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: Chelsea Hornets
Head Coach: Michael Stallings
Classification & Area Number: Class 6A, Area 7
2025 Record (Finish): 28-12 (State Runner-Up)

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• RHP Jackson Price (2026)
• RHP Grant Hill (Grand Canyon, 2026)
• RHP Silas Osbourn (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, 2026)
• OF Aiden Craven (2026)
• 1B/RHP Luke Neill (Snead State CC, 2026)
• SS Bryant Wisdom (2029)

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

• INF Kaylor Crumpton (2029)
• OF Hudson Picklesimer (2028)

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OTHER UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

• RHP Brock Garrett (Central Alabama CC, 2026)
• LHP Jordan Garcia (2027)
• INF/RHP Cooper Morgan (2027)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Chelsea enters the 2026 season coming off a memorable 28-12 campaign that ended with a trip to the 6A State Championship Series, where the Hornets finished as the state runner-up after a tightly contested three-game set with Hartselle. That postseason run reinforced Chelsea’s status as one of the top programs in the classification and set a high bar heading into this spring. With a strong portion of that roster returning, especially on the mound, the Hornets will look to build on last year’s momentum and again position themselves as a factor deep into May.

The backbone of this year’s team begins with a deep and experienced pitching staff, led by RHP Jackson Price (2026), RHP Grant Hill (Grand Canyon, 2026), and RHP Silas Osbourn (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, 2026), giving Chelsea multiple proven options to set the tone in a series. RHP Brock Garrett (Central Alabama CC, 2026) adds another experienced arm, while LHP Jordan Garcia (2027) and INF/RHP Cooper Morgan (2027) provide additional depth and versatility. Offensively, OF Aiden Craven (2026) and 1B/RHP Luke Neill (Snead State CC, 2026) return as key pieces in the lineup, while SS Bryant Wisdom (2029) is a young, high-upside talent expected to have a larger role after taking over starting duties at second base down the stretch as an eighth-grader last season. The Hornets will also look for contributions from underclassmen INF Kaylor Crumpton (2029) and OF Hudson Picklesimer (2028) as they continue to integrate more youth into an already competitive roster.

Looking ahead, Chelsea’s biggest strength remains its pitching depth, which should allow the Hornets to match up well throughout a long and demanding season. With several returning starters and a staff that can cover innings in multiple ways, the foundation is in place for another strong year. “This team is returning some solid arms on the mound. Our pitching depth along with several returning starters from last year’s team should help give our guys confidence for the 2026 season,” said head coach Michael Stallings. If the Hornets can continue to pair that depth with consistent play on both sides of the ball, Chelsea has the pieces to once again make a serious push in Class 6A.

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Find more information on the 2026 Chelsea High School program below:

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

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FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL ALABAMA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Alabama on X
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Facebook

 

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