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Week in Review: Jan. 17-23

January 23, 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 17-23, 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.

2026 Preseason Event Slate Complete ✅

We open the new week by officially wrapping up the 2026 Preseason Event Slate, marking the conclusion of our largest preseason in Prep Baseball Alabama history. Over the past few weeks, our staff traveled across the state to host four high-level events, including two Preseason IDs and two Preseason All-State showcases, bringing together a deep pool of talent from across Alabama. We’d like to extend a sincere thank you to all players, parents, and staff who helped make this preseason such a success. Below, you’ll find post-event content from each of the four events released so far.

BIRMINGHAM PRESEASON ID

HUNTSVILLE PRESEASON ID

SOUTH AL PRESEASON ALL-STATE

NORTH AL PRESEASON ALL-STATE

The 2026 summer schedule release is right around the corner, with the Yellowhammer State Games slated for June 16-17, 2026 at River Run Park in Northport, AL serving as a marquee event.

North AL Preseason All-State Recap

The North AL Preseason All-State, one of the premier events on the Prep Baseball calendar, took place on Sunday, January 17th at the Hartselle High School Indoor in Hartselle, AL. This invite-only showcase brought together top prospects from the 2026-2029 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, 30-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:

+ 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. He lived at 92-93 mph with the fastball, pairing the velocity with premium metrics, including 21.1 inches of induced vertical break and a 2469 RPM max spin rate, allowing the pitch to play up with late life and carry through the zone, especially when elevated. The curveball showed hard, snappy 11-5 depth at 74-75 mph with spin rates topping at 2294 RPM, while he also killed spin effectively on a 77-78 mph changeup that showed consistent arm-side fade. The combination of premium fastball traits, feel for spin, and elite athleticism gives Barnett one of the highest ceilings on the mound in Alabama’s 2027 class, with his projection continuing to trend firmly upward.

+ RHP Hudson Olive (Bob Jones, 2028) turned in one of the most intriguing pitching performances of the preseason, showing both present stuff and a ceiling that stands out among underclassmen. A 6-foot-2, 173-pounder, he’s a highly projectable, lean athlete with the frame and arm speed to continue making meaningful jumps over the next few years. Working from a quick high three-quarter slot, the right-hander lived 88-89 mph and topped at 89.5 mph, pairing the velocity with eye-opening fastball traits, including a 24.1-inch induced vertical break and a 2477 RPM max spin rate, giving the pitch big carry and the ability to miss over barrels up in the zone. His slider showed true out-pitch qualities at 80-81 mph, spinning north of 2400 RPM with late, deceptive action, and he rounded out the arsenal by turning over a 80-81 mph changeup with good pronation. With this blend of metrics, athleticism, and projection, Olive continues to separate himself as one of the premier arms in Alabama’s 2028 class and a high-priority follow as the spring approaches.

+ RHP/3B Ivan Hand (Briarwood Christian, 2028) brought an edge to the mound and backed it up with some of the most electric stuff thrown all day. A 6-foot, 209-pounder, he owns a compact, physical build with a strong lower half and attacks hitters with a true bulldog mentality. The sophomore right-hander sat 90-91 mph and topped at 91.7 mph with the fastball, showing typical arm-side action while consistently pounding the zone and earning a 104 Hop+ score. His slider worked 75-76 mph with short, deceptive break and effective tunneling off the fastball, and he rounded out the mix with a 78-80 mph changeup that added another look. He also flashed legitimate two-way upside, pairing the mound performance with a physical right-handed swing that produced a 98.1 mph max exit velocity during BP.

+ 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. The fastball worked 89-90 mph and topped at 90.7 mph, showing consistent spin north of 2350 RPM, a 20.0-inch max induced vertical break, natural arm-side run, and a 100% zone rate. His slider was a true separator at 74-75 mph, spinning up to 2710 RPM with hard, sweeping action and averaging 21.1 inches of horizontal movement, while the 81-82 mph changeup added a reliable third look with arm-side fade. Living in the zone with all three offerings, Dardin continues to reinforce his upside on both sides of the ball as a high-level uncommitted prospect in Alabama’s 2027 class.

+ 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. The fastball worked 85-86 mph and topped at 86.1 mph, showing carry with a 19.6-inch induced vertical break and clean release from a high three-quarter slot. His slider operated 73-77 mph with firm 11-5 shape, spinning up to 2481 RPM and tunneling effectively off the fastball, while the 74-75 mph changeup killed spin at 882 RPM and showed late diving action. The right-hander shows plenty of intriguing components and traits to build on in the future.

+ OF/LHP Brayden Entrekin (Russellville, 2028) emerged as one of the clear biggest winners from the event, showing a noticeable jump in physicality and overall impact that continues to elevate his profile. Standing 5-foot-9, 175-pounds, he’s added over 10 pounds of strength in just the past few months, and it’s showing up in a big way offensively. From the left side, he showed tons of controlled bat speed with improved impactability, leveraging the lower half well and staying on plane through the zone while maintaining a polished, gamer-type hit tool. The gains translated to the metrics, as he ran a 3.93 30-yard dash, was up to 92 mph from the outfield, and posted a 102.7 mph max exit velocity, a significant jump from his previous best of 97.8 mph last June. On the mound, he continues to offer legitimate two-way value, working 85-86 mph and topping at 86.6 mph from a clean, repeatable delivery while showing pitchability with a four-pitch mix, making him a prime candidate for a breakout 2026 campaign.

+ OF Bryson Hodge (James Clemens, 2028) continued to separate himself from his peers with one of the loudest all-around tool sets in the 2028 class. Listed at 6-foot-1, 170-pounds, he owns an athletic, highly projectable frame that still has plenty of room to add strength as he matures physically. At the plate, he worked from a relaxed, balanced stance with a controlled leg kick, showing explosive quick-twitch actions and the ability to drive the baseball with authority to the pull-side gap. The athleticism showed up loudly in the testing, as he ran a 3.91 30-yard dash, posted a 101.1 mph max exit velocity, and turned in eye-opening Blast Motion numbers, including a 28.9 mph average hand speed and 37.8 Gs of rotational acceleration, among the highest recorded by our staff. With the tools continuing to trend upward, he profiles as a high-ceiling outfielder to know heading into the spring.

+ OF Ross Christy (Fultondale, 2029) continues to show an advanced skill set and maturity that separates him from most freshmen in the state. Coming at 5-foot-9, 177-pounds, he owns a strong, athletic build with an impressive blend of strength and quickness that plays across the profile. At the plate, he worked from a wider stance with a slight toe-tap trigger, driving the barrel on a strong upward path and impacting the baseball with ease throughout his round. The power showed up loud as he posted a 101.4 mph max exit velocity, further validating his standing as a top-100 ranked prospect nationally and No. 3 overall prospect in Alabama’s 2029 class.

MORE NALPAS26 CONTENT:

AHSAA Reclassification Announcement

Another major headline this week came with a monumental announcement from the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), marking a historic shift in Alabama high school athletics. On Friday, January 23rd, the AHSAA announced that public and private schools will split for championship competition beginning next fall, while still allowing the two to compete against one another during the regular season. This decision represents a significant change to the competitive landscape across all sports in the state.

The move marks the first time in the AHSAA’s 104-year history that all member schools will not compete for the same state championships. While the announcement establishes the framework for the change, additional details, including area assignments, postseason formats, and championship brackets, are expected to be released soon. As more information becomes available, we’ll continue to monitor and cover how this decision impacts high school baseball and athletics statewide.

You can find more information on the announcement at the AHSAA website.

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 JUCO Opening Weekend underway, we’re spotlighting JUCO prospects who are worth following this spring. Please submit a JUCO player (or a few) from your state who you believe could make an impact this season. Include where you’ve seen them, what stands out in their game, and why they’re a name to know as the JUCO season gets going.

This week’s Alabama entry features RHP Gabe Benton, a standout right-hander pitcher from Snead State CC who is committed to South Alabama and starred at the 2025 AL JUCO Fall Showcase. ⤵️

“Sophomore RHP Gabe Benton (Snead State) continues to trend upward, flashing an extremely high ceiling on the mound this fall at the ACCC Fall Showcase held at the newly opened River Run Park. The right-hander boasts an athletic, well-proportioned 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame with plenty of physical projection still ahead. His fastball operated comfortably at 91-92 mph, touching 93, showing life through the zone and the ability to miss barrels. The separator is a true wipeout slider at 82-85 mph (2295 RPM), featuring sharp action and late bite while generating consistent swing-and-miss. With size, athleticism, and two already above-average offerings in place, Benton is poised to make a significant impact for the Parsons this spring. ”

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 Faith Academy Rams.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Douglas Eagles.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Pike Road Patriots.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Wilson Warriors.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Central-Coosa County Cougars.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Montgomery Academy Eagles.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Ashville Bulldogs.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Fayette County Tigers.
Previewing the 2026 season for the Guntersville Wildcats.

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 OF Charlie Maniscalco, an uncommitted 2027 grad from Oxford HS.
Spotlighting C Easton Grace, an uncommitted 2026 grad from WS Neal 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

  • OF Dorsett Jackson (Prattville) has committed to Shelton State CC.
  • SS Brice Brooks (Elberta) has committed to Bishop State CC.
  • C/RHP Ryan Farr (Auburn) has committed to Chattahoochee Valley CC.
  • RHP Parker Robinson (Gardendale) has committed to Lawson State CC.
  • RHP Ryne Paquette (Spain Park) has committed to Huntingdon College.
  • C Ford Sparkman (Decatur Heritage Christian) has committed to Snead State CC.
  • SS Cal Lawrence (Glenwood) has committed to Georgia Highlands CC.
  • C Owen Todd (Buckhorn) has committed to Wallace-Hanceville CC.
To view all 2026 commitments, CLICK HERE.
To view all 2027 commitments, CLICK HERE.

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