AL HS Team Preview: Bob Jones Patriots

Perhaps no team in the state enters the 2020 season with higher expectations than the Patriots of Bob Jones High School. After coming up just short in 2019 (lost the 7A state championship in 3 games to McGill Toolen), Coach Jared Smith returns the vast majority of the roster from a year ago. There are seven returning positional starters and seven pitchers from the 2019 squad. The Patriots will be looking for a few outfielders to step up as well as a catcher and quality arms out of the pen. The senior class is loaded and will look to carry the team this season. Several of these ‘20 grads have been mainstays in the Patriot lineup for numerous years. Senior OF/RHP Dylan Ray (Alabama signee) returns to the lineup again after being named the 7A Hitter of the Year ago. No doubt there is major juice off the bat for Ray but he is also a power arm as well, reaching the low 90’s on the bump. Another Alabama signee, ‘20 SS/RHP/C Caden Rose also returns after being named 7A 1st Team All State the last two years. Rose’s season was cut short in 2019 due to injury but he was able to make it back in a limited role for the state championship series. 1B/LHP Cam Hill is another senior that has been an integral part of the Patriots success the last few years. Like Rose, Hill is a two time 7A All State selection. The Auburn signee is a definite two way guy for the Patriots, having thrown many important innings and getting several key hits over the last two years. ‘20 SS/2B Mitchell Daly was a first team All State selection in 2019. The University of Texas signee can really pick it in the infield and has “plus” pop at the plate. Senior RHP Sam Maynard really exploded on the scene in 2019 and returns to the mound again in 2020. The Southern Union CC signee will be counted on heavily on the mound this season. ‘21 3B Slate Alford is an Auburn commit that brings a physical presence to the lineup. Alford is an extra base hit machine with plenty of pop to leave the yard during any AB. Senior RHP Nick Brown brings back his nasty stuff and low 90’s FB to the mound for another year. Brown is a Wisconsin-Milwaukee signee and has shut down stuff when he is in the zone consistently. Another senior, OF/RHP Stuart Edge is another big bat in the order with plus arm strength from the OF, as he doubles as a RHP as well. One arm that the Patriots will count on in 2020 is ‘21 RHP Thomas Ballard. Ballard may be a big arm coming out of the pen this year as he blew up this summer, showing a mid to upper 80’s FB with plus secondary stuff. Two newcomers to look for are ‘22 1B JW Hopkins and ‘22 RHP/SS Gracin Wilson. With so much returning in 2020 these two youngsters may be limited to a smaller role. Hopkins could also see time at DH and shows tons of power at the plate. Wilson flashes plus defensive skills on the dirt and could be used at times when Rose is on the mound. The Patriots have to be the 7A favorite from the north to reach Montgomery.

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