Prep Baseball Report

Alabama High School Team Preview: Moody Blue Devils


PBR Alabama Staff

    The 2021 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. That excitement may be at an all-time high entering this high school season as the 2020 high school baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season during an offseason unlike any other and as always, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.

    Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Montgomery 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 in each AHSAA classification. 

 *Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.

 

High School: Moody High School


Classification: AHSAA 5A Area 11

Positional Starters Returning: 5

Pitchers Returning: 3

Team Strengths: This group has gotten better on defense and the mound.

Team Weaknesses: Youth at the plate. There are some young guys who are talented, but haven't really had meaningful varsity at bats.


Top Returning Players:

2022 RHP Andrew Goodwin 

2022 SS/RHP Matt Johnson 

2022 OF/C/RHP Zach Johnson
 

 

Top 2022 Prospects:

2022 RHP Ashford Fowler 

2022 RHP Caleb Jatko 


Top 2023 and 2024 Prospects:

2023 MIF Kolby Seymour 

2024 MIF Blaine Burke

2023 LHP/1B Carson Dillashaw 


Outlook:

As we have continued to publish these high school previews it has almost been the norm that many teams list pitching and defense as strengths and a potential weakness is inconsistency at the plate. That is the same with the Moody Blue Devils in 2021 as they will depend on improvements both on the mound an on defense. One of those arms is junior RHP Andrew Goodwin. He has been with the program since the end of of his 8th grade year and has been solid on the mound the last couple of years. He should be one of the top two guys on the mound again as he is very consistent with 3 pitches that he can throw for strikes. If you are at a Moody baseball game, no you are not seeing double. Twin brothers Matt Johnson and Zach Johnson return for their junior seasons and both will be counted on in a two way role. Matt (SS/RHP) is a big kid who has had a great offseaon and the coaching staff is depending on him on the mound and at the plate in 2021. Zach (OF/C/RHP) has had a great fall in the weight room and will be a mainstay in the outfield and at the plate. He is also working his way into being one of the top guys on the mound as well. There are two quality junior arms that will be big contributors on the mound as well. RHP Ashford Fowler is going to be one of the Blue Devils top three guys in the rotation this spring. He has really impressed this fall with his command and added velocity while showing a solid 3 pitch mix. Caleb Jatko is the other junior RHP that will be counted on this season. He came up as a sophomore last year and played a role as a reliver and did a solid job. The coaching staff thinks he can play a few different roles this year as a starter, reliever and closer. He has good stuff with 2 really good pitches and is working on a third pitch. Sophomore MIF Kolby Seymour is a talented young SS/2B who sparked the team last year before the shut down. He is a three sport athlete who is a natural and will be a huge asset to the team. Carson Dillashaw is a tall (6'5) sophomore LHP/1B that should make an impact in 2021. He has a ton of potential as a left handed arm. He is also a three sport athlete who has gotten stronger and has begun to grow into his body. He should really help the Blue Devils this year out of the bullpen. He is still developing a third pitch that could only increase his effectiveness. Yet another three sport athlete is freshman MIF Blaine Burke. The 5'9 150 pounder is really athletic and he will be competing for a starting position somewhere on the field in 2021. The athletic roster will give the Blue Devils a chance to have a successful 2021 season. 


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