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PBR Junior Future Games: Team Alabama Quick Hits

August 9, 2021
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

For the third time, PBR Alabama entered three ball clubs into the 2021 Jr. Future Games, which features the best identified prospects from across the PBR Coverage Area in a five-day event at LakePoint Sports in Emerson, GA. Participants will be given the unique opportunity of competing against other top-level players while representing their respective state in a high-level atmosphere.

This event runs in conjunction with the 2021 PBR Future Games. The Future Games features the top uncommitted players in the Class of 2023 and 2024 from across the Prep Baseball Report’s 35+ state coverage area. It is one of the most highly recruited events of the summer and attracting more than 330 college coaches from across the country each year.

The three squads featured over thirty of the top young prospects from across the state representing the 2025 and 2026 class. All three clubs had success in the tournament, including Team Alabama 13U winning their pool and making it to the championship game against Team Florida 13U. The other two 14U teams competed in consolation games, but represented the state of Alabama well in the process. Below are some of the top performers from Team Alabama to keep an eye on over the next few years.

 

Quick Hits - Team Alabama

Cole Dean 1B / LHP / Bayshore Christian , AL / 2025

Dean fits the mold of someone who will hit in the middle of the order for any team in the future. While still having tons of maturity to come at 5-9, 170-pounds, the left-handed hitting first baseman took some aggressive hacks at the plate, resulting in a handful of base hits against some talented arms at the event. A controlled, but aggressive, approach, Dean has shown the ability to handle all arms with ease over the past year. Hit in the three-hole as an eight grader on a Bayshore Christian squad that would go on to win a Class 1A crown this past spring. An advanced hitter in the rising freshman class. Finished the week with three hits, two of which were doubles, and two RBI's.

Damien Gatson OF / Mobile Christian, AL / 2025

A left-handed hitting outfielder that caught the attention of our PBR staff once he walked in the building at an event last month, Gatson easily earned his invite to represent Team Alabama at this event. Advanced athleticism for his age at 5-11, 175-pounds, Gatson has tons of upside as he continues to develop and mature as a prospect. Smooth actions at the plate from the left side of the plate, logging multiple base hits and showed the ability to be on the barrel consistently throughout the event. A high-waisted prospect that checks a lot of boxes in the early part of his high school career. Will be fun to watch over the next few years and see him continue to elevate his status as a prospect.

Garrett Blacklock 3B / RHP / Grissom, AL / 2025

One of the more consistent offensive performers throughout the week for Team Alabama, Blacklock showed off some significant upside using an advanced 6-2, 165-pound frame. Using a balanced & athletic setup at the plate, Blacklock looks to impact the baseball with a level path through the zone & showed off some quick & explosive hand speed, as well. Short stride with minimal movement throughout gives way to the ability to consistently find the barrel with each swing. Recorded two hits in the last game of the week, with one being a two-run home run over the LF wall. One to following in the '25 class moving forward.

Caiden Combs 1B / 3B / Gardendale, AL / 2025

One of the more physical prospects throughout the country in the rising freshman class, Combs possesses a strong & burly 6-3, 245-pound frame. Looks the part in the right side of the box with obvious power present already. Has made noticeable strides to his approach since last summer with a more selective mentality, and looks to drive his pitch with authority on each swing. Premium pop to all fields shown during BP & gameplay; lined out to LF in 1st at-bat in the clip below, and flew out to the warning track in RF in the next at-bat. Team-best 95 mph EV during the workout, as well. Also has some surprising athleticism and has cut his 60 YD time down from 7.94 to 7.43 this summer. Good presence in the box, significant follow moving forward.

Charlie Cassingham SS / RHP / Grissom , AL / 2025

One of my personal favorites from the PBR Junior Future Games, Cassingham has seemed to continue to get better & produces against all forms of competition at a young age as he showed in the 7A playoffs this past spring. Ability to slow the game down in all areas of the game, plays with confidence, and already shows competitive traits at such an early stage of his career. Sure hands up the middle with crisp footwork defensively. 7.09-runner with above average arm strength across the infield for his age at 78 mph. Will obviously be the beneficiary of added strength & continued development throughout his high school career, given how good his skills are at this point. Hit .300 (3-10) with a double, a walk, and a stolen base.

