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2026 James Clemens Jets Team Preview

February 17, 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: James Clemens Jets
Head Coach: Johnny Johnson
Classification & Area Number: Class 7A, Area 8
2025 Record (Finish): 24-15 (1st Round)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

INF/RHP Matthew Drinkwater (6/17/25)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

RHP/UTL Tristan Blalock (7/1/25)

OTHER UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

RHP/3B Cal Duthu (5/28/25)

TEAM OUTLOOK

James Clemens enters the 2026 season coming off a strong 24-15 campaign that ended in the first round against Tuscaloosa County, with the Jets continuing to establish themselves as a consistent playoff presence in Class 7A. Last spring featured plenty of bright spots, including Jesse Isensee setting a new program record with six saves, and the foundation is in place for another competitive year as the Jets bring back a large portion of a roster that gained valuable postseason experience.

The core of this group is built around a deep and experienced junior and senior class. INF/RHP Matthew Drinkwater (Coastal Alabama CC-South, 2026) and INF/RHP Jesse Isensee (Coastal Alabama CC-South, 2026) return as two-way pieces who should again be central to both the lineup and the pitching staff, while LHP Tyler Lewis (UT-Southern, 2026) gives the Jets a reliable left-handed presence on the mound. The position-player group brings back plenty of production with OF Brooks Rhodes (2026), INF Hayden Udovich (UT-Southern, 2026), OF/RHP Will Congo (2027), and C Hudson Smith (2027), who earned All-State Honorable Mention in 2025. RHP Will Votroubek (Montevallo, 2026) returns as another arm to watch once healthy, while OF Bryson Hodge (2028) adds athleticism to the mix. Depth is further boosted by INF/RHP Ethan Hopkins (2026), RHP/3B Cal Duthu (2027), and 1B/OF Matthew Evers (2027), along with underclassmen RHP/UTL Tristan Blalock (2029), the No. 1 prospect in the freshman class in Alabama, and OF Desmond Ruffin (2028), who could push for bigger roles as the season progresses.

Looking ahead, experience stands out as a major strength for this group, with seven of nine hitters returning from last year’s playoff lineup and a large portion of the innings on the mound back in the fold. Health and continued development will be key as the Jets navigate another demanding 7A schedule, but the pieces are in place for a more seasoned and well-rounded team in 2026. “Need to get healthy, but with a large group of returning players from a young team last season (only two senior starters in the playoffs) we look to have a more experienced team and the talent to compete with good programs all across 7A,” said head coach Johnny Johnson. “We have 7 of our 9 hitters back from last year, and three of our top pitchers. Our schedule will be a tough one, especially early on, but should set us up to be tested before area play and the playoffs.”

Find more information on the 2026 James Clemens High School program below:

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

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