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Week in Review: Jan. 10-16

January 16, 2026
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

 

ALABAMA — As we roll into a new weekly feature, we’re excited to introduce Week in Review, a comprehensive recap of everything released across the state during the previous week. Covering the stretch of January 10-16, this edition brings together all of our latest Alabama content, from Preseason All-State events and The Hotlist to in-depth high school team previews and other additional news from around the state. With content continuing to roll out at a high level, our coverage remains second to none, offering readers an unmatched look at Alabama’s high school baseball landscape. Below, you’ll find a complete rundown of all articles and notable updates released throughout the past week.

Upcoming North AL Preseason All-State

The Preseason All-State events have quickly grown into some of the largest and most talent-rich showcases on our annual calendar, consistently attracting many of the top prospects from across the state of Alabama. The preseason environment often produces peak performances, as athletes arrive fresh off focused and intentional offseason training programs that frequently result in significant gains. This timing makes the event an ideal opportunity for players to update and elevate their Prep Baseball profiles while positioning themselves for potential invitations to some of the summer’s premier invite-only events, including the Yellowhammer State Games, Future Games, All-American Game, Super 60, and more.

 

The 2026 North AL Preseason All-State is scheduled for Saturday, January 17th, at the Hartselle HS Indoor facility in Hartselle, AL. This invite-only event will feature many of the state’s top 2026–2030 prospects, with the pro-style workout split into three sessions based on positions and pitchers throwing bullpens at the end of the event. To learn more about tomorrow's event in Hartselle, AL, CLICK HERE to read the full event preview.

UPDATE: The North AL Preseason All-State is now SOLD OUT.

To request an invite to the 2026 North AL Preseason All-State, CLICK HERE.

South AL Preseason All-State Recap

The South AL Preseason All-State, one of the premier events on the Prep Baseball calendar, took place on Sunday, January 11th at the Orange Beach Sportsplex in Orange Beach, AL. This invite-only showcase brought together top prospects from the 2026-2030 classes, all aiming to make an early statement as the spring season approaches.

Athletes went through a comprehensive pro-style workout featuring TrackMan- and Blast Motion-tracked batting practice, 60-yard dash testing powered by VALD Performance, and a full defensive evaluation. Pitchers also threw simulated bullpens, with advanced data captured via TrackMan, including velocity, spin rate, and horizontal and vertical movement. The day showcased a strong blend of established standouts who continued their upward trajectories, alongside several emerging names who turned heads with breakout performances. Below are some top performers from the event:

+ RHP Andrew Bennett (Mobile Christian, 2026) delivered the most electric bullpen of the day, looking every bit like one of the premier arms in Alabama’s 2026 class. Listed at 6-foot-4, 211 pounds, the Pensacola State CC recruit carries quality, proportional strength throughout a long, durable frame that projects to handle innings. His fastball lived 90-92 mph and topped at 92.1 mph, spinning consistently over 2500 RPM (max 2668 RPM) with occasional cutting action that added another layer of difficulty for hitters. He paired it with a devastating 78-82 mph slider that showed hard, late downward bite and an eye-popping 3084 RPM spin rate, giving him legitimate swing-and-miss stuff. He also featured an 86-87 mph changeup with diving, fading action and an 87-88 mph cutter with true late horizontal movement, rounding out a deep, high-end arsenal that reinforces his status as one of the top senior arms in the state.

+ RHP/OF Brady Sack (Auburn, 2027) delivered another high-level look on the mound, continuing to build on his momentum as a 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games attendee. Listed at 6-foot-1, 182 pounds, the South Alabama recruit carries dynamic athleticism with real two-way traits, though his highest ceiling clearly points toward the mound, where he works with a confident plan and repeatable delivery. His fastball lived 88-90 mph and topped at 90.5 mph, pairing natural arm-side tail with a 20.0-inch top IVB that helped the pitch play with life through the zone. He featured one of the best sliders of the event, an 80-81 mph power slider with firm, late depth that tunneled exceptionally well off the fastball and passed both the metrics and the eye test. He also flashed an upper-70s changeup that mirrored the fastball’s arm-side action, rounding out a three-pitch mix that projects as high-end for his class.

+ RHP Bryant Hopkins (Valley, 2027) reinforced his standing as one of the top uncommitted arms in Alabama’s 2027 class, turning in another performance that pointed to continued upward trajectory after attending the 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games last summer. Listed at 6-foot-1, 184 pounds, he owns a medium, athletic build with clear room to add strength while working with an athletic, free-flowing delivery and a quick arm that created good downhill intent. His fastball operated 87-88 mph and topped at 88.6 mph, showing quality life with spin rates north of 2300 RPM. He paired it with one of the better breaking-ball combinations in the state, a 70-73 mph curveball with serious 11-5 depth and a top spin of 2813 RPM, along with a 72-75 mph slider featuring hard sweep and a peak spin of 2882 RPM, and rounded out the mix by flashing an 81-82 mph diving changeup, giving him a true four-pitch look to follow closely this spring.

