Alabama High School Team Preview: Fairhope Pirates
January 26, 2021
The 2021 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. That excitement may be at an all-time high entering this high school season as the 2020 high school baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season during an offseason unlike any other and as always, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Montgomery at the AISA or AHSAA state championships but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Alabama. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason Top 10 in each AHSAA classification.
*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.
High School: Fairhope High School
Classification: AHSAA 7A Area 2
Positional Starters Returning: 4
Pitchers Returning: 9
Team Strengths: Pitching, defense on the infield
Team Weaknesses: Inexperience at the plate
Top Returning Players:
2021 MIF Cam Brock
Top 2021 Prospects:
Top 2022 Prospects:
2022 RHP/DH Forrest Gunnison
Top 2023 Prospects:
Outlook:
The Fairhopes Pirates have a long history of success and 2021 should be very similar to years past as nine arms that saw action in the shortened 2020 season return. This obviously bodes well for success on the mound but the Pirates will be looking for some inexperienced hitters to contribute with the bat. One senior that returns and will be counted on heavily in a two way role is RHP/3B Keaton Fuller. The right hander has dominant stuff on the mound showing a very quick arm and high pitchability. Fuller signed with Troy as a pitcher but he should also be a major run producer in the lineup as he will man the hot corner at 3B when he is not pitching. Fuller was the Pirates leading hitter a year ago. Another senior that has already signed to pitch after high school is LHP Beau Priester. The 6'3 175 pound southpaw has signed with Central Alabama CC and is expected to log a bunch of important innings again this year. He shows plus movement on everything he throws and makes it difficult for hitters to barrel him up. Middle infielder Cam Brock also returns for his senior year as he shows solid, consistent hands on the dirt and does a job extending at bats at the plate. A year ago he led the team in doubles. Hayden Phillips is another returning senior starter that will man the centerfield spot. Phillips gets great jumps on balls off the bat in the outfield and is a leading RBI guy in the offensive lineup. Four other seniors that will be expected to cntribute in a big way this year are:
2021 MIF/3B Bryce Knox- The 6'0 200 pounder has some power to the pullside with the bat and is athletic enough to play several different spots on the infield.
2021 MIF Hayden Jones- Plus glovework in the dirt and a tough out at the plate for the speedy middle infielder.
2021 RHP/1B Ben Hoover- Physical (6'2 215 lbs) 1B that also doubles as quality arm on the mound. Has some definite juice at the plate and relies heavily on the fastball that he commands very well on the mound.
2021 RHP/1B Brendan Guerry- Much like Hoover, Guerry will double as a 1B and RHP. A small leg kick approach allows him to use his lower half in the swing.
A junior to keep an eye on this year is RHP/DH is Forrest Gunnison. Gunnison shows a solid approach at the plate and with some strength in the hands. He also gives the Pirates another quality arm on the mound.
Four sophomores to keep an eye on this year and in the future are:
2023 C Hollon Brock- Mature youngster (6'2 175 lbs.) that is a solid receiver behind the plate and should continue to progress as he adds size and strength.
2023 RHP/OF Brooks Brasfield- The sophomore shows a solid arm action and does a nice nice job repeating his delivery. He also doubles as a quality bat in the outfield as well.
2023 RHP/OF Harrison Sparks- Solid makeup on the young player that has nice "feel" on the mound while also showing nice arm strength from the outfield.
2023 MIF Caden Creel- 5'10 170 pound athletic middle infielder that can play both positions on the dirt in the middle of the field. Shows nice lateral range and handles the bat very well at the plate.
As usual, expect the Pirates to be in the thick of things in 7A in the southern part of the state.
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