🐦 George Mason's finest

PLUS: Events you can go to this weekend

Author

Just Outside DC
July 25, 2025

Welcome to Just Outside DC — the only local newsletter that needs more cowbell.

Today’s factoid is: Fish cough.

THE BIG IDEA

From GMU to the big leagues — literally.

The numbers don't lie. Sometimes they tell fairy tales.

James Quinn-Irons just wrapped up what might be the most dominant college baseball season you've never heard of. While everyone was watching the usual powerhouses, this 6'5" outfielder from Reston was quietly putting up video game numbers at George Mason.

Here's the stat line that had scouts doing double-takes: .419/.523/.734 with 16 home runs, 85 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases. For context, that slugging percentage would've led the MLB last season.

The Local Kid Who Had One Shot

Quinn-Irons' story reads like every underdog sports movie, except it's real. George Mason was his only college baseball offer. One. Single. Offer."

Most elite prospects have their pick of SEC powerhouses and Pac-12 juggernauts. Quinn-Irons had Fairfax and a coaching staff willing to bet on potential over pedigree.

The Numbers Game

Over three seasons, Quinn-Irons didn't just break records — he demolished them:

  • Career batting average: .371 (2nd all-time at GMU)

  • Career slugging: .632 (4th all-time)

  • Career home runs: 33 (tied for 6th)

  • Career RBIs: 160 (tied for 6th)

  • Career stolen bases: 58 (5th all-time)

His senior season was essentially a highlight reel. He set single-season records for RBIs (85) and hits (101), while tying the steals record with 36. The kid who couldn't get recruited out of high school became the first George Mason player ever named a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist — college baseball's Heisman Trophy.

The Business of Being Overlooked

Here's where it gets interesting from a market efficiency perspective. While blue-chip prospects at traditional powerhouses get scouted from day one, guys like Quinn-Irons represent market inefficiencies that smart organizations can exploit.

The Tampa Bay Rays, a franchise built on finding value where others don't look, saw exactly that. They selected Quinn-Irons in the 5th round (147th overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft, making him the highest George Mason pick since 2019.

MLB.com ranked him as the #175 prospect entering the draft. ESPN had him at #112. Neither ranking screams "can't-miss prospect," but both suggest something scouts found intriguing enough to warrant attention.

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Bulletin Board 📌 

We’re experimenting with putting all of the events on a calendar/directory website going forward… it’s still in development so there’s only a few events going on in Manassas this weekend on there right now. Let us know what you think about this new format.

Restaurant recommendations are back. Check out Black Salt & Black Sugar in Falls Church. It’s one of many halal smash burger places in NoVA. But these guys are the real deal. This isn’t an ad. I would challenge you to find a local smash burger more flavorful than this place for the price. We tried the double patty burgers with every topping last weekend and were blown away by this low-key burger spot.

Thanks for reading!

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Love,

Team JODC 🐦

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