Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2026 Faith Academy Rams Team Preview

January 23, 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: Faith Academy Rams
Head Coach: Matt Seymour
Classification & Area Number: Class 5A, Area 2
2025 Record (Finish): 22-7 (Sweet 16)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

OF/RHP Riley Wilemon (1/12/25)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

Tucker Richardson - (01/14/2026)

SS/RHP Tucker Richardson (1/11/26)

OTHER UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

RHP Wyatt Pippin (6/17/25)

TEAM OUTLOOK

Faith Academy enters the 2026 season coming off a strong 22-7 campaign in 2025 that ended with a Sweet 16 appearance, reinforcing the Rams’ status as one of the more consistent programs in Class 5A Area 2. With a large portion of that roster returning, particularly on the mound, Faith Academy heads into the spring with expectations of competing deep into the postseason once again.

The Rams bring back a loaded group of upperclass contributors on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the lineup is anchored by OF/RHP Riley Wilemon (Bishop State CC, 2026) and SS Braydon Wright (Mississippi College, 2026), both of whom provide experience, leadership, and production in the middle of the order. OF/1B Cooper Smith (2026) and INF Carlos Ortiz (2026) return as additional veteran pieces capable of impacting the lineup consistently, giving Faith Academy a deep and balanced offensive attack. On the mound, Faith Academy’s strength starts at the top with RHP/1B Brodie Wilson (Auburn, 2027), a former Future Games attendee who brings frontline stuff and a fastball that reaches the low-90s. He is joined by RHP Christian Freeman (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, 2026) and RHP/OF Grayson Finch (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, 2027), forming a pitching staff with experience and depth capable of matching up with anyone in the classification. Additional upperclass arms such as RHP Wyatt Pippin (Bishop State CC, 2026) and RHP Wyatt Lloyd (2026) provide further stability and innings depth throughout the season. Behind the plate, C Eli Quinley (2027), another former Future Games attendee and one of the top uncommitted 2027 prospects in the state, returns as a key piece defensively and offensively, adding to the Rams’ strength up the middle. INF Bryce Turner (2026), INF Kobe Hunt (2027), and INF/RHP Collin Hall (2027) round out a versatile infield group that gives Faith Academy flexibility with lineup construction and defensive alignment. The underclass group adds high-end upside for both the present and future. RHP Lathan Boddie (2029) and INF/RHP Mattox Diard (2028) provide young depth on the mound and in the field, while SS/RHP Tucker Richardson (2030), one of the top prospects nationally in his class and a future household name in the state, adds a premium long-term piece to the program.

Starting pitching and lineup depth define Faith Academy’s outlook entering 2026. With multiple frontline arms returning and an experienced, balanced offense, the Rams are well-positioned to build on last season’s Sweet 16 run and remain a serious contender in Class 5A as postseason play approaches.

Find more information on the 2026 Faith Academy program below:

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

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL ALABAMA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

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

 

Related Content