Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – On the heels of receiving its No. 24 national recruiting class ranking for the Class of 2025 per Perfect Game, the Virginia Tech baseball team and head coach John Szefc are proud to welcome five new freshmen pitchers to the program ahead of the 2026 season.
The Hokies are excited to welcome to campus left-hander Austin Dean (Alexandria, Virginia) as well as right-handers Ethan Grim (Mohnton, Pennsylvania), Tyler Stone (Hamden, Connecticut), Ryan Walsh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and Jake Wise (Glen Allen, Virginia).
Left-hand Pitcher / 6-8 / 235 / Alexandria, Va. / West Potomac High School
- Ranked as the nation’s No. 205 overall recruit and No. 19 overall left-handed pitcher by Perfect Game.
- Ranked as the No. 6 overall recruit and No. 1 left-handed pitcher from Virginia by Perfect Game.
- Invited to the 2024 Perfect Game National Showcase (Phoenix, Arizona) and the 2023 Perfect Game Junior National Showcase (Marietta, Georgia).
- Named to the 2025 Perfect Game Preseason Atlantic Region All-High School Senior First Team.
- Two-time state quarterfinalist in baseball at West Potomac High School.
Right-hand Pitcher / 6-0 / 195 / Mohnton, Pa. / Governor Mifflin High School
- Ranked as the nation’s No. 275 overall recruit and No. 78 overall right-handed pitcher by Perfect Game.
- Ranked as the No. 7 overall recruit and No. 3 right-handed pitcher from Pennsylvania by Perfect Game.
- Named to the 2025 Perfect Game Preseason Atlantic Region All-High School Senior First Team.
- Four-year varsity letterwinner in baseball at Governor Mifflin High School; sported a 28-6 record with a 1.65 ERA spanning 47 appearances (37 starts); recorded 306 strikeouts through 208 and one-third innings pitched.
- Ranked as the No. 59 Freshman on Campus by D1Baseball and the No. 209 Fresh Arrival on Campus by Perfect Game.
Right-hand Pitcher / 5-10 / 205 / Hamden, Conn. / Cheshire Academy
- Ranked as the nation’s No. 188 overall right-handed pitcher by Perfect Game.
- Ranked as the No. 6 overall recruit and No. 3 right-handed pitcher from Connecticut by Perfect Game.
- Named to the 2025 Perfect Game Preseason Northeast Region All-High School Senior First Team.
- Recognized by Perfect Game on 10 all-tournament teams.
- During the 2025 season at Cheshire Academy, sported a 1.30 ERA while recording 61 strikeouts spanning 27 innings pitched (allowed five hits).
Right-hand Pitcher / 6-0 / 200 / Pittsburgh, Pa. / Bethel Park High School
- Ranked as the nation’s No. 393 overall right-handed pitcher by Perfect Game.
- Ranked as the No. 26 overall recruit and No. 15 right-handed pitcher from Pennsylvania by Perfect Game.
- Named to the 2025 Perfect Game Preseason Atlantic Region All-High School Senior Second Team.
- Four-year varsity letterwinner in baseball at Bethel Park High School.
- 2022 state champion at Bethel Park; four-time region champion (2022-25).
Right-hand Pitcher / 6-0 / 200 / Glen Allen, Va. / Benedictine Prep
- Ranked as the No. 55 overall recruit and No. 17 right-handed pitcher from Pennsylvania by Perfect Game.
- Named to the 2025 Perfect Game Preseason Atlantic Region All-High School Senior Second Team.
- Recognized by Perfect Game on three all-tournament teams.
- 2025 state quarterfinalist in baseball at Benedictine Prep.