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North AL Preseason All-State: Quick Hits, Infielders

January 20, 2026
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

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 highlight several of the top infielders in attendance at the showcase. Check back throughout the week as we release additional leaderboards and comprehensive scouting reports on every participant.

View full event statistics HERE.

+ SS/RHP Paul Barnett (Mountain Brook, 2027) delivered another high-level showing that matches his standing as the No. 1 prospect in Alabama’s 2027 class and one of the premier two-way talents in the country. Standing 6-foot-2 and 178 pounds, he carries a lean, wiry, highly athletic frame with obvious room to continue adding strength as he matures physically. From the right side of the plate, he showed explosive hand and bat speed with a repeatable swing, working on a clean, controlled path through contact while creating easy gap-to-gap impact and clear power projection. The impact played in the numbers as he posted a 102.4 mph max exit velocity, further validating the offensive upside. A 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games attendee and Alabama recruit, he continues to profile as a truly elite two-way prospect with upside on both sides of the ball.

+ SS/RHP Dalton Dardin (Grissom, 2027) showed a polished, projectable offensive profile that continues to reinforce his status as the top uncommitted hitter in Alabama’s 2027 class. A 6-foot, 164 pounder, he carries a lean, high-waisted frame with long levers that he controls exceptionally well throughout the left-handed swing. From a balanced setup, he worked with smooth, easy actions and a relaxed operation, consistently lagging the barrel and keeping it in the zone to drive the baseball to all fields during BP. The approach paired with emerging impact as he topped out at a 95.1 mph max exit velocity, with more power likely on the way as he fills out physically. A 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games attendee, he remains one of the most intriguing hit-first prospects in the state heading into the spring.

+ 1B/RHP Coston Mahan (Florence, 2029) showed a physical, power-forward offensive profile that already plays like a middle-of-the-order bat, even as a young freshman. Standing 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, he carries clear strength and physicality throughout the frame that fits perfectly on a corner. From a strong, balanced stance, he used a quick hand shift in the load with a simple stride for timing, sinking well into his lower half while working the barrel on an upward path through contact. The ball jumped consistently when squared, showing easy gap-to-gap pop and real power upside throughout his round of BP. He capped the performance with a 100.4 mph max exit velocity, reinforcing why he’s already regarded as one of the top prospects in Alabama’s 2029 class.

+ SS Brodie Johnson (Westbrook Christian, 2026) turned in a loud, efficient offensive performance that fits his profile as a polished left-handed hitter. Standing 5-foot-9, 175-pounds, he carries proportional strength in a smooth, athletic frame that plays cleanly in the box. From the left side, he worked with strong rhythm and a controlled hanging leg kick for timing, letting the barrel travel on a consistent upward path through the zone while staying on plane. He lived in the middle of the field during BP, repeatedly finding the barrel with authority, topping out at a 100.9 mph max exit velocity and posting a 97.9 mph average EV for the round. A Shelton State CC recruit, he profiles as a high-level hit tool with real impact in the barrel.

+ INF Asher Doepel (Hartselle, 2026) continued to show why he’s viewed as one of the more polished bats in Alabama’s senior class. Standing 5-foot-7, 166-pounds, he brings compact strength to an athletic profile that plays consistently from the right side of the plate. From a balanced, upright stance, he used a quick, simple stride for timing, creating separation while staying well-connected through contact with fast hands and present bat speed on a level path through the zone. He worked a true gap-to-gap, line-drive approach during BP, showing barrel accuracy and the ability to meet the baseball with authority at the point of contact. The round peaked with a 98.0 mph max exit velocity, and as a 2025 Prep Baseball Senior Future Games attendee and Northwest Florida State College recruit, he keeps showing as one of the more consistent bats in the state.

+ INF Caleb McAusland (American Christian, 2028) delivered one of the cleaner offensive performances of the event, reinforcing his status as a high-level performer with real upside in the 2028 class. A 5-foot-10, 192-pounder, he carries a medium frame with proportional strength and quality athleticism that plays throughout the swing. From the right side, he worked with a rhythmic operation, creating significant hand separation in the load while using a short stride for timing before unleashing a strong, quick-handed barrel on an upward path through the zone. He showed more power than the profile might suggest during BP, driving firm contact to multiple parts of the field with consistent intent. He capped the round with a 103.6 mph max exit velocity, further validating why he remains one of our staff’s top “click” candidates in Alabama’s 2028 class heading into the spring after helping lead American Christian to a 5A state title as a freshman in 2025.

+ INF Andrew Petrock (Pelham, 2026) turned in another polished offensive look that underscored his reputation as one of the more reliable uncommitted bats in Alabama’s senior class. A 5-foot-7, 168-pounder, he packs compact strength into his frame that shows up immediately in his right-handed swing. From the box, he worked with a toe-tap trigger to create separation, unleashing quick, explosive actions with excellent barrel feel and a true all-fields approach. He consistently squared the baseball during BP, showing strength coming off the barrel on a repeatable path through the zone. The loud contact peaked at a 102.9 mph max exit velocity, reinforcing his profile as a high-contact hitter with real punch who should continue to draw attention this spring.

