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PBT Alabama Open: Scout Blog

June 27, 2024
Prep Baseball Alabama Staff

ALBERTVILLE, AL - The PBT Alabama Open wrapped up game play on Sunday in Albertville, AL across several host sites, including Snead State CC, Etowah HS and Gadsden HS. It was another picture-perfect weekend of baseball with standouts across multiple age divisions.

Our scouts were on hand for all games played, and there were plenty of standout performances throughout the day, both at the plate and on the mound. Teams and players were well-represented throughout the southeast part of the country, making for a perfect day of baseball. Below, you will find a few of the standouts from the weekend included with video and reports from their performances.

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SCOUT BLOG

+ RHP Braden McCrary (Mafia 16U, 2025) Uncommitted. 6 foot, 159-pounds. Attacked hitters with a lively fastball that sits 83-85 mph. and jumped all the way up to 86 mph. Filled the zone and kept hitters off balance with a 70-73 mph breaking ball with sharp, late movement. Mixes in a changeup at 80 mph. McCrary lived on the inside corner to right handed hitters, picking up several strike calls on front door breaking balls. Allowed just two runs in his first four innings of work in a 4-3 Mafia 16u win over CV Thunder.

+ OF/INF Andrew Bates (VBA Black 14U, 2028) Uncommitted. 6 foot, 144-pounds. Athletic, twitchy prospect with a tall stature. Aggressive approach at the plate while also displaying gap-to-gap power. Swing has a short path to the ball, with Bates tallying numerous barrels in the tournament. Showed off tremendous hustle both on the basepaths and in the field, playing with high intensity. Performance in Friday’s game was highlighted with a fourth inning pull side double over the head of the left fielder. Displayed quick first step out of the batter's box on a triple in VBA Black 14u’s 2-1 win over Fairhope 14u on Saturday.

+ OF/MIF/RHP Michael Shadeck (5 Star Cullman 14U, 2028) Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 157-pounds. On the mound, tossed 3.2 scoreless innings in the opening match for 5 Star Cullman 14u and 6.1 innings, allowing just three runs in Sunday’s bracket play game. Fastball worked all the way up to 76 mph after sitting at 74-75. Breaking ball sits 62-64 mph while the changeup hovers around 67 mph. Messes with hitters timing by changing up the leg kick on his delivery. At the plate, was not afraid to hit the ball to the opposite field, tallying a double over the head of the right fielder in Thursday’s game before doing the same on a triple in bracket play. Very little load on the swing, and demonstrated the ability to find gaps in the defense. 

+ MIF Chase Utley (USA Prime SE Select, 2028) Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 140-pounds. Showed off the ability to hit from foul line to foul line with a solid weekend at the plate for USA Prime Southeast 14u. Has good rhythm at the plate capped off with mature mechanics in his swing. Lofted a 3B over the head of the center fielder in Thursday's game, displaying some present speed. Uses a simple but athletic load, while displaying the ability to hit to the opposite field against East Cobb 615 with a line drive single to left field. 

+ 1B/LHP Luke Channell (USA Prime SE Select, 2028) Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 170-pounds. Stronger build with a 170 pound frame with a smooth stroke from the left side of the plate. Opened up the tournament with a loud double over the head of the right fielder in USA Prime Southeast Select’s opening game vs 5 Star Gulf Coast. Found the barrel once again in the second game with a single back up the middle. Also featured on the mound with his fastball jumping all the way up to 76 mph after sitting 71-74. Breaking ball worked from 65-68 mph. 

+  SS Charlie Hare (USA Prime SE, 2027) is a projectable 5’11 167-pounder that produced for USA Prime SE all weekend long. Hare is an athletic shortstop that played multiple positions throughout the weekend, including tossing in the low 80’s in two different appearances. The upcoming Sophomore has a productive swing, getting his hands to through the zone quickly and transitioning well through contact. Multiple XBH’s on the weekend including a leadoff homerun in the 3rd inning of the 15u semifinal game. Proved to be a vital piece towards the top of the order for the USA Prime SE Navy 15u team that finished runner-up in the PBT AL Open. Tons of upside in this athletic ‘27 SS. 

+ OF JD Pflueger (USA Prime SE, 2025) was on the barrel for what seemed like all weekend. The rising Senior outfielder has a strong lower half on a solid 5’8 170-pound frame. Pflueger impressed with one of the smoothest left handed swings throughout the weekend. Simple swing, getting the barrel on plane efficiently, exploding through contact.  Pflueger also impressed in the OF, making all the routine plays and also taking away multiple hits with efficient routes to the ball. Quality outfielder with a solid frame in the 2025 class. 

+ SS Joshua Bailey (Mafia 15u, 2027) is a physical 5-11 190-pounds with all the athleticism needed to defend at a high level. Bailey, batting in the heart of the lineup, was on the barrel multiple times throughout the weekend driving balls to all parts of the field and coming through in big spots. Twitchy build with present pop in this rising Sophomore. Interesting prospect to keep an eye on in the class of 2027. 

+ IF/RHP Brycen Williams (USA Prime SE, 2027) may have been the most consistent bat in the tournament this weekend. The rising Sophomore is a projectable 5’10 160-pounder that has a mature approach in the box/ Williams also impressed on the mound working in the low 80’s while locating three pitches. Kept hitters off balance all tournament. Williams was a crucial part in the success of the 15u Prime SE Select team as they walked about with a win in the championship matchup. Athletic frame with tons of upside in the class of 2027. 

+ RHP/OF Gunner Webb (USA Prime SE, 2027) was a fun watch the whole weekend at the plate and on the mound. Webb worked in the upper 70’s keeping hitters off balance with a solid breaking ball. Projectable frame at 5’11 145-pounds with plenty of room to add mass and strength. At the plate Webb swung it well, displaying some power at the top of the 15u Prime SE Navy lineup. A mature gap-to-gap approach that produced balls being driven to all parts of the field including a grand slam on day 2 of the tournament. Intriguing two way player in the class of 2027.

+ '26 C/RHP Tucker Hargett (USA Prime Premier, 2026) made some noise with the bat over the weekend and generated loud contact nearly every time he came to the plate. The uncommitted 2026 launched a pair of home runs throughout the course of the weekend. A physical frame at the plate that stands out at 6-3, 215 pounds and is a middle-of-the-order bat.

+ '25 1B/RHP Tucker Lanning (Hustle Baseball, 2025) did a little bit on the mound and at the plate for Hustle Baseball at the PBT Alabama Open last week in the Sand Mountain area. On the mound, had a close opportunity and came in working with the FB/CB combo that would help seal the deal for his team. The fastball worked in the 82-83 mph range, paired with the breaking ball that played at 70-71 mph. At the plate, had success with the bat as he produced loud contact several times, bigger bodied frame at 6-3. 220-pounds with plenty of present pop at the plate.

 

Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE DATE LOCATION
Huntsville Rising Stars ID July 2nd, 2024 James Clemens High School (Madison, AL)
Huntsville Summer ID July 2nd, 2024 James Clemens High School (Madison, AL)
Tuscaloosa Rising Stars ID July 9th, 2024 Northridge High School (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Tuscaloosa Summer ID July 9th, 2024 Northridge High School (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Montgomery Rising Stars ID July 16th, 2024 Stanhope Elmore High School (Millbrook, AL)
Montgomery Summer ID July 16th, 2024 Stanhope Elmore High School (Millbrook, AL)

 

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