North AL Preseason All-State: Data Dive, Positional Players
January 27, 2026
HARTSELLE, AL - The North AL Preseason All-State, one of the premier events on the Prep Baseball calendar, was held on Saturday, January 17th at Hartselle High School Indoor in Hartselle, AL. This invite-only showcase featured top prospects from the 2026-2029 classes, each looking to make a statement ahead of the spring season.
Participants took part in an extended, pro-style workout that included batting practice tracked by TrackMan and Blast Motion, 30-yard dash testing powered by VALD Performance, and a full defensive evaluation. Pitchers threw simulated bullpens during the workout, capturing advanced metrics via our TrackMan unit such as pitch velocity, spin rate, and horizontal and vertical movement. The event featured a strong mix of familiar standouts continuing to build on previous performances, along with several new names who emerged with eye-opening showings.
Continuing our post-event coverage, we dive into the advanced data captured from the showcase. Check back throughout the week as we release additional leaderboards and comprehensive scouting reports on every participant.
View full event statistics HERE.
VALD PERFORMANCE TESTING
30-YARD SPLIT
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | 30-yd |
| 1 | Evan Cox | AL | Hoover | 2029 | OF | 3.65 s |
| 2 | Jay Averett | AL | Hoover | 2027 | 1B | 3.73 s |
| 3 | Houston Falciani | AL | Hartselle | 2026 | OF | 3.75 s |
| 4 | Charlie Williamon | AL | Oak Mountain | 2027 | OF | 3.78 s |
| 5 | Slade Bounds | AL | Spain Park | 2027 | OF | 3.80 s |
| 6 | Ty Hunter | AL | Hazel Green | 2028 | OF | 3.83 s |
| 7 | Jackson Allison | AL | Chelsea | 2029 | OF | 3.84 s |
| ^ | Bryson Boyington | AL | Tuscaloosa County | 2027 | OF | 3.84 s |
| 8 | Jayse Hallman | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 3.85 s |
| ^ | Conner Vaden | AL | Scottsboro | 2028 | OF | 3.85 s |
| ^ | Austin Hubbard | AL | Deshler | 2026 | LHP | 3.85 s |
| 9 | Cason Smith | AL | Pell City | 2027 | SS | 3.87 s |
| 10 | Desmond Ruffin | AL | James Clemens | 2028 | OF | 3.88 s |
| ^ | Brandon Garth Jr | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | 2B | 3.88 s |
10-YARD SPLIT
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | 10-yd |
| 1 | Jay Averett | AL | Hoover | 2027 | 1B | 1.62 s |
| 2 | Evan Cox | AL | Hoover | 2029 | OF | 1.64 s |
| ^ | Jackson Allison | AL | Chelsea | 2029 | OF | 1.64 s |
| 3 | Charlie Williamon | AL | Oak Mountain | 2027 | OF | 1.66 s |
| ^ | Walker Sellars | AL | Madison Academy | 2027 | 1B | 1.66 s |
| ^ | Houston Falciani | AL | Hartselle | 2026 | OF | 1.66 s |
| 4 | Conner Vaden | AL | Scottsboro | 2028 | OF | 1.67 s |
| ^ | Austin Hubbard | AL | Deshler | 2026 | LHP | 1.67 s |
| 5 | Brandon Garth Jr | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | 2B | 1.68 s |
| ^ | Braden Weathers | AL | Hartselle | 2027 | 1B | 1.68 s |
| ^ | Bennett Green | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 1.68 s |
