2018 Signing Day
CJ Abrams
INF | 6-2 | 180 | Alpharetta, Ga.
Attends Blessed Trinity High School in Alpharetta, Ga. ... Baseball America's second-rated high school prospect nationally ... rated as Perfect Game USA's No. 2 shortstop and No. 2 overall prospect in the state of Georgia ... tabbed the No. 2 shortstop and sixth-overall player nationally by PG ... the top shortstop and No. 2 player in Georgia by Prep Baseball Report ... named the No. 2 shortstop and fourth-rated player nationally by PBR ... Rawlings Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 ... earned Offensive Player of the Year accolades from Perfect Game as a junior ... selected as a Rawlings-Perfect Game Underclass First Team All-American in 2018 ... played in the 2018 Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago ... named to USA Today's 2018 All-USA Georgia Baseball First Team ... participated in the 2018 Perfect Game All-American Classic ... member of the Team USA Baseball 17U National Team Development Program ... batted an impressive .404 with three home runs, 22 RBI and 37 runs scored across 36 games in his junior season ... earned Rawlings-Perfect Game Underclass First Team All-America accolades following a standout sophomore campaign in 2017 ... selected as a 2016 Underclass Honorable Mention All-American by PG following his freshman campaign ... born on Oct. 3, 2000 ... son of Chris and Ruth Abrams ... has one brother, Brian, and one sister, Kayla.
Myles Austin
INF | 6-3 | 185 | Smyrna, Ga.
Attends Westlake High School in Smyrna, Ga. ... rated as the No. 3 shortstop and fourth overall player in Georgia according to Perfect Game USA, just behind fellow commit CJ Abrams ... ranked at the No. 6 shortstop and 19th rated prospect nationally in the 2019 class by the PG ... played in the 2018 Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago ... selected as a 2017 and 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game Underclass First Team All-American ... the No. 4 shortstop and 10th-rated prospect in Georgia by Prep Baseball Report ... participated in the Breakthrough Series in Bradenton, Fla., a joint event between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball ... put together a standout junior season, batting .549 with eight doubles, four triples and three home runs ... added 23 RBI, 17 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in his junior campaign ... received 2016 Underclass High Honorable Mention recognition following his sophomore campaign by PG ... born on Feb. 5, 2001 ... son of Joe and Yolanda Austin.
Blake Bennett
LHP | 6-2, 205 | Haleyville, Ala.
Attends Haleyville High School in Alabama ... rated the No. 2 left-handed pitcher in the state and the sixth overall prospect in Alabama by Perfect Game USA ... the No. 2 lefty and seventh-rated player in the state by Prep Baseball Report ... selected to the 2018 North-South All-Star Game ... earned Class 4A All-State Second Team accolades from the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) in both 2017 and 2018 ... posted a 1.90 ERA with 12 strikeouts across 11.1 innings as a junior at HHS ... 2018 Underclass High Honorable Mention honoree by PG as a junior after a standout season for the Lions ... born on May 6, 2000 ... son of Jonathan and Belinda Bennett ... has one brother, Brett.
Chad Bryant
RHP | 6-0 | 210 | Thomasville, Ala.
Freshman-Sophomore – Pensacola State College (2018-19)
Enters his second season at Pensacola State College in Pensacola, Fla. ... appeared in 13 games on the mound with 11 starts for the Pirates as a freshman ... struck out 46 batters across his 47.1 innings of work in 2018 ... rated as the No. 6 JUCO Prospect by Prep Baseball Report following his freshman campaign ... drafted in the 36th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Oakland A's.
Attended Thomasville High School in Alabama ... rated as the No. 80 prospect coming out of high school in 2017 by Perfect Game USA ... tabbed the No. 6 overall prospect in Alabama and the third-rated right-handed pitcher in the state of Alabama by PG ... earned Second Team All-State honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) as a junior in 2016 ... went 8-1 with a 1.62 ERA at THS during his junior season ... struck out 86 across 47.2 innings of work to earn his team's Cy Young Award in 2016 ... finished 6-3 as a sophomore with 58 punchouts in 38.1 innings pitched ... selected in the 39th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers out of high school ... born on Aug. 3, 1999 ... son of Chad Sr. and Nakita Bryant ... has four siblings - Alexis, Beau, Dallas and Diego.
Zane Denton
INF | 6-0 | 205 | Brentwood, Tenn.
