December 17, 2025
The University of Virginia is ranked the #2 best-value public university and the #4 public university in the U.S. It also has one of the best D1 baseball teams in the country.
Following Coach Brian O'Connor's departure to Mississippi State, UVA has hired Chris Pollard.
Pollard previously transformed Duke's baseball program into a Super Regional contender.
He now faces the challenge of rebuilding UVA's roster and leading one of college baseball's top programs.
This marks a new era for baseball in Charlottesville.
Virginia's Current Commitments:
UVA is actively targeting players in the 2027 and 2028 classes who fit the program's culture and style of play.
The Rebuild in Progress
- 2026 Season: Pollard brought six Duke players with him, including projected top-10 MLB draft pick AJ Garcia. The roster is being rebuilt through transfers and recruiting.
- D1Baseball already has UVA in their "Way Too Early Eight for Omaha" for 2026.
- 2027 Class: Sixth-ranked high school recruiting class already in place. The foundation is being laid fast.
The Foundation
- Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
- Enrollment: ~25,000 students
- Average GPA: 4.2-4.5
- What Matters: World-class public university meets championship baseball tradition.
The Legacy
- 2015 National Champions
- 7 College World Series appearances
- 917 wins under Brian O'Connor (22 seasons)
- 10 Super Regional appearances
- Member of the ACC
Virginia baseball = championship pedigree and academic excellence.
The New Sheriff: Chris Pollard | First Season at Virginia (2025-26)
- 806-614-3 career record (26 seasons)
- 420-296 at Duke (13 seasons)
- Led Duke to 7 NCAA Regionals, 4 Super Regionals
- Two ACC Tournament Championships
- Built Duke from 50+ years without a tournament to hosting Super Regionals
Why He Fits: Pollard is a Virginia native from Amherst County who learned blue-collar work ethic from his dad and grandfather. He's a program builder who turned Duke into a consistent winner. At Virginia, he's not building—he's sustaining excellence while honoring O'Connor's legacy.
The 2025 Season
- 32-18 overall, 16-11 ACC
- RPI: 46, KPI: 46
- Won 12 of last 14 games
- Swept Miami, beat Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech
- "First Four Out" of NCAA Tournament
- First time missing tournament with 5+ games above .500 in ACC since 1994
- Controversial snub that ended the O'Connor era
The Facilities
- State-of-the-art everything: indoor/outdoor training, video analysis, strength programs.
- ACC competition means constant pro scout exposure.
The Academics
- UVA consistently ranks top 5 public universities nationally.
- Elite programs in business, engineering, law, medicine.
- Student-athletes get comprehensive support while balancing rigorous academics.
The Pipeline
- Notable alumni: Ryan Zimmerman, Mark Reynolds, Chris Taylor, Pavin Smith.
- Virginia consistently produces MLB talent and future leaders across all industries.
Why Virginia Now
- New coach with proven program-building track record
- Championship facilities and tradition intact
- D1Baseball already projecting Omaha contention for 2026
- Top-10 MLB draft pick AJ Garcia leading the way
- Degree from one of America's most prestigious universities
This isn't a rebuild—it's a reload with fresh energy.
How We Help
Most families guess their way through recruiting, hoping the right email, showcase, or video gets noticed. We replace guesswork with a proven plan: the right timeline, targeted outreach, strategic exposure, and polished videos. Your athlete won't just be seen, they'll be pursued.
If your athlete can compete at Virginia's level academically and athletically, don't leave their future to chance.
Take the player assessment and schedule a call
Virginia's next chapter is being written right now.
Make sure your athlete is part of the story.
To your son's success.
P.S. Are you getting traction from college coaches? If not, I help high school baseball players get interest and offers from their top schools. Click below to learn more:
- Premier Athletes Recruiting Program (4-figure investment) – Full-service: coaches outreach, video creation, bi-weekly check-ins, and our proven playbook to turn interest into legit offers.
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About Alex
Meet your college baseball recruiting specialist: Alex Swenson.
As a high school baseball player, I navigated the college recruiting process all on my own. Despite average statistics, I landed a spot on a Division-1 baseball team Jacksonville University, where I became a 3-time team captain. Post-college, I became a D1 coach, scout, and recruiter at Georgetown University and Ole Miss, where we won an SEC championship.
After experiencing the process as both recruit and recruiter, I’ve successfully dissected the best strategies to connect with college coaches and draw offers from them.
After experiencing the process as both recruit and recruiter, I’ve successfully dissected the best strategies to connect with college coaches and draw offers from them.
Learn more about Alex’s Experience
Premier Athletes Recruiting Program
Receive professional direction from Alex himself until your son commits to his desired school. A step-by-step action plan will be provided with strategic small-group coaching meetings every 2 weeks to ensure we are making progress. Included is a baseball networking platform that connects him to coaches, optimizes his exposure to scouts, alerts him to college camps and showcases, and MUCH MORE.
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