| ^ | Cole Miles | AL | Hartselle | 2026 | OF | 1.68 s |
| ^ | Bryson Boyington | AL | Tuscaloosa County | 2027 | OF | 1.68 s |
| ^ | Desmond Ruffin | AL | James Clemens | 2028 | OF | 1.68 s |
| 6 | Camden Cullen | AL | Fairview High School | 2027 | OF | 1.69 s |
| ^ | Cole Newsom | AL | Hartselle | 2029 | SS | 1.69 s |
| ^ | Slade Bounds | AL | Spain Park | 2027 | OF | 1.69 s |
| ^ | Sawyer Coggins | AL | Alexandria | 2029 | SS | 1.69 s |
| ^ | Christopher England Jr. | AL | Hillcrest | 2027 | 1B | 1.69 s |
| 7 | Wynn Shannon | AL | Cullman | 2029 | SS | 1.70 s |
| ^ | Jack Sims | AL | Hartselle | 2027 | OF | 1.70 s |
| ^ | Caleb Hawkins | AL | Russellville | 2028 | SS | 1.70 s |
| ^ | Cruise Baker | AL | Hartselle | 2026 | OF | 1.70 s |
| ^ | Drew Jackson III | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | LHP | 1.70 s |
| ^ | Haines Bridges | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | C | 1.70 s |
| ^ | Ty Hunter | AL | Hazel Green | 2028 | OF | 1.70 s |
| ^ | Will Carter | AL | Huntsville | 2027 | C | 1.70 s |
| 8 | Cason Smith | AL | Pell City | 2027 | SS | 1.71 s |
| ^ | Ryan Nichols | AL | Tuscaloosa County | 2027 | SS | 1.71 s |
| ^ | Cole Austin | AL | Piedmont High School | 2028 | C | 1.71 s |
| ^ | Coston Mahan | AL | Florence | 2029 | 1B | 1.71 s |
| ^ | Hampton Hall | AL | Oakman | 2028 | SS | 1.71 s |
| ^ | Griffin Hendon | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | SS | 1.71 s |
| ^ | JC Cummings | AL | Opelika | 2028 | OF | 1.71 s |
| ^ | Joshua Vincent | AL | Oak Mountain | 2027 | 3B | 1.71 s |
| 9 | Cooper Craycraft | AL | Thompson | 2027 | C | 1.72 s |
| ^ | Braddoc Jenkins | AL | Dothan High School | 2026 | SS | 1.72 s |
| ^ | Brayden Entrekin | AL | Russellville | 2028 | OF | 1.72 s |
| ^ | Gunner Johnson | AL | Brooks | 2027 | SS | 1.72 s |
| ^ | Brodie Johnson | AL | Westbrook Christian | 2026 | SS | 1.72 s |
| ^ | Wyatt Wallace | AL | Lindsay Lane Christian Academy | 2028 | 1B | 1.72 s |
| ^ | Colton Clark | AL | Hazel Green | 2027 | SS | 1.72 s |
| ^ | Cole Carroll | AL | Chelsea | 2029 | OF | 1.72 s |
| ^ | Cohen Thompson | AL | Scottsboro | 2026 | SS | 1.72 s |
| 10 | Jayse Hallman | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 1.73 s |
| ^ | Neel Patel | AL | Florence | 2026 | 3B | 1.73 s |
| ^ | Mason Gandy | AL | Brooks | 2027 | C | 1.73 s |
| ^ | Andrew Petrock | AL | Pelham | 2026 | SS | 1.73 s |
| ^ | Cole Spanier | AL | Bob Jones | 2026 | 3B | 1.73 s |
| ^ | Nick Johnson | AL | Jacksonville | 2026 | SS | 1.73 s |
| ^ | Cole Norris | AL | Madison Academy | 2028 | SS | 1.73 s |
RSi JUMP (MAX)
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | RSI (max) |
| 1 | Brandon Garth Jr | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | 2B | 2.36 |
| 2 | Chase Utley | AL | Whitesburg Christian | 2028 | SS | 2.19 |
| 3 | Caleb Hawkins | AL | Russellville | 2028 | SS | 2.16 |
| 4 | Caleb Mcausland | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | 3B | 2.13 |