Attends Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tenn. ... top-rated third baseman and No. 5 overall player in the state of Tennessee by Perfect Game USA and Prep Baseball Report ... ranked as the No. 10 third baseman nationally in the 2019 recruiting class by PG USA ... selected to the 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game Southeast All-Region First Team ... named to the 2018 All-District 11-AAA First Team by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) ... earned Underclass All-American High Honorable mention as a sophomore, one year after being named an Honorable Mention selection in 2016 by Perfect Game ... born on Feb. 20, 2001 ... son of Traci Denton ... has three brothers, Chase, Bryce and Myles ... brother, Bryce, plays professionally in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Owen Diodati
C | 6-3 | 210 | Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Attends A.N. Myer High School in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada ... the second-rated catcher and No. 10 player overall in Ontario by Perfect Game ... received honorable mention recognition in 2018 for the Canada All-America squad from PG ... top-rated catcher and second-ranked player in Canada by Prep Baseball Report ... played on the Canadian Junior National Team and with Great Lakes Canadians during his prep career ... participated in the Tournament 12 (T12) presented by New Era at Rogers Centre on three occasions ... born on Aug. 17, 2001 ... son of Ryan and Jody Diodati ... has one brother, Adrian, and one sister, Alexis ... father, Ryan, played baseball collegiately at Niagara University ... grandfather, Doug Rombough, was a center in the NHL.
William Hamiter
INF | 5-11 | 185 | Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Attends Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa ... rated as Perfect Game USA's No. 2 shortstop and the fifth-overall prospect in the state of Alabama for the 2019 class ... the No. 2 shortstop and fifth-ranked prospect in Alabama by Prep Baseball Report ... selected to the 2018 Perfect Game Underclass Third Team as a junior ... Tuscaloosa News "Super 9" honoree in 2018 ... named to the Class 6A All-State Second Team by the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) in 2018 ... tabbed to the AHSAA North-South Baseball All-Star Team in 2018 ... batted an impressive .422 with 46 RBI, nine home runs, seven doubles and four triples across his junior season ... earned 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Underclass High Honorable mention ... born on June 21, 2000 ... son of Doug and Brooke Hamiter ... has one brother, Weston, and one sister, Anne Douglas Hamiter.
Garrett Hester
LHP | 6-2 | 165 | Dade City, Fla.
Attends Pasco High School in Dade City, Fla. ... rated the No. 16 left-handed pitcher in the talent-rich state of Florida by Perfect Game USA ... earned 2018 Underclass High Honorable Mention accolades from PG as a junior ... finished his junior season with a 1.62 ERA, striking out 113 across 65.0 innings of work ... limited opposing hitters to a .150 average and allowed only 35 hits during 2018 ... put together a strong sophomore campaign for PHS, maintaining a 2.45 ERA with 69 strikeouts over 48.2 frames while holding opposing hitters to a lowly .219 average ... received Honorable Mention All-North Suncoast recognition in 2017 from the Tampa Bay Times ... two-sport athlete who also competed in golf at Pasco ... born on Aug. 7, 2000 ... son of Jim and Jen Hester ... has one brother, Skyler.
Logan Keller
INF | 6-2, 190 | Longwood, Fla.
Attends Lake Brantley High School in Longwood, Fla. ... tabbed the No. 12 shortstop and 49th-rated player in the talent-rich state of Florida by Perfect Game USA while also ranking as the No. 65 shortstop nationally by the same outlet ... the No. 43 shortstop nationally by Prep Baseball Report while also rankings as the No. 7 shortstop and 35th overall player in Florida by PBR ... selected as a 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game Third Team Preseason Underclass All-American ... Perfect Game All-Tournament Team honoree on three separate occasions in 2018, including the 17U WWBA National Championship, 17U World Series and the WWBA World Championship ... received Preseason Underclass High Honorable Mention from PG in 2017 ... born on March 27, 2001 ... son of Mark and Dawn Keller ... has one sister, Morgan.
Ryan O'Connell
RHP | 6-0 | 195 | Wildwood, Mo.
Freshman-Sophomore – Wabash Valley Community College (2018-19)
Enters his second season at Wabash Valley Community College in Mount Carmel, Ill. ... selected to the 2018 All-Great Rivers Athletic Conference Team following his first season with the Warriors ... went 8-2 with two saves as a freshman across 24 appearances, including five starts ... maintained a 1.63 ERA in 2018 to rank him sixth amongst league arms ... logged 66.1 innings with an impressive 79 strikeouts as a freshman ... helped lead WVCC to a 45-11 overall record and a GRAC championship to finish the 2018 campaign ranked No. 7 in the final NJCAA D1 polls and Perfect Game rankings.
Attended Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Mo. ... earned First Team Suburban West All-Conference honors from STLtoday.com following his senior season at Lafayette ... played a key role in the Lancers posting a 19-6 record and winning a district championship as a junior ... led LHS in every pitching category except strikeouts in 2016, going 7-1 with a 1.68 ERA (14 ER/58.1 IP) ... earned all-conference and all-district honors following his junior season along with being named Lafayette's Pitcher of the Year ... born on April 7, 1999 ... son of Dan and Kristin O'Connell ... has two brothers, Keegan and Evan, and one sister, Madison.
Andrew Pinckney
OF | 6-3 | 180 | Peachtree City, Ga.