+ 1B Braden Weathers (Hartselle, 2027) continues to look like one of the top uncommitted bats in the 2027 class in Alabama for college coaches to follow this spring. 6-foot, 193-pounds, he’s added roughly 10 pounds of good strength since June of 2025, giving him proportional power throughout the frame. From a tall, slightly open, narrow left-handed stance, he shifted weight forward in the load and gained ground into contact, working on a clean, linear path through the zone. He showed a clear pull-side gap approach during BP while repeating the swing well from pitch to pitch, and capped the round with a 99.8 mph max exit velocity.

+ 1B/OF Bennett Green (Northside, 2027) delivered one of the more impactful offensive looks of the day, reinforcing his status as a prime breakout candidate heading into 2026. A 5-foot-11, 217-pounder, he packs a ton of compact strength into an athletic frame that plays with real intent in the box. From the left side, he worked from an active stance with quick hands and bat speed, showing adjustability while using the whole field and routinely backspinning the baseball to both gaps with present gap-to-gap impact. He leveraged his strong lower half well throughout the round, staying balanced and driving the barrel with authority. The loud contact peaked at a 102.6 mph max exit velocity, underscoring the middle-of-the-order upside he’s flashed across multiple looks since his standout sophomore season in 2025.

+ SS Land Sharpless (Trinity Presbyterian, 2029) showed an advanced, high-upside profile that points to significant long-term projection as he continues to physically mature. Standing 6-foot 170-pounds, he carries a lean, high-waisted, athletic frame with plenty of room to add strength over the next few years. Offensively, he worked from a tall, relaxed right-handed stance that he repeated well, letting the barrel travel cleanly through the zone while showing the ability to change planes as needed. Defensively, the athleticism played with ease across the infield, where he topped out at 87 mph on throws, and he paired that with a 98.2 mph max exit velocity during BP to round out a well-balanced, high-ceiling look for the 2029 class.

+ INF Brandon Garth Jr. (American Christian, 2028) backed up his reputation as one of the more dynamic, in-game performers in the state with another strong all-around showing. A 5-foot-9, 179-pounder, he brings twitchy athleticism and clean movements that play across the profile. From the right side, he worked from a balanced stance with simple, efficient actions, using a quick stride and quality hand separation to stay connected and drive line drives back up the middle with consistent barrel accuracy during BP. He paired the feel to hit with standout testing, running a 3.88 30-yard dash, posting a 96.9 mph max exit velocity, and leading the event with a 2.36 RSI jump, underscoring the explosive athletic traits that helped him contribute to American Christian’s 5A state title run as a freshman in 2025.

+ SS Cason Smith (Pell City, 2027) turned in a steady, dependable showing that fit his reputation as one of the more reliable right-handed bats at shortstop in the 2027 class. Listed at 5-foot-9, 157-pounds, he moves with smooth, athletic actions across the profile and carries a clean, repeatable offensive operation. From the right side, he worked with good rhythm, a simple stride to get back to square, and a clean upward barrel path that consistently found the middle of the field during BP. The athleticism showed up in the testing, as he ran a 3.87 30-yard dash and posted a 94.8 mph max exit velocity, pairing feel for the barrel with real tools. All together, he profiles as a high-floor, trustworthy shortstop who should continue to be a name for college coaches to monitor this spring.

+ 1B/RHP Cole Spanier (Bob Jones, 2026) continued to look like one of the premier uncommitted power bats remaining in Alabama’s 2026 class with a true heart-of-the-order profile. Standing 6-foot-3, 237-pounds, he brings obvious strength and physicality throughout the frame that shows up immediately in the right-handed swing. From a tall, upright stance, he worked the barrel on an upward path with high-level bat speed and quick hands, creating consistent lift and impact during his round of BP. He produced one of the loudest marks of the day with a 104.6 mph max exit velocity, reinforcing his reputation as a run-producing middle-of-the-order presence. Coming off a big junior season in 2025 at Bob Jones, he looks well-positioned to carry that momentum into another impactful spring in 2026.

+ 1B Grant Martinez (Springville, 2026) showed true middle-of-the-order presence with the kind of left-handed impact that stands out immediately in the box. Listed at 6-foot-2, 225-pounds, he brings obvious strength and physicality throughout the profile with clear power upside that plays in every swing. A Prep Baseball Senior Future Games attendee, he attacked BP with serious intent, working a strong barrel on an upward path, using his powerful lower half to create lift and consistent pull-side impact while still driving balls with authority to both gaps. The strength in the barrel was on full display as he posted a 102.8 mph max exit velocity, reinforcing his status as one of the top uncommitted corner infield bats still on the market in Alabama’s 2026 class with legitimate run-producing traits.