Hudson Gilman C / RHP / Oxford , AL / 2025

Gilman continued to assert himself as one of the top players in the incoming freshman class at this event. Present strength at 6-0, 180-pounds with a durable frame gives him a definite chance to stick behind the plate defensively. Elite catch-and-throw skills thanks to a quick transfer & advanced arm strength (77 mph) with carry; consistently produced 1.88-1.96 pop times during the workout. Some whip to the barrel through the zone with pop to all fields. One of the leading hitters for Team Alabama that posted a .500 (4-8) batting average with a double and three RBI's. Also pitches in the low-80's on the mound.

Mikey Vanderheyden C / 1B / GW Long, AL / 2025

Similar to Gilman, Vanderheyden will certainly be a follow moving forwards thanks to his advanced ability to defend behind the plate. Standing a slim & projectable 5-9, 150-pounds, the right-handed hitting backstop earned the trust from the pitchers on Team Alabama from Game 1. Quiet receiver behind the plate with tons of flexibility that helps him move laterally and block all pitches with ease. Arm strength is still developing but all throws were consistently on the bag to 2nd. Showed a simple approach at the plate with hard contact throughout the week. Recored a couple of hits and worked the count well with a selective approach that generated three walks at the event.

Dawson Cambron SS / RHP / New Hope, AL / 2025

Quietly putting together one of the better performances of the week, Cambron was a constant run-producer for Team Alabama at the plate. Athletic 6-1, 160-pound frame that plays with a quiet confidence. Rhythmic setup with a sizable leg kick, but gets back down and was on time against all arms at the event. Barrel stays through the zone for a while, attacking with a level path and ability to adjust and cover all parts of the zone. Picks it well at shortstop with an accurate arm across the diamond. Athleticism translates well to the mound, where he ran his fastball up to 82 mph and should be relied on heavily for his high school squad next spring. Hit .429 (3-7) throughout the week with three RBI's and three walks.

Bryce Masters LHP / 1B / Prattville Christian, AL / 2025

A physically imposing presence for his age at 6-3, 200-pounds, Masters has always been able to swing it from the left side, but impressed in his outing on the mound in Game 1 for Team Alabama (2). Repeats his delivery fairly well and ran his fastball up to 81 mph a handful of times while mixing in developing secondary offerings efficiently. Certainly will continue to add over the years, but the size and projectability are what stands out on the bump. Power hitter at the plate that produced numerous low-90 mph EV's during the workout. A lot to like as he continues to develop as a potential two-way talent.

Tyler Martin SS / Charles Henderson, AL / 2025

Martin was a real source of power and offensive production for Team Alabama (2) throughout the week. Started off the week with a bang, blasting a pitch over the wall in the LCF gap for a home run. Takes aggressive hacks from the right side of the plate with strong hands. Listed at 6-0, 170-pounds, the power was a bit unassuming coming into the event, but his ability to find the barrel each at-bat hints that he's got a chance to become a real middle-of-the-order hitter in the future.

Steele Hall SS / RHP / Daphne, AL / 2026

One of the biggest winners of the event, Hall was arguably Team Alabama 13U's most valuable two-way asset on a squad that made it to the championship game of the event. Slim, wiry 5-9, 130-pound frame with projectable athleticism, the slick-fielding shortstop boasted a .500 (6-12) batting average that consisted of three doubles and four RBI's. The ability to get from glove-to-hand at a quick pace stood out defensively, and made some difficult plays look routine up the middle. If that wasn't enough to impress, Hall ran his fastball up to 84 mph on the mound. Walks were a bit high, but the the rising eight-grader will be one that everyone will know about in the next four to five years. Started towards the end of the year for a Daphne squad the made it to the 7A playoffs.

 

 

Click here to see the statistics from Team Alabama's workout

 

 

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Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
South Alabama Select (Invite-Only) AL 10/03 University of South Alabama
AL/MS Border Battle (Invite-Only) AL 10/09 Northeast Mississippi CC (Booneville, MS)
Alabama Fall Prospect Games (Invite-Only) AL 10/24 University of Montevallo

 

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