The Alabama Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the PBR Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. 

Continue to check back over the course of the week, as the Alabama Scouting Staff will add scouting reports daily.

 

Saturday, April 2nd

+ OF Drew Brown (Prattville, 2022) has quickly turned into one of the state's most consistent hitter at the top of the order for one of the hottest teams. After seeing him earlier in the spring, we were thoroughly impressed with how he handled the bat from the left side and impacted the game in multiple capacities. Fast forward to this weekend, Brown elevated his status even more going 10-for-15 with four triples, a double and a few walks in the Buccaneer Classic playing against some of the top teams in the Birmingham area. An uncommitted senior, Brown showed the ability to handle some quality arms at the plate using a selective approach and not chasing pitches out of the zone in his at-bats. Listed at 5-foot-9, 165-pounds, he's really athletic with 6.86-speed at a previous event and translates well to covering the gaps in the outfield defensively. Brown is without a doubt a name to know in the 2022 class and has a chance to make a real impact at whatever programs he ends up at.

Drew Brown (4/2/22)

+ 1B Andy Hall (Prattville, 2022) is one of the many uncommitted seniors, like Brown, leading way in the middle of the order for one of the state's hottest teams this spring. Hall is extremely physical in the left side of the box standing 6-foot-5, 250-pounds and put impressive pull side power on display in their final game of the Buccaneer Classic. After delivering in the clutch on the previous day with a walk-off single to the opposite field, Hall continued to make an impact offensively with a no-doubter over the right field wall that went for a grand slam. Starting slightly open with his stance, the uncommitted senior has a short leg kick to get back square and uses minimal movements in his pre-swing and allows his physicality to do the work with the ability to repeat his swing consistently. A previous Mizuno Player of the Week back earlier in the spring, Hall continues to swing a hot bat and be a consistent run-producer for the Lions.

Andy Hall (4/2/22)

+ C Taylor Bush (Oak Mountain, 2022) is another uncommitted senior producing at a really high level for a potent offensive in the three-hole. Sandwiched inside the top of the order by a trio of college signees, Bush has arguably been the Eagles' most consistent hitter in the first half of the spring and is a name to know for any program looking to firm up their senior class. Listed at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds with proportional strength throughout his frame, Bush has shown the ability to hit for average and power in multiple looks this spring with excellent feel for the barrel. He takes aggressive swings earlier in the count looking to drive the ball to the power alleys with authority, but also showed maturity by simplifying his setup with two strikes and still barreling up an off-speed offering and lacing it into the gap for a two-RBI double in his second at-bat. Bush has also handled one of the state's deepest pitching staffs behind the plate well, and has shown a strong arm from behind the plate at a previous event, topping out at 77 mph from the crouch. He's also been clocked at 7.23 in the 60 YD, so he could potentially move to a corner spot in the future.

Taylor Bush (4/2/22)

+ SS William Burgreen (Madison Academy, 2022) has continued to set the table for the Mustangs out of the leadoff spot all year and Saturday was no exception. The Jacksonville State signee started things off in the bottom of the first inning as he lined the very first pitch he saw for a liner up the middle. He promptly stole second base on the next pitch and later scored the first run of the game. The switch-hitter showed off the power and speed (6.68 60 YD) in the next at-bat, as he drove a fastball to the back side gap and easily ended up at third base with a triple. Burgreen shows a very compact swing as the hands and barrel show a direct path to contact. The senior also flashed the glove skills as well as he dominated the routine play up the middle. 

William Burgreen (4/2/22)

+ 1B Carson Creehan (Madison Academy, 2023) is a dual-sport athlete that doubles as the Mustangs QB in the fall, but he can also swing the bat on the diamond. The left-handed hitting first baseman collected two doubles on Saturday while also walking once. He drove in a run and also scored a run as he showed the ability to hit for power to all fields. Creehan has consistently shown a middle-to-back side approach but Saturday he got the barrel to a fastball on the inner half of the plate and drove it off the wall in right-center field. The physical 6-foot-4, 205-pounder is a definite follow in the junior class.  

