Alabama Fall Watchlist: Vol. II
August 28, 2026
Prep Baseball Alabama Staff
ALABAMA - With the summer circuit in the rearview mirror and the fall season beginning to take shape, our staff continues to take a closer look at prospects across the state who warrant continued attention over the coming months. Throughout the fall, this series will highlight players from multiple graduating classes who have stood out through our evaluations and remain intriguing follows as development continues.
The Fall Watchlist is not intended to serve as a rankings update, but rather an opportunity to spotlight players who have caught our attention through their performance, tools, projection, or continued development. Some have already established themselves as known names within their respective classes, while others continue to trend upward and could see their stock rise with another strong fall.
PREVIOUS EDITIONS:
Below, we take a look at another group of prospects from Alabama's 2027-2030 classes who remain firmly on our radar heading into the fall.
Uncommitted Seniors 🔍
With the fall season underway, the 2027 class remains a priority on the recruiting trail. With the Senior Future Games recently concluding, this section will also provide an opportunity to highlight additional uncommitted seniors throughout the class who warrant attention from college programs. While Senior Future Games participants will certainly be featured throughout the series, the goal is to continue expanding the follow list and bringing attention to more uncommitted prospects across the state.
An athletic, versatile profile with plenty to like for college programs still evaluating the 2027 class. At 6-foot-1, 184 pounds, the left-handed hitter works through a clean, compact operation with tight turns and a consistent ability to find the barrel, showing a gap-to-gap approach with some developing power. He reached a 93.2 mph EV at the Yellowhammer State Games, while the athleticism translates defensively with the ability to work behind the plate and handle multiple spots around the diamond. He remains uncommitted heading into the fall and should continue to draw interest as programs get a closer look.
A strong, physical backstop who continues to show plenty of offensive intrigue heading into the fall. At 6-foot, 198 pounds, he stays simple in the box with a quick stride for timing and a connected swing that allows him to consistently impact the baseball from gap to gap. The strength plays through the barrel with present power, reaching a 98.0 mph EV while averaging 94.0 mph during his round at the Yellowhammer State Games. Brockwell also showed solid catch-and-throw ability behind the plate, producing pop times ranging from 2.04-2.12 seconds with throws up to 77 mph. He remains an uncommitted senior with a well-rounded skill set at a premium position.
A physical right-handed bat with some of the louder raw power among the uncommitted seniors in the state. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound third baseman has a swing geared to lift, working on an uphill path with strength through the zone and the ability to do damage when he catches the baseball out front. That impact showed in-game this spring, including a hard single into the left-center gap and a laser double down the left-field line during one of our looks. There’s plenty of offensive upside in the profile, while his mobility, body control, and natural actions at the hot corner give him a chance to provide value on both sides of the ball.
A two-way prospect who continued to trend upward throughout the spring and really caught our attention during Opp's deep playoff run. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder has present strength with room for more, showing a leveraged left-handed swing that can produce loud contact and drive the baseball with authority. He consistently found the barrel in our looks, with the offensive impact becoming increasingly evident as the season progressed. There's also intrigue on the mound, where the right-hander has worked up into the upper-80s with a quick arm. The two-way ability and remaining physical upside make Nelson an uncommitted senior worth following closely this fall.
2028's To Follow 📈
Alabama's 2028 class has entered an important stage in the recruiting process, and there remains plenty of talent to follow throughout the state. With the Future Games recently concluding, this section will also provide an opportunity to highlight additional prospects throughout the class who warrant attention heading into the fall. While Future Games participants will certainly be featured throughout the series, the goal is to continue expanding the follow list and bringing attention to players across the state.
RHP Ivan Hand, Briarwood Christian (AL), 2028
Hand was simply dominant in our playoff look this spring, attacking hitters at a rapid pace while showing both stuff and advanced strike-throwing ability. The physical 6-foot, 208-pound right-hander worked at 87-89 mph and touched 90 with the fastball, generating double-digit whiffs, while mixing a 77-78 mph slider and 80-82 mph changeup to keep hitters off balance. He finished six scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts, no walks, and just one hit allowed, throwing 71% strikes on only 87 pitches. There's a bulldog quality to the way he operates, and the combination of tempo, strikes, and a legitimate three-pitch mix makes him an intriguing 2028 arm to continue following.
