SPRINGBORO - When A.J. Ewing decided Wright State was not the perfect fit for him, it didn't take long for the second-rated 2023 shortstop in Ohio to find a future home.

“I decommitted maybe four months ago and an hour after Alabama reached out,” reflected Ewing, now an incoming senior at Springboro High School. “They said they saw me a year ago. They flew up and watched me play in a high school scrimmage so I knew they wanted me and it’s important to be wanted.”

Playing during spring break in Florida gave Ewing an opportunity to look further into the Southeastern Conference school.

“I stopped on my way back to check it out,” Ewing said of the university in Tuscaloosa located eight hours from his home in Springboro. “What stood out to me was that all the guys in the locker room, everyone wanted to be there.”

An offer came the following evening.

“I thought about it for like 40 days,” related the 250th-ranked 2023 in the nation, who also received offers from Kentucky and North Carolina State along with interest from Cincinnati, North Carolina and Georgia Tech.

“I really like where it’s located,” pointed out Ewing. “I loved the environment, it looked like no one wanted to be elsewhere. I also had a strong connection with the coaches.”

His ability as a left-handed hitting shortstop attracted Alabama while the idea of playing in the south proved too much to pass up for the fourth-rated senior-to-be in Ohio.

“Going down south is very important to me,” Ewing admitted. “I travel there in the summer and I’m a big fan of the hot weather. It’s the right way to play baseball. The ball flies a lot better in that weather.”

The decision to decommit from Wright State was not easy.

“I love the baseball program but I was concerned about Wright State as a school,” Ewing explained. “I wasn’t sure if it was a safe option with the financial situation there. I felt I needed a more stable environment financially.

“But it was a very hard decision for me. I love coach (Nate) Metzger and (head) coach (Alex) Sogard and all the coaches there. It was very hard for me to make that decision.” 

Enter the opportunity to be part of a program in the SEC.

“It’s the best baseball in the country,” the fourth-ranked 2023 in the Buckeye State said. “It’s important to put yourself out there against the best. It will make you better.”

While making strides in his game as one of the 2023 breakout performers at a recent National Program Invitational put on by PBR, Ewing believes he can benefit the Alabama program.

“I think I’ll be a bat in the lineup pretty early on and I think I can play infield there,” Ewing said. “I’m a team guy … someone who cares a lot about the team as a whole.”

A 3.0 student uncertain about a college major, the 6-0 160-pounder credited PBR with helping the cause in his recruitment.

“Getting out there with PBR showcases and tournaments early on got my name on the map,” Ewing explained. “It was important to get colleges looking at you.”

When the recruiting process ended and a commitment was made to Alabama, there was admittedly a lot of enjoyment according to the 63rd-rated 2023 in the nation.

“I’m super excited and ready to play on the big stage of the SEC against the best baseball teams in the country with all those great players down there,” the 17-year-old concluded. “I’m really looking forward to the competition and the atmosphere that comes with playing in the SEC. I know it will be a grind playing the best competition every weekend.”