Carson Creehan (4/2/22)

+ RHP Jack Doyle (Madison Academy, 2025) made a big impression on the mound, while only working an inning of relief on Saturday. Doyle doesn’t look like a freshman at 5-foot-11, 170-pounds and his stuff seemed advanced, as well. The right-hander uses a strong lower half in his delivery and shows a clean arm path from a shorter arm strike and high ¾ arm slot. Doyle gets good extension off the mound while also establishing both halves of the plate with a fastball that sat 81-83 mph during his inning of work. The freshman showed advanced feel for a tightly-shaped 11-5 breaking ball at 68-71 mph and established it in the lower half of the zone for a swing-and-miss offering. A definite follow in the Alabama 2025 class.

Jack Doyle (4/2/22)

 

Friday, April 1st

+ LHP Matthew Heiberger (Oak Mountain, 2023) turned in a dominant performance and looked to be back to full strength after working into shape after missing some of the start of the season due to basketball. Heiberger, an Alabama recruit, established his fastball early in counts and showed the ability to get swing-and-misses with the pitch in all counts on the day. The southpaw stands a more stronger 6-foot-3, 180-pounds with the same low-effort delivery that produced a fastball that worked 87-89 mph early in the game before settling into the mid-80’s. The junior also mixed in a sharp slider in the low-70’s that varied shape and spin, but spins right when he throws it with conviction. He had no trouble in his start working through a quality lineup, and finished earning the W going 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB & 14 K’s. 

Matthew Heiberger (4/1/22)

+ 3B John Paul Head (Vestavia Hills, 2024) played a big role in the Rebels’ offensive success they had in Game 1 of the day as he proved to be a primary run-producer hitting in the three-hole as a sophomore. After playing catcher as his primary position for the most part in the summer, Head has played 3rd base for the Rebels simply because of how well he’s swung the bat in this first half of the season. Listed at 5-foot-11, 195-pounds, the sophomore has a wide base in his setup and creates separation well before using adequate bat speed through the zone that results in gap-to-gap power from the right side of the box. Head recorded two doubles in his first game yesterday, and the second one almost left the yard as it hit off the base of the wall in left field. He finished going 2-for-3 with two doubles, three RBI’s and a walk.

John Paul Head (4/1/22)

+ OF/RHP John Robicheaux (Mountain Brook, 2024) has been a standout at numerous events over the past year, including this January’s North Alabama Preseason All-State, and showed how big of an impact he’s making as a two-way player in his first year at the varsity level. Robicheaux, listed at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds, put that two-way ability on display in their lone game yesterday with four quality innings on the mound and a pair of hits in the leadoff spot. At the plate, the sophomore outfielder took quality swings all day and finished going 2-for-5 with a double and a RBI. Hitting from an athletic, balanced stance, Robicheaux uses a quick toe-tap trigger showing feel for the barrel with solid contact in multiple at-bats using the whole field in this contest. He’s a 6.86 runner and was also up to 90 mph from the outfield at January’s event. On the mound, Robicheaux worked through a gritty lineup and worked up to 83 mph with a serviceable breaking ball. 

John Robicheaux (4/1/22)

+ 1B Trent Wright (Mountain Brook, 2023) walked away with one of the biggest swings of the day in a tightly-contested contest, but the overall body of work from the junior’s day also stood out with a multi-hit performance in the cleanup spot. Listed at 5-foot-10, 200-pounds, Wright has a really strong lower-half and it showed in his third at-bat of the game, where he went down and flicked an offering down in the zone that seemed to keep carrying until it was over the left field wall for a game-tying, two-run home run with two outs in the 7th inning. The physical junior has proportional strength throughout his strong frame, and is more athletic than you would expect with previous 7.12 speed at an event last year. Wright also added a double and a single in this contest to go 3-for-4 with three RBI’s on the day.

Trent Wright (4/1/22)

+ OF Gabriel Young (Mountain Brook, 2023) showed why he is one of the top uncommitted left-handed bats still on the market in the junior class with his strong day at the plate yesterday. Slated in the three-hole of a deep Spartans’ lineup, Young was another hitter for them who came up with big hits and posted a multi-hit performance on the day. Standing a medium 5-foot-11, 195-pounds, the left-handed hitting outfielder has shown notable power in the past, but his ability to drive balls to both parts of the field with authority stood out in this look. Starting in a bit of an upright stance with his hands close to his body, Young generates quality separation and uses a fast leg kick to generate momentum and bat speed through the zone. He also showed the ability to change and match plane on multiple pitches to find firm contact in his at-bats. The uncommitted junior continued to be a force in the middle of that lineup, going 2-for-5 with a double and a RBI.

