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Mississippi State

Diamond Dawgs land another former UVA commit in 2026 SS Zach Geertsma

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk08/16/25RobbieFaulkOn3
zach geertsma
Photo courtesy of Zach Geertsma, Instagram

Brian O’Connor and his staff were building a strong class for Virginia in the 2026 class and it appears that many in that class are starting to navigate their way down to the south now.

The new Mississippi State coach grabbed yet another former UVA commitment on Friday when he landed a verbal from Berkeley Heights (NJ) MIF Zach Geertsman. The talented shortstop announced the news on his Instagram account.

Geertsma kicked things off last year by committing to Virginia and O’Connor prior to his junior year. After that, he would help lead his team to a perfect 28-0 record and he earned the Courier News Player of the Year.

After hitting .333 with eight home runs as a sophomore, Geertsma batted .453 this past season with 43 hits, 43 runs, 33 RBI and eight home runs. He also had a hit in 24 of his 28 games played.

Geertsma is the fifth former UVA commitment to enter the Bulldogs’ class of 2026. He joins C Hunter Strohm, SS Noah Danza, RHP Daniel Nienaber and OF Michael Hanna. Danza, Hanna and Geertsma all hail from New Jersey. Prior to the 2026 class, more familiar faces from UVA traded in the blue and orange for maroon and white.

O’Connor brought in LHP Tomas Valincius, OF James Nunnallee, 2B/OF Chone James, OF Aidan Teel and LHP William Kirk out of the portal. O’Connor also landed former UVA commitment LHP Jack Bauer who was one of the top high school pitchers available in the draft. The lefty with the highest recorded fastball velocity in high school history (103 mph) turned down the draft and will be coming to Starkville.

The Diamond Dawgs currently have 12 players committed for the ’26 class after bringing in 10 for 2025.   

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