| 5 | Land Sharpless | AL | Trinity Presbyterian | 2029 | SS | 2.12 |
| 6 | Cason Smith | AL | Pell City | 2027 | SS | 2.05 |
| 7 | Evan Cox | AL | Hoover | 2029 | OF | 2.03 |
| 8 | Asher Doepel | AL | Hartselle | 2026 | 2B | 2.02 |
| 9 | Ryan Nichols | AL | Tuscaloosa County | 2027 | SS | 1.97 |
| 10 | Drew Jackson III | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | LHP | 1.91 |
VERTICAL JUMP (MAX)
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Jump Height (max) |
| 1 | Evan Cox | AL | Hoover | 2029 | OF | 30.4 |
| 2 | Ty Hunter | AL | Hazel Green | 2028 | OF | 27.8 |
| 3 | Ross Christy | AL | Fultondale | 2029 | OF | 27.2 |
| ^ | Cruise Baker | AL | Hartselle | 2026 | OF | 27.2 |
| 4 | Drew Jackson III | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | LHP | 26.9 |
| 5 | Brandon Garth Jr | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | 2B | 26.5 |
| 6 | Witt Crisler | AL | Hartselle | 2027 | SS | 26.4 |
| 7 | Cole Newsom | AL | Hartselle | 2029 | SS | 25.9 |
| 8 | Bryson Boyington | AL | Tuscaloosa County | 2027 | OF | 25.4 |
| ^ | Walker Sellars | AL | Madison Academy | 2027 | 1B | 25.4 |
| 9 | Parks Woodruff | AL | Lincoln | 2027 | OF | 25.0 |
| 10 | Jack Sims | AL | Hartselle | 2027 | OF | 24.9 |
TRACKMAN
EXIT VELOCITY (MAX)
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Exit Velocity (max) |
| 1 | JC Cummings | AL | Opelika | 2028 | OF | 104.8 mph |
| 2 | Cole Spanier | AL | Bob Jones | 2026 | 3B | 104.6 mph |
| 3 | Christopher England Jr. | AL | Hillcrest | 2027 | 1B | 104.5 mph |
| 4 | Caleb Mcausland | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | 3B | 103.6 mph |
| 5 | Slade Bounds | AL | Spain Park | 2027 | OF | 103.4 mph |
| 6 | Haines Bridges | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | C | 103.3 mph |
| 7 | Andrew Petrock | AL | Pelham | 2026 | SS | 102.9 mph |
| 8 | Grant Martinez | AL | Springville | 2026 | 1B | 102.8 mph |
| 9 | Brayden Entrekin | AL | Russellville | 2028 | OF | 102.7 mph |
| 10 | Bennett Green | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 102.6 mph |
EXIT VELOCITY (AVG.)
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Exit Velocity (avg) |
| 1 | Brodie Johnson | AL | Westbrook Christian | 2026 | SS | 97.9 mph |
| 2 | Jayse Hallman | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 97.9 mph |
| 3 | Christopher England Jr. | AL | Hillcrest | 2027 | 1B | 97.5 mph |
| 4 | Brayden Entrekin | AL | Russellville | 2028 | OF | 97.3 mph |
| 5 | Austin Hubbard | AL | Deshler | 2026 | LHP | 97.1 mph |
| 6 | Tayte Dunn | AL | Bob Jones | 2026 | C | 97.1 mph |
| 7 | Bennett Green | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 96.6 mph |
| 8 | Haines Bridges | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | C | 96.2 mph |
| 9 | Cole Miles | AL | Hartselle | 2026 | OF | 95.0 mph |
| 10 | Cole Spanier | AL | Bob Jones | 2026 | 3B | 94.8 mph |
Exit Velocity: This metric measures the speed of the ball, measured in miles per hour, as it comes off the bat at the moment of contact.
