Alabama Baseball Signs 10 Prospects to 2020-21 Signing Class

Crimson Tide inks 10 players during the early signing period for the 2020-21 academic year.

Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama head baseball coach and his staff inked 10 players during the early signing period for the 2020-21 academic year.

"I'm really excited about this group," Bohannon said. "Jason [Jackson] and Jerry [Zulli] did a great job of attracting some of the high-end kids in Alabama before they focused on filling specific needs outside the state. 

"This class is a smaller group than the past two years, which shows that we are very pleased with the young talent currently within the program. We genuinely appreciate these kids and their families for believing in the direction of our program, and we, as a staff, are very excited about the future of Alabama baseball."

This year's class of 10 is made up of six pitchers, three infielders and a catcher.

The group is also spread across the five different states and features five signees from Alabama, two from Tennessee and one apiece from Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri.

The Crimson Tide's newest crop of signees includes four of the top players in their state at their respective position, according to Perfect Game USA. 

The five out-of-state players signed to UA are rated as a top-23 or better prospect in their home state, including the No. 1 overall player from Missouri in Jake Eddington. 

The 2020-21 class also features four of the top-16 recruits in the state of Alabama by Prep Baseball Report, including two of the site's top three players in Dylan Ray (No. 1) and Caden Rose (No. 3).

2020-21 Alabama Baseball Signees

Bryce Eblin INF L-R 5-11 160 Greenwood, Ind. (Center Grove)

Jake Eddington RHP R-R 6-3 175 Doniphan, Mo. (Doniphan)

Eli Giles RHP R-R 5-11 170 Mobile, Ala. (Faith Academy)

Grayson Hitt LHP R-L 6-3 175 Germantown, Tenn. (Houston)

Grant Knipp C R-R 6-3 205 Louisville, Ky. (Louisville Male)

Logan Morris RHP R-R 6-2 190 Madison, Ala. (James Clemens)

Will Portera INF S-R 5-11 180 Memphis, Tenn. (Memphis U. School)
Dylan Ray RHP/INF S-R 6-3 205 New Market, Ala. (Bob Jones)

Caden Rose INF R-R 5-10 165 Madison, Ala. (Bob Jones)

Brayden Rowe RHP R-R 6-1 180 Warrior, Ala. (Corner)

Player bios

Grayson Hitt, Germantown, Tenn.

Attends Houston High School in Germantown, Tenn. ... the top-rated left-handed pitcher in Tennessee and the state's No. 13 overall prospect by Perfect Game USA ... also tabbed the No. 50 left-hander in the nation by PG ... the third-ranked southpaw and No. 11 player from Tennessee according to Prep Baseball Report ... selected to the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association's Class 3A All-State Team as a junior ... also earned Class 3A First Team All-State accolades from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association ... named to the 2019 Memphis Commercial Appeal's All-Metro Second Team ... a two-sport athlete who also stands out on the football field as a wide receiver and free safety.

Eli Giles, Mobile, Ala.

Attends Faith Academy in Mobile ... the No. 5 right-handed pitcher and No. 13 overall prospect in Alabama by Prep Baseball Report ... ranked No. 13 at his position and the No. 28 overall player in the state of Alabama by Perfect Game USA ... selected to AL.com's 2019 Coastal Alabama All-Region First Team ... earned Class 6A Second Team All-State honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a junior ... finished his 2019 season at 7-2 with a 1.26 ERA, allowing just nine earned runs in 50.0 innings of work ... helped the Rams to the Class 5A state title in 2018, earning Class 5A Series Most Valuable Player honors for his efforts ... sported a lowly 0.53 ERA as a sophomore, setting the Faith Academy's all-time single-season mark for ERA (minimum 50 innings) ... Eli Perry Giles ... born on Jan. 12, 2002 ... son of Don and Lori Giles ... has one sister, Annabelle.

Logan Morris, Madison, Ala.

Attends James Clemens High School in Madison ... the state of Alabama's No. 11 right-handed pitcher and No. 24 overall prospect according to Perfect Game USA ... rated as the No. 18 right-hander and 51st overall prospect in Alabama by Prep Baseball Report ... finished his junior campaign at 3-1 with a save and added 46 strikeouts in just 27.0 innings of work.

Will Portera, Memphis, Tenn.

