Alabama Class of 2026 Rankings: Preseason Update

February 8, 2024
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

As the first pitch of the 2024 high school season is close to just a week away, we expanded the 2026 AL Rankings to 115 prospects. As the build-up for the high school season is in full swing, we highlight some fresh faces in the rankings as well as the top uncommitted prospects by position.

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As always, the evaluation process is a fluid and ongoing process with multiple viewings in order to get the best feel for players abilities. It’s important to note that as players continue their development some show marked improvement at a much more rapid pace. That doesn’t indicate that other players got worse or went backwards, it’s just how player development works. As the year unfolds, players make improvements and new prospects pop up on the radar expanding the PBR rankings universe. In addition to the evaluations of players, our scouts, both those in Alabama and nationally, have also had multiple discussions with each other to review our individual lists and then make adjustments based on what we've each seen.

Below, you will find some notable debuters inside the top-100, top uncommitted prospects in their respective positions, and more. To view the Class of 2026 Rankings, CLICK HERE.

The Top-5

Steele Hall SS / RHP / Hewitt-Trussville, AL / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 30 / POS: 8

From 2/25/23: "Hall (Daphne, 2026) was one of the “buzziest” names coming into this event and exceeded expectations once again with a stellar showing throughout the weekend. Standing a still lean and athletic 5-foot-11, 155-pounds with tons of physical development and maturation to come in the next few years, the Tennessee recruit and No. 1-ranked prospect in the freshman class in AL showed and excelled in all facets of the game. Kicking off the weekend on Day 1, the middle infielder wasted no time producing at the top of the Trojans’ order driving home five runs in their contest, four of which came on a no-doubt, grand slam well over the left-field fence in his final at-bat of the night. Continuing to swing it well throughout the weekend, Hall went on to record a hit in all four games in addition to a pair of doubles. On the weekend, the freshman hit .462 (6-for-13) with a HR, two 2B’s, and seven RBI’s. Hall stays simple throughout his operation with a quick stride back to square and has excellent feel for the barrel with really quick hands from the right side of the plate. The power he has shown early throughout his young career should only provide a glimpse of what is to come in the future as he continues to fill out his frame. Advanced in all facets of his game for his age, Hall is also one of the top defenders in his class throughout the country with athletic, smooth actions with already a strong arm across the infield. While also recording a save against a 7A opponent, the freshman hopped on the mound and pumped 88-91 mph to both halves of the plate while tunneling a low-70’s slider with late bite as a primary secondary pitch. It’s eye-opening to see a player of his age so advanced and talented right now, and we’re extremely excited to see the progress he continues to make over the next 3 ½ years of his high school career after taking over the starting shortstop position at Daphne during his seventh-grade year."

John Stowers C / 3B / St. Paul's Episcopal, AL / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 101 / POS: 4

From 3/28/23: "Stowers (St. Paul's Episcopal, 2026) is already regarded as one of the top prospects in the young freshman class and continued to show his ability to make a significant impact at the varsity level. Hitting in the two-hole of a talented lineup, the Auburn recruit provided a glimpse of what is surely to come in the future displaying immense power to all fields in yesterday's viewing. Listed at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds, the freshman already has some present physical strength throughout his frame, but there's still tons of physical development to come in the next few years. While still being years away from a finished product, the left-hander already has advanced offensive ability at the plate and wasted no time showing it in yesterday's contest. After falling behind a bit in the count in his first at-bat, Stowers worked the count back to full and belted a no-doubt, two-run home run over the wall in right field to give the Saints an early lead. The freshman creates plenty of separation with his hands throughout his load that gives way to a strong barrel that works on an uphill path through the zone, resulting in higher volumes of power output even as a freshman. He has a smooth, easy stroke from the left side and still possesses tons of potential and upside in the coming years."

Jaxson Wood SS / 2B / Hoover, AL / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 3 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 130 / POS: 35

"Wood (Hoover, 2026) has quickly become one of our favorite underclassmen to watch throughout the state simply due to the energy that brings to the game. On one of the top baseball programs in the state and in the southeast, the Tennessee recruit has found his way into the lineup playing some shortstop and hitting near the bottom of a talented order. Wood, the No. 3-ranked prospect in the freshman class in AL, took some strong cuts in Game 1 of the double-header yesterday while driving in a run and attempting to get a rally started in the final inning trailing by one. Slotted in the eight-spot in the order, the freshman delivered a firm single the other way on an elevated fastball up and away and made a noticeable adjustment keeping his weight back and letting the ball travel before sending an accurate barrel to contact. He has a fluid approach and swings it much bigger than his 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame would suggest with the ability to hit to all fields. He also added in an RBI sacrifice fly out earlier in the game on a liner to left field, and finished the contest going 1-for-2 with an RBI."

Will Adams LHP / 1B / Hoover, AL / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 141 / POS: 15

From 3/4/23: "Adams (Hoover, 2026) has been one of the more impactful freshmen across the state of AL in the first half of the spring and had not allowed a run heading into his start yesterday. To show just how impressive the freshman has been on the mound so far, Adams, the No. 4-ranked prospect in the freshman class in AL, has had four starts this year and has accumulated 20 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 9 BB, & 40 Ks against a daunting schedule. Getting the start against the defending 7A State Champions in Game 1 of the double-header yesterday, the Alabama recruit was forced to work a bit more than he had been accustomed to over the first half of the season, but still delivered four strong innings and kept the Bucs within striking distance for the later innings. Listed at 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, Adams has some present strength and athleticism throughout his solidly-built frame. The southpaw ran his fastball up to 89 mph during yesterday’s start while sitting the majority of his outing at 84-87 mph, and seemed to jump out of the hand using a quick arm and a higher arm slot. He was able to command the pitch to his glove-side and down in the zone while still maintaining its plane through the zone. The freshman’s primary secondary offering was a slower breaking ball in the upper-60’s with 1-7 shape, and will only continue to improve as he develops. Adams exited after four innings and finished going 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 4 BB, & 4 Ks on 90 pitches, 53 of which were for strikes."

Wyatt Shelley 1B / RHP / Headland, AL / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 162 / POS: 3

From 5/18/23: "Shelley (Houston Academy, 2026) has quickly cemented himself as one of the best two-way prospects in the current freshman class, but the right-handed bat is what sticks out and makes him such an intriguing prospect. Listed at 6-foot-3, 230-pounds, the Auburn recruit possesses elite level power hitting from the right side and impacts the baseball at such a high level without much effort. Hitting in the heart of the order, the freshman jumps out immediately as a driving force for their offense and collected numerous key hits in their championship series, which they eventually won. The ball jumps off the barrel with power to all fields using a short, yet powerful right-handed stroke. Also possesses an 87-90 mph fastball to go along solid secondary offerings, making him an elite dual-threat. One of the top prospects in his class in the country."