South AL Preseason All-State: Catcher Reports
January 23, 2025
ORANGE BEACH, AL - The South AL Preseason All-State, one of the top events of the year, was held on Sunday, January 12th at Orange Beach Sportsplex in Orange Beach, AL. This event was an invite-only event that consisted of prospects from the 2025-2029 classes. These players went through extended pro-style workout that included batting practice using Trackman and Blast Motion, ran the 60-yard dash using VALD Performance, and much more. Pitchers were able to throw in simulated bullpens during the workout and were able to get numbers and metrics off of our Trackman unit, such as pitch velocity, spin rate, horizontal & vertical movement & much more. There were some players who showed up and continued to build off of prior performances, but there were also some new names who jumped onto our radar with a strong showing on Sunday.
We continue our post event coverage today, as we take an individual look at all catchers that were at the event. Check back tomorrow as we take a look at all of the outfielders at the event.
View entire event stats HERE.
Colton Boyd, Orange Beach (AL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 205.9 pounds. Stronger build, physical and athletic.
Hit: RHH. Narrow setup with the feet, small toe tap trigger. Big time juice to all fields, simplified approach creating easy juice off of the barrel. Love the approach. 76 mph bat speed with 21g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 99 mph max exit velocity (90.7 avg.); 325-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80.00 mph. Athletic, strong arm. Accurate.
Defense: 1.98-2.10 pop time range; Clean on all pops and transfers.
Athletic Testing: 7.11 runner in the 60-yard dash; 22.9 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 52.05 Edge Score
Jackson Burgess, North Sand Mountain (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 160.3 pounds. Athletic and lean frame, can continue to fill out the body.
Hit: RHH. Wider setup with the feet, simple approach on the front side. Level path, showing some high level bat speed. Liners to the pullside gap. 64.7 mph bat speed with 19g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 90 mph max exit velocity (83.8 avg.); 290-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76.00 mph. Shorter arm, athletic and quick.
Defense: 2.10-2.18 pop time range; Quick on transfers, defends well.
Athletic Testing: 7.39 runner in the 60-yard dash; 22.5 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 75.74 Edge Score.
Ryan Farr, Auburn (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-9, 146.6 pounds. Medium frame, lean. Can add more size to the body.
Hit: RHH. Wider setup with the feet, direct path with the hands to contact. Level bat path, simple swing. Looks like a 2-hole hitter. Handles the barrel well. 64.8 mph bat speed with 16g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 mph max exit velocity (82.2 avg.); 237-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78.00 mph. Short, lower, athletic arm
Defense: 1.91-2.15 pop time range; Throws on a line, clean on all pops and transfers.
Athletic Testing: 7.17 runner in the 60-yard dash; 26.9 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 82.58 Edge Score.
Wells Ganey, Ariton (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-6, 166.9 pounds. Stocky-like build, athletic and leaner frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup in the box, slightly open. Uphill path with juice to the pullside gap. Can also drive balls to the backside. 67.6 mph bat speed with 18g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity (82.6 avg.); 322-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - No throws at the event.
Defense: No throws at the event. Quiet receiver, can expand the plate to both sides for his pitcher.
Athletic Testing: 7.15 runner in the 60-yard dash; 24.5 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 80.65 Edge Score.
Aiden Gaston, Mobile Christian (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 175.7 pounds. Proportional frame, athletic.
Hit: RHH. Balanced set up, small toe tap trigger. Mostly level plane , handles the barrel well to the backside. 58.1 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 mph max exit velocity (78.3 avg.); 291-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph. Short arm action.
Defense: 2.00-2.18 pop time range; Strong on throws, uses the long hop. Defends well.
Athletic Testing: 7.24 runner in the 60-yard dash; 18.0 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 55.78 Edge Score.
Easton Grace, Neal (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-1, 181.9 pounds. Athletic and leaner frame, proportional.
Hit: RHH. Really wide setup with the feet. Uphill bat path with a mostly pullside approach. Creates some back spin and carry. 70.1 mph bat speed with 21g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity (84.2 avg.); 322-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78.00 mph. Short, quick arm action.
Defense: 1.90-1.94 pop time range; Clean and quick on transfers, blocks and defends well.
Athletic Testing: 7.37 runner in the 60-yard dash; 22.3 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 67.52 Edge Score.
Brayden Hood, Orange Beach (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-8, 184.8 pounds. Proportional throughout, stocky-like. Athletic.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, small toe tap trigger. Middle of the field approach, mostly level bat path. 67.5 mph bat speed with 21g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 mph max exit velocity (74.5 avg.); 275-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73.00 mph. Short, quick arm.
