January 18 Preseason All State: Quick Hits

Our Preseason All State event was held Saturday, January 18 at the Top Gun Indoor Facility in Leeds. We had hoped to be outside but the weather did not allow for it, but being indoors certainly did not put a damper on the day. Over 70 players participated in the pro style workout and it was the most talented group we had for a single event since we launched Prep Baseball Report in Alabama in June 2018. Over the next 7-10 days we will take an in depth look at the event and players that attended. Today we will take a quick look at just a few of the standouts from the workout. There were plenty of other players that had impressive days that we will highlight and look at in the coming days, including an individual scout analysis on every player in attendance. 

Jacob Little (2021, SS/RHP, Southside) The junior continues to impress with the bat from the left side. He has some juice to all fields (92 mph exit velo) and was thes fastest home to 1B (3.95). 

Samuel Baker (2021, SS/2B, Hooper Academy) Baker is a toolsy junior with big arm strength across the infield (83 mph) and flashes solid glove actions. Nice bat speed at the plate also. 

Banks Langston (2023, RHP/OF, Florence) Nice, young athlete that was up to 84 mph on the mound with clean mechanics and also showed that arm strength during OF drills (86 mph). 2023 to follow. 

Kobe Warden (2020, OF/2B, Brooks) We saw Warden during the high school season last year and loved him. His approach at the plate is short and compact producing consistent line drives. He was also 88 mph during the OF portion of the workout. 

Owen Beaverstock (2022, OF, St. Paul’s Episcopal) Very good runner that also has some juice in the barrel, showing a solid round of BP at the event and a 90 mph exit velo off a tee. 

Dawson Winningham (2020, OF/LHP, Oxford) Strong player that had a good day all the way around. Powerful switch hitting hitting outfielder that was 95 mph off the tee and jumped on the mound and was up to 86 mph from the left side. 

Javi Marrero (2021, RHP/SS, Smiths Station) Marrero attended as a pitcher only but turned plenty of heads with his performance. The mechanics are easy and the ball comes out of the hand easily. Sat upper 80’s and bumped 90 mph with arm side action while also showing a well shaped breaking ball. 

Christian Sutphin (2022, OF/RHP, Grissom) Physical 2022 that put up some nice numbers on the day. Plenty of arm strength during the OF portion, showing 88 mph and then jumped on the mound and was 84-86 mph during his session. Could be a big arm in the future. 

Davis Gillespie (2022, SS/RHP, Oak Mountain) Gillespie continues to make great strides on the field. At the event he showed nice glove work and was 84 mph across the infield. The sophomore was also 91 mph off the tee and also bumped 84 mph on the mound with exceptional spin rates (high 2200’s- mid 2300’s). 

Walker Zapp (2022, C/3B, Auburn) Physically built catcher that had success at the event. Shows nice catch and throw skills and was consistent mid 1.9’s pop (1.93- 1.95). Very quiet receiver behind the plate as well. Nice use of the lower half offensively up to 90 mph exit velo off the tee. 

Sean Smith (2021, 1B/RHP, Piedmont) This is what bat speed looks like. There is definite strength in the hands as he showed major pull side juice during BP from a tilted swing plane. He was 96 mph exit velo off the tee as well. 

Devin Polk (2022, C/RHP, Next Level Academy) C/RHP combo that put us nice numbers for both positions. Behind the plate he showed mid to high 1.9’s with clean mechanics. On the mound, he was up to 84 mph from a high ¾ slot and pounded the bottom half of the zone. 

Noah Toney (2022, 3B/RHP, Florence) A lot to like in this ‘22 grad. The compact, powerful approach during BP stood out as he created nice backspin off the bat. Toney was also 90 mph off the tee and was up to 83 mph on the mound. The pitch showed late life from a high ¾ slot.

Trey Mooney (2021, RHP/3B, Oxford) Attended as pitcher only and did what we are accustomed to seeing from him. The FB sat 84-86 mph and showed nice vertical movement and he showed a very advanced change up that tumbled to his glove side. 

Stone Lawless (2023, C/3B, Huntsville) Physical ‘23 player that showed nice glove actions at 3B and also jumped behind the plate and was 1.94- 2.01 to the 2B bag. The Tennessee commit has some tilt in the swing path with power to the pull side. Nice looking ‘23 player. 

Thrasher Steed (2022, RHP/1B, Gulf Shores) 6’4 2022 grad that attended as a pitcher only and showed very well on the bump. The fastball showed some sink and was 83- 86 mph with spin rates in the lower 2100’s. Showed nice, easy mechanics and pounded the zone with three pitches. High ceiling RHP. 

George Meyers (2022, RHP/1B, McGill Toolen) Another high profile arm in the ‘22 Alabama class, showing an explosive arm with a fastball that was 84-87 mph and very nice arm side action. Showed a hard slider as a secondary pitch that he commanded well. 

Nick Hamlin (2021, RHP/OF, Oxford) The best we have seen Hamlin as he showed nice rhythm in his delivery and a breaking ball that showed nice depth. The fastball showed some sink sitting 85-87 mph and touching 88. Love the quick arm. 

Walter Ford (2023, SS/RHP, Pace, FL) Maybe no one impressed more than Ford. The Alabama commit showed easy actions with the glove and a hand cannon across the infield at 88 mph. The BP round was very loud with a definite middle of the field approach. Electric stuff on the mound as he was 89- 91 mph with complimentary secondary stuff as well. The breaking ball showed sharp downward tilt and the change up showed legit deception and can be a plus pitch for him. Highly rated ‘23 prospect from Florida. 

JW Hopkins (2022, 1B/3B, Bob Jones) Hopkins isn’t going to get cheated at the plate. The tilt in the swing path plays well into his power game as he showed major juice middle to pull side. The sophomore was 98 mph exit velocity off the tee.

Bo Rhudy (2023, RHP/OF, Gordon Lee, GA) Young ‘23 arm from Georgia that was low 80’s on the mound with mid 2000- low 2100 spin rates. Shows a nice, short arm action and good “feel” on the mound. The fastball showed some cut and the change up showed nice sinking action. The young RHP has a solid makeup on the mound and is a definite three pitch guy.

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