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Updated 2023 Alabama Player Rankings

September 5, 2022
PBR Alabama Staff

The summer of 2022 coming to a close means it's time to revisit the player rankings for all three classes, and last but not least is the Class of 2023. We've been able to get a true & honest look at most of these prospects this summer, whether it be at tournaments at LakePoint Sports, a showcase setting or at a high school game this past spring. This class has continued to fill out over the past year with numerous prospects that made a splash onto the scene this spring and summer.

It's going to be fun to see where all of these players end up, as there are many talented prospects still uncommitted heading into their senior seasons. Let's take a look at how this class stacks up after the summer of 2022.

 

The Top-5

+ OF Coleman Mizell (Hartselle) stays at No. 1 after rising to the spot in the most recent update in March. An Alabama recruit, Mizell has a unique combination of strength & explosiveness that he uses to impact a baseball game in a variety of ways. Listed at 6-3, 215-pounds, the left-handed hitting outfielder has above average tools with 6.83-speed, topping out at 92 mph from the outfield, and hammering 100 mph exit velocities to the gaps. Playing for the 6A State Champions, Mizell hit at a .504 clip with 10 HR's, 18 2B's and 56 RBI's this spring.

+ C Stone Lawless (Huntsville) continues to establish himself as one of the top hitters in this class, as he comes in at No. 2 in this update. A Tennessee recruit, the 6-3, 200-pound backstop is built like a future middle-of-the-order type hitter and showed flashes of gap-to-gap power this spring while battling with an injury for the majority of his junior season. Lawless has a simple setup in the right side of the box with grown-man strength and quick hands offensively. He's also shown the ability to shut down opposing running games with his arm strength from the crouch.

+ INF RJ Hamilton (Hoover) jumps up to No. 3 on this list after a strong year both in the spring and the summer, and capped it off by being named to the USA 18U National Team. A Vanderbilt recruit and former Future Gamer, Hamilton has a top-of-the-order skill set at 5-10, 165-pounds and can impact the game in numerous ways. The right-handed hitting middle infielder is an exceptional athlete with some quick twitch and a swing that consistently finds firm contact to all fields. High makeup player who has been a consistent performer for one of the top programs in the state.

+ C Colton Wombles (Central-Phenix City) is regarded as one of the top defensive catchers in this class, as he comes in at No. 4 in this update. An Auburn recruit, Wombles has a strong 5-8, 175-pound frame with exceptional catch-and-throw skills behind the plate and a compact swing from the right side with quick hands offensively. Using a quick transfer and a strong arm behind the plate, Wombles has consistently shown the ability to shut down opposing running games. Also a steady offensive threat who has shown a knack for finding the barrel.

+ LHP Jack Smith (Hartselle) continues to climb up this list after debuting inside the Top-10 in the last update, as he jumps up to No. 5 in this update. Listed at 6-3, 215-pounds with a sturdy frame, the recent Arkansas recruit is a high-upside southpaw that has seen his fastball consistently get into the low-90's and as high as 94 mph in the Class 6A State Finals. The ball seems to jump out of the hand for Smith, and has also flashed good depth to a mid-70's breaking ball. Plenty to like here for Smith both in the present and in the future.

 

Notable Risers & Newcomers

+ Making one of the biggest jumps in this update is LHP Konner Keplinger (Mortimer Jordan), who rises rises from outside the Top-50 to No. 6 after a strong spring and summer on the mound. An Auburn recruit, Keplinger has a quality three-pitch repertoire that he throws for strikes, and has continued to tick up in velocity over the past year. After seeing him in March at 84-86 mph, Keplinger was up to 89 mph at the back-end of the spring with two swing-and-miss secondary offerings in both looks. His slider works in the upper-70's (2700-2900rpm) and also has feel for a fading changeup.

+ RHP Samuel Schmidt (Hoover) was one of our favorite arms we saw this spring with an exciting three-pitch arsenal, as he moves up inside the Top-25 in this update. A Troy recruit, Schmidt has a wiry 6-1, 160-pound frame with athleticism in a clean, fluid delivery that produces a fastball that has been up to 90 mph. Using a true 3/4 arm slot, Schmidt has one of the best sliders in the state that works in the upper-70's with late bite and tunnel, and also has shown a changeup in the low-80's primarily to left-handed hitters.

+ C/1B Will Lawrence (Hoover) makes his debut inside the Top-60 after a strong summer that saw him commit to Samford just a few weeks ago. Listed at 6-4, 210-pounds, Lawrence creates easy power from the right side with numerous triple-digit EV's at events this summer. Showed above average bat speed at 76.6 mph using Blast Motion. Short stride in pre-pitch, lets the hands work through the zone, uses that physical frame to hit for obvious power. Solid arm strength from the crouch with sub-2.0 pop times, and could also easily transition to first base in the future.

 + LHP Cole Lowe (Mortimer Jordan) looked back to full strength this summer after missing the spring due to an injury, as he debuts inside the Top-75. A recent Georgia Southern recruit, Lowe has a deceptive delivery and a fastball that has been up to 87 mph with hard arm-side run. In addition to the heater, the left-hander also has two quality secondary offerings with the primary being a 72-74 mph slider with sweep and 2294 rpm avg. He showed the ability to locate it to the back-foot facing right-handers and sweep it across the zone facing left-handers.

+ OF Mason Steele (Headland) was another prospect who enjoyed a strong summer, and debuts inside the Top-75 in this update. A recent Shelton State CC, Steele has plenty of intriguing tools with a 6-2, 175-pound frame. Hitting from the left side, Steele has pull-side pop with the ability to lift using a quick, whippy barrel through the zone. Also possesses a strong arm from the outfield at 91 mph, and was a 6.81-runner from an event this summer. Capped off his strong summer with a standout showing at the Southeast Senior Games with Team Alabama.

 

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