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2026 Arab Knights Team Preview

February 4, 2026
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

The 2026 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the Jacksonville/Oxford/Montgomery area at the AISA or AHSAA state championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Alabama. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason top-10 rankings in each AHSAA classification.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state.

Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week, updating the top-10 ranks in each AHSAA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Arab Knights
Head Coach: Chad Hudson
Classification & Area Number: Class 5A, Area 15
2025 Record (Finish): 18-15 (1st Round)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

RHP/1B Luke Martin (6/17/25)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

INF/RHP Paxton Phillips (5/19/25)

OTHER UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

1B Cooper Stewart (7/9/25)

TEAM OUTLOOK

Arab enters the 2026 season coming off another strong year in Class 5A, finishing 18-15 and extending a run of consistency that included a third straight area title and a 12th consecutive playoff appearance. While the Knights were knocked out in the first round, the program continues to set a high standard under Chad Hudson, and this group brings back a core that has logged a ton of varsity innings and meaningful postseason experience. The foundation is once again built around the top of the rotation and a senior-heavy leadership group that has been in the middle of Arab’s success over the last few seasons.

The Knights will be led by RHP/1B Luke Martin (2026), who has been a mainstay in the rotation since his freshman year and emerged as the staff ace last spring while also holding down first base and hitting in the middle of the order. OF Luke Hudson (2026) returns as another middle-of-the-order bat with power, speed, and leadership after starting in the outfield the past two seasons. Behind the plate, C Dylan Kirkland (2026) is a three-year starter who brings strong defense, speed, and experience, and will be counted on to anchor the defense and bounce back offensively. On the mound and at third base, RHP/3B Wesley Holland (2027) is coming off a breakout sophomore season where he solidified himself as the clear No. 2 starter and should again be a big piece in both roles. The underclass group is headlined by INF/RHP Chase Kirkland (2028), who missed much of last year but is expected to step into a middle-infield role while helping on the mound, and INF/RHP Paxton Phillips (2029), who started at second base as an eighth grader and will again factor into the rotation as the team’s third starter. OF Julian Borjas (2029) is expected to start in left field, while RHP Jud Goss (2029) and RHP/3B Will Smith (2029) add more young arms and competition. In the senior and junior class, OF Jaxson Griggs (2027) is set to patrol center field and bring speed to the lineup, and 1B Cooper Stewart (2027) will handle first base when Martin is on the mound and serve as a DH option.

Looking ahead to 2026, Arab’s biggest strength is at the top of the rotation, where the Knights have three proven, strike-throwing starters who know how to compete and keep them in games. The challenge will be how quickly the young depth develops, but the core of experienced seniors provides a strong backbone for another competitive season. As Hudson put it, “Our starting pitching returns and we have a core of 3 seniors that have played a ton of baseball for us that should provide leadership. We have some young players that will all be better with more experience and we have an exciting freshman class that will provide our depth.” If the younger pieces grow into their roles, Arab looks poised to remain a tough out in Area 15 and continue its run of postseason appearances in 2026.

Find more information on the 2026 Arab HS program below:

+ Follow them on X: @ArabBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2026 HS Team Previews

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