Gabriel Young (4/1/22)

+ C Campbell Seamon (Prattville, 2023) is one prospect that has quickly made a name for himself with a really good start to his junior season for the Lions, who currently sit at 20-3. In one of the more deeper lineups in the state, the uncommitted junior has found a big role offensively as a run-producer hitting in the three-hole with quality hitters up and down that order. Standing a strong 5-foot-11, 185-pounds, Seamon carries a physical presence into the right side of the box and uses an uphill bat path that generates plenty of power when he finds the sweet spot. His biggest swing of the day came in a big spot with Lions trailing by a run, as he lined a two-strike offering to the opposite field and drove home a pair of runs to give his team the lead for a two-RBI triple. He’s currently uncommitted, and will definitely be one to follow moving forward throughout the rest of the spring and into the summer in the junior class.

Campbell Seamon (4/1/22)

 

Wednesday, March 30th

+ RHP Brett Nestande (Bayside Academy, 2022) has proven to be another quality pitcher for the Admirals’ staff and he turned in another quality start en route to a W. In a run-ruled contest, the right-hander turned in a five-inning complete game performance and induced plenty of swings-and-miss & weak contact throughout his outing. A Southeastern Louisiana signee, Nestande opened up in the 1st frame working more 87-89 mph (2400 rpm) and settled into more 85-87 mph for the majority of his outing and created significant arm-side run & life through the zone. The senior showcased several secondary offerings in his arsenal, and mainly used a sharp slider at 75-77 mph (2600 rpm) that got more sweep and lateral break to right-handed hitters. He showed the ability to command the pitch to the glove side well and proved to be a real out-pitch getting swing-and-miss. He also mixed in a slower breaking ball with more 11-5 shape at 70-71 mph (2500 rpm) and a fading changeup at 78-80 mph, as well. He pounded the zone throughout his outing (60/80 for strikes), and finished going 5 IP, 6 H, R, BB & 11 K’s.

Brett Nestande (3/30/22)

+ 1B Ty McGraw (Gardendale, 2024) continued to elevate his status as a power-hitting left-handed bat and worked numerous quality at-bats yesterday hitting in the middle of the order. Listed at a physical 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, the uncommitted sophomore reached base in all four plate appearances using a selective approach with quality zone awareness. McGraw finished going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a walk out of the six-hole. He showed no issue using the whole field in his approach and has plenty of strength to drive the baseball even when he doesn’t catch it clean on the barrel. In his first at-bat, the left-handed hitting corner infielder handled a fastball on the inside part of the barrel, but showed enough pop to drive it down the right field line for an easy standup double. McGraw uses a balanced setup from the left side of the plate with good rhythm and a quick barrel that has proved to be a major run-producer in the early part of his high school career. Top-20 prospect in the sophomore class is a definite follow moving forward over the next couple of years.

Ty McGraw (3/30/22)

+ SS/RHP Connor Aderholt (Shelby County, 2022) has made a name for himself as a two-way talent for the Wildcats over the years. On Wednesday, it was the bat that was evident as he hammered two balls in his first two at-bats showing a disciplined approach while staying in the middle of the field. In his first at-bat, the Snead State recruit got the barrel to an elevated fastball and promptly hammered it off the scoreboard in left center field. In his next at-bat, Aderholt came to the plate with the bases loaded and stayed simple and compact, driving a double over the centerfielder’s head. In addition to being a major run-producer, the senior is also the ace on the mound for the 5A No. 1 Wildcats.  

Conner Aderholt (3/30/22)

+ INF Drew Shiver (Enterprise, 2023) proved why he is considered a top-shelf hitter in the Alabama 2023 class as he collected three hits in four at-bats on Wednesday. The first at-bat was the big knock as he hammered a triple the other way for a run-scoring triple to give the Wildcats an early 2-1 lead. The Troy recruit continually showed looseness in the hands with an easy, free swing and kept the barrel through the hitting zone repeatedly. The load was slow and controlled and he showed the ability to handle pitches to both sides of the plate, even though he seemed highly-skilled at driving balls to the backside gap. The junior showed high-level plate discipline and patience and did not chase pitches out of the zone.

