Prep Baseball Report

Alabama Class of 2028 Rankings


Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

ALABAMA - With one class graduating from the high school ranks and moving onto the college level, it's time to introduce the next batch of high school prospects looking to make their impact on the state of Alabama. The class of 2028 in the state of Alabama is setting up to be one of the best we've seen over the past decade with loads of top-end talent and some prospects looking to make jumps over the course of the next four years.

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Starting out with our initial list of these prospects, we've narrowed this list down to 30 players after spending time the last couple summers getting extended and multiple looks. This list is surely to expand and shuffle throughout over the next four years as these players continue to refine their skills and mature. At this point in the process, there were numerous other prospects outside of this list that are high quality players and are sure to crack into this list in the next few updates. For now, let's dive deeper into the top-10 in this class starting with OF/LHP Hudson Oliver, who debuts at No. 1. 

 

THE TOP-10 IN THE CLASS OF 2028

Hudson Oliver OF / LHP / Guntersville, AL / 2028

Scouting Report: "Lean, athletic 5-foot-11, 158-pounds with loads of projection remaining. High-waisted frame. Already has varsity experience and was tabbed to the All-Area team this past spring as an eighth-grader and easy to see why. Always on-time with his swing utilizing a toe-tap trigger while also creating sizable separation. Smooth, athletic left-handed swing with typical upward path through the zone, which should yield higher volumes of power in the future. Just an advanced prospect for his age with the projectable, athletic frame to match it with. Clocked a 6.87 60-yard dash and posted a top EV of 90.6 mph. Hopped on the mound and was equally as impressive, holding 81-82 mph throughout his bullpen with natural arm-side run. Also spins a sharp-biting curveball in the upper-60s well with 1-7 shape to it and flashed a 73-74 mph changeup with fading action. Clean, repeatable operation with athleticism throughout the delivery. Already making a strong case for being the top-ranked prospect in the rising freshman class in Alabama with this performance."

Nathan Malone OF / Smiths Station, AL / 2028

Scouting Report: "5-foot-8, 170-pounds. Athletic, muscular build with strength in lower-half. Well-rounded prospect for age with advanced offensive ability. Slightly-open stance with early trigger for timing. Gets foot down early and allows ball to travel in the zone while using really fast hands to help impact the baseball at a high-level to all fields. Natural upward path through contact produces gap-to-gap power with more to come as he continues adds strength and size. Above-average runner with ability to impact on the base paths. Twitchy and athletic. High-level follow in the 2028 class in Alabama."

Hunter Elmore 1B / American Christian, AL / 2028

Scouting Report: "Uncommitted. Elmore stands at a large, physical 6’0” 225lb frame. At the plate, Elmore really impressed throughout the event. The physical tools are prominent, and the bat speed stood out throughout his at-bats. He utilizes a fairly compact load, with a slight barrel tip at the top that he rotates through on plane consistently. There’s some obvious big-time power projection present here, and he showed a pretty advanced hit tool to match. He’ll be a good follow in the 2028 class."

Drew Jackson III OF / LHP / Tuscaloosa County, AL / 2028

Scouting Report: "5-foot-9, 163-pounds. Lean strength to build with more on the way. Another advanced two-way prospect who has already built a strong track record by performing on the circuit, as he was a standout last summer for Team Alabama at the Prep Baseabll Jr. Future Games. Offensively, the left-handed bat routinley seemed to find hard contact throughout his round of BP with consistent line drives to the pull-side. He possesses loose hands and really gets into the lower-half to drive the baseball at contact, posting a top EV of 92.7 mph. Barrel works cleanly through the zone and extends well through contact. Can also really pitch on the mound doubling as a talented southpaw, sitting 81-83 mph and registering spin rates consistently near the 2400 RPM mark. The fastball has good late life and can be throw to both sides of the plate. Mixed in a firmer, lateral slider at 73-74 mph and a 1-7 biting curveball at 71-72 mph, while also showing the ability to turn over some quality changeups at 70-71 mph with killed spin and dive. Well-rounded prospect who also is making a strong case to be one of the top prospects in the 2028 class in Alabama."

