It might sound obvious to say this, but the UVA Baseball program appears to be well-heeled for the foreseeable future. OK, they’re not the Los Angeles Dodgers, but UVA Athletics doesn’t have a $5.45 billion net worth.
Entering this season, among college baseball elite, the UVA talent level is among the best, and a lot of that talent was on display this weekend during the Cavaliers’ sweep of Dartmouth and Tuesday’s win over the William and Mary Tribe.
Six incoming freshman or transfers put on a show at the plate over the last four games.
Trey Wells, Chone James and James Nunnallee had impressive performances over the last five days.
Wells started 50 of 51 games last season, 46 at catcher, for Wayne State, batting .286 while leading the team in home runs (6) and RBI (48). Expectations for Wells were more forward-looking when the season started as he was expected to spell Jacob Ference behind the plate in 2025 and then take over the catching duties in 2026.
It sounds like his coach may be having other thoughts.
“I’m really impressed with Trey,” lauded the UVA skipper. “He’s catching really well but he’s aggressive at the plate. He gets his money’s worth. Already in this young season, he’s gotten some big hits for us.”
The junior catcher had a 3-for-7 weekend including a triple and a double, three RBI and walked once. On the season Wells is hitting at a .471 clip, owns a .882 slug, and .524 on base percentage, both team leading (15+ bats). The Omaha native has been very solid defender behind the dish.
“That’s why we recruited him as a transfer player. He can really catch and throw, number one. He’s earned playing time by being aggressive at the plate and I’m glad that he’s here,” O’Connor added.
Another catching and possibly pitching prospect had a good four days, Myrtle Beach product Chone James seems to be enjoying playing at his dream college program.
In an interview with Prep Baseball Report’s Cory McCartney, the Cavalier freshman admitted he fell in love with UVA a long time ago.
“When I was about 7 years old, I went to a basketball game and just fell in love, then we went to some football games and fell in love with the program and it’s been my dream school ever since,” recalled James.
“I went to the [baseball] camp two days prior to my commitment, and I really liked it, they treated me like family up there and it was a no-brainer,” James added.
O’Connor said James had great fall and that he was “an exciting ballplayer, he’s aggressive, he’s a tough out.”
That may be in part to the 5’11” rookie’s highly efficient, smooth swing. It appeared it was only a matter of time before James was forcing O’Connor to “put me in, coach.”
“There just weren’t opportunities for him in the first two weekends to get him some playing time,” O’Connor explained. “But I was committed this weekend to plug him in there He was a real spark for us. I like what the young man’s about.”
For the weekend James went 3-for-9, had two bases-on-balls, scored two runs, a stolen base and banged out five RBI.
The biggest bomber award went to rookie James Nunnallee.
Following Sunday’s 13-3 mercy-rule finale, O’Connor noted, “Nunnallee, he was really outstanding. I plugged him into right field today, and he had a big day for us.”
Named Class 5 Region D Player of the Year in Virginia and to the Washington Post’s 2024 All-Met team, Nunnallee was selected as the No.2 outfielder in Virginia by Perfect Game.
As a freshman, the Aldie, Va., native has the fourth highest batting average for the Hoos (.345) and is tied for third with eight runs scored and tied for third with six RBI.
Nunnallee seems to be coming into his own over his last three games hitting at a .857 clip (6-for-7) with five RBI and adding three runs scored of his own. He also got on base via a hit by pitch, stole a base and notched a sacrifice fly.
Some other newcomers showed off their offensive bone fides as well.
First-year shortstop Jackson Sirois had an efficient last four games, going 3-for-3 with three RBI and two extra bases hits, including his first collegiate home run.
Chris Arroyo continues to progress as a hitter, and while the batting average is not where he might like it to be, he is second on the team with a .462 slugging percentage and leads Virginia in RBI with 11.
Cavalier fans were introduced to freshman outfielder Aiden Harris over the last four games, and he did not disappoint. Going 2-for-4, scoring two runs, logging his first career extra-base-hit (2B) and produced an RBI.
Overall, these six program newbies combined for 14 runs on 19 hits, collected 19 RBI, seven extra-base hits (4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR) and drew six free passes.
Understanding the competition level, when you have depth in your order like this Virginia team does, it is really easy to pass the torch to the next batter. We’ll see how the new talent does as the ‘Hoos open Atlantic Coast Conference play this weekend.
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