Attends McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Ga. ... the No. 32 outfield prospect from Georgia by Perfect Game USA ... earned Second Team All-County accolades from the Fayette County News in 2018 ... competed in 21 games as a junior, batting .377 with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in the outfield ... lettered in his first three seasons with the varsity baseball team at MHS ... a two-sport athlete, also competed in basketball through his junior year for the Chiefs ... originally born in Tuscaloosa before moving to Georgia ... born on Dec. 7, 2000 ... son of David and Tami Pinckney.
Connor Prielipp
LHP | 6-2 | 165 | Tomah, Wis.
Attends Tomah High School in Tomah, Wis. ... the top-rated left-handed pitcher and No. 2 overall player in the state of Wisconsin by Perfect Game USA ... also tabbed as the No. 27 left-handed pitcher nationally in the 2019 class by PG ... the No. 1 left-hander and overall player in Wisconsin by Prep Baseball Report ... tabbed the sixth-rated lefty and No. 54 player nationally by PBR ... earned 2018 Underclass Honorable Mention accolades from PG as a junior ... second Team All-USA Wisconsin Baseball selection by USA Today in 2018 ... 2018 District III Player of the Year and First Team All-District honoree ... selected as the Wisconsin Baseball Central Pitcher of the Year following his junior year ... named the La Crosse Tribune’s Player of the Year in 2018 ... earned Mississippi Valley Conference Player of the Year recognition at the conclusion of his junior season ... posted a 0.27 ERA with 97 strikeouts across 52.0 innings pitched with only 14 total hits allowed during his time on the mound in 2018 ... also contributed 16 hits and 18 RBI as a hitter during his junior year ... two-sport athlete who also played quarterback for the THS football team ... born on Jan. 10, 2001 ... son of Darrell and Shelia Prielipp ... has one brother, Shane.
Dowd Ritter
RHP | 6-5 | 195 | Mountain Brook, Ala.
Attends Mountain Brook High School in the suburbs of Birmingham ... the second-ranked right-handed pitcher and No. 9 overall player in the state of Alabama by Perfect Game USA ... rated as the No. 4 right-hander and the 17th-ranked righty in the state by Prep Baseball Report ... earned Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-America accolades as a junior at MBHS ... a two-sport athlete at Mountain Brook, also competed in basketball for the Spartans ... born on April 10, 2001 ... son of Bill and Kristin Ritter.
Britt Sparks
RHP | 6-5 | 220 | Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Freshman-Sophomore – Shelton State Community College (2018-19)
Signs with Alabama from just down the street at Shelton State ... a two-way player who pitched and played infield during his freshman year with the Bucs ... appeared in 12 games as a fielder and pitched in five contests with one start as a freshman ... struck out 16 across 13.1 innings pitched and finished at 1-0 with one save for Shelton.
Attended American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa ... rated as the No. 4 shortstop and the 20th-ranked player in the state of Alabama by Perfect Game USA coming out of high school ... earned 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-America honors ... named Class 3A First Team All-State as a utility player by the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) following his senior season ... batted .450 with 10 doubles, eight home runs and 38 runs scored in 2017 ... selected as a Class 3A All-State Honorable Mention candidate at pitcher by the ASWA ... received Underclass Honorable Mention recognition from PG in both 2015 and 2016 ... a three-sport athlete, also competed in basketball and football for the Patriots ... born on May 5, 1999 ... son of Jeremy and Susan Sparks ... has one sister, Jessica Buckley.
Peyton Wilson
C | 5-10 | 170 | Hoover, Ala.
Attends Hoover High School in the suburb of Birmingham ... tabbed the No. 3 catcher in the state and the 17th overall prospect in Alabama by Perfect Game USA ... rated as the No. 3 catcher and the No. 6 overall player in the state by Prep Baseball Report ... earned Perfect Game Underclass Honorable Mention accolades in 2018 ... competed in the North-South All-Star Game following his junior season ... earned Perfect Game World Championship All-Tournament Team – Hitting accolades in 2018 ... selected to the All-Over The Mountain Journal Team by the outlet of the same name ... batted .386 with 54 total hits including 15 doubles, three triples and eight home runs as a junior ... added 35 RBI and 35 runs scored to go with his 14 stolen bases in that same season ... his efforts in 2018 helped Hoover advance to the Class 7A playoffs ... earned Underclass Honorable Mention from PG as a sophomore ... recorded a .308 average with two home runs and 17 RBI in 2017, helping Hoover clinch the Class 7A state title ... a two-sport athlete, also competed for the football team at HHS through his junior season ... born on Nov. 10, 1999 ... son of Parker and Susan Wilson ... has two brothers, John Parker and Ross, and one sister, Marlo ... brother, John Parker, played quarterback at Alabama before entering the NFL ... currently works as the color analyst for all Alabama football radio broadcasts ... brother, Ross, played baseball at Alabama and went on to play in the Chicago White Sox organization ... brother-in-law, Will Lowery, played football at Alabama ... mother, Susan, was a cheerleader at the Capstone.
