With our observations this year and what feedback we are receiving from college coaches and professional scouts 2011 may be one of Alabama's best classes in awhile. There may even be a glut in some positions, such as catchers and middle infielders. While the 2010 class looks promising, the 2011 class has some players that are well above average. We have found numerous occasions this spring where upper level baseball program have sophomore starters. To start is one thing, but some of these are the top players in their respective programs.
Consider a few that we have uncovered this spring:
Ben Moore (OF/IF/C) Ben is a very versatile player out of Cullman High School who shows advanced skills in all positions we have seen him play (3B/C/CF). Likely his best position is in the outfield where he utilizes his speed well. He takes good angles and makes good reads off the bat. His glove is soft and his arm is well above average. His best tool is likely his bat. He hits for average and power with good bat control. He centers balls well and creates backspin and carry. He also can hit to the opposite field with some authority. His 6-0/175 frame projects and he is one of the top prospects in the state.
Jacob Croft (RHP)
Jacob is a right handed pitcher out of Sylvania High School with now skills. His body is on the small side for recruiters attention at 6-0/175, but his arm gets your attention quickly. His fastball sits upper 80's and he spots it up well. His best pitch may be his curve, or should we say curve's'. He throws his breaking pitches at two different speeds and arm slots. His normal arm slot is OT and creates a hammer 12/6 rotation on one of them. The other is thrown harder and is more of a 11/5 break with late bite. Both are nice pitches for him. His CH is developing at this point but is not bad at the present. His mound presence is impressive for a sophomore. He is a bulldog on the hill a demands respect.
Drew Mobley (RHP/1B) Drew could become a two way player for some upper level college. He attends Madison Academy and is a two way starter for the Mustangs. He has now skills on the mound with an upper 80's fastball and nice off-speed. He has the size to get attention at 6-4/200 and projects to get bigger. He is still "fuzzy faced" and has growth ahead of him. He also is impressive at the plate with tremendous bat speed. He can hit some monster shots, but has a tendency to go after the ball with youthful enthusiasm rather than waiting on it. As he matures he will get much better and could become a special talent.
Daniel Moore (RHP) Daniel is a tall right hander from Cullman High School with a prototypical pitcher's body at 6-4/185. It projects and he will get much stronger. He has a mid 80's fastball with an advanced off-speed. He also knows how to pitch and shows good composure on the mound. He has a large upside and is one to watch very closely this summer as he develops. With added muscle he could make a big jump before next spring.
Jacob Milliman (RHP) Jacob is a tall strong RHP out of Stanhope Elmore High Schoolwith a prototypical power pitcher's frame at 6-4/210. His fastball will sit 85-86mph now, but has more in the tank. He need to refine his mechanics, but there is a ton of raw skills in this one.
Peyton Fuller (RHP/MIF)
Wes Kent (IF/OF)
Wes is a nice athletic player with speed from Fairhope High School. He has softness in his glove and good range. He can play the middle infield or move to the outfield. His arm strength is above average and he can be an early lineup type hitter. He possesses fast twitch actions that translate well for him in the middle infield. Nice prospect as an MIF or outfielder.
Ajay Snow (OF) Ajay has the potential to become a game changing type player. He is a power hitting outfielder from Leroy High School. He has above average defensive skills with softness in his glove. He ranges well and shows enough speed to play the corners with adequate arm strength. His best tool at this point is his bat. He flashes nice bat speed with good pop in his bat. His stroke is good, but needs some help to fully utilize his lower half. At 6-4/180 he projects well and has a lot of room for growth. With some tweaking at the plate he could become a very special talent in the state. The raw tools are present.
Austin Carpenter (RHP/3B) Austin is a strong 6-1/185 RHP out of Ft. Payne High School. His fastball sits in the mid 80's with nice late run. His curve is a nice pitch at 71mph and a 11-5 tight tilt to it. He pitches well and locates his fastball and curve well to both sides of the plate. He needs to improve his change-up, but is good enough to be effective now at the high school level. He still has growth in his frame and projects to get bigger.
Justin Camp (RHP) Justin is a thick bodied right hander out of Austin High School. He has a fast arm with a fastball that sits easy at 86-87 and will bump 90 occasionally. Arm strength and body are present, but he needs to learn to repeat his delivery and command his pitches better. His curve has a 11-5 tilt with nice action. With a little maturity, added mound presence and the right help polishing his mechanics he could become special.
Dylan Boston (1B/C) Dylan is a 6-3/210 power hitter from Sheffield High School. He shows nice defensive skills at either corner infield position and catcher. His strength is his bat. He is a very advanced hitter who knows "how to hit" and with a lot of power. He shows good plate presence and patience with a fast bat. He centers balls well and hits oppo with authority. He is a hitting talent that should get much better.