+ RHP/SS Ethan O’Meara (Orange Beach, 2027) delivered one of the most electric bullpens of the event, emerging as a clear winner with big-time stuff that immediately jumped off the mound. Listed at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, he presents a lean, wiry, highly athletic build with obvious projection still ahead. Working from a two-piece arm stroke with excellent arm quickness, his fastball ranged 87-90 mph and topped at 91.6 mph, a notable jump from last summer, and consistently showed late hop with arm-side run that made the pitch play even quicker than the radar reading. He spun two distinct breakers,a 74-77 mph curveball with depth and a 76-77 mph slider with more lateral shape, while also turning over an 82-83 mph changeup as a legitimate fourth offering. All signs point to him taking another step forward this spring as he continues to develop into one of the premier arms in Alabama’s 2027 class.

+ SS/RHP Tucker Richardson (Faith Academy, 2030) stood out as one of the youngest players in attendance yet clearly separated himself from much older competition with a truly advanced showing. Listed at 6-foot, 164 pounds, he owns a wiry, athletic, and highly projectable frame with obvious room to continue adding strength. Offensively, he worked from a relaxed, rhythmic setup from the right side, showing a fast, whippy barrel and a clean, fluid path on an upward plane, producing high-level impact to the pull side with a 95.1 mph max exit velocity and a 366-foot max distance. Defensively, he projects to stay at shortstop and led the event with a 93 mph infield velocity as an eighth-grader, while also running a 7.11-second 60-yard dash to round out the athletic profile. Though he didn’t throw in the bullpen, he owns an upper-80s fastball on the mound, and based on long-term evaluations from our staff, he may be as advanced at this stage as any eighth-grade prospect we’ve followed, firmly establishing himself as one of the top young players in the country.

+ SS JB Upton (Auburn, 2027) continued to trend upward as a high-end middle-infield prospect, building on momentum from his Prep Baseball Future Games appearance this past summer. Listed at 5-foot-11, 192 pounds, he brings compact strength and twitchy athletic actions throughout the profile. From the left side during BP, he showed easy lift to the pull side with a simple load that gets down early, swinging fast and producing consistent loud contact with real hit/power upside. The tools were backed by standout metrics, as he led the event with a 101.9 mph max exit velocity, ran a 6.77-second 60-yard dash, and showed arm strength across the infield up to 91 mph. A Jacksonville State recruit, he looks poised to continue ascending and remains a premium prospect heading into the spring.

+ SS Jacob Thomas (Orange Beach, 2028) emerged as one of the biggest winners from the day, continuing to position himself as a prime candidate for a breakout 2026 campaign. Listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, he owns a medium, athletic frame with present strength and room to continue developing physically. Offensively, he showed an advanced look from the right side with a smooth, efficient operation and excellent feel for the barrel, working with a level swing that consistently found the barrel while using the whole field. The performance was backed by the metrics, as he ran a 7.04-second 60-yard dash and posted a 94.0 mph max exit velocity, pairing athleticism with impact. With a confident demeanor and controlled approach, he was one of our staff’s favorite looks of the event and has a strong chance to put together a big spring.

+ SS Cal Lawrence (Glenwood, 2026) delivered one of the more consistent and impactful offensive showings of the event, continuing to trend as a high-level uncommitted bat in the senior class. Listed at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, he brings proportional strength and athleticism throughout the profile. From the right side during BP, he worked with a rhythmic operation, separating well in the load and using his strength efficiently to drive the baseball with authority and intent to the pull side. The impact was evident in the metrics, as he posted a 98.5 mph max exit velocity, 94.4 mph average EV, and a 386-foot max distance, while also running a 6.82-second 60-yard dash. Coming off a strong junior season that helped lead Glenwood to a state title, he continues to look like one of the top uncommitted hitters in the 2026 class and a prime follow this spring.

+ SS/RHP Cooper Mason (Bayside Academy, 2030) stood out in a big way despite being one of the youngest players in attendance, consistently separating himself against much older competition. Listed at 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, he owns an athletic, lean frame with significant room to add strength over the coming years and already shows advanced traits for an eighth-grader. Offensively, he hits from an upright stance and repeats the swing with ease, showing a clean, fluid path, present bat speed, and a line-drive approach with clear power potential evident down the road. On the mound, he flashed intriguing two-way upside, topping out at 84.1 mph with the fastball while mixing his off-speed pitches well from a smooth, athletic delivery that projects for sizable velocity gains. Already regarded as one of the top prospects in the state’s 2030 class, he brings massive upside and is a high-level young name to follow closely moving forward.