+ INF Gunner Johnson (Brooks, 2027) showed a clean, efficient offensive profile that plays with athleticism and a high-contact rate hit profile from the right side. A 5-foot-10, 160-pounder, he carries a medium, athletic build with traits that translate well into his swing. He worked with a controlled leg kick and minimal pre-pitch movement, staying well-connected through contact with a level barrel path that allowed him to drive firm line drives back up the middle while still using the whole field. The round was capped with a 98.5 mph max exit velocity, highlighting present strength in the barrel to pair with a reliable, repeatable approach.

+ SS Caleb Hawkins (Russellville, 2028) showed the look of a toolsy middle infielder whose offensive actions continue to trend in a strong direction. Standing 6-foot, 191-pounds, he carries a strong, athletic build that translates cleanly into his swing. From the right side, he used a toe-tap trigger to create hand separation, working the barrel on a strong upward path with quick, twitchy actions and quality use of the lower half. He stayed in the middle of the field well throughout BP while consistently living on the barrel, and capped the round with a 97.2 mph max exit velocity, reinforcing his status as a high-upside shortstop in the 2028 class.

+ 1B Reed Bruce (Central-Florence, 2026) delivered another physical offensive showing that reinforces his status as one of the more under-the-radar uncommitted senior bats in Alabama. A 5-foot-11, 209-pounder, he carries present strength throughout the frame that clearly plays in the box. From the right side, he showed quality separation in the load, getting the barrel on plane early and working on a mostly upward path with strength at the point of contact, consistently looking to lift and drive the ball to the pull side for extra bases during BP. The power was evident as he topped out at a 101.9 mph max exit velocity, fitting the profile of a true middle-of-the-order hitter with run-producing traits heading into the spring.

+ 1B Christopher England Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, 2027) put together one of the louder offensive looks of the day, showing legitimate middle-of-the-order traits from the right side. Listed at 6-foot-1, 192-pounds, he carries a high-waisted, athletic build with present strength and clear room to keep adding more. He works with an early stride to get on time, unleashing a strong, whippy barrel with a powerful top hand and intent on every swing while rotating aggressively through the lower half. The gap-to-gap approach played throughout BP with the ability to both lift to the pull side and drive line drives to all fields, and he capped the round with a 104.5 mph max exit velocity, one of the top marks from the event.

+ 3B/RHP Grayson Miller (Lindsay Lane Christian, 2029) showed noticeable growth since his last look, presenting a more physical and impactful offensive profile than before. A 5-foot-9, 190-pounder, he carries a compact build with strength throughout the frame that plays into his actions. From a slightly open stance with a controlled leg kick and good rhythm, he generated explosive actions through contact by driving well with the lower half. The quick barrel worked with intent on a gap-to-gap approach during BP, and he capped the round with a 100.3 mph max exit velocity, underscoring the step forward he’s taken offensively.

+ 1B Lakin Swaim (Hazel Green, 2028) showed the look of a true middle-of-the-order left-handed bat with clear impact traits at the plate. Standing 5-foot-11, 202-pounds, he brings a physical build that anchors a strong base in the box and allows his swing to play with intent. From an upright, relaxed stance with a simple stride for timing, he worked the barrel on a clean path with present bat speed and easy gap-to-gap strength during BP. He produced some of the louder contact of the session, topping out at a 99.4 mph max exit velocity, reinforcing his profile as a powerful left-handed bat to follow closely over the next couple of years.

+ SS Hampton Hall (Oakman, 2028) stood out as a true gamer-type middle infielder whose instincts and competitiveness showed up in every part of his workout. A 5-foot-8, 150-pounder, he carries a lean, high-waisted, athletic build with quick-twitch actions that translate cleanly into his right-handed swing. Offensively, he worked with quality rhythm and an advanced feel for the barrel, staying short and on plane while doing a strong job of using the whole field within his approach during BP. A multi-sport athlete with clear overall athleticism, he profiles as a scrappy, high-floor prospect who should continue to grow into his game as he adds strength.

+ SS/RHP Colton Clark (Hazel Green, 2027) showed a polished, athletic offensive profile that plays with consistency and feel. Standing 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, he carries a medium build with present strength that shows up in his actions and barrel control. From the right side, he worked with a clean, direct path through contact, showing the ability to manipulate barrel planes while using the whole field within his approach during BP. He capped the round with a 96.3 mph max exit velocity, reinforcing his steady, well-rounded profile moving forward.

+ 3B Peyton Rackard (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, 2027) displayed a polished offensive look that fits cleanly with his reputation as a quality hit-first corner infielder. A 5-foot-11, 198-pounder, he carries a sturdy frame that supports a repeatable, efficient swing. From the right side, he started slightly open and worked back square with a consistent toe-tap trigger, keeping his hands quiet in the load and allowing him to be direct to contact. He worked the barrel on a slightly upward path with an excellent feel for the sweet spot, producing steady line-drive contact throughout BP and topping out at a 92.8 mph max exit velocity, profiling as a dependable bat with room to continue growing into more impact. 

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