Dylan Williams (LHP) Dyan is a promising southpaw out of American Christian Academy. He has advanced skills and a commanding mound presence. He spots his mid 80's fastball well and knows how to get outs.
A.J. Cole (IF) AJ is a smooth infielder from Huntsville High School with a nice frame at 6-2/185. He is best suited as a 3B and has the arm strength and bat for the position. His fielding mechanics are sound and advanced. His throws are on line and accurate. He possesses the quickness to handle the "hot corner" well. He is a power hitter at the plate with a lot of pop in his bat, but could hit earlier in the lineup if needed. He control the bat head well and can hit for average. We've seen a lot of development the last two years in him. If he continues at this space he could be a legitimate early to mid round draft prospect.
Evan East (C/P) Evan is a highly talented catcher from Fairhope High School with advanced skills. His arm is impressive on the mound sitting in the upper 80's. It translates to his best position behind the dish well with sub 2.0 live pop times. His setups are solid and blocking skills good. He has good feet and moves well behind the plate. He receives well and can work an umpire. He might be the best catcher in his class. Justin Kamplain (LHP) Justin is a competitive lefty out of Walker High School. He knows how to pitch and get outs quickly. He is a ground ball out type pitcher who can have some short games and limited pitch counts. His fastball sits in the 84-85mph range with above average off-speed. Alex Luna (RHP/1B) Alex is a two-way talent from Grissom High School as a RHP and first baseman. He is a LH hitter with the typical smooth stroke. He flashes bat speed with a lot of pop in his bat. His 6-4/185 frame has room to add a lot of muscle and strength in the next two years. On the hill his fastball sits 86-87mph. He has an OT slot that creates a nice bite of his curve, but occasionally flattens out his fastball. Defensively he is sound with athletic actions and good feet. He is a multisport athlete with nice skills. Josh Macurdy (RHP) Josh is a lean RHP out of Grissom High School with quickness in his arm. He competes well with a nice 83-85mph fastball and average off-speed. His body projects to get much stronger, which should add to his velocity.Daniel Koger (LHP) Daniel is a tall lanky southpaw from Huntsville High School.His 6-4/165 frame has alot of room to fill out and gain strength. He knows how to pitch and competes well. His fastball sits around 83-84 with run and sink action to it. He throws a nice slider that is an effective out pitch for him. His 3/4 slot shows some rigidity, but not enough to cause concern. He commands his fastball well to both sides of the plate.
Luke Leeth (LHP) Luke is another talented lefty from Huntsville High School. He has a bulldog mound presences that comes right after hitters. His arm works well from a H3/4 slot and shows strength with a fastball that sits 85-86mph. He also has a nice curve with tight spin and a 1-8 rotation. His body is small at 5-10/165, but he doesn't lack in talent on the mound and should gain a lot of attention this summer from colleges.
Jake Hubbard (RHP)Jake is a talented RHP out of Oak Mountain High School. His arm is fast and lively from a H3/4 slot. His mechanics are sound with a nice linear finish. His fastball sits 86-87mph and will bump 90 occasionally. His curve has a nice tight 11/5 rotation with some depth. He pitches in well to and spots up his fastball well. He has confidence and poise on the hill and competes. His frame projects some at 6-1/185 and he has a chance to be a dominant pitcher. At this point Jake is very advanced with polished pitching skills. His mechanics are impressive with the ability to repeat his delivery well. He shows average effort in his delivery and the ball gets out of his hand well. He is a nice prospect with a bright future if he can remain healthy. One to watch closely.
Trevor Fitts (RHP)Trevor is a nice RHP out of Pelham High School with an upside. He has a 6-1/175 frame and fast arm. His fastball sits upper 80's with some arm side tail action. He throws a nice slider at 75mph that has late bite action and is a good out pitch for him. He has a bulldog mound presence and competitive spirit. He is a "want the ball" type player. He shows a lot of effort at times in his delivery, but has now skills.
Brett Conner (OF) Brett is a small, speedy outfielder out of Briarwood Christian High School. He is the typical lead-off type hitter that controls the bat head well and can work the count deep. He shows some pop in his bat with gap to gap power. Defensively he is good with solid reads, good jumps and enough speed to run balls down. His size might be a drawback to some schools at 5-6/155, but he can play at the college level.
Carter White (C) Carter is a nice catcher out of Spain Park High School with a good bat. His left handed stroke is nice and he hits with a lot of power to pull side. Behind the dish he is polished with solid skills.
Andrew Dennis (C) Andrew has a nice catcher's frame at 6-2/200 with good strength. His arm works well and has strength. He blocks and receives well with advanced skills. He needs to improve his bat to get to the upper college levels, but his defense is solid.
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