Drew Shiver (3/30/22)

Tuesday, March 29th

+ RHP/OF Brendan Conner (Corner, 2024) did enough to give his squad a chance to win a highly-competitive contest squaring off against a 7A lineup. Listed at 6-foot-0, 195-pounds, Conner possesses a physical frame with impressive lower-half strength that allows him to get good drive off the mound and drive balls to the gap at the plate. Already playing a big role as a sophomore for one of the best teams in the state in Class 5A, Conner turned in a quality start and showed maturity working in and out of jams throughout four innings of work and kept a potent offense at bay for the most part. The sophomore right-hander looked to establish his fastball early on in at-bats, working more 84-85 mph with a handful of 86's and touched 87 mph in the 2nd. Playing off of that, Conner also showed above average feel for a firm slider with sharp, lateral break at 75-77 mph (2450 rpm) and the ability to land it for strikes. He also showed a sinker in the low-80's that varied spin (800-1000 rpm) and induced weak groundouts in the process. Offensively, the right-handed hitter also made his presence known with a pair of hard-hit singles at the plate in the cleanup spot. He's showed impressive two-way ability in the past and yesterday was no different. He finished going 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB's & 2 K's on the mound and added a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with an RBI.

Brendan Conner (3/29/22)

+ INF Caleb Mahan (Florence, 2022) played an important role for the Falcons in 2021 and continues to be a key piece during the 2022 season. The senior second baseman, hitting out of the two-hole on Tuesday, made the most of his three plate appearances. The University of Alabama-Huntsville signee got things going in the bottom of the first inning with a no-doubt home run over the fence in left center field but he was not done there. An inning later, Mahan showed some opposite field power as he stayed on a pitch over the outer-half of the plate and promptly deposited it over the fence in right field. The athletic middle infielder was hit-by-pitch in his last plate appearance in the Falcons 11-1 victory.

Caleb Mahan (3/29/22)

 

Monday, March 28th

+ LHP Konner Keplinger (Mortimer Jordan, 2023) was ultra-impressive in his start to kick off their spring break trip and is already showing signs of a jump after seeing him in a simulated bullpen at our Mafia Scout Day last summer. An athletic 6-foot-0, 160-pound southpaw, the uncommitted junior had both pitches in his arsenal working in his four inning outing and faced just one over the minimum with the only baserunner reaching on an infield single. Keplinger held 84-86 mph (2300 rpm’s) and showed intent to drive the fastball to both sides of the plate and looked to establish the inner-half against right-handed hitters. He rarely worked into many hitter’s counts, which allowed him to use a sharp, late-biting breaking ball at 68-71 mph (2400 rpm’s) to get swing-and-miss. He showed excellent feel for the pitch with command over control, working it to the back foot and back door of right-handed hitters and changing shape with more sweep to left-handed hitters. The junior southpaw hides the ball well and allows both pitches to play up and offer deception. Keplinger finished going 4 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB & 9 K’s.

Konner Keplinger (3/28/22)

+ SS Steele Hall (Daphne, 2026) has quickly made a name for himself over the past year after showing well in numerous looks last summer playing for Excel Blue Wave and seeing playing time last spring as a seventh-grader for the 7A Trojans. Now an eighth-grader, Hall is now a staple hitting at the top of the order for the 7A No. 10 Trojans and has been a key run-producer so far this spring. Hall has impressive maturity and knowledge of the game at such a young age and plays with confidence in all facets. Listed at 5-foot-9, 140-pounds, Hall has a high-waisted and wiry frame with solid athleticism that will obviously continue to fill out over the course of the next few years. The right-handed middle infielder drove in one of the two runs for the Trojans in this contest coming on a leadoff solo home run in the 1st inning. He also added a hard-hit single down the left field line with a 4.4 turn rounding 1st base, and also made all routine plays up the middle with lateral range and advanced glove-to-hand quickness. Although he’s still very young and has plenty of physical maturity left, Hall has plenty of intangibles and has a chance to be an elite prospect down the road in a few years.

Steele Hall (3/28/22)

+ C Jack Holley (Spanish Fort, 2024) has quickly turned into one of the more talented and intriguing prospects in the sophomore class with high-level ability both at the plate and behind the dish. Listed at 6-foot-0, 180-pounds, it’s easy to see the gains that Holley has made to his frame over the past half year and it’s benefitted his offensive profile greatly with gap-to-gap pop from the right side of the plate. Hitting in the five-hole in a deep and upperclassmen-led Toros lineup, Holley led the offensive charge in yesterday’s contest going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI’s on the day. Hitting in a slightly crouched stance, the sophomore backstop creates plenty of torque with a strong lower-half and a barrel that stays through the hitting zone. Holley is also one of the best defensive catchers in his class, regardless of state, with polished receiving skills and advanced catch-and-throw ability with easy sub-2.0 pop times and carry. The sophomore should continue to see his stock rise and has the look of being a future Division 1 backstop.

