Yellowhammer State Games: Quick Hits, Infielders
June 22, 2024
ALBERTVILLE, AL - The inaugural Yellowhammer State Games was held on Tuesday, June 18th and Wednesday, June 19th at Sand Mountain Park in Albertville, AL. This event was the premier invite-only event of the summer that consisted of some of the top prospects from the 2025-2028 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 during a gameplay setting with a monitored pitch count 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 this week.
Continuing our post-event coverage for this event, we dive into some of the top infielders from the event. Please continue to check back over the next week, as we will release quick hits articles, other various event leaderboards, individual scouting reports, and much more on each player present at the event.
View entire event stats HERE.
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Rocco Maniscalco SS / Oxford High School, AL / 2027Uncommitted. 6-foot-0, 188-pounds. Athletic frame with some lean strength and still tons of projection. A former PB Jr. Future Games alumni and current top-100 prospect nationally and certainly showcased why with arguably one of the best showings out of any prospect in attendance. The rising sophomore delivered some big swings down the stretch for Oxford this past spring, and appears to be the next premier prospect in line to come out of the pipeline for that program. A switch-hitter with pop from both sides of the plate with the left-handed swing showing a bit more output in our looks, but equally adept from both sides. Loose hands with loads of bat and hand speed to help impact the baseball, which he did during his round posting numerous mid-90s readings and a top EV of 100.1 mph, which was third-best from the event. Sizable power projection and tapping into some now, showing it off during gameplay with a loud swing off the top of the RCF fence for a triple in his first at-bat of Game 2. A 7.3-runner earlier this summer on turf, Maniscalco also trimmed down his 60-yard dash to 6.90 at this event and showcased that athleticism going from H to 3B on the triple. Also an elite defender who played third base during the spring, but should slide to shortstop in the near future and certainly has the glove to do so. Can flat pick it with good footwork and range, and has plenty of arm strength to back it up working up to 92 mph across the infield during the workout. Just a special talent in the 2027 class in Alabama who continues to do things your typical rising sophomore in high school isn't able to do.
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Steele Hall SS / Hewitt-Trussville High School, AL / 2026Tennessee recruit. 5-foot-10, 152-pounds. Lean, wiry frame with game-changing athleticism. Just another weekend at the park for the state's No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class, as he near the top of most leaderboards and continued to do what we've seen him do for the last four years. Consistent line drives gap-to-gap generating low-90 EVs and a top EV of 97.7 mph in what appeared to be a low-effort, low-pulse round of BP during the workout. Has such a knack for finding the sweet spot on the barrel while meeting the ball with a mostly level path at contact. While he will put on a show during BP, gameplay is where he consistently shows up and makes an impact, as our staff has seen it time and time again. Just a superior athlete clocking a 6.43 60-yard dash and touching 92 mph across the infield. Clean defender with crisp footwork and tons of lateral range. An elite talent who has been doing it and performing at a high-level for quite some time now, and still hard to believe he has two years of high school baseball left.
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JB Upton SS / Auburn High School, AL / 2027Uncommitted. 5-foot-10, 184-pounds. Strong, athletic frame with tons of quick-twitch. Present compact strength throughout and uses it well. Another highly-touted prospect in the 2027 class in Alabama who is ranked inside the top-105 nationally. One of the biggest winners and eye-opening performances from the event while seeming to live on the barrel once he walked into the complex. A switch-hitter who took quality swing after quality swing from both sides of the plate during his round of BP, resulting in a top EV of 99.4 mph and a max estimated distance of 387 feet. Short and direct to contact who shows the ability to hammer it out front or let it travel and drive it the other way. Has an innate feel for the barrel with good twitch and athleticism in the swing. Absolutely hammered an opposite-field ground-rule double during gameplay for one of the biggest swings of the weekend. Also clocked a 6.86 60-yard dash and showcased good actions on the dirt with versatility to play multiple positions defensively.
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Easton Nelms SS / Florence High School, AL / 2025Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. Athletic frame with some notable added strength. One of the top uncommitted prospects in the 2025 class in Alabama who continues to raise his stock after each viewing. A former PB Future Games alumni from last year, Nelms has some exciting intangibles and shattered his previous-bests from previous events during the workout. After clocking a 6.70 60-yard dash, the left-hander took an impressive round of BP while spraying balls to all parts of the field and registering a top EV of 99.3 mph with an average EV of 90.5 mph. Nelms swings with plenty of intent and showed off some above-average bat speed during the round, and seemed to be on the barrel with nearly each swing. Reliable with the glove and should stick on the left side of the infield in the future with a likely destination of third base potentially, showing off the arm strength working up to 92 mph across during the workout. Continued to take quality swings throughout gameplay. Certainly caught the attention of our staff and the college recruiters in attendance with his showing, and should be a high-level name to know for this summer.
