HARTSELLE, AL - The North AL Preseason All-State was held on Saturday, January 7th at Hartselle High School in Hartselle, AL. This event was an invite-only event that consisted of some of the top prospects from the 2023-2026 classes. These players went through extended pro-style workout that included batting practice using Trackman and Blast Motion, ran the 60 yard dash using Swift Performance, and much more. Pitchers were able to throw in simulated bullpens during the workout and were able to get numbers and metrics off of our Trackman unit, such as pitch velocity, spin rate, horizontal & vertical movement & much more. There were some players who showed up and continued to build off of prior performances, but there were also some new names who jumped onto our radar with a strong showing on Saturday.

Continuing our post-event coverage for this event, we take a look back at all catchers that were in attendance at the event. Check back tomorrow as we wrap up our post-event coverage by taking a look at all of the pitchers from the event. 

 

Jackson Burgess, North Sand Mountain (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 140-pounds.
Hit: Even stance, lower hand placement, relaxed look. Direct path to contact, quick hands, looks to lift at times, middle to pull side round.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 80.6 mph. 264’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69.00 mph.   High arm slot, generates some carry on throws, decent accuray.
Defense: 2.02-2.08 pop times. Good receiver, stays under the low pitch, some flexibility in setup, athletic.
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60.

Cabe Amason, Grissom  (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Hit: Even stance, higher hand placement. Small leg lift, working middle and pull side during BP.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 76.3 mph. 78’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72.00 mph.   High 3/4 arm slot, good carry with arm strength, fairly quick release.
Defense: 2.08-2.11 pop times. Decent receiver with strong wrists, good flexibility, efficient blocker.
Run: 7.61 runner in the 60.

Andrew Hardy, Pell City  (AL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Hit: Closed and wider stance. Small leg lift, liners to the pull side during BP. Controlled swing.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 78 mph. 211’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73.00 mph.   Quick release, short & compact H 3/4 arm slot, good accuracy.
Defense: 2.15-2.20 pop times. Flexible in his setup, quiet movements & receiver, blocks well.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60.

Jake Fridley, Hoover  (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds.
Hit: Slightly open stance, active hands. Good rhythm. Light leg lift into the swing, quick hands. Middle to pull side round of BP.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 84 mph. 355’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76.00 mph.   H 3/4 arm slot, stays in line, good carry on throws.
Defense: 2.01-2.08 pop times. Decent receiver, solid catch-and-throw ability.
Run: 7.58 runner in the 60.

Jaylen Crocker, American Christian (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds.
Hit: Upright and taller stance, compact set up. Small knee-to-knee stride, stays inside the ball. Middle of the field approach.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 79.6 mph. 256’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68.00 mph.   H 3/4 arm slot, accurate throws, developing arm strength.
Defense: 2.19-2.21 pop times. Athletic, balanced setup, receives well with ability to stick low pitch, decent blocker.
Run: 8.12 runner in the 60.

Cameron Palahach, Hartselle (AL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B 24 catching prospect that continues to progress.
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds.
Hit: Open stance, wide set up. Quick hands, rotates the body well, looks to punish the baseball. Loud barrels all around.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 87.8 mph. 315’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph.   Consistent release point, strong carry with accurate throws, H 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 1.93-1.97 pop times. Flexible setup, receives all pitches well, ability to handle top-level arms, advanced defender.
Run: 7.81 runner in the 60.

Landon Cherry, Moody (AL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds.
Hit: Wider, open stance, higher hand placement. Quick pick up with the front foot, middle of the field approach during BP.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 79.9 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph.   Quick arm with H 3/4 arm slot, developing arm strength, accurate throws.
Defense: 2.24-2.28 pop times. Advanced defensively for age, quiet setup & movements, receives/presents all pitches in the zone well.
Run: 7.93 runner in the 60.

Lucas Elliott, The Donoho School (AL), 2023 Wallace CC-Selma
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds.
Hit: Slightly open stance, active and moving hands. Looks to lift in the swing, small and quick leg lift.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 85.1 mph. 290’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68.00 mph.  OF - 77.00 mph. 3/4 arm slot. Accurate.
Defense: 2.29-2.37 pop times. Fields the ball out front well in the outfield, good receiver behind the plate, quiet movements with some flexibility.
Run: 7.4 runner in the 60.