Defense: 2.18-2.28 pop time range; Uses the long hop at times, clean on transfers.
Athletic Testing: 7.28 runner in the 60-yard dash; 21.8 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 71.39 Edge Score.
Cam Kerbl, St. Michael Catholic (AL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 198 pounds. Proportional body, stocky-like.
Hit: RHH. Open setup with the feet, medium leg kick trigger. Hands work well inside contact, drives the ball to both gaps. Some tilt in the path. 66.5 mph bat speed with 11g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 mph max exit velocity (83.8 avg.); 304-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74.00 mph. Short arm action.
Defense: 2.28-2.50 pop time range; Works the long hop, accurate. Clean on all pops.
Athletic Testing: 7.57 runner in the 60-yard dash; 22.3 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 57.99 Edge Score.
Brue Milner, Tallassee (AL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-10, 204.6 pounds. Bigger build, strong and athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, balanced stance with a small toe tap trigger. Uphill path with juice to all fields. Multiple lasers to the pullside gap during BP. 71.1 mph bat speed with 25g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 100 mph max exit velocity (92.6 avg.); 324-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79.00 mph. Longer arm with strength.
Defense: 1.81-2.04 pop time range; Clean on all pops, blocks and defends well.
Athletic Testing: 7.63 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.6 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 77.82 Edge Score.
Eli Quinley, Faith Academy (AL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-9, 185.4 pounds. Athletic and lean body, proportional throughout.
Hit: RHH. Narrow with the feet, slightly open. Uphill path with multiple liners back up the middle. 79.4 mph bat speed with 7g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 mph max exit velocity (90.7 avg.); 354-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76.00 mph. Longer arm at times, strong.
Defense: 2.03-2.15 pop time range; Clean actions on all transfers, blocks well.
Athletic Testing: 7.14 runner in the 60-yard dash; 23.4 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 71.65 Edge Score.
Rylan Smith, Daphne (AL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-0, 183.9 pounds. Leaner build, athletic. Can add more size to the frame.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, toe tap trigger on the front side. Stays extended through contact showing a middle of the field approach. Creates some carry off the barrel. 62.9 mph bat speed with 7g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 90 mph max exit velocity (77.8 avg.); 289-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph. Accurate, shorter arm.
Defense: 2.12-2.20 pop time range; Clean on all pops and transfers, blocks well.
Athletic Testing: 8.01 runner in the 60-yard dash; 17.6 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 76.16 Edge Score.
Price Stephens, Gulf Shores (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-11, 192.5 pounds. Athletic frame, leaner build. Proportional throughout.
Hit: RHH. Narrow setup with the feet, small toe tap. Works the hands inside contact with some juice to the backside. Short, compact approach. 69.3 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 mph max exit velocity (83 avg.); 278-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78.00 mph. OF - 87.00 mph. Athletic arm, throws on a line. (C) Short, quick arm.
Defense: 2.10-2.28 pop time range; Works through the ball well, moves quickly. (C) Solid on all transfers, blocks well.
Athletic Testing: 6.88 runner in the 60-yard dash; 25.0 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 79.13 Edge Score.
Christian Thompson, Alma Bryant (AL), 2029
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-11, 179.9 pounds. Athletic and leaner build. Proportional throughout.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open with the feet, hands set high in the stance. Mostly pullside approach with major juice. Stays through contact. 63.8 mph bat speed with 14g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 mph max exit velocity (81 avg.); 283-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66.00 mph. Shorter arm, developing strength.
Defense: 2.18-2.22 pop time range; Solid actions behind the plate, blocks well.
Athletic Testing: 7.36 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.8 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 68.25 Edge Score.
Ty Waters, UMS-Wright (AL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 180.1 pounds. Athletic and leaner build, proportional throughout.
Hit: SH. Narrow set up with the feet, simple on the front side. Middle of the field approach with some tilt in the bat path. Middle of the field approach. 71.4 mph bat speed with 14g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity (85.8 avg.); 314-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 81.00 mph. INF - 90.00 mph. Athletic, quick arm. Short. (C) Short, quick.
Defense: 1.94-2.12 pop time range; Fields well, fluid and clean. Moves well laterally. (C) Uses the long hop, clean on all transfers.
Athletic Testing: 7.47 runner in the 60-yard dash; 20.6 -inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 85.23 Edge Score.
+ Follow on Twitter: @PrepBaseballAL
+ Follow on Instagram: @PrepBaseballAL
+ Follow on Facebook: Prep Baseball Alabama
+ Click HERE to create a free profile.
+ Click HERE to purchase a subscription which gives you access to additional information on the site.
Related Content: