South AL Preseason All-State: Quick Hits, Pitchers
January 17, 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.
Kicking off our post-event coverage for this event, we continue our Quick Hits edition by highlighting some of the top outfielders in attendance at the event. Please continue to check back over the next week, as we will release other leaderboards and individual scouting reports on each player present at the event.
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Jack Diefenderfer LHP / Prattville Christian, AL / 2026Uncommitted. 6-foot-4, 225-pounds. Physical, imposing presence on the mound with defined proportional strength. Came into the event as an unranked prospect in the 2026 class in AL, but established himself as a name-to-know uncommitted southpaw for this upcoming spring and will make a big splash in the upcoming rankings cycle. Pitches from a hybrid windup with quality movement patterns down the mound for a pitcher of his stature. Already showing a sizable velocity jump in just a few short months going from 79-80 mph at a scout day in August to sitting 85-86 mph and peaking at 87.4 mph at this event. Fastball showcases premium arm-side run and some occasional sink to the offering, averaging -18.3 in. of horizontal movement while being located in the zone for consistent strikes. Possesses a real feel for spin on a short, lateral slider raniging 70-72 mph. Spins it with confidence and conviction, while average -0.1 in. of induced vertical break and 5.6 in. of horizontal movement. Can also turn over a fading changeup sitting 79-80 mph, which averaged an impressive -19.3 in. of horizontal movement. Builds momentum well during the delivery, and drives off a firm back-side while creating some extension. Hides the ball well and comes out of a lower slot (5.3 ft. avg. release height), allowing the fastball to create natural arm-side run. High upside southpaw who is certainly worth getting eyes on in the early part of the spring season.
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Brodie Wilson RHP / 1B / Faith Academy, AL / 2027Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 193-pounds. Medium build with scattered strength; has projection and room to add. Came into the event as one of the more highly-touted prospects being ranked No. 7 overall in the 2027 class in AL, and lived up to the billing with his premium two-way abilties. Starred on both sides of the ball, but the present feel to pitch and true three-pitch mix is something that will catch the eyes of college recruiters over the next 12 months. Possesses a smooth, free-flowing delivery and moves well down the mound. Showcases a quick arm action coming out of a H 3/4 arm slot. Fastball produces quality life through the zone while sitting 85-87 mph and peaking at 88.0 mph on his final pitch of the bullpen. Back-spins it efficiently averaging 2310 RPM and has plenty of carry through the zone with an average induced vertical break of 19.9 in. Quality traits on a firmer slider that operated 77-78 mph and registering an average spin rate of 2329 RPM. Creates some tunnel off the fastball and has late, downward bite to the offering and has the makings of being a true swing-and-miss pitch. Rounds out the arsenal with an above-average changeup that ranged 80-81 mph with natural fading action. Landed all three for strikes in various parts of the zone, while showing the ability to land the slider beneath the zone for potential chase. Also a physical right-handed hitting corner infielder with real gap-to-gap pop at the plate. Creates some leverage and rotates through contact well, allowing the ball to jump off to the pull-side with a top EV of 94.5 mph. Well-rounded prospect with upside on both sides of the ball. Will be a high-level name to get acclimated with this spring and into the summer.
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Colton Davis RHP / SS / Headland, AL / 2028Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 155-pounds. Lean, athletic build with obvious room for future strength. Another uber-talented two-way prospect who is a part of a loaded crop of underclassmen in Headland's program. Attending his first Prep Baseball showcase, the freshman quickly cemented himself as one of the top underclassmen in attendance. Currently showcases more upside on the mound based off of this look, but certainly has advanced ability at the plate and speaks to his talents on the mound. Athletic, smooth operation with long, projectable levers and a strong base of pitches to build on for the future. Sitting 82-84 mph and peaking at 85.4 mph, the right-hander possesses a fastball that plays up a tick due to his higher induced vertical break metrics, averaging 19.3 in. during his bullpen with some natural arm-side run. Spins two breaking balls with horizontal shape; curveball sitting 68-69 mph with more 11-5 break and a slider ranging 68-71 mph with tighter action. Also average 15.3 in. of horizontal movement on his 75-76 mph changeup, and landed a few at the bottom of the zone during his outing while looking like a quality fourth pitch to build on. From the right side of the plate, the freshman exhibits a line-drive approach with consistent firm contact during his round of BP, and posted a top EV of 89.6 mph. Still very young in the process, but has built a strong baseline to build off of and pairs it with an athletic, projectable frame.
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Austin Kightlinger RHP / SS / Northside, AL / 2027Rankings StateRank: 19 / POS: 8
Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 161-pounds. Wiry, athletic build with some lower-half strength. One of the top right-handed pitchers in the 2027 class in AL and has some two-way ability from the left side of the plate, as well. On the mound, the right-hander possesses a two-piece arm action with some quickness to the arm stroke at the top of the delivery. Has some athleticism in the delivery. Showcased one of the better fastballs during the event, sitting 85-87 mph and peaking at 88.3 mph with intriguing metrics. Showing plenty of life through the zone, Kightlinger registered an average spin rate of 2394 RPM and an average induced vertical break of 19.5 in. Both metrics are certainly above-average for a pitcher of his age, and allows the pitch to play up with some extra zip, especially when at the top of the zone. Features a slurvy breaking ball ranging 74-75 mph and a 74-75 mph slider with more sweeping action to it. Both pitches average of 2250 RPM and over -13.0 in. of horizontal movement. The changeup, sitting 76-79 mph, showcased the same type of arm-side action as the fastball with an average of 19.3 in. of horizontal movement. Fairly high-octane arsenal with intriguing metrics on all offerings. From the left side of the plate, he has a line-drive approach with the ability to use the whole field. Also peaked at 86 mph and clocked a 7.10 60-yard dash during the workout.
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Cullen Patrick RHP / McGill-Toolen Catholic, AL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 155 / POS: 40
Uncommitted. 6-foot-2, 194-pounds. Strong, broad-shouldered frame with remaining projection. Has really made significant strides in terms of growing into his frame and has made a solid uptick in velocity. A previous upper-70s right-hander during this past summer, the uncommitted junior flashed an above-average arsenal during his bullpen, higlhighted by an 85-86 mph fastball that topped at 87.1 mph. The pitch showed quality life through the zone and some natural arm-side action with an average spin rate of 2266 RPM. Slider has solid shape to it ranging 74-76 mph with some late horizontal bite to it. Has the makings of being a future out-pitch in the future with continued refinement. Also has a fading changeup at 76-78 mph that rounds out his three-pitch arsenal. More control over command right now. Pitches exclusively from the stretch with some whip to his H 3/4 arm action.
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Matthew Steele RHP / Orange Beach, AL / 2025Montevallo recruit. 6-foot-2, 163-pounds. Slender, high-waisted build with room to add. One of the Orange Beach's top arms last spring and looks poised for a big senior campaign. Offers up a high-spin rate four-pitch mix and lived consistently in the zone with strikes. Builds tempo well during the delivery and drive off the back rubber well with some extension using his longer levers. Ranged 83-85 mph and peaked at 85.7 mph with his fastball and back-spins it nicely with an average spin rate of 2289 RPM. Has carry through the zone and lives best at the top of the zone with an average of 16.6 in. of induced vertical break. Spins two distinct breaking balls, one being a 72-75 mph curveball (2463 RPM; -13.4 in. avg. horizontal movement) and a sweeping slider at 76-80 mph (2244 RPM; -5.1 in. avg. horizontal movement). Both of sharp, late bite and tunnel well off the fastball. Turns over a 78-79 mph changeup with confidence. Kills spin on the pitch with an average of 1456 RPM and induces natural fading action to it. Quality four-pitch repertoire that is likely to get plenty of swings-and-misses this spring.
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Upcoming Preseason Events
SHOWCASE | DATE | LOCATION |
North AL Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) | January 18th, 2025 | Hartselle HS Indoor (Hartselle, AL) |
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