Baseball Welcomes Eight to the Incoming Class of 2029
2/13/2025
Brown Head Coaching Chair in Baseball Grant Achilles has announced eight additions to the Bears as part of the incoming class of 2029, who will join the program starting in the Fall 2025 semester.
“Our staff is very excited to welcome these eight members to the class of 2029," Achilles said. "Each member adds invaluable depth and athleticism, while building on our principles of Brotherhood, Integrity, and Gratitude. The talent level in this group is exactly what we need to compete for an Ivy League championship and we’re excited to welcome this group to campus this fall and look forward to their contributions over the following four years.”
Scroll to find an in-depth look at each new Bear below.
Porter Berryman
LHP | 5-11, 175 lbs. | Lilburn, Ga. | Parkview
Before Brown: 2024 First Team 7A All-State selection…Named first Team All-County by the Gwinnett County Dugout Club…Two-time Area 4 First Team All-Region honoree…Named to the Gwinnett County Super 6 Team…Two-time selection to the Prep Baseball Report Futures Game… As a junior in 2024, finished with an 8-0 record, four complete games, three shutouts, one no-hitter, an struck out 87 batters over 50 innings…Athletic Honor Society member.
Personal: Son of Amy and Stevie Berryman…Has one sister, Sophia.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown because of the incredible academic and athletic opportunity. I felt at home with the coaching staff, players, the city and the Brown community.”
Kanghee Cho
OF/RHP | 6-0, 180 lbs. | Palo Alto, Calif. | Palo Alto
Before Brown: Two-time first team all-league honoree out of Palo Alto High School…Named the team’s MVP in 2024…Played club ball for NorCal Baseball…National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.
Personal: Son of Suwon Kim and Sungjung Cho…Has one sister, Olivia.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown because I will be able to learn in a flexible, diverse, yet intellectually rigorous environment while concurrently pursuing my dream of playing Division I baseball.”
Matt Luigs
INF | 6-0, 180 lbs. | Marietta, Ga. | Holy Innocents' Episcopal School
Before Brown: First team all-state and all-region honoree as a junior in 2024…Played club ball for Prostock Baseball…Posted a .477/.600/.640 slash line during the 2024 club season.
Personal: Son of Kami and Tony Luigs…Has an older brother, David.
Why Brown?: “Coach Holden White really showed me how great of a place Brown University could be.”
Cal McBurney
RHP | 6-1, 210 lbs. | Atlanta, Ga. | The Westminster Schools
Before Brown: Earned Region Pitcher of the Year honors as a junior in 2024 after posting a 1.56 ERA and 65 strikeouts over 50 IP…Struck out 63 batters over 61 IP and held a 2.94 ERA as a junior in 2023…15U Perfect Game Tournament All-American…Played club baseball for 6-4-3 Baseball and Prostock Baseball Club.
Personal: Son of Courtney and Robert McBurney…Has one brother, Roscoe…His mother graduated from Princeton and his father is a Harvard alum.
Why Brown?: “Brown’s Open Curriculum allows me to explore engineering, mathematics, and computer science freely, I can play Division I baseball while earning an Ivy League education, and Brown’s vibrant, supportive community is somewhere I can thrive both academically and athletically while building meaningful connections.”
Alex Mihailovich
INF | 5-10, 180 lbs. | Stamford, Conn. | Westminster School
Before Brown: Attended the Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut…Earned All-Founders League honors as a junior in 2024…Played AAU ball for Baseball U CT for coaches Pat Vigilio and Joe Mancini…Earned Superus honors at Westminster three times, recognizing those whose GPA ranked in the top 30 percent of their class in a given trimester.
Personal: Son of Hope and Draggan Mihailovich…Has an older brother Ben and a twin sister Jillian.
Why Brown?: “Brown provides the location, connected community, academic rigor, and athletic offerings that I am looking for in the college experience.”
Drew Nelson
RHP | 6-5, 215 lbs. | Ladera Ranch, Calif. | San Juan Hills
Before Brown: First team all-state, First Team All-Seaview League honoree, Seaview League MVP, First Team All-CIF and Second Team All-Orange County selection as a junior on 2024…As a junior, posted a 0.52 ERA with an 8-1 record, holding a 44/7 strikeout-to-walk ratio and allowing just four earned runs over 54.1 innings…Held a 1.75 ERA over 44 innings as a sophomore in 2023…Played club ball for the Saddleback Cowboys…Also played basketball for San Juan Hills High School…AP Scholar.
Personal: Son of Courtney and Scott…Has a sister, Kate, and a brother, Michael.
Why Brown?: “My goal has always been to play baseball at the highest academic institution possible and there is no better place to do that than Brown.”
Camren Piwnicki
RHP | 5-11, 190 lbs. | Newfields, N.H. | Exeter
Before Brown: Two-time BCANH Division I All-State selection…2024 Rawlings Preseason Northeast All-Region honoree…As a junior in 2024, held a 1.68 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 50.2 IP…As a sophomore in 2023, held a 0.74 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 38.1 IP…Played club ball for Northeast Baseball…Scholar-athlete and high honor student.
Personal: Son of Lisa and Jay Piwnicki…Has an older brother, Caleb.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown due to the terrific academics, which played a huge role in my college decision as well as the coaching philosophy. On my visit, I got a true impression that they would help me grow both on and off the field and give me all the tools and support to do so.”
Harssh Ramayanam Venkkat
RHP/INF | 5-11, 185 lbs. | Fort Lee, N.J. | Bergen County Academies
Before Brown: Ranked in the top 500 in the nation and ranked in the top 10 among shortstops in New Jersey in the Class of 2025…As a junior in 2024, batted .355 with 15 stolen bases, while posting a 2.68 ERA on the mound with 71 strikeouts while earning All-Big North honors as an infielder...As a sophomore in 2023, batted .313 with 20 steals and posted a 2.03 ERA on the mound…Also a member of the soccer team at Bergin County Academies…AP Scholar and National Honor Society member…Member of the Science Olympiad Team.
Personal: Son of Renuka and Sharath…Has a younger brother, Tejas.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown because it represents the best of both worlds. I can pursue a world-class education and play extremely competitive baseball.”
The Bears are set to open their 2025 season on February 21 at North Florida. The full 2026 roster will be unveiled in June.