DeVante Wells, Pinson Valley (AL), 2023 Jackson State
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds.
Hit: Wide, even stance. Lower hand placement. Small toe tap to start the swing, quick hands, direct through contact. Middle of the field approach.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 83.9 mph. 313’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76.00 mph.   H 3/4 arm slot, very quick release, decent accuracy on throws.
Defense: 1.91-1.94 pop times. Athletic actions, shows flexibility in setup, quiet receiver, sticks the low pitch.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60.

Luke Songy, St. John Paul II (AL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds.
Hit: Slightly open stance, relaxed hands. Fundamental, stays inside the baseball. Light leg lift to start the swing.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 75.9 mph. 180’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73.00 mph.   Stays on line, OTT arm slot, quick transfer, accuracy to throws.
Defense: 2.05-2.20 pop times. Balanced setup with some flexibility, quiet receiver, strong wrists, efficient blocker.
Run: 7.35 runner in the 60.

Aiden Brunner, Alexandria (AL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds.
Hit: Even stance, rhythm with the hands. Light leg lift into the swing, staying up the middle with the swing.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 83.4 mph. 106’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77.00 mph.   Quick exchange, good feet, plenty of carry, H 3/4 arm slot, accurate.
Defense: 2.02-2.07 pop times. Decent receiver, some flexibility in setup, good blocker.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60.

Ben Goodwin, Westminster Christian (AL), 2023 Southern Union State CC
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 185-pounds.
Hit: Slightly open set up, active hands. Knee-to-knee stride, natural lift in the swing, loud barrels, line drive approach, consistent.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 88.3 mph. 347’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph.   Stays on line, consistent accuracy, OTT arm slot.
Defense: 2.24-2.29 pop times. Decent receiver, strong wrists, sticks the low pitch well.
Run: 7.8 runner in the 60.

Cole Griffin, Hartselle (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds.
Hit: Slightly open stance, higher hand placement. Quick and direct leg lift, middle to opposite field round of BP.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 80 mph. 220’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67.00 mph.   Shorter arm action, H 3/4 arm slot, some accuracy, developing arm strength.
Defense: 2.30-2.35 pop times. Athleticism in setup, decent receiver, blocks well.
Run: 7.98 runner in the 60.

Caden Mason, Hayden (AL), 2023 Coastal Alabama
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds.
Hit: Even stance, higher hand placement, relaxed. Quick twitch actions, small leg lift, weight transfers well. Pull side pop.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 87.1 mph. 260’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph.   H 3/4 arm slot, fast exchange, quick feet, consistent accuracy.
Defense: 1.98-2.09 pop times. Moves well laterally, balanced, athletic setup, advanced receiver, quiet movements.
Run: 7.85 runner in the 60.

Easton Kleyn, Gardendale  (AL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-1, 193-pounds.
Hit: Slightly open stance, works into the back side well. Solid barrel control, hands stay inside the ball. Middle of the field approach.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 83.1 mph. 276’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph.   Quick arm, H 3/4 slot, consistent release point.
Defense: 2.22-2.26 pop times. Advanced receiver, quiet actions & movements, ability to frame all pitches near the zone.
Run: 7.75 runner in the 60.

Eli Woody, Mortimer Jordan (AL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 200-pounds.
Hit: Open stance, higher hand placement. Big leg lift into the swing, Quick bat speed, pop to all parts of the field.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 91.1 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72.00 mph.   Generates plenty of carry, accurate throws, H 3/4 arm slot, consistent release.
Defense: 2.19-2.22 pop times. Athletic/fluid movements, polished receiver, strong wrists to stick low pitch.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60.

Colten Payton, James Clemens (AL), 2023 Wallace State CC
Positional Profile: C/3B 
Body: 6-3, 210-pounds. 
Hit: Even stance, wider base. Small leg lift to start the swing, natural lift. Easy stroke, multiple loud barrels to all parts of the field.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 87.7 mph. 363’ max distance. 
Arm: RH. C - 80.00 mph.   Strong arm & carry, OTT arm slot, decent accuracy.
Defense: 2.01-2.06 pop times. Advanced receiver, handles top-level arms well, some flexibility with athletic setup.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60.

 

Follow on Twitter: @PBR_Alabama
Follow on Instagram: @PBR_Alabama
Follow on Facebook: PBR Alabama