The summer felt like a breakout stretch for Thompson, who jumped out at the Excel Scout Day and continued to produce at the plate throughout the circuit. A quick-twitch athlete at 5-foot-9, 179 pounds, he packs proportional strength into the frame and generates high-level bat speed from the left side, with the ball coming off the barrel with authority. The tools are equally loud, posting a 6.42 60-yard dash, 86 mph from the outfield, and a 102.1 mph EV. He gets out of the box in a hurry and brings an intriguing blend of speed, strength, and offensive impact that continued to show up throughout the summer.
Pacheco was in the midst of a strong spring and summer before an injury ultimately kept him from attending the Future Games. The 6-foot, 180-pound backstop has continued to establish himself as one of the top catchers in Alabama's 2028 class, with the right-handed bat leading the profile. He showed exactly that during one of our better spring looks, going 4-for-5 with two home runs while consistently finding the barrel and showing an upward path with the ability to drive the baseball from foul pole to foul pole. The tools continued to show during the summer, recording a 97.7 mph EV, 6.96 60-yard dash, and 1.93-1.99 pop times. There's athleticism behind the plate and plenty of offensive impact to continue following.
Few players in the 2028 class elevated their stock more throughout the spring than Carter, who seemingly hit every time we saw him against quality competition. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound infielder brings a quick-twitch element to the right-handed swing with advanced bat-to-ball skills and an exceptional feel for the barrel. He stays simple and efficient, using quick hands and a short, direct path to manipulate the barrel and handle different pitch shapes, while producing more impact than the frame might suggest. Carter showed that ability against velocity as well, consistently handling older arms and later turning around an upper-80s fastball for a double in one of our spring looks. He should carry plenty of momentum into the fall.
Underclass Names to Know 🌟
The younger classes across Alabama continue to take shape, with plenty of talent already beginning to emerge from the 2029 and 2030 groups. Evaluations at this stage lean heavily on present tools, athleticism, baseball ability, and long-term projection as these players continue to develop physically. This section will highlight some of the younger prospects who have already caught our staff's attention and are worth knowing early.
The No. 1 prospect in Alabama's 2029 class and No. 10 nationally, Blalock possesses some of the more impressive arm talent in the country for his age. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound right-hander offers considerable projection with a fastball already working at 90-92 mph and showing arm-side life from a deceptive low three-quarter slot. His mid-70s slider gives him a legitimate swing-and-miss weapon, showing feel and sweep, while a low-80s changeup flashes as a third offering. Already operating in the low-90s as a rising sophomore, there's plenty more velocity to dream on as the frame continues to mature.
Wisdom has been producing at the varsity level since his eighth-grade season and continues to look advanced beyond his years against quality competition. The No. 2 prospect in Alabama's 2029 class brings a polished offensive approach from the right side, rarely looking sped up while showing mature swing decisions and an advanced feel for the barrel. He consistently adjusts to different pitch shapes, uses the entire field, and has shown the ability to handle older arms. Coming off a freshman spring in which he hit .353 with 41 hits, the former Junior Future Gamer remains one of the premier positional prospects in the class.
Embry made an immediate impression in his Prep Baseball showcase debut this summer before carrying that momentum into the Junior Future Games. A talented three-sport athlete, the 5-foot-11 prospect brings noticeable athleticism to both sides of the ball, highlighted by a 6.75 60-yard dash and 92 mph arm from the outfield. The right-handed swing features present bat speed and quality lag, working uphill with good direction while staying through the baseball. There's two-way intrigue as well, as Embry has worked 84-85 mph and touched 86 on the mound from a higher slot with a 66-69 mph breaking ball showing true 12-6 shape. There's a lot to follow here as he continues to develop physically.
Richardson has already made his presence felt at the varsity level, playing a key role in Faith Academy's run to the Class 5A state title as an eighth grader this spring. One of the top 2030 prospects in the country, the former Junior Future Gamer brings high-end athleticism and explosive actions to the field with advanced skills on both sides of the ball. There's noticeable whippiness in the barrel with quick hands and an athletic move through impact, showing the ability to drive the baseball with authority. The athleticism stands out just as much defensively, where his actions and ability on the infield are already well advanced for his age.
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