Midseason Scout Blog: Uncommitted 2022's

Drew Brown OF / Prattville, AL / 2022

Week 6 Scout Blog (April 2nd)

Brown has quickly turned into one of the state's most consistent hitter at the top of the order for one of the hottest teams. After seeing him earlier in the spring, we were thoroughly impressed with how he handled the bat from the left side and impacted the game in multiple capacities. Fast forward to this weekend, Brown elevated his status even more going 10-for-15 with four triples, a double and a few walks in the Buccaneer Classic playing against some of the top teams in the Birmingham area. An uncommitted senior, Brown showed the ability to handle some quality arms at the plate using a selective approach and not chasing pitches out of the zone in his at-bats. Listed at 5-foot-9, 165-pounds, he's really athletic with 6.86-speed at a previous event and translates well to covering the gaps in the outfield defensively. Brown is without a doubt a name to know in the 2022 class and has a chance to make a real impact at whatever programs he ends up at.

Week 1 Scout Blog (February 24th)

Brown has gotten off to a really good start to his senior year, as he’s paced the Lions hitting at the top of the order. After blasting a home-run last week, the uncommitted senior wasted no time making his presence felt with a leadoff double that one-hopped the wall in the pull-side gap in his first at-bat. He also recorded a single on a sharply-hit ball to the opposite field in his third at-bat, as well. Brown has a 5-foot-9, 165-pound frame that plays with bounce and athleticism in his game. Covers ground well in the outfield with 6.86-speed that he showed at a previous event. A really solid uncommitted senior who would be a good late addition to a college program.

Taylor Bush C / OF / Oak Mountain , AL / 2022

Bush is another uncommitted senior producing at a really high level for a potent offensive in the three-hole. Sandwiched inside the top of the order by a trio of college signees, Bush has arguably been the Eagles' most consistent hitter in the first half of the spring and is a name to know for any program looking to firm up their senior class. Listed at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds with proportional strength throughout his frame, Bush has shown the ability to hit for average and power in multiple looks this spring with excellent feel for the barrel. He takes aggressive swings earlier in the count looking to drive the ball to the power alleys with authority, but also showed maturity by simplifying his setup with two strikes and still barreling up an off-speed offering and lacing it into the gap for a two-RBI double in his second at-bat. Bush has also handled one of the state's deepest pitching staffs behind the plate well, and has shown a strong arm from behind the plate at a previous event, topping out at 77 mph from the crouch. He's also been clocked at 7.23 in the 60 YD, so he could potentially move to a corner spot in the future.

Sheldon Ott 1B / LHP / Houston Academy, AL / 2022

Ott continued to fit the role of a run-producer hitting in the middle-of-the-order in the Raiders lineup. Standing at 6-foot-5, 225-pounds, Ott has obvious physicality that plays well in his offensive profile after showing off plenty of power last summer playing for Excel Baseball and at a couple of events. Last night was no different for the uncommitted senior, as he picked out a hanging breaking ball over the heart of the plate in a two-strike count and drove it well over the head of the center fielder to drive home a pair on a two-RBI triple. The physical left-handed hitting first baseman shows good bat speed working with an uphill path through the zone, and uses his strong frame to hit for power out of the three-hole. He also showed quality zone awareness, working a pair of walks while laying off some off-speed pitches after the triple. 

Zach Hill RHP / OF / Hueytown , AL / 2022

Hill is an uncommitted senior who impressed in multiple facets yesterday, but it was the right-handed arm that stood out and made him such an intriguing prospect. Although it was a short look in relief, Hill filled up the zone with 13/18 for strikes and worked up to 87 mph a handful of times while working in the mid-80’s for the majority of his inning. He seemed to cut his fastball when to the glove-side and induced weak contact in the process. The right-hander also showed a quality slider at 74-75 mph with late, downer break that he showed the ability to bury in the bottom fo the zone for swing-and-miss in late counts. He’s an athletic 5-foot-11, 155-pounder who works with a fairly low-effort intent to compliment his two-pitch repertoire. Hill also added a pair of hits at the top of the order, as well.