BATTED BALL DISTANCE (MAX)
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Distance (max) |
| 1 | Brayden Entrekin | AL | Russellville | 2028 | OF | 391 ft |
| 2 | Slade Bounds | AL | Spain Park | 2027 | OF | 386 ft |
| 3 | Cruise Baker | AL | Hartselle | 2026 | OF | 382 ft |
| 4 | Drew Jackson III | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | LHP | 380 ft |
| 5 | Cole Spanier | AL | Bob Jones | 2026 | 3B | 379 ft |
| 6 | Ty Hunter | AL | Hazel Green | 2028 | OF | 371 ft |
| 7 | Caleb Mcausland | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | 3B | 370 ft |
| 8 | Griffin Hendon | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | SS | 368 ft |
| 9 | Caleb Hawkins | AL | Russellville | 2028 | SS | 368 ft |
| 10 | Jake Fridley | AL | Hoover High School | 2026 | C | 364 ft |
SWEET SPOT%
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Sweet Spot % |
| 1 | Coston Mahan | AL | Florence | 2029 | 1B | 100 % |
| ^ | Clark Durden | AL | Hewitt Trussville | 2028 | OF | 100 % |
| 2 | Jackson Crippen | AL | Hazel Green | 2027 | 2B | 87 % |
| 3 | Grayson Miller | AL | Lindsay Lane Christian Academy | 2029 | 3B | 85 % |
| 4 | Camden Cullen | AL | Fairview High School | 2027 | OF | 77 % |
| 5 | Cooper Craycraft | AL | Thompson | 2027 | C | 75 % |
| ^ | Cole Norris | AL | Madison Academy | 2028 | SS | 75 % |
| ^ | Land Sharpless | AL | Trinity Presbyterian | 2029 | SS | 75 % |
| ^ | Griffin Hendon | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | SS | 75 % |
| ^ | Walker Sellars | AL | Madison Academy | 2027 | 1B | 75 % |
| ^ | Brandon Garth Jr | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | 2B | 75 % |
| ^ | Nick Johnson | AL | Jacksonville | 2026 | SS | 75 % |
| 6 | Ryan Nichols | AL | Tuscaloosa County | 2027 | SS | 71 % |
| 7 | Bryson Boyington | AL | Tuscaloosa County | 2027 | OF | 70 % |
| 8 | Jay Averett | AL | Hoover | 2027 | 1B | 66 % |
| ^ | Mac Thompson | AL | Boaz | 2029 | C | 66 % |
| ^ | Cole Newsom | AL | Hartselle | 2029 | SS | 66 % |
| ^ | Haines Bridges | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | C | 66 % |
| 9 | Jayse Hallman | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 62 % |
| ^ | Kade Brantley | AL | Thompson | 2027 | RHP | 62 % |
| ^ | Charlie Williamon | AL | Oak Mountain | 2027 | OF | 62 % |
| ^ | Bennett Lightsey | AL | American Christian Academy | 2029 | OF | 62 % |
| ^ | Sam Gillette | AL | Hartselle | 2027 | OF | 62 % |
| ^ | Tanner Rice | AL | Mortimer Jordan | 2027 | OF | 62 % |
| ^ | Kolton Bentley | AL | Hazel Green | 2027 | 3B | 62 % |
| ^ | Whiddon Pearson | AL | Huntsville | 2028 | SS | 62 % |
| ^ | Brodie Johnson | AL | Westbrook Christian | 2026 | SS | 62 % |
| ^ | Cole Austin | AL | Piedmont High School | 2028 | C | 62 % |
| ^ | Cason Smith | AL | Pell City | 2027 | SS | 62 % |
| ^ | Ty Hunter | AL | Hazel Green | 2028 | OF | 62 % |
| 10 | Ivan Hand | AL | Briarwood Christian | 2028 | 3B | 60 % |
Sweet Spot percentage: This metric is determined by how often the player produces a batted ball during the session with a launch angle between 8 to 32 degrees.
BLAST MOTION
HAND SPEED (AVG.)
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Hand Speed (avg) |
| 1 | Bryson Hodge | AL | James Clemens | 2028 | OF | 28.9 mph |
| 2 | Bryson Boyington | AL | Tuscaloosa County | 2027 | OF | 24.7 mph |
| 3 | Walker Sellars | AL | Madison Academy | 2027 | 1B | 24.1 mph |
| 4 | Christopher England Jr. | AL | Hillcrest | 2027 | 1B | 24.0 mph |
| 5 | Camden Cullen | AL | Fairview High School | 2027 | OF | 23.9 mph |
| 6 | Caleb Mcausland | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | 3B | 23.9 mph |
| 7 | Bennett Green | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 23.9 mph |
| 8 | Jayse Hallman | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 23.8 mph |
| 9 | Parks Woodruff | AL | Lincoln | 2027 | OF | 23.7 mph |
| 10 | Jackson Crippen | AL | Hazel Green | 2027 | 2B | 23.6 mph |
Hand Speed: The observed speed as measured on the handle of the bat (measured six inches from the knob of the bat). Peak Hand Speed will occur prior to the moment of impact, very close to the commit time in the swing when the wrists unhinge.
