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Alabama HS Team Preview: Baldwin County Tigers

January 16, 2024
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

The 2024 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the Jacksonville/Oxford/Montgomery area at the AISA or AHSAA state championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Alabama. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason top-10 rankings in each AHSAA classification.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state.

Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week, updating the top-10 ranks in each AHSAA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Baldwin County Tigers
Head Coach: Trent Higginbothem
Classification: AHSAA Class 6A
Area Number: Class 6A, Area 2
2023 Record (Finish): 20-16 (Eliminated in 1st Round)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 7
Team Strengths: Starting Pitching, Lineup Depth, Returning Upperclassmen

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

C Eli Woody (1/7/23)

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2025

  • RHP/OF Jackson Paul (2025; uncommitted)
  • INF Reid Johnson (2025; uncommitted)

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Baldwin County Tigers took a noticeable step forward from 2022 to 2023 finishing as the runner-up in a tough Area 2 after finishing last in the area the season before. The Tigers believe they once again have an opportunity to make another statement this spring in Class 6A, with seven positional starters and seven pitchers returning from last year's team, but will need to be playing their best baseball at the end of the regular season in area play.

The Tigers went into last season with just one single returner position-wise and just two pitchers coming back to their pitching staff. That didn't seem to stop them, however, from having a successful season in the southern part of the state, accumulating wins over quality programs like Daphne, McGill-Toolen, Robertsdale, and others on their regular season schedule. After doing well enough in area play to finish as the runner-up, the Tigers traveled on the road to Briarwood Christian in their 1st round matchup and gave the Lions a tough two-game series facing two low-90's arms on the mound. They were, however, defeated and finished with a 20-16 record. This season, the Tigers have plenty of optimism within their program with the majority of last season's production both at the plate and on the mound returning for another season. Starting pitching is believed to be one of their main strengths, with pitchers like LHP Jaxen Schuler (Bishop State CC, 2024), and LHP Landen Walker (Montevallo, 2024) bring back plenty of valuable experience to the staff. Both Schuler and Walker are mid-80's southpaws with good secondary offerings to compliment, and should be a tough 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation. Offensively, SS Quincy Walters (Coastal Alabama-South CC, 2024) is the straw that stirs the drink at the top of their order. He is a contact-oriented left-handed bat with some pop, and plays with bounce up the middle at the shortstop position. C Eli Woody (Coastal Alabama-South CC, 2024) is another heart-of-the-order bat that will provide an immediate boost to the Tigers' offense. Woody is a quality defender behind the plate and should drive in plenty of runs from the right side of the plate offensively. 1B/LHP Aidan Owens (2025) is another returning upperclassmen that is expected to play a two-way role this spring once again. The junior is coming off a sophomore season where he hit .340 in the designated-hitter role last season and will provide some valuable innings on the mound, as well.

In addition to some of these notable returners mentioned above, the Tigers have some current juniors that are expected to take on bigger roles now that they are upperclassmen and have varsity experience under their belt. RHP/OF Jackson Paul (2025) has a three-pitch mix on the mound and was the their go-to guy out of the bullpen in big situations last season, and should continue to be called upon in high-leverage situations this spring. INF Reid Johnson (2025) is another name to know who hit .280 as a sophomore in the leadoff spot last season and has gotten much stronger in the off-season. The Tigers, who will participate in this season's Prep Baseball South AL Showdown, looked primed for another strong season with many experienced returners back on this year's team. They'll compete in Area 2 this spring against Spanish Fort, Robertsdale, and McGill-Toolen at the end of the regular season for a berth in the playoffs. Baldwin County should once again be very competitive in Class 6A in 2024.

Find more information on the 2024 Baldwin County High School program below:

+ Follow them on X: @BCHSBSB
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2024 HS Team Previews

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+ Prep Baseball Alabama on X
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Instagram
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