Alabama Fall Watchlist: Vol. III
September 4, 2026
Prep Baseball Alabama Staff
ALABAMA - With the summer circuit in the rearview mirror and the fall season beginning to take shape, our staff continues to take a closer look at prospects across the state who warrant continued attention over the coming months. Throughout the fall, this series will highlight players from multiple graduating classes who have stood out through our evaluations and remain intriguing follows as development continues.
The Fall Watchlist is not intended to serve as a rankings update, but rather an opportunity to spotlight players who have caught our attention through their performance, tools, projection, or continued development. Some have already established themselves as known names within their respective classes, while others continue to trend upward and could see their stock rise with another strong fall.
PREVIOUS EDITIONS:
Below, we take a look at another group of prospects from Alabama's 2027-2030 classes who remain firmly on our radar heading into the fall.
Uncommitted Seniors 🔍
With the fall season underway, the 2027 class remains a priority on the recruiting trail. With the Senior Future Games recently concluding, this section will also provide an opportunity to highlight additional uncommitted seniors throughout the class who warrant attention from college programs. While Senior Future Games participants will certainly be featured throughout the series, the goal is to continue expanding the follow list and bringing attention to more uncommitted prospects across the state.
Rackard has built a strong track record as one of the more reliable right-handed bats in the state, with the hit tool continuing to show up against quality competition. The 6-foot, 198-pound third baseman has advanced feel for the barrel and rarely gives away at-bats, staying compact through the zone with quiet hands and an ability to adjust while using the entire field. There's present strength in the frame, but the consistency of the contact remains the separator, with more power likely to surface as he continues to develop. He reached a 96.1 mph EV during our summer looks and also offers some two-way value with an 85.2 mph fastball.
Alexander continues to make a strong case as an uncommitted senior worth following closely this fall. Athleticism is a clear part of the profile at 5-foot-8, 155 pounds, highlighted by a 6.52 60-yard dash and the versatility to handle both the infield and outfield. The right-handed bat has also shown the ability to produce against quality competition, working with quick hands, present bat speed, and a consistent feel for contact. He carried a strong workout into game action this summer with a pair of extra-base hits and has shown the speed to create additional pressure once on base.
Dodd turned in one of the more dominant outings of the summer at the Southeast Select, striking out 11 across five innings while allowing just two hits. The 5-foot-11 left-hander attacked with a three-pitch mix, working 82-85 mph and touching 87 with arm-side life while showing the ability to locate the fastball to both sides. His 77-79 mph changeup played well off the heater with fade and was trusted in different counts, while a 70-72 mph breaking ball gave him another weapon with sweeping action. The ability to manipulate all three offerings and miss bats gives Dodd plenty to like as an uncommitted left-handed arm in the 2027 class.
SS/RHP Ben Pugh, Orange Beach (AL), 2027
Pugh brings an intriguing collection of tools to the uncommitted senior class and continues to show value on both sides of the ball. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound athlete has legitimate arm strength on the dirt, reaching 95 mph across the infield at the Yellowhammer State Games, while also turning in a 6.90 60-yard dash. At the plate, he works through a clean, level path with feel for the barrel and reached a 93.6 mph EV. There's another avenue on the mound as well, where he's previously worked into the mid-80s and has the arm strength to potentially provide value in a relief role.
2028's To Follow 📈
Alabama's 2028 class has entered an important stage in the recruiting process, and there remains plenty of talent to follow throughout the state. With the Future Games recently concluding, this section will also provide an opportunity to highlight additional prospects throughout the class who warrant attention heading into the fall. While Future Games participants will certainly be featured throughout the series, the goal is to continue expanding the follow list and bringing attention to players across the state.
McAusland continues to trend upward as a two-way prospect with legitimate tools on both sides of the ball. The 5-foot-10, 188-pound right-handed hitter has quick hands and evident bat speed, controlling the barrel well through the zone while already showing present impact with a 100.7 mph EV. There's plenty to like on the mound as well, where the fastball has reached 87.9 mph with strong carry characteristics, averaging 21.3 inches of induced vertical break. He pairs it with a 75-77 mph breaking ball that has spun up to 2754 RPM, giving him a quality secondary and another avenue to impact the game.
Mitchell continues to trend in the right direction physically and remains an intriguing two-way prospect in Alabama's 2028 class. Now at 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, the left-handed hitter shows a compact stroke with good feel for the barrel, creating separation and staying through contact to produce firm contact to all fields. He reached a 92.3 mph EV and turned in a 6.96 60, with the athleticism giving him the ability to potentially transition to the outfield down the road. There's still two-way value in the profile as well, with Mitchell working up to 83 mph on the mound.
Dean made a strong impression during our spring looks and continues to carry considerable offensive upside in Alabama's 2028 class. The left-handed hitter has quick hands and present bat speed, creating noticeable barrel lag before working slightly uphill through contact with the ability to drive the baseball to both gaps. He showed the ability to repeat quality swings against live pitching, going 3-for-3 with a double during one of our looks while consistently producing hard contact. There's already a good feel for the barrel in place, with the bat speed and leverage pointing to more power as he continues to mature physically.
Hunter has continued to establish himself as one of the more intriguing two-way athletes in Alabama's 2028 class. The 5-foot-10, 158-pound left-handed hitter shows an advanced feel for contact with the ability to use the entire field, while a 94.9 mph EV points to developing impact in the bat. His athleticism adds another layer to the profile with a 6.70 60 and an 86 mph arm from the outfield. There's legitimate ability on the mound as well, working 84-85 mph with feel for a 75-78 mph curveball that has spun up to 2682 RPM and a 79-80 mph changeup.
Underclass Names to Know 🌟
The younger classes across Alabama continue to take shape, with plenty of talent already beginning to emerge from the 2029 and 2030 groups. Evaluations at this stage lean heavily on present tools, athleticism, baseball ability, and long-term projection as these players continue to develop physically. This section will highlight some of the younger prospects who have already caught our staff's attention and are worth knowing early.
Morris offers plenty to project on with a 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame and the present ingredients of a future starter. The right-hander has worked 84-87 mph and touched 88 with the fastball, consistently filling the zone and showing the ability to work efficiently through a lineup. He pairs it with a 74-76 mph slider and has shown feel for mixing the two offerings while pitching ahead in counts. With room to continue adding strength, Morris is an arm to watch as the stuff develops alongside his present strike-throwing ability.
Gregory continues to trend upward as a two-way prospect with plenty of physical upside remaining in Alabama's 2029 class. At 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, the athletic shortstop already possesses present strength while still having room to develop physically. The right-handed bat showed quality barrel control at the Southeast Super Sophomore Games, consistently driving the baseball into the pull-side gap and reaching a 98.0 mph EV. There's upside on the mound as well, where Gregory worked 84-86 mph and showed another avenue for the profile to continue developing.
Mason continues to separate himself as one of the premier prospects in Alabama’s 2030 class, with the skill set holding up against older competition throughout the spring and summer. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound left-handed hitter has an advanced feel for the barrel, staying simple and synced while showing the ability to adjust to different parts of the zone and drive the baseball for extra bases. He was already a key contributor for one of the state’s top Class 4A programs as an eighth grader before continuing to show well at the Yellowhammer State Games and Junior Future Games this summer. Mason projects well at shortstop and brings legitimate two-way ability to the profile, with the fastball already reaching 86 mph and feel for spin on the mound.
Thomas continues to stand out for the maturity of his offensive game and has established himself as a high-level hit-tool prospect in Alabama’s 2030 class. The left-handed hitter plays with energy and consistently competes in the box, showing a disciplined approach with advanced barrel control and an ability to put quality swings on different pitches. Those traits carried over to the Junior Future Games, where the pure feel to hit continued to show against quality arms from around the country. There’s a natural top-of-the-order look to the profile with the athleticism, instincts, and offensive skill set already well advanced for his age.
UPCOMING SHOWCASES ⤵️
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS ⤵️
+ View All Alabama Tournaments
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
+ Create a Free Player Profile
Get started with a free Prep Baseball player profile.
+ Prep Baseball Subscription
Unlock additional player information, rankings, scouting content and more.
Related Content:
