James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Ikenberry Announces Incoming Signing Class
11/17/2025 11:22:00 AM | Baseball
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison baseball has announced its incoming signing class that will join the Dukes for the 2027 season, as announced by Head Coach Marlin Ikenberry on Monday morning.
"This class has the makings to be one of the best in JMU history," said Ikenberry. "Our staff has worked extremely hard in developing relationships with this group and identifying the needs that allow us to compete at a high level."
The class consists of 10 freshmen, with six from Virginia, two from New Jersey and one each from North Carolina and Texas.
Zach Bocock
Position: Right-handed pitcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-3/195
Hometown/High School: Salem, Va./Salem
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Zach is a physical right-handed pitcher with an above-average fastball sitting 900-93. He is a multiple-sport athlete that plays golf and swims in the winter at Salem High School."
Alex Bellovich
Position: Catcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 5-11/195
Hometown/High School: Wycoff, N.J./Ramapo
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Alex is a plus-defender that can really catch and throw. He brings a presence of toughness that is needed to compete at this level. He is summer teammates with Aiden Ogando. Alex and Aiden both played for Time to Sign Organization in the summer."
Landon Bauer
Position: Middle infield/utility
B/T: L/R
Height/Weight: 6-0/180
Hometown/High School: Purcellville, Va./Loudon Valley
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Landon plays shortstop with a plus-bat from the left side of the plate. He is a mature hitter for his age and has a high baseball IQ. He's able to play all four infield positions. His dad is a high school coach and played for Nova Premier for Eddie Kim."
Lee Garris
Position: Utility
B/T: L/R
Height/Weight: 5-11/180
Hometown/High School: Norfolk, Va./Maury
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Lee is a highly ranked player that plays the game extremely hard with a ton of energy. He can hit for power, run and has the tools to be in the lineup early in his career. Lee plays for Robbie Butler at Maury HS and the Tidewater Phillies for Lee Banks in the summer/fall."
Aidan Gallagher
Position: Right-handed pitcher/catcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-4/200
Hometown/High School: Oak Hill, Va./Paul VI
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Aidan has a power arm. He throws his fastball between 88-93 mph, knows how to pitch and is a bulldog on the mound. Aidan has always been a pitcher/catcher. He plays three sports at Paul VI: football, basketball and baseball. Aidan played summer ball for the Virginia Renegades coached by Alex Gregory and high school great Billy Emerson at PVI."
Evan Hogg
Position: Middle infield/catcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 5-11/180
Hometown/High School: Charlotte, N.C./Southlake Christian
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Evan is a plus-hitter with above-average defensive skills. Evan is a plus-athlete that can really hit and run. He can play shortstop and is also a plus-defender behind the plate which is a unique combination at this level. Evan also plays football for his high school."
Connor Hilliard
Position: Right-handed pitcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-2/195
Hometown/High School: Luray, Va./Luray
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Connor is one of the best pitchers in the state of Virginia from the Shenandoah Valley. Connor has the potential to pitch right away. His fastball has been up to 93 mph. His ability to command multiple pitches for strikes is his best attribute. He has outlier stuff and reminds me of a young Kevin Kelly. He also plays basketball for Luray High School."
Christian McCleary
Position: First base/outfield
B/T: L/L
Height/Weight: 6-2/210
Hometown/High School: Houston, Texas/Second Baptist
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Christian has big-time power as a left-handed hitter. He has the ability to hit in the middle of our lineup. Christian is projected more of a hitter but has the ability to be a LHP as well. He has played a high level of baseball in Texas for Hunter Pence Baseball Academy."
Aiden Ogando
Position: Shortstop
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-0/170
Hometown/High School: New Rochelle, N.J./St. Joseph
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Aiden was one of the best infielders in the Northeast. He was highly recruited and he grew a lot during the summer. Aiden has the potential defend at very high level. We love his toughness and is very close friend with Alex Bellovich. Aiden played for Time to Sign and the Atlanta Braves Scout team this fall."
Matthew Swanson
Position: Right-handed pitcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-4/190
Hometown/High School: Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Matt is a polished right-handed pitcher that could be in the starting rotation as a freshman. He can really pitch with a plus-fastball, curveball and changeup. Matt has won multiple state championships in high school. Matt comes from an athletic family where his father coached basketball at the collegiate level and is a high school athletic director. Matt's older brother (Connor) is a student at JMU. Matt plays high school and summer baseball for Ian Heisel."
