Prep Baseball Report

South AL Preseason All-State: Quick Hits, Catchers


Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

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 begin our Quick Hits edition by highlighting some of the top catchers 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. 

Brue Milner C / 1B / Tallassee, AL / 2027

Uncommitted. 5-foot-10, 205-pounds. One of the top catchers in the country in the 2027 class and the No. 5 overall prospect in Alabama. Physical build with stronger lower-half. Advanced offensive prospect from the right side of the plate with defensive skills not too far behind. Uses an upright square base offensively with a toe-tap trigger for timing. Possesses controlled violence and swings the barrel with loads of intent. Mostly pull-side gap approach with ability to go the other way when needed. Separates well and generates strength from the ground-up. Has quick hands and bat speed, and ranked near the top of most Blast Motion categories, including a 23.2 mph avg. bat speed (2nd), 71.1 mph avg. bat speed (14th), and 25.0 G avg. rotational acceleration (2nd). Possesses the ability to slug at a high rate currently and projects to be a future middle-of-the-order hitter. One of the better rounds of BP, peaking at a 99.8 mph EV, second-best from the event. Also a well-rounded defender from the crouch with event-best pop times ranging 1.81-2.04 and a catcher velocity peaking at 79 mph. Has quick feet and a fast transfer. Showed quality recieving skills behind the plate when catching pitchers during the bullpen portion of the event.

Colton Boyd C / 3B / Orange Beach, AL / 2027

Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 206-pounds. Another talented backstop in the 2027 class who will be making a big jump in the upcoming rankings cycle after a standout performance at the event. Strong, mature build with present strength throughout. Built like a future next-level catcher and passes the eye test. A multi-year starter for the Orange Beach since his eighth-grade season, the sophomore looks poised for a breakout junior campaign. Hits from a balanced stance and possesses a simple offensive operation using a shorter stride for timing. Stays short throughout the swing using a quick path to contact. Barrel works on an upward path with some bat speed. Uses strength to impact the baseball at a high-level peaking at 99.4 mph during his round of BP. Arguably one of the best defensive catchers in attendance, showcasing advanced recieving ability and a strong arm and quick transfer on throws to second base. Recorded a 1.98-2.10 pop time and peaked at 80 mph. Will be a high-follow sophomore catcher this spring and into the summer.

Ty Waters C / 3B / UMS-Wright, AL / 2026

Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 180-pounds. Medium build with some added strength since the last viewing. One of the top backstops in the 2027 class in Alabama. Has gained about 15 pounds since last summer and appears to be paying off. Quality right-handed bat with a polished approach using the whole field with consistent line drives. Controls the barrel well throughout a simple offensive operation and stays through the baseball well. Possesses a strong feel for the sweet spot on the barrel and keeps it on a mostly level path through the zone. Gap-to-gap hitter with ability to spray line drives to all parts of the field, and peaked at 92.4 mph during his round of BP. Also possesses the defensive versatility to play numerous positions at a high-level on the diamond, including catcher and a few infield spots. Posted 1.94-2.12 pop times and peaked at an 81 mph catcher velocity, the best from the event. Also showed reliable hands and athletic footwork on the infield and worked up to 90 mph across, also an event-best. A talented uncommitted prospect in the 2026 class in AL who shouldn't be on the market for too much longer.

Eli Quinley C / Faith Academy, AL / 2027

Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 185-pounds. Compact, strong build and has added roughly 15 pounds since last January. A former Prep Baseball Jr. Future Games attendee who continues to improve and make significant strides. Has a strong collection of tools on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Hits from a slightly-open stance and uses a medium, controlled leg kick to work back square for timing. Smooth, connected right-handed swing. Meets the baseball at the point of contact using a mostly upward path, allowing him to lift the baseball for higher exits. Possesses elite bat speed for a sophomore in high school, averaging 79.4 mph per Blast Motion, which led the event. Mostly pull-side approach with some ability to work to the opposite-field gap. Quality defender behind the plate, as well, posting 2.03-2.15 pop times and a top catcher velocity of 76 mph. Also clocked a 7.14 60-yard dash during the workout. Another talented catching prospect in the 2027 class in Alabama.

Christian Thompson C / 1B / Alma Bryant, AL / 2029

Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 180-pounds. Already establishing himself towards the top of the young 2029 class in Alabama with a pair of standout showings at events over the past six months. Athletic build with some present strength and obvious room to add. Advanced offensive ability with polished approach for a current eighth-grader. Hits from a balanced stance and is slightly-crouched into a strong lower-half. Gets down on-time early using a quick stride for timing. Athletic, connected swing producing consistent pull-side contact with mostly line drives, which will continue to turn into higher volumes of power as he continues to grow and develop over the next few years. Repeats his swing well for a prospect of his age. Consistently on the barrel throughout his round of BP, peaking at 88.1 mph. Still developing arm strength from behind the plate, but posted 2.18-2.22 pop times and will only continue to lower once he gains the arm to pair it with. Extremely impressive younger prospect who is going to be a name worth getting acclimated with for the next 4-5 years.

 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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