Cole Austin SS / Piedmont, AL / 2028

Scouting Report: "5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Quickly making a name for himself at the eighth grader, hitting out of the leadoff spot and playing shortstop for the ultra-successful 3A No. 4 Bulldogs. Austin doesn’t carry himself like such a young player and obviously doesn’t play like one either. Offensively, he shows a slightly wider stance with a simple, quick stride on the front side and compact right-handed as the hands work directly to contact. There is present bat speed with an upward path to contact while showing a mostly gap-to-gap approach with some barrel lag through the hitting zone. Austin consistently worked deep into counts and finished the game Friday night going 1-2 with a run driven in, two walks and two runs scored. At shortstop, he shows a very aggressive approach in fielding ground balls in front of him while also moving laterally well to both sides. The arm strength is already there as he shows no issues making the throw on the back-hand ball."

Patton Mitchell LHP / Trinity Presbyterian, AL / 2028

Scouting Report: "6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Long, projectable build with plenty of room to add. Possibly one of the higher upsides and ceilings in the class as a talented southpaw. Comes out really clean out of the hand sitting majority low-80s while also being able to creep into the mid-80s on occasions. Fastball has natural arm-side action. Spins a sharp-biting breaking ball for strikes and profiles well off of fastball and as primary secondary offering. Can show quality changeup, as well. Higher leg kick and arm slot provides some deception and allows fasttball to play up a tick at times. Super intriguing southpaw and a big name to follow in the 2028 class in Alabama."

Nash Davis RHP / 1B / Spain Park, AL / 2028

Scouting Report: "6-foot-3, 185-pounds. One of the more physically-gifted prospects in the class with an impressive frame that should continue to hold more mass in the future. Talented two-way prospect with standout ability on both sides of the ball. Easy operation on the mound with clean release out of the hand, producing a fastball that operates in the mid-80s with quality secondary pitches. Also a power-hitting right-handed bat with a simple operation. Possesses good balance with an early stride. Shows flashes of bat speed and gap-to-gap power with more to come down the road. Intriguing upside on both sides of the ball. Also a noteworthy QB prospect on the gridiron. Good name to follow in the 2028 class in Alabama."

Harrison Milanowski SS / Houston Academy, AL / 2028

Scouting Report: "5-foot-8, 143-pounds. Already cementing himself into the discussion as one of the top prospects in the 2028 class in Alabama and performed at a high-level in his Prep Baseball showcase debut. Listed at 5-foot-8, 143-pounds with still plenty of physical development to come, the current freshman showed he already possesses the advanced skills and ability on both sides of the ball. From the right side, he has a balanced setup with a short, quick toe-tap trigger allowing him to be on-time. Short and quick to contact with short swing and consistent two-handed finishes. Innate feel for barrel showing line-drive approach with power coming down the road. Advanced, athletic actions at SS with reliable glove and good agility. Accurate throws across the INF working up to 83 mph. 7.06-runner. Playing as an eighth-grader last spring for Houston Academy and is a good name to get acclimated with in the freshman class."

Jamison Barnes C / Briarwood Christian, AL / 2028

Scouting Report: "6-foot-0, 166-pounds. Mature build with lean strength. Highly-projectable frame with plenty of room to add down the road and will only continue to improve as he does. Well-rounded catching prospect with ability on both sides of the ball. Upright stance from the right side of the plate with fairly simple operation. Quick, simpe stride for timing. Repeatable swing and rotates well through contact. More line drive contact currently with power potential down the road. Advanced defender and skills from the crouch for his age. Quiet reciever with strength in wrists. Good transfer and accuracy on throws to second-base bag with some arm strength and more coming. Also a QB prospect on the gridiron."

Hudson Mitchell SS / RHP / Hewitt-Trussville, AL / 2028

Scouting Report: "5-foot-10, 171-pounds. Athletic, well-developed frame for a prospect of his age with some scattered strength and more to come. Possesses two-way intrigue and has ability from both sides of the plate as a switch-hitter. Appears to be more natural hitting from the right side of the plate, but still was able to find consistent barrels on both sides with multiple low-80 EVs. Hands stay short allowing the barrel to work clean to contact. Above-average bat speed for his age while showcasing a more line-drive approach with consistent firm contact to the pull-side during his round of BP. Also a skilled defender up the middle with athletic actions. Doubles as a talented right-handed pitcher who actually saw important time on the mound for the Huskies this spring, including a relief appearance in their final area series where he was effective in the low-80s. Still plenty of development and physical maturity to come down the road, but another exciting young rising freshman with sizable upside."

