Alabama HS Team Preview: Muscle Shoals Trojans
February 13, 2024
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: Muscle Shoals Trojans
Head Coach: Blake Beck
Classification: AHSAA Class 6A
Area Number: Class 6A, Area 14
2023 Record (Finish): 9-17 (No Postseason)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Offense, Solid Defense
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- OF Jackson Jones (Gadsden State CC, 2024)
- 3B Sam Reed (2024; uncommitted)
- 1B Sam Arnold (2025; uncommitted)
- OF Cruise Baker (2026)
- RHP/UTL Dylan Olive (2026)
1B Sam Arnold (1/6/24)
TEAM OUTLOOK
The Muscle Shoals Trojans are looking to step the next within their program this spring and have plenty of talented returners back on both sides to do so. Competing in a tough area with three other quality teams, the Trojans are aiming to be playing their best baseball down the stretch and finish in the top-2 of their area and reach the Class 6A playoffs.
After no making the postseason last year, the Trojans are sure to be motivated this spring with seven positional starters and six pitchers returning to this year's team, and there's been plenty of improvement across the board since last season. Competing against Hartselle, Cullman, and Decatur in an area is no easy task, but the Trojans are hoping those returners will help lead the way this spring. OF Jackson Jones (Gadsden State CC, 2024) is a big returning piece to the heart of their order this year, as he has major pop from the right side of the plate and should hit in the 2, 3, or 4 spot in their lineup. He will be expected to drive in plenty of runs offensively, as will 3B Sam Reed (2024), who is another senior returner that passes the eye test. Both players measure at 6-foot-4 and weight in above 200 pounds, so they carry a physical presence to the plate and should be major run-producers for the Trojans this season. 1B Sam Arnold (2025) is another power-hitting right-hander who has really improved over the past year and performed well at numerous PBR events over the past few months. He possesses gap-to-gap pop and should also help out on the mound, as well. Looking at some underclassmen, OF Cruise Baker (2026) and RHP/UTL Dylan Olive (2026) are a pair of sophomores who are coming off noteworthy performances at the North AL Preseason All-State in early January. Baker is a contact-oriented right-handed bat with elite athleticism, while Olive pitches in the mid-80's and can run it up into the upper-80's occasionally with a quality FB/SL/SPL mix. He had a strong freshman campaign last year and is looking poised for a breakout season this spring.
The Trojans seem to be more talented as they have been over the past few seasons, and Coach Beck & co. is hoping that they'll have a chance to make a strong push for the playoffs this spring. They'll compete in Area 14 against Cullman, Decatur, and Hartselle for a berth in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Look for Muscle Shoals to make a big improvement this spring and be competitive in Class 6A in 2024.
Find more information on the 2024 Muscle Shoals High School program below:
+ Follow them on X: @MSHS_BSB
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Alabama, 2024 HS Team Previews
FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL ALABAMA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on X
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Alabama on Facebook