Jack Holley (3/28/22)

+ C Mason Smallwood (Mortimer Jordan, 2022) was another upperclassman for the Blue Devils who stood out in a big way in their opening win to start their spring break trip. Smallwood, an uncommitted senior, is listed at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds and did a variety of things at a high level in this extended look. Hitting in the three-hole for the Blue Devils, the senior backstop was a primary run-producer going 2-for-3 with a single, home run and three RBI’s offensively. Smallwood showed the ability to use the whole field in his approach hitting from the right side and shorten up with two strikes, but still be able to find firm contact. In his first at-bat, he worked into a deep count facing a right-hander and recognized and adjusted well to spin and lined a laser back up the middle to drive home the first run of the game for the Blue Devils. His biggest swing of the day came in his second at-bat, where he drove a fastball to the opposite field and over the right field wall for a two-run home run. He’ll definitely be one to follow in the senior class moving forward throughout the spring.

Mason Smallwood (3/28/22)

+ RHP Austin Morris (Mortimer Jordan, 2022) provided a tough look coming out of the bullpen after the opposing lineup faced a southpaw the first couple times through the order. Listed at 6-foot-4, 185-pounds, Morris is an Alabama signee who showed a quality two-pitch arsenal in his two inning stint where he worked back-to-back scoreless frames in the process. Coming out of a tough low-¾ arm slot, Morris ranged anywhere from 85-88 mph (2400 rpm’s) with his fastball and created arm-side action on the pitch. The senior right-hander also featured a hard, late-breaking slider at 78-79 mph (2100 rpm’s) with varying shape and has the potential of being a wipeout offering. He showed the ability to make some big pitches working in and out of a jam in his second by getting a pair of strikeouts to end the threat and strand a pair of runners in scoring position. Morris finished his outing going 2 IP, H, 0 R, 3 BB’s & 4 K’s, and also drove home a run on a RBI double hitting in the middle of the order for the Blue Devils.

Austin Morris (3/28/22)

+ SS/RHP Mason Swinney (Phil Campbell, 2022) had three at-bats in the early game versus Bardford (TN) and each resulted in a quality plate appearance. While Swinney did not record a hit in the game (0-1), he did register two sacrifice flies and recorded a lineout in the other bat. One look and it is easy to see the ball comes off his bat a little differently than others. The Alabama signee shows a very simple setup and does a solid job staying inside contact and working the middle of the field. All three of Swinney’s balls off the bat were hammered to the middle of the field. Impressive approach with easy juice. 

Mason Swinney (3/28/22)

+ LHP Alton Davis II (Hueytown, 2022) continues to make noticeable strides and has obviously come a long way since our first look at him at the Underclass Games on June 25, 2019 when he showed a max fastball of 77 mph. The former Future Gamer bumped 93 mph early with the fastball and worked mainly at 88-92 mph throughout his outing. The Alabama signee was almost exclusively all fastball through the first few innings, but did mix in a quality 1/7 shaped breaking ball at 73-76 mph later that showed sharp break with some depth. There is still plenty of room for development in the 6-foot-5, 185-pound southpaw. Davis recorded the complete game shutout by scattering two hits, walking one and striking out 13 hitters. 

Alton Davis II (3/28/22)

+ SS/RHP Gatlin Pitts (Bayside Academy, 2024) has a very unique skill set and many of those skills were on display on Monday afternoon as the Admirals recorded an 11-1 win. Hitting out of the leadoff spot of a very talented roster, the uncommitted sophomore was 2-for-4 with a triple and a homerun. He also got the barrel to an inner-half fastball later and hammered it at the third baseman and reached on an error. Pitts was able to show off the sub 6.8 60 time on the triple off the wall in left field as he easily reached 3rd base on the triple while also showing the ability to hit for power on the home run. What makes Pitts unique is his ability to do so many things very well, as he also defends well at the hot corner while showing plenty of arm strength across the diamond. Pitts is a definite follow in the Class of 2024 to keep tabs on.

Gatlin Pitts (3/28/22)

 

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