Prep Baseball Report

PBR OK OSSAA Team Previews: Carl Albert Titans


Scott Hood
OK/MO/KS/ARK Assistant Scouting Director

The Oklahoma high school baseball season kicks off on Feb. 20th for A-B, and March 1st for 2A-6A. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2023 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Oklahoma Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

We’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided as well as our own coverage on players in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Carl Albert High School - Oklahoma City, OK

Team: Carl Albert Titans
2022 Record: 22-18
Classification: 5A
Head Coach: Ryan Whiteley
Years at the Helm: 2

OUTLOOK

 Coach Whiteley took over the helm last year for his first year on the job and the Titans took their lumps early in the season before catching fire and making a run into the 5A State Tournament.  The Titans will look to build on that experience from last year to try and make a deeper run in 2023.  They will have a few holes to fill in the lineup with the graduation of Luke Stout and Jaxon Holland from the top of the lineup but do have a good amount of returners as well as an arm that missed the 2022 season due to transfer rules that can easily take over the number one slot.  The pitching staff is deep with multiple options for District game starters and the lineup has a good combination of athleticism as well as some guys capable of leaving the yard.  Getting off to a better start earlier in the year will be key for the Titans and with their talent should not be taken lightly in the 5A slate.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Mason Trotter, OF/LHP, 2023, Eastern OK College commit

Trotter impressed in our looks at him this last fall especially on the mound where the left-hander worked the fastball up to 83 mph with very high spin rates allowing it to play up at a higher level.  He paired the fastball with a feel for the mid 70's curveball that should give left-handed hitters fits and a fading changeup giving him the ability to navigate the lineup.  Don't be surprised to see the velocity jump in the future as he shows raw arm strength in the outfield working up to 88 mph.  Offensively he has strong overall bat speed and quick hands through the zone.  Trotter will look to see his role expand in 2023 and should be in the mix for a starting role for the Titans.

 

 

Kash Ferris, RHP, 2024, OSU commit

Ferris had to sit the year out last year in 2022 due to transfer rules and should provide the Titans with an arm that has Ace-type stuff.  Ferris works the fastball in the upper 80's and the ability to work in the low 90's and shows one of the better sliders in the class.  Ferris has swing and miss type of stuff and a clean delivery that makes him tough to get on the barrel.  His feel for pitchability and a solid three pitch mix gives him the opportunity to navigate the lineup multiple times through and gives the Titans a chance against anyone in the State when he takes the mound.

 

 

Hutch Russell, MIF, 2024

Russell returns to the lineup as an everyday player in the past two seasons and an impact bat in the middle of the order.  Russell has sneaky pop from the left-side of the plate and has shown the ability to work the ball from line to line with excellent plate coverage.  Defensively Russell is able to make all the plays at short with strong range and soft hands.  With Russell's experience at the Varsity level and knack for coming up with clutch hits, look for the Titans to continue to rely on his run-producing abilities in the middle of the order and anchoring the defense in the middle of the diamond.

 

 

Tanner Norman, 1B/RHP, 2024

Norman provides a big punch to the middle of the lineup as one of the top power hitting left-handed hitters in the area.  Norman has big strength with the bat in his hand with exit velocities working up to 94 mph in the past with very strong bat speed and balance.  Norman has smooth footwork around the bag and provides a big target for infielders standing at 6-foot-3 and 230-pounds.  Norman can also provide some depth to the pitching staff where the big right-hander shows the ability to land the ball in the zone as a reliable strike thrower.  With Norman's strength, look for him to potentially have a breakout year bringing a physical element to the lineup.

 

 

Declan Murphy, RHP/3B, 2025

Murphy had a big summer on the national stage with a strong performance on the mound at the Future Games.  Murphy uses his sinker/slider combination with the fastball working in the mid to upper 80's with heavy sink and arm side run and pairs it with a tight slider up to 79 mph working away from the fastball.  With his ability to manipulate the ball to both sides of the plate with heavy action, hitters have a hard time getting on the barrel and he produces a ton of weak ground ball contact.  Offensively Murphy has some strength at contact that plays up for strong gap power and shows strong actions at third with soft hands and ability to play underneath the ball.  Murphy has the type of stuff that can take over games in a hurry and will make the Titans a tough out when he takes the mound.

 

 

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chase Lashley, OF/LHP, 2023

Brodie Hinson, MIF, 2023

Easton Perkins, 1B/OF, 2024

Mister Randle, MIF, 2024

 

Make sure to follow @PBR_Oklahoma on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2023 season.

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