"This class has the makings to be one of the best in JMU history," said Ikenberry. "Our staff has worked extremely hard in developing relationships with this group and identifying the needs that allow us to compete at a high level."
The class consists of 10 freshmen, with six from Virginia, two from New Jersey and one each from North Carolina and Texas.
Zach Bocock
Position: Right-handed pitcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-3/195
Hometown/High School: Salem, Va./Salem
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Zach is a physical right-handed pitcher with an above-average fastball sitting 900-93. He is a multiple-sport athlete that plays golf and swims in the winter at Salem High School."
Alex Bellovich
Position: Catcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 5-11/195
Hometown/High School: Wycoff, N.J./Ramapo
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Alex is a plus-defender that can really catch and throw. He brings a presence of toughness that is needed to compete at this level. He is summer teammates with Aiden Ogando. Alex and Aiden both played for Time to Sign Organization in the summer."
Landon Bauer
Position: Middle infield/utility
B/T: L/R
Height/Weight: 6-0/180
Hometown/High School: Purcellville, Va./Loudon Valley
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Landon plays shortstop with a plus-bat from the left side of the plate. He is a mature hitter for his age and has a high baseball IQ. He's able to play all four infield positions. His dad is a high school coach and played for Nova Premier for Eddie Kim."
Lee Garris
Position: Utility
B/T: L/R
Height/Weight: 5-11/180
Hometown/High School: Norfolk, Va./Maury
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Lee is a highly ranked player that plays the game extremely hard with a ton of energy. He can hit for power, run and has the tools to be in the lineup early in his career. Lee plays for Robbie Butler at Maury HS and the Tidewater Phillies for Lee Banks in the summer/fall."
Aidan Gallagher
Position: Right-handed pitcher/catcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-4/200
Hometown/High School: Oak Hill, Va./Paul VI
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Aidan has a power arm. He throws his fastball between 88-93 mph, knows how to pitch and is a bulldog on the mound. Aidan has always been a pitcher/catcher. He plays three sports at Paul VI: football, basketball and baseball. Aidan played summer ball for the Virginia Renegades coached by Alex Gregory and high school great Billy Emerson at PVI."
Evan Hogg
Position: Middle infield/catcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 5-11/180
Hometown/High School: Charlotte, N.C./Southlake Christian
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Evan is a plus-hitter with above-average defensive skills. Evan is a plus-athlete that can really hit and run. He can play shortstop and is also a plus-defender behind the plate which is a unique combination at this level. Evan also plays football for his high school."
Connor Hilliard
Position: Right-handed pitcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-2/195
Hometown/High School: Luray, Va./Luray
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Connor is one of the best pitchers in the state of Virginia from the Shenandoah Valley. Connor has the potential to pitch right away. His fastball has been up to 93 mph. His ability to command multiple pitches for strikes is his best attribute. He has outlier stuff and reminds me of a young Kevin Kelly. He also plays basketball for Luray High School."
Christian McCleary
Position: First base/outfield
B/T: L/L
Height/Weight: 6-2/210
Hometown/High School: Houston, Texas/Second Baptist
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Christian has big-time power as a left-handed hitter. He has the ability to hit in the middle of our lineup. Christian is projected more of a hitter but has the ability to be a LHP as well. He has played a high level of baseball in Texas for Hunter Pence Baseball Academy."
Aiden Ogando
Position: Shortstop
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-0/170
Hometown/High School: New Rochelle, N.J./St. Joseph
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Aiden was one of the best infielders in the Northeast. He was highly recruited and he grew a lot during the summer. Aiden has the potential defend at very high level. We love his toughness and is very close friend with Alex Bellovich. Aiden played for Time to Sign and the Atlanta Braves Scout team this fall."
Matthew Swanson
Position: Right-handed pitcher
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-4/190
Hometown/High School: Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy
Coack Ikenberry's Thoughts: "Matt is a polished right-handed pitcher that could be in the starting rotation as a freshman. He can really pitch with a plus-fastball, curveball and changeup. Matt has won multiple state championships in high school. Matt comes from an athletic family where his father coached basketball at the collegiate level and is a high school athletic director. Matt's older brother (Connor) is a student at JMU. Matt plays high school and summer baseball for Ian Heisel."
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