High-Follow List Outside the Top-10

+ No. 12: SS Davis Woodson (Daphne HS, AL)

Woodson did more than enough to boost his stock this past summer, including a standout performance for Team Alabama at the Prep Baseball Junior Future Games. Listed at 5-foot-9, 147-pounds, the shortstop plays above his size and carries himself with a quiet confidence in everything he does on the diamond. The right-hander possesses an athletic right-handed swing with an impressive natural feel for the barrel and the ability to utilize both sides of the field within his approach. Swing always seems to be synced up with all parts working together. He has good rhythm and balance and is on the barrel more times than not. Crisp footwork defensively with a smooth glove. Developing arm strength but high-level athletes tend to stick at shortstop, and that's what Woodson is.

+ No. 13: OF Brock Green (Northside HS, AL)

Listed at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds, Green possibly has the most imposing frame in the class and could've potentially been slotted higher, but settles inside the top-15 for his debut on the list. An offensive-minded prospect currently, Green popped to us at the East Coast Sox Scout Day this summer and made a lasting impression during his round of BP. Using his physical frame and strong lower-half, the left-handed hitter consistently hammered the baseball to the pull-side gap throughout his round of BP while displaying a clean swing from the left side of the plate. There appears to be substantial power potential inside the profile due to the ability to lift and natural strength already present in his build, which is sure to continue to develop down the road.

+ No. 15: OF/LHP Brayden Entrekin (Russellville HS, AL)

After getting a glimpse of Entrekin back in the spring of 2024 playing varsity for a powerhouse Russellville program, we were excited to see Entrekin this past summer at the Yellowhammer State Games and seeing where he stacks up against some other high-level players in his class. He certainly did so, and earned an invite to represent Team Alabama at the Prep Baseball Junior Future Games where he starred throughout the week. Entrekin may have been one of the favorite players to watch this summer, and it wasn't because of how hard he hit the ball, how fast he could run, or how hard he could throw. But because of his natural ability to play the game of baseball with a high baseball IQ and elite instincts. He's an advanced left-handed bat with one of the best hit tools in the class, and always seems to square up the baseball with each swing he takes using elite bat-to-ball skills. One of the best defensive outfielders in his class, and can also pitch in the low-80s on the mound. A gamer-type prospect who is a name to keep on the radar in the 2028 class in Alabama.

+ No. 17 OF Evan Money (Headland HS, AL)

Measuring in at 5-foot-10, 154-pounds, Money possesses a slim, high-waisted frame with athleticism and more strength to come in the future. Smooth, athletic right-handed swing consistently delivered firm contact to the baseball, top EV of 90.6 mph. Line-drive approach with good feel for the sweet spot on the barrel. Seemingly low-effort stroke while having good control of the barrel. Roams the outfield athletically with good range and footwork. Above-average arm strength for prospect of his age touching 81 mph from the OF. Quality performance in his Prep Baseball showcase debut and will be one to follow in the coming years.

+ No. 26: SS Gregory Rauch (Montgomery Catholic, AL)

Listed at 5-foot-10, 166-pounds, Rauch is a true switch-hitter who performed well on both sides of the plate during his round of BP, and posted a top EV of 91.1 mph in the process. He has a loose, fluid swing from both sides of the plate with a loose feel for the barrel that seemed to routinely square up the baseball during BP. Consistent pull-side gap contact while showing some lag to the barrel and stays balanced throughout the swing. Still plenty of room for physical maturity and development in the years to come, but still plenty to like offensively from both sides of the plate.

+ To view the entirety of the Class of 2028 Rankings, CLICK HERE.  


Upcoming Preseason Events

SHOWCASE DATE LOCATION
Birmingham Preseason ID January 5th, 2025 StrongBox Indoor (Birmingham, AL)
Huntsville Preseason ID January 8th, 2025 Talley Performance (Huntsville, AL)
North AL Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) January 11th, 2025 Hartselle HS Indoor (Hartselle, AL)
South AL Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) January 12th, 2025 Orange Beach Sportsplex (Orange Beach, AL)

 

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