Alabama Fall Watchlist: Vol. IV
September 11, 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.
Benton brings one of the more physical right-handed bats among the uncommitted seniors in the state. At 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, there's considerable strength in the frame, but the operation stays controlled with a simple load and an ability to generate impact without selling out. He works uphill through the baseball and has shown consistent gap-to-gap juice, reaching a 98.8 mph EV during our summer looks. The power is the carrying tool and gives Benton a chance to provide immediate offensive value at the next level.
Whorton is coming off a massive junior campaign in which he hit .495 and continues to show an offensive skill set that should draw attention from college programs. The 5-foot-11, 181-pound backstop has a controlled, repeatable right-handed swing with a strong lower half and present whip through the zone. He consistently finds the barrel and has enough strength to drive the baseball to all fields, reaching a 95.4 mph EV during our looks. There's more impact to come as he continues to mature physically, adding to an already advanced feel to hit for a catcher.
Eady offers a physical left-handed bat with the offensive ability to profile in the middle of an order at the next level. The 6-foot-2, 231-pound first baseman has advanced strength, but there's more to the offensive game than simply raw power, showing feel for the barrel and quality bat-to-ball skills. His swing stays short and compact through the zone, creating backspin while allowing him to drive the baseball with authority to both gaps. He reached a 97.3 mph EV during our summer looks after serving as a key run producer throughout the spring.
Harris brings a high-level athletic profile to the uncommitted senior class with tools that continue to stand out across the board. The 5-foot-10, 158-pound outfielder is a twitchy two-sport athlete who also plays quarterback, with that athleticism translating naturally to the diamond as a sub-7.0 runner. There’s more impact in the bat than the frame might suggest, reaching a 100.8 mph EV and showing the ability to generate considerable bat speed and strength through contact. The athleticism and offensive impact give Harris multiple avenues to provide value at the next level.
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.
Carter established himself as one of the bigger stock risers in Alabama's 2028 class during the spring, consistently producing each time we saw him against quality competition. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound infielder has a quick-twitch right-handed swing with an exceptional feel for the barrel, staying simple to contact with quick hands and the ability to adjust to different parts of the zone. He showed the ability to handle velocity early in the year, turning around an elevated 88 mph fastball for a double during the Kickoff Classic, and continued to find barrels in later looks. The athleticism and advanced bat-to-ball skills give Carter a well-rounded offensive profile that continues to play against older arms.
Hawkins has continued to build on a strong start to the year, carrying his toolsy profile into a productive spring and summer. The 6-foot, 191-pound shortstop has present strength and athleticism with quick, twitchy actions that translate well to the right-handed swing. He creates leverage through a strong upward path while using the lower half effectively, but has also shown the barrel control to stay through the middle of the field and produce consistent hard contact. A 97.2 mph EV early in the year provided a glimpse of the impact in the bat, and the overall offensive profile continued to trend upward as the year progressed.
Gilley brings an athletic, switch-hitting profile to a premium position with some of the better defensive actions in Alabama's 2028 class. At 5-foot-10, 153 pounds, he moves well on the dirt with advanced hands and the ability to stick at shortstop long term. There's feel from both sides of the plate as well, showing the ability to adjust and use the entire field while continuing to develop physically. A 6.72 60-yard dash further highlights the athleticism, while the defensive ability remains a separator in the profile.
McKay brings a high-level athletic profile to the 2028 class with legitimate upside on the mound and as a position player. The right-hander showed advanced pitchability during our spring look, firing a seven-inning shutout with 11 strikeouts while throwing 75% strikes and consistently working ahead. His fastball has continued to climb since then, reaching 87 mph this summer, with a tight slider giving him a quality swing-and-miss secondary. That athleticism extends beyond the diamond, as McKay is also the starting quarterback for a talented Prattville squad that has opened the fall 3-0.
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.
Mahan continues to look the part of a high-level starter in Alabama’s 2029 class, blending present stuff with advanced strike-throwing ability and pitchability. The physical 6-foot-2, 240-pound right-hander operates with little effort and a clean arm, running the fastball up to 90 mph this summer while showing feel for his secondary offerings. His athleticism is evident beyond the mound as a legitimate two-way prospect and talented quarterback, giving him a unique physical profile for the position. The ease of the operation and ability to consistently fill the zone provide a strong foundation as the arsenal continues to develop.
Thompson continues to show a well-rounded two-way skill set that has him positioned inside the Top 15 of Alabama's 2029 class. The 5-foot-11, 155-pound prospect has plenty of physical development ahead, with a quick, compact left-handed swing and a present feel to hit that showed throughout the spring and again at the Yellowhammer State Games. He uses the entire field well and reached a 95.3 mph EV during the event. On the mound, Thompson works in the mid-80s with carry through the zone and shows feel for both a breaking ball and changeup, with the pitchability already present and more velocity likely to come as the frame matures.
Harcrow continues to build a strong track record as one of the more intriguing young catchers in Alabama after producing at the varsity level before reaching high school. The 5-foot-11, 169-pound backstop has an athletic frame with a left-handed bat that continues to stand out, showing present bat speed and a fluid path with the ability to drive the baseball from gap to gap. He reached a 94.7 mph EV at the Birmingham Summer ID before carrying that momentum into the Junior Future Games later in the summer. The offensive foundation is already advanced for his age with plenty of physical development still ahead.
Houston offers an intriguing two-way foundation with advanced athleticism and arm strength for his age. The lean, wiry 6-foot, 135-pound prospect has plenty of physical development ahead, already showing an 87 mph arm across the infield with the actions to handle the dirt. The arm talent translates to the mound, where his fastball has worked 82-84 mph and touched 85 with present arm speed and a simple, repeatable delivery. He pairs it with a 73-74 mph breaking ball showing depth, giving Houston plenty to project on as the frame continues to fill out.
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