Jake Smithson SS / Brookwood, AL / 2022

Smithson made a quick and lasting impression in short look hitting in the three-hole of the Panthers' order. The uncommitted senior seemed to be in the middle of everything for Brookwood, recording three hits and making every defensive routine play look easy playing shortstop. After doubling back in his first at-bat, Smithson recorded two singles (video below) to the opposite field in his final two at-bats. He uses a quiet & balanced setup in the right side of the box and showed the ability to handle all parts of the zone and use the whole field in his approach. Standing 5-foot-9, 160-pounds, the uncommitted senior should have no trouble moving to second base in the future with a reliable glove that can pick it defensively. He should be a solid addition to a college program looking to firm up their senior class.

Andy Hall 1B / RHP / Prattville, AL / 2022

Hall is one of the many uncommitted seniors, like Brown, leading way in the middle of the order for one of the state's hottest teams this spring. Hall is extremely physical in the left side of the box standing 6-foot-5, 250-pounds and put impressive pull side power on display in their final game of the Buccaneer Classic. After delivering in the clutch on the previous day with a walk-off single to the opposite field, Hall continued to make an impact offensively with a no-doubter over the right field wall that went for a grand slam. Starting slightly open with his stance, the uncommitted senior has a short leg kick to get back square and uses minimal movements in his pre-swing and allows his physicality to do the work with the ability to repeat his swing consistently. A previous Mizuno Player of the Week back earlier in the spring, Hall continues to swing a hot bat and be a consistent run-producer for the Lions.

Bryce Sanders LHP / OF / Central (Phenix City), AL / 2022

Sanderes got the start for the Red Devils and he did not disappoint in his five inning stint. Sanders scattered four hits while only allowing one earned run. He walked three but struck out six Patriots. The uncommitted senior was forced to make some high pressure pitches and did not seem fazed at all in the big moments. While he doesn’t have elite velocity, he consistently misses barrels and shows high confidence in spotting the fastball to both sides at 79-81 mph and flipping in a quality breaking ball with late depth at 65-68 mph. Sanders also came up huge at the plate as he drove in a go-ahead run in the bottom of the 6th.  

Andrew Batson OF / Hoover, AL / 2022

Batson got the Bucs started on Monday hitting at the top of a talented lineup. In the top of the 1st, Batson took the first pitch of the game to left center field, legging out a double. Batson showed some impressive pop from the right side and gets out of the box quick with a barrel that stays through the zone well. Batson is an impressive bat that is key to the top half of the Hoover lineup. Batson  stepped back up to the plate in the 7th inning, and proceeded to hit a ball over the left fielders head for his second double of the game. The uncommitted senior continues to be one of the top offensive producers for a talented Hoover squad.

Mason Smallwood C / 3B / Mortimer Jordan, AL / 2022

Smallwood was another upperclassman for the Blue Devils who stood out in a big way in their opening win to start their spring break trip. Smallwood, an uncommitted senior, is listed at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds and did a variety of things at a high level in this extended look. Hitting in the three-hole for the Blue Devils, the senior backstop was a primary run-producer going 2-for-3 with a single, home run and three RBI’s offensively. Smallwood showed the ability to use the whole field in his approach hitting from the right side and shorten up with two strikes, but still be able to find firm contact. In his first at-bat, he worked into a deep count facing a right-hander and recognized and adjusted well to spin and lined a laser back up the middle to drive home the first run of the game for the Blue Devils. His biggest swing of the day came in his second at-bat, where he drove a fastball to the opposite field and over the right field wall for a two-run home run. He’ll definitely be one to follow in the senior class moving forward throughout the spring.

Lance Lodge C / Buckhorn, AL / 2022

Lodge really stood out in a number of ways in the Buckhorn win on Wednesday night. Lodge did a good job handling both of Buckhorn’s pitchers and consistently showed solid blocking skills as both arms continued to bury breaking balls for swing-and-misses that finished in the dirt. Lodge also threw out a baserunner attempting to steal 3rd base to end the 6th inning. The senior backstop shows a solid approach from the left side with the barrel and put together several quality at-bats on the day, finishing with two hits and a line out to shortstop.