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Future Games: Team Alabama, Infielder Takeaways

August 2, 2024
Prep Baseball Alabama Staff

 

From Wednesday, July 24, through Sunday, July 28, Prep Baseball is hosting the next edition of its prestigious Future Games at LakePoint Sports Complex in Emerson, GA., featuring the country's best uncommitted talent. And, for the first time ever, the Future Games is hosting not just its typical set of incoming juniors and freshmen, but also a 17U division of uncommitted Class of 2025 players who will participate in the inaugural Senior Future Games.

On the first day of the 2024 Future Games, all players representing grad classes 2025, 2026, and 2028 will be participating in a pro-style workout in front of a fleet of Division I coaches alongside fellow prospects representing nearly every state in the nation.

Inside this piece, we'll be breaking down some of the top performers and listing our takeaways from Team Alabama the the four-day event at LakePoint Sports.

+ Click here to view all captured statistics from the 16U Division of the Workout Day.

Infielders

+ 1B Gavin Smith (Vestavia Hills, 2026) arguably had the biggest week with the bat out of Team Alabama's positional group, as he carried over a loud round of BP from the workout into multiple hits during gameplay throughout the course of three days. Measuring in at 6-foot-0, 235-pounds, the primary first baseman certainly fits the mold of a middle-of-the-order left-handed bat who can be looked on to drive in runs. He creates easy juice to all fields while primarily working gap-to-gap, and showed it off with a deep drive to the warning track in CF coming off at 95.9 mph. He also showed the hit tool with numerous hits to the pull-side with consistent upper-90 exits, as well. There's tons of physicality to the overall offensive profile, and really did a lot to boost his stock during the premier event.

+ While standing smaller in stature, INF Marcus Lawler (Oxford, 2026) doesn't swing it like his 5-foot-8, 157-pound frame would suggest, as he created firm contact with aggressive swings throughout the week. From the right side, he possesses good rhythm to his operation and works on an uphill path through contact while looking to lift. He's a solid overall athlete with twitch clocking a 7.18 60-yard dash at the event and has been quicker before, and probably slots best at second base in the future defensively. Lawler showcases a strong feel for the barrel with sneaky gap-to-gap power, and took one of the loudest swings of the week for Team Alabama on a laced RBI double into the pull-side gap, coming off at 94.6 mph. He also has a feel to hit with above-average bat speed, and showcased well with glove all week long play multiple positions defensively.

+ SS Aiden Urnis (Prattville, 2026) probably came into the event as one of the lesser-known names on Team Alabama, but that should've changed by the conclusion of the event. Grading out well during the workout while showcasing a line-drive approach during BP, the junior wasn't over-matched against upper-80s during gameplay and consistently took quality at-bats with not much to show for in the box score. There's not much wasted movement pre-pitch while being direct to contact, and stays short throughout the swing with consistent two-handed finishes. Defensively, he has some range and athleticism with good arm strength across, and has the ability to play third or second base in the future. With a leaner 6-foot-1, 174-pound frame, there's some intriguing upside to the profile and will be a name to follow closely over the next year.

+ INF Bryce Rivers (Mobile Christian, 2026) has consistently built a long track record with the hit tool over the past couple of years, and while there wasn't much to show for in the box score during the week, he's another high-follow prospect in the class. Possessing a strong 5-foot-7, 179-pound build with compact strength, Rivers' best tool is easily is hit/power tool combination. Showing off that ability during his round of BP during the workout, the right-hander consistently peppered the pull-side gap with line drives and a top EV of 98.0 mph. Hitting with rhythm and good balance, Rivers also shows off some fast hands and a quick barrel throughout the zone while finding the sweet spot more often than not. The defense has really come along as of late and projects to either play third or second base in the future showing good footwork and smooth hands with the glove.

+ SS Braydon Wright (2026) has been a name our staff has been following closely after attending the Junior Future Games a couple years ago and finally made it to the big stage with Team Alabama this summer. Coming in at 6-foot-2, 161-pounds, Wright is a lean prospect with solid athleticism and a low-pulse approach to everything he does. With still plenty of strength to be added to a long-limbed frame, the right-hander still possesses the skills to pair to the future strength, showing off smooth actions both at the plate and on the infield. He possesses a clean path to contact with a fluid right-handed stroke and feel for the barrel, while showcasing a more line-drive approach right now with the ability to hit for more power down the road. Arguably the best defensive infielder on Team Alabama, Wright plays a crisp shortstop with rangy actions and a reliable glove defensively. 

+ 3B/RHP Aaron Bailey (McAdory, 2026) was one of the more physically-imposing prospects for Team Alabama and showed off those tools during a quality workout on the opening day of the event. Measuring in at 6-foot-2, 204-pounds, the right-hander has a strong build with proportional strength which he uses to impact the baseball at a high-level at the plate. Using a simple toe-tap trigger, Bailey leads a heavy barrel to contact with elite bat speed to produce loud contact with each swing during BP. He showed a consistent pull-side approach with a few balls leaving the yard to LF while registering a top EV of 99.0 mph with a fairly low-effort swing. He's also a good athlete for his size, clocking a 6.93 60-yard dash during the workout. Also worked up to 89 mph with the fastball during his two-inning stint on the mound while showing a mid-70s breaking ball with 11-shape.

+ INF Angelo Santiago (Auburn, 2026) is coming off a strong spring and summer and while there wasn't much to show for during gameplay facing some high-level arms, our staff still thinks his hit/power tool combination is one of the best in his class. Listed at 5-foot-9, 211-pounds, Santiago is a thick, physical right-handed hitter with some polish and a balanced swing. Using a controlled leg kick for timing, the right-hander gets back to square quickly before showing the ability to hammer balls gap-to-gap with a powerful, connected swing that registered a top EV of 98.7 mph. He's shown the power in multiple looks with easy juice to the pull-side, while also being able to hit to all fields outside of this look. Another infielder who should project to play third or second base in the future.

+ SS/RHP Maxwell Crowder (Hoover, 2026) was another two-way prospect who flashed on both sides of the ball, but possibly showed an event higher upside on the mound. Measuring in at 6-foot-0, 173-pounds, Crowder is a well-rounded athlete with a line-drive approach at the plate. Using a quick, controlled leg kick, the right-hander repeats his swing well while meeting the baseball with a mostly level path through the zone and a strong feel for the barrel. He showcased the ability to hit to all fields during his round of BP with some low-90 EVs, and recorded an opposite-field double during gameplay. On the mound, he operates 85-88 mph with his fastball that generates natural arm-side run and pairs it with a 67-72 mph breaking ball. Pitching from an athletic, low-effort delivery, Crowder has excellent feel for spin and showed the ability to add/subtract with the pitch depending on the count. Still plenty more to come on the mound with a quick arm.

 

Upcoming Fall Events

SHOWCASE DATE LOCATION
Alabama Fall Games August 25th, 2024 University of Montevallo (Montevallo, AL)
AL/MS Border Battle (Invite-Only) October 12th-13th, 2024 Northeast Mississippi CC (Booneville, MS)
Central Alabama Fall ID October 20th, 2024 Prattville High School (Prattville, AL)
North Alabama Fall ID October 27th, 2024 James Clemens High School (Madison, AL)

 

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