BAT SPEED (AVG.)
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Bat Speed (avg) |
| 1 | Jake Fridley | AL | Hoover High School | 2026 | C | 83.4 mph |
| 2 | Kaden Walters | AL | Sardis High School | 2027 | C | 80.5 mph |
| 3 | Paul Barnett | AL | Mountain Brook High School | 2027 | SS | 80.3 mph |
| 4 | JC Cummings | AL | Opelika | 2028 | OF | 78.4 mph |
| 5 | Cole Spanier | AL | Bob Jones | 2026 | 3B | 76.8 mph |
| 6 | Bennett Green | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 76.6 mph |
| 7 | Taylor White | AL | Hartselle | 2029 | 3B | 76.5 mph |
| 8 | Jayse Hallman | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 75.8 mph |
| 9 | Brayden Entrekin | AL | Russellville | 2028 | OF | 75.7 mph |
| 10 | Reed Bruce | AL | Central | 2026 | 1B | 75.7 mph |
Bat Speed: The observed speed of the sweet spot of the bat at impact. The sweet spot of the bat is measured six inches from the tip of the bat.
ROTATIONAL ACCELERATION (AVG.)
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Rot. Acc (avg) |
| 1 | Bryson Hodge | AL | James Clemens | 2028 | OF | 37.8 g |
| 2 | Jake Fridley | AL | Hoover High School | 2026 | C | 28.6 g |
| 3 | Jackson Crippen | AL | Hazel Green | 2027 | 2B | 25.1 g |
| 4 | Christopher England Jr. | AL | Hillcrest | 2027 | 1B | 24.0 g |
| 5 | Bennett Green | AL | Northside | 2027 | OF | 22.9 g |
| 6 | Brayden Entrekin | AL | Russellville | 2028 | OF | 22.3 g |
| 7 | Caleb Mcausland | AL | American Christian Academy | 2028 | 3B | 22.0 g |
| 8 | Ty Hunter | AL | Hazel Green | 2028 | OF | 21.8 g |
| 9 | Reed Bruce | AL | Central | 2026 | 1B | 21.5 g |
| 10 | Camden Cullen | AL | Fairview High School | 2027 | OF | 21.3 g |
Body Rotation: A swing that has the appropriate relative contributions of body and bat rotations is an efficient and Powerful swing that maintains proper sequencing. An efficient baseball swing is one in which the body creates the initial movements, which is then transferred to the arms and out to the bat, thereby maximizing Bat Speed through this proximal-to-distal kinematic sequencing movement pattern.
VIZUAL EDGE
EDGE SCORES
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Edge Score |
| 1 | Bennett Lightsey | AL | American Christian Academy | 2029 | OF | 87.14 |
| 2 | Asher Doepel | AL | Hartselle | 2026 | 2B | 86.78 |
| 3 | Bryson Boyington | AL | Tuscaloosa County | 2027 | OF | 86.05 |
| 4 | Kolton Bentley | AL | Hazel Green | 2027 | 3B | 85.58 |
| 5 | Cole Miles | AL | Hartselle | 2026 | OF | 84.50 |
| 6 | Cody Willis | AL | Mars Hill Bible | 2028 | 1B | 84.18 |
| 7 | Taylor White | AL | Hartselle | 2029 | 3B | 83.56 |
| 8 | Brennen Charles | AL | Spain Park | 2028 | C | 83.39 |
| 9 | Colton Clark | AL | Hazel Green | 2027 | SS | 83.34 |
| 10 | Bryson Hodge | AL | James Clemens | 2028 | OF | 82.50 |
The Edge Score is a comprehensive score out of 100 that takes the core-six visual skills into account, providing athletes, parents, coaches and scouts with a benchmark number for assessing an athlete’s overall visual ability. In general the higher the Edge Score, the higher chance of athletic success. Think of the Edge Score as the 'Sixth Metric' in the standard Five-Tools that make up a ball player.
The average Edge Score for the 2020 MLB Draft Class was 79.3 (of hitters who completed a Vizual Edge test). MLB players we've worked with typically show stronger scores, with elite hitters scoring consistently above 87.0 on their Edge Score.
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