+ SS Harrison Milanowski (Houston Academy, 2028) continued to separate himself as one of the top shortstops in the state, consistently performing at a high level and backing it up with loud tools. Listed at 5-foot-10, 162 pounds, he’s added noticeable strength since the last viewing, and it’s showing up across the profile. At the plate, he showed an accurate barrel with consistent firm contact to both gaps during BP, repeating the swing well with a toe-tap trigger while rotating efficiently and using the lower half to generate power from the ground up. The impact was evident as he posted a 99.3 mph max exit velocity and a 380-foot max distance, while defensively he showed easy athletic actions with range at shortstop, working up to 88 mph across the infield and running a 6.72-second 60-yard dash. Ranked No. 10 overall in Alabama’s 2028 class, he remains a high-follow prospect with continued upward momentum heading into the spring.

+ C Brue Milner (Tallassee, 2027) continued to solidify his status as one of the premier bats in the state’s 2027 class, showing a thick, physical 5-foot-10, 208-pound build with elite impact ability. At the plate, he worked with tons of controlled aggression from the right side, using an early toe-tap trigger to get the foot down on time while unleashing elite hand and bat speed that ranked near the top of multiple Blast Motion categories. He consistently lifted the baseball with authority to the pull side during BP, posting a 101.3 mph max exit velocity and driving balls up to 378 feet, two of the loudest offensive marks of the event. Defensively, he showed polish behind the plate with a quick transfer and fast feet, leading the event with a 1.80 pop time. Ranked No. 7 overall in Alabama’s 2027 class, the Georgia Tech commit and recent Future Games attendee continues to check every box as a high-level prospect heading into the spring.

+ OF Dorsett Jackson (Prattville, 2026) remains among the top uncommitted position players in Alabama’s 2026 class, consistently flashing explosive actions and impact tools at the event. Listed at 6-foot, 177 pounds, he owns a lean, wiry frame with quick, twitchy actions and athleticism that shows up across the profile. From the left side during BP, he worked with an active stance and tight, connected movements, swinging with intent and showing the ability to impact the baseball to the pull side. The power was evident in the metrics, as he posted a 98.8 mph max exit velocity and a 379-foot max distance, while also leading the event with a 6.60-second 60-yard dash and showing arm strength up to 89 mph from the outfield. With the combination of speed, power, and athleticism, he’s an explosive follow and a name to get on before it’s too late in the 2026 class.

+ OF Evan Money (Headland, 2028) reinforced his standing among the top-20 prospects in Alabama’s 2028 class with a well-rounded showing and tools that played throughout the event. Listed at 5-foot-10, 168 pounds, he brings an athletic build with medium strength and room to continue adding more as he matures physically. Offensively, he worked from the right side with a smooth, easy operation, showing a well-connected swing that synced up consistently on a clean, level path through the zone to produce firm contact throughout BP. The performance was backed by the data, as he posted a 97.1 mph max exit velocity, ran a 7.15-second 60-yard dash, and showed arm strength from the outfield up to 90 mph. With the tools continuing to trend up, he has a chance to put together a true breakout season and emerge as one of the top outfielders in the 2028 class this spring.

MORE SALPAS26 CONTENT:

Preseason ID Content Wrap-Up

This past week, we concluded our post-event coverage from both Preseason ID stops, beginning with the Birmingham Preseason ID on January 4th at StrongBox Indoor, which attracted more than 60 prospects from across Alabama. The following day, we continued the tour at the Huntsville Preseason ID on January 5th at Clutch Performance, delivering another strong day of evaluations. Each event featured a deep and competitive talent pool, headlined by the No. 1 prospects in Alabama’s 2028 and 2029 classes, along with a number of other standout performers who made their presence felt.

BIRMINGHAM PRESEASON ID

HUNTSVILLE PRESEASON ID

The Prep Baseball Hotlist

The Hotlist is a weekly national series that delivers timely insight into the high school baseball landscape, curated by Prep Baseball’s network of state directors positioned across the country. Each week, directors provide boots-on-the-ground intel on prospects in their own backyards, offering a snapshot of players, trends, and storylines that align with the most relevant points on the baseball calendar. With topics rotating weekly based on seasonality, The Hotlist serves as a nationwide pulse check on amateur baseball, blending local evaluations with a broader national perspective.

This week’s topic: With Preseason IDs underway across the country, we’re highlighting prospects who have stood out early and are worth following into the spring. Please submit a middle infield prospect from your state who impressed at a recent Preseason ID.

