Virginia Tech freshman CJ Oxendine brings defensive poise and upside behind the plate
In the 2026 season, Virginia Tech catcher CJ Oxendine has been a limited-use freshman, but the early read is clear: his calling card is defense, baseball IQ, and maturity beyond his class. He was rated the nation’s No. 96 catcher by Perfect Game and has drawn praise for his instincts and competitiveness, with reports noting he’s a high-energy backstop who “loves to play” and can be a real tone-setter. Offensively, his early college sample is still very small, so the question is upside more than production right now—ideal for a team that values catch-and-throw reliability and developmental juice.