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Baylor Morrison SS / Etowah High School, AL / 2027Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 156-pounds. Lean, athletic build. One of the top infielders in the rising sophomore class in Alabama and a former PB Jr. Future Games alumni. Easily the best we've seen the right-handed hitter who followed up a quality workout with multiple hits spread throughout gameplay against some older, talented arms. High-contact hitter with mostly line-drive approach and can drive it all fields using a short, twitchy swing with quick hands. Simple right-handed operation with some adjustability. Lived on the barrel throughout his round of BP, posting a top EV of 96.2 mph. Aggressive infielder who attacks the ball well with clean footwork. One of the better arms across from the workout working up to 91 mph. A gamer-type prospect who is already a multi-year starter for one of the better programs in Class 4A. Certainly another talented infielder in the 2027 class in Alabama to keep close eyes on. |
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Aaron Bailey 3B / RHP / McAdory High School, AL / 2026Uncommitted. 6-foot-2, 204-pounds. Physical build with proportional strength throughout. Currently ranked as the top uncommitted hitter in the 2026 class in Alabama and continues to show off some loud tools and intriguing two-way ability. Generates such easy pop hitting from the right side and uses strength well throughout the swing. Swings the heaviest of barrels through the zone with the ball jumping off at higher exits with ease. Immense gap-to-gap pop with top EV of 97.5 mph and a max estimated distance of 386 feet, which was second-best from the event. Showcases above-average bat speed averaging 75.9 mph, per Blast Motion. Profiles to stick at third base or move to a corner outfield spot in the future with some arm strength at both spots. Well-rounded athlete for size clocking a 7.00 6-yard dash. High-level follow moving forward as the all-important August 1st recruiting date approaches.
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Jack Ross 3B / RHP / Homewood High School, AL / 2025Uncommitted. 6-foot-0, 189-pounds. Mature frame with present strength and some room to add in the future. Regarded as one of the top uncommitted propsects in the 2025 class in Alabama and certainly did enough to raise his stock at this week's event. One of our picks to breakout this past spring after a standout showing at a Preseason ID in January, and follow it up leading his club to a successful season on both sides of the ball. One of the more mature, professional rounds of BP from the event with barreled balls going into the pull-side gap throughout. Has excellent balance during the swing and stays connected well. All over the barrel during his round and has the Trackman data to back it up; 99.3 mph max EV (5th), 93.8 mph avg. EV (1st), 392 ft. max distance (1st), 322 ft. avg. distance (2nd). Solid athlete with 6.98 60-yard dash. Also a notable RHP with two-way intrigue after making the All-State team this spring. Up to 85 mph during his outing with 2800 RPM-spinning breaking ball. Highest-level follow in the 2025 class in Alabama who doesn't need to be on the board for too much longer. |
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Brodie Jones SS / Opelika High School, AL / 2025Uncommitted. 6-foot-0, 171-pounds. Wiry, athletic frame with some present strength scattered. Has seemed to be have added some notable strength since the last viewing this spring. Known for his hard-nosed, leader-type ability, Jones continues to showcase as one of the top shortstops in the 2025 class in Alabama. A consistent in-game perfomer and another former PB Future Games alumni, the right-handed hitter possesses a keen feel for the barrel with a line-drive approach that consistently produces firm all-fields contact. Jones turns the barrel with loads of intent and bat speed while staying through contact well throughout the swing, producing consistent low-90 EVs and a top EV of 96.6 mph. Continues to show flashes of power with a max estimated distance of 357 ft. during BP. Well-rounded athlete clocking a 6.75 60-yard dash. Rangy defender with good lateral footwork. Profiles to stick up the middle and has some arm strength working up to 88 mph across. Another high-follow uncommitted prospect in the 2025 class in Alabama.
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Aiden Urnis SS / Prattville High School, AL / 2026Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 176-pounds. Long, high-waisted frame with some athleticism and projectable strength to come. Smooth actions all-around and took a quality round of BP driving consistent line drives to the pull-side throughout. Clean, repeatable right-handed swing with consistent two-handed finishes. Simple operation using a quick stride for timing trigger and showcases a short swing. Mostly level path through the zone but should see higher volumes of power output down the road as he continues to develop and add strength to a lean frame. Clean defender with smooth actions at shortstop with some arm strength and should stick on the left side in the future. A bit of an under-the-radar prospect currently, but shouldn't be for much longer as he continues to build off of his performance at this week's event. Quality name to know in the 2026 class in Alabama. |
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Charlie Taaffe SS / Vestavia Hills High School, AL / 2027Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 180-pounds. Medium build with a stronger lower-half and possesses quality athleticism. A top-15 ranked prospect in the 2027 class in Alabama. Hits from an upright stance and utilizes rhythm and a gap-to-gap approach. Creates significant extension out front and meets it using a level path with a heavy barrel and good strength at impact. Has some power to the pull-side and will continue to add to it down the road. Took quality at-bats during gameplay against some talented arms, including a firm single into LF in one of his at-bats. Good athlete for his age clocking a 6.88 60-yard dash and flashed some ability with the glove during the defensive workout. Talented prospect in the 2027 class in Alabama to follow for the next couple of years.
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