This week’s Alabama entry features SS Brody Blevins (Westbrook Christian), a standout uncommitted prospect in the 2027 class who starred at the Birmingham Preseason ID. ⤵️

“SS Brody Blevins (Westbrook Christian, 2027) continues to trend upward as one of the more athletic, high-upside infielders in attendance, with noticeable strength gains on display throughout the Birmingham Preseason ID. A multi-year varsity contributor, the sophomore delivered the event’s loudest BP round, posting a 100.3 mph max exit velocity and producing repeated hard contact to all fields. At the plate, he employs an early load and controlled leg kick, getting the barrel on plane early and rotating with intent through contact. His athleticism also showed up in the testing portion, turning in a 3.83-second 30-yard dash. Blevins remains a strong uncommitted follow in Alabama’s 2027 class heading into the spring.”

Brody Blevins - (01/06/2026)

The Winter Pulse

Continuing on the national stage this week was a brand-new piece of content titled The Winter Pulse, a comprehensive leaderboard compiling key statistics collected from all Preseason ID events held across the country. This feature offers an early snapshot of top performers nationwide as the preseason circuit gets underway. With several big-time performances coming out of both the Huntsville and Birmingham Preseason ID events, Alabama was well represented, with numerous in-state prospects appearing throughout the leaderboards and making an early statement this winter. Below are those Alabama prospects featured in the article:

Exit Velocity (Avg.)

Bat Speed (Avg.)

Rotational Acceleration (Avg.)

Vizual Edge Score

Max Vertical Jump

Fastball Velocity (Max)

Fastball Spin Rate (Avg.)

  • SS/RHP Evan Young (Huntsville, 2029) - 2325 RPM (7th)

Fastball Horizontal Break (Avg.)

Changeup Induced Vertical Break (Avg.)

  • RHP Landon Lee (Lindsay Lane Christian, 2030) - 20.3 in. (3rd)

Changeup Horizontal Break (Avg.)

  • SS/RHP Evan Young (Huntsville, 2029) - 18.9 in. (6th)

To see the full Preseason ID leaderboards, CLICK HERE.

2026 High School Team Previews

Continuing our daily rollout, we released a new batch of high school team previews over the past week, offering an in-depth look at programs across the state heading into the upcoming season. Each preview is built directly from questionnaires submitted by high school coaches and provides a comprehensive breakdown of each team, including overall outlook, top returning players, key underclassmen to know, the 2025 finish, and much more. These previews will continue to be released daily as we count down to first pitch in February. High school coaches who did not receive a questionnaire and would like their program featured can email [email protected] to receive one. Please note that questionnaires are available to high school coaches only.

To view all team previews released up to this point, CLICK HERE.

Previewing the 2026 season for the Ardmore Tigers.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Florala Wildcats.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Madison County Tigers.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Addison Bulldogs.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Wetumpka Indians.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Thomasville Tigers.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Gardendale Rockets.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Sardis Lions.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Hazel Green Trojans.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Lauderdale County Tigers.

Uncommitted Spotlights

This past week, we continued our Uncommitted Spotlights, a recurring fall series that highlights some of Alabama’s top uncommitted prospects in the junior and senior classes. Released every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the fall, these features focus on talented upperclassmen as they head into the offseason and enter the final stages of their high school careers. With many still available, some overlooked and others quietly flying under the radar, this series provides valuable exposure for players actively seeking the right opportunity to compete at the next level.

To view all uncommitted spotlights released up to this point, CLICK HERE.

Spotlighting SS Cason Smith, an uncommitted 2027 grad from Pell City HS.
Spotlighting C Perrin Gomez, an uncommitted 2026 grad from Dothan HS.

Recent Commitments

Rounding out the week, we highlighted a wave of recent commitments in the Classes of 2026 and 2027, spotlighting prospects who took the next step in their recruiting journeys. This section recaps the latest 2026 and 2027 pledges from the past week, recognizing both the players and programs as decisions continue to come off the board.

Class of 2026 Commitments

  • SS/RHP Max Crowder (Hoover, 2026) has committed to Snead State CC.
  • INF Carter Judah (Glenwood, 2026) has committed to Lurleen B. Wallace CC.
  • C/RHP Bryce McElroy (Demopolis, 2026) has committed to Gadsden State CC.
  • C Brayden Palmore (Lincoln, 2026) has committed to Central Alabama CC.
  • SS Mayson Elam (Northridge, 2026) has committed to West Alabama.

Class of 2027 Commitments

  • RHP/OF Brody Jacobi (Saraland, 2027) has committed to Jones College CC.
To view all 2026 commitments, CLICK HERE.
To view all 2027 commitments, CLICK HERE.

UPCOMING EVENTS ⤵️

SHOWCASE DATE LOCATION
North AL Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) January 17th, 2026 Hartselle High School Indoor (Hartselle, AL)

 

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