6. SS Taj Marchand
Hometown: Charleston, SC.
Born: Charleston, SC.
Height/Weight: 6’ 2” 200 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R-R.
School/Teams: James Island Charter HS (SC)
Coach: Matt Spivey.
Committed: Ole Miss.
Previous Teams: Aces National, Canes American, USA Prime National, Detroit Tigers Scout Team.
Rankings: Listed 86th on Baseball America’s top 400 (April 29) … Ranked 106th nationally among Perfect Game’s top HSers ... Listed as 40th best shortstop in North America ... No. 2 prospect in the state and top-rated SS ... Ranked 70th by Baseball America ... Listed 172nd by BA ... Ranked 31st by Just Baseball.
Why Mississippi, a 9 1/2 drive from South Carolina?: “It’s always been my dream school ... even when I was young I loved the school colors. The coaches there really know what they are doing. On my visit I went to a football game. They played Middle Tennessee early in the season and Ole Miss crushed them.”
2026 season with James Island Charter HS _ Homered, singled and knocked in three runs against Summerville Green Wave ... Had two hits and drove in one against Summerville ... Singled against Summerville ... Doubled against the Fort Dorchester Patriots ... Was 3-for-4 with two homes and a double, driving in three facing Fort Dorchester ... Went deep, singled and knocked in four runs against Fort Dorchester ... Homered, singled and plated a pair facing Stall Warriors ... Singled acing Stall ... Managed a double, single and two RBIs facing Gainsville Red Elephants ... Hit two-run homer against Western Branch Bruins ... Homered and drove in two runs against West Ashley Wildcats ... Singled and knocked in three runs facing West Ashley ... Drove a two-run homer against West Ashley ... Singled in the opener of a against Ashbury Ridge Swallows ... Hit a solo homer and singled against Ashbury Ridge ... Singled twice against White Knoll Timberwolves ... Doubled, singled and drove in three runs in a win over Berkeley Stags ... Homered, singled and knocked in a pair of runs against Lexington Wildcats ... Singled in a run facing Charlotte Christain ... Doubled facing Seneca Bobcats ... Doubled, singled and drove in a run against Chapin Eagles ... Had two singles against Southside Christian Sabres ... Singled in loss to bishop England ...Homered and singled, driving in three runs against Oceanside Landsharks ... Was 2-for-3 with a double in a season-opening win over Lady Beckham.
2025 spring at James Charter _ Helped High School win its second state title in two years.
2023 summer with Canes American 14U _ WWBA champion WWBA Coastal sophomore fall championship
2021 summer with 12U Canes _ Invitational National Championship SE Qualifier No. 2 (Major)
Good genes: Father Hugo Marchand was a seventh-round draft of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1997 from Victoriaville Tigers … Played for St. John’s Maple Leafs (AHL), Louisiana IceGators (ECHL), South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) and St. Hyacinthe Cousin (QSPHL) for five seasons.
The most influential person in my baseball life: “Coach Spivey, he is always pushing me to be a better player. I’ve learned a lot from him.”
Best day on the ball field: “When we won the second straight state championship last year. We walked them off in extras. I don’t think I had any hits that day, but I knocked in a couple of runs. We had a big dawg pile on the mound.”
Favourite player in baseball: “Francisco Lindor, he’s aways been my guy.”
Interested teams: “I’m doing to the MLB Combine and I think every team has watched me, this spring.”
Honours: 2026 season _ with USA Prime/Aces National _ Tournament Elite Batting at PG 17U WWBA National championship ... All Tournament Team at 17U WWBA national championship ... With USA Prime National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team _ All Tournament Team at PG WWBA World championship ... Rawlings/PG Preseason All American Atlantic Underclass All American, Atlantic, All Region Second Team ... 2025 spring at James Island: Named 5A Division 1 Player of the Year in the state of South Carolina ... One of 88 players invited to try out for the Team USA 18u National Team ... Rawlings/PG Preseason All American Atlantic All-American and All-Region Team … 2024 summer: Canes National: _ All Tournament Team WWBA 16U National championship ... Preseason Underclass All American Atlantic Region Honorable Mention ... 2023 summer with Canes American _ Named a Tournament Elite Batting at WWBA 2027 Grads or National Championship ... Tournament Most Valuable Player at Major PG Coastal Super Regional NIT ... All Tournament Team WWBA PG Coastal State Championship ... All Tournament Team WWBA Coastal Sophomore Fall Championship ... All Tournament Team PG 14U National Elite Championship ... All Tournament Team WWBA 2027 Grads or 14U National Championship ... 2022 with Canes SC _ Tournament Most Valuable Player PG South Carolina Super Regional NIT ... All Tournament Team South Carolina Super Regional NIT ... Tournament Most Valuable Pitcher at Invitational National Championship SE Qualifier No. 2 (Major) ... All Tournament Team at PG Coastal Fall Wood Bat Championship ... All Tournament Team PG BCS National Championship ... 2021 with Canes SC: Tournament Most Valuable Player at Invitational National Championship SE Qualifier No. 2 (Major) ... All Tournament Team 13U PG Coastal Fall State Championships ... All Tournament Team at PG Coastal Fall World Series ... All Tournament Team PG NC State Championship (Road to Atlanta) ... All Tournament Team PG Coastal Summer Champions ... All Tournament Team PG Coastal Fall Super Regional NIT ... All Tournament Team Invitational National Championship SE Qualifier No. 2 (Major) ... All Tournament Team Coastal PG Series Classic ... All Tournament Team PG Coastal Super Regional NIT (PGI National Championship qualifier) ... 2019 season with Charleston Revolution:… All Tournament Team Super25 North Carolina Fall Super Qualifier.
Scouting Report
Baseball America:
“Marchand is an aggressive right-handed hitter with loud physical tools, and early in the 2026 season he showed some strength gains that had the industry excited about his upside potential. He has a 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame and an unconventional swing that features a deep load and often finds himself lunging too frequently, but he’s also shown solid contact skills and the ability to drive the ball with impressive impact. A fringe runner, Marchand could be stretched at shortstop but his strong arm might give him a chance to stick there, or at least on the left side of the infield.”
“Warrants a top 100 placement given his impact ability and could wind up being a top three-round selection.”
_ Baseball America.