A look at MLB players from the 2026 season who were born in Virginia

With a few weeks left in the 2026 Major League Baseball season, 30 players born in Virginia have appeared in at least one MLB game this year.

That includes seven who have made their regular-season debut this season: Trey Gibson, Bradley Hanner, Nick Morabito, T.J. Rumfield, Garrett Stallings, James Triantos and Kahlil Watson.

“We don’t win the game. But it was a pretty special moment for me and my family,” Stallings, who played in college at Tennessee, told reporters after his MLB debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in early July.

All but Rumfield were eventually sent back to Triple-A after making their MLB debut.

A former standout at Virginia Tech, Rumfield is in the running for National League Rookie of the Year honors with the Colorado Rockies, as he ranks among the offensive leaders among rookies.

“He’s been who he is and stays within himself. That’s why he’s having such a good year,” Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters of Rumfield, who had four walks in a recent game in DC against the Washington Nationals.

Since about 400 natives of Virginia have played in the Majors, per baseballreference.com, having 30 in one season (or about 7.5 percent of the total) is not too shabby.

Here is a look at the Virginia natives who have played in the majors this year, with birthplace as per baseballreference.com, first season in the big leagues and most recent MLB club:

• Andrew Abbott (Lynchburg, 2023, Cincinnati Reds) The lefty pitcher was drafted out of the University of Virginia by the Reds; he played high school ball in Halifax County. He was 6-10, 4.43 in his first 29 games this year.
• Spencer Bivens (Virginia Beach, 2024, San Francisco Giants) Bivens made 54 appearances out of the bullpen for the Giants last year.
• Cody Bolton (Richmond, 2023, Houston Astros) Bolton, who went to high school in California, made his MLB debut against the Washington Nationals three years ago.
• Taylor Clarke (Ashburn, 2019, Arizona Diamondbacks) A right-handed pitcher, Clarke went to Broad Run High and played in college at Towson and the College of Charleston.
• Brenton Doyle (Warrenton, 2023, Chicago White Sox) The two-time Gold Glove winner in center field for the Colorado Rockies, who played for New Market in the RCBL, was traded to the White Sox earlier this year.
• Connelly Early (Midlothian, 2025, Washington Nationals) The former University of Virginia hurler and James River High alum was traded to the Nats by the Boston Red Sox earlier this year.
• Nate Eaton (Chester, 2022, Boston Red Sox) The former VMI star was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 21st round in 2018. He is related to Konner Eaton, a Hopewell native who went to George Mason and is a promising pitcher in the Colorado Rockies farm system.
• Bryce Eldridge (Fairfax, 2025, San Francisco Giants) He made his MLB debut last September for the Giants. He is one of two James Madison High grads on this list.
• Trey Gibson (Newport News, 2026, Baltimore Orioles) The pitcher has also appeared this season with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides near his hometown as he has gone back and forth between the Majors and minors.
• Brenan Hanifee (Harrisonburg, 2023, Detroit Tigers) Another RCBL alum (Clover Hill), the right-handed reliever has bounced back and forth between Triple-A Toledo and the Tigers this year. His 101 big league outings as of late August is second among Harrisonburg natives for pitchers, back of former JMU and Tampa Bay hurler Travis Harper – who appeared in 240 games with the Rays from 2000 to 2006.
• Bradley Hanner (Orange County, 2026, New York Yankees) The former RCBL (Elkton) pitcher made his MLB debut in July against the Toronto Blue Jays. He became the third Orange County High product to make the Majors, following Charlottesville native Larry Haney and his son, Chris Haney.
• Kevin Kelly (Springfield, 2023, Tampa Bay Rays) The right-handed pitcher was one of four hurlers drafted out of JMU in 2019. After posting an ERA of 5.90 in 41 relief outings last year, he was at 1.98 in his first 59 games this year. Kelly appeared in a career-high 68 games in 2024.
• Zack Kelly (Roanoke, 2022, Boston Red Sox) He went to Newberry College and broke in with the Red Sox.
• Zak Kent (Henrico, 2025, Washington Nationals) The pitcher from VMI saw action with Cleveland in 2025 and with the Minnesota Twins earlier this year. He gave up seven hits and four runs in two innings of work on July 3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Andrew Knizner (Glen Allen, 2019, San Francisco Giants) The catcher has also played for the Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. Former Valley League catcher Kirt Manwaring and James Madison High grad Jim McNamara are former catchers for the Giants.
• Brandon Lowe (Suffolk, 2018, Pittsburgh Pirates) The lefty hitter is in his first season with the Pirates after a long run with Tampa Bay. He had 28 homers this season going into September and 185 in his career. That placed him sixth all-time among Virginia-born players, back of Willie Horton and Justin Upton (325 each), David Wright (242), Todd Hundley (202) and Michael Cuddyer (197).
• Josh Lowe (Chesapeake, 2021, Los Angeles Angels) He went to high school in Georgia and is not related to Brandon Lowe.
• Nathaniel Lowe (Norfolk, 2019, Cleveland Guardians) He also went to high school in Georgia. Lowe had 15 homers in his first 324 at-bats this year.
• Daniel Lynch IV (Richmond, 2021, Kansas City Royals) The pitcher was drafted in the first round out of Virginia in 2018. The lefty was 4-5, 3.51 in his first 52 outings this season, with six starts.
• Joe Mantiply (Danville, 2016, Toronto Blue Jays) The longest tenured player on this list, the lefty is a former All-Star who starred at Virginia Tech. He played at Tunstall High in Dry Fork.
• Nick Morabito (McLean, 2026, New York Mets) The outfielder is the son of Brian Morabito, who played at JMU in the 1990s.
• Noah Murdock (Richmond, 2025, Pittsburgh Pirates) He was drafted out of Virginia by the Royals.
• Vinnie Pasquantino (Richmond, 2022, Kansas City Royals) The slugger played for the Charlottesville Tom Sox while at ODU. He had 11 homers in his first 360 at-bats this year.
• Cal Raleigh (Harrisonburg, 2021, Seattle Mariners) After hitting 60 homers last year, the catcher has struggled mightily with the bat this year – though he did go deep three times in a recent game.
• J. Rumfield (Richmond, 2026, Colorado Rockies) He was a standout at Virginia Tech as was Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer. The first baseman went to high school in Texas before playing for the Hokies.
• Garrett Stallings (Chesapeake, 2026, Milwaukee Brewers) The right-hander pitcher once played in the minors for the Double-A Bowie Baysox in the Baltimore system – as did Hanifee. Stallings didn’t allow a run in his first four outings in the Majors, over eight innings.
• James Triantos (Fairfax, 2026, Chicago Cubs) He became the sixth alum of James Madison High of Vienna to play in the majors. He had a hit in his first MLB game on July 25, then went hitless in his next seven trips.
• Justin Verlander (Goochland, 2005, Detroit Tigers) The right-hander has made one start this year for the Tigers then went on the injured list. He has 266 career wins and has announced this is his last year. Mlb.com reports he is throwing off a mound and hopes to make at least one more MLB appearance.
• Kahlil Watson (Chase City, 2026, Cleveland Guardians) He became the first player born in Chase City to play in the Majors in 100 years.
• Ben Williamson (Fairfax, 2025, Tampa Bay) Williamson was a standout at William & Mary. He was drafted out of college by the Seattle Mariners in the second round in 2023.