andrew Shaffner, outfielder (Grayson County High School, Independence)

A strong player in his own right, Andrew Shaffner helped lead the Grayson County Blue Devils to a 13-2 record last season and an appearance in the Region 1C championship game. A threat in both the field and on the mound, the 6-foot, 170-pound dual threat is seen as a versatile threat every time he takes the diamond and can attack opponents in a plethora of ways. The North Carolina State commit is looking to help advance his team even further this season after a disappointing exit in last year’s postseason.

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7. Ryan Kennedy, pitcher (Colgan Senior High School, Manassas)

Kennedy is yet another elite pitcher that hails from Virginia. Pitching for a Colgan team that went 15-1 and made the state championship, Kennedy was statistically the Sharks’ best on the mound as he went 5-0 with a team-best 1.08 ERA. After adding 20-plus pounds this offseason, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound righthander is looking to build on his strengths from a year ago and lead the program to its first state title. A Virginia Tech commit, Kennedy could arrive in Blacksburg following a state championship as Colgan currently sits at 11-0 on the season.

8. Ryan Grzesiak, pitcher (John Champe High School, Aldie)

Another Hokies pitching commit, Grzesiak has shined for John Champe over the past two seasons. After earning first team All-Cedar run for the Knights last year, the 6-foot-6, 180-pound right-handed pitcher has gotten off to a hot start this season. In five appearances, Grzesiak has gone 2-0 with a 0.37 ERA while striking out 40 of the 69 batters he has faced while only walking eight. Grzesiak’s standout performance of the year came in a 3-0 win against Unity Reed in March, when he made Knights history striking out a program record 14 batters while earning the win.

9. Henry Cooke, catcher (Miller School of Albermarle, Charlottesville)

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An elite backstop, Cooke excelled in a shortened season last year, leading a Miller School with four Division I commits in batting average hitting .455 with six RBIs in 14 hits. A Virginia Tech commit himself, the 6-foot-3, 217-pound catcher will look to help the Mavericks make it deeper in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs after they lost in the state semifinals to Benedictine a year ago.

10. Connor Fuhrman, outfielder (Lord Botetourt High School, Daleville)

After a strong junior season that saw him selected to the All-Region 3D first team, Fuhrman excelled over the summer circuit with numerous showcase experiences including at the Perfect Game National Showcase. This season, Fuhrman is off to a fast start as the outfielder has hit .300 with eight runs scored, six hits and one RBI in 20 plate appearances. The South Carolina commit will look to extend his strong play for the Cavaliers this season before heading down south for the DI level. 

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