Attends Memphis University School in Memphis, Tenn. ... the No. 4 shortstop and 44th-ranked player in Tennessee by Prep Baseball Report ... rated Perfect Game USA's No. 8 shortstop and the No. 23 overall prospect in the state of Tennessee ... earned all-state honors from the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association as a junior ... named to the 2019 Memphis Commercial Appeal's All-Metro Second Team ... a two-sport athlete who also competes in football for the Owls ... selected to Memphis University School's Cum Laude Society as a junior for his standout efforts in the classroom.

Dylan Ray, New Market, Ala.

Attends Bob Jones High School in New Market, Ala. ... the state of Alabama's top-rated prospect according to Prep Baseball Report ... also tabbed as the No. 33 right-handed pitcher nationally by PBR ... the No. 5 prospect and the third-ranked right-handed pitcher in Alabama according to Perfect Game USA ... selected to the MLB Prospect Developmental Pipeline League for the summer following his junior year at DHS, joining future teammate Jake Eddington ... helped the Patriots to a 42-10 mark and the Class 7A State Championship in 2019 ... finished his junior campaign with a 5-1 record to go with a 3.19 ERA and 60 strikeouts ... also batted .403 with nine home runs and 64 RBI in that junior season ... wrapped up his sophomore campaign with a .377 average that included 10 doubles, two triples and 13 home runs to go with 67 RBI and 50 runs scored ... two-sport athlete who also competes in football at BJHS ... son of Tom and Lajeanna Ray.

Caden Rose, Madison, Ala.

Attends Bob Jones High School in Huntsville ... the top-ranked shortstop and third-rated player in Alabama by Prep Baseball Report ... also rated the No. 32 shortstop nationally and No. 134 recruit nationally by PBR ... Perfect Game USA's No. 3 shortstop and 15th overall prospect in the state ... holds the career records at BJHS in doubles and runs scored entering his senior campaign ... an all-state first team selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association's in 2019 ... selected to play in the 2019 AHSAA North-South All-Star Game following his junior campaign ... helped BJHS to the state championship game as a junior but was unable to play due to injury ... compiled a .433 average with 18 doubles, three triples and seven home runs prior to his absence ... also maintained a 3-0 record with four saves and a 0.89 ERA as a junior ... named to AL.com's First Team All-State squad as a sophomore ... batted .335 with 15 doubles, six homers, 31 RBI and 28 steals in that 2018 campaign ... added a perfect 6-0 record and two saves as a sophomore to go with a 1.58 ERA ... a two-sport athlete who also excels on the football field for the Patriots ... earned second team all-state honors on the gridiron as a junior ... Caden Allen Rose ... born on Oct. 7, 2001 ... son of Kevin and Heather Rose ... has one sister, Kaylee.

Brayden Rowe, Warrior, Ala.

Attends Corner High School in Warrior, Ala. ... the No. 5 right-handed pitcher and 10th-rated prospect in Alabama by Perfect Game USA ... ranked No. 6 at his position and the No. 16 overall by Prep Baseball Report ... selected to play in the 2019 AHSAA North-South All-Star Game, earning the start on the mound for the North ... tabbed to the Alabama Sports Writers' Class 5A All-State Second Team as a junior ... struck out 48 in 32.2 innings of work and added a .341 average at the plate in 2019, contributing four doubles, three triples and a home run to go with 23 RBI and 25 runs scored ... Brayden Zachary Rowe ... born on Jan. 30, 2002 ... son of Bobby and Alecia Rowe.

Grant Knipp, Louisville, Ky.

Attends Louisville Male High School in Louisville, Ky. ... rated as the top catcher and No. 3 recruit in Kentucky by Prep Baseball Report ... the No. 1 catcher and seventh-ranked prospect in Kentucky according to Perfect Game USA ... also selected as the nation's No. 26 backstop by PBR and the No. 54 catcher in the country by PG ... earned first team all-state recognition from the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association in 2019 ... put together an impressive junior campaign that saw him bat .364 with 10 doubles, two triples and five home runs ... added 22 RBI and eight runs scored across his 32 games of action in 2019 ... totaled six doubles and two home runs to go with 18 RBI and 13 runs scored as a sophomore ... a multi-sport athlete who also competes in basketball, football and swimming at LMHS ... Grant Alexander Knipp ... born on Nov. 29, 2001 ... son of Terry and Mary Knipp ... has one sister, Lauren.

Jake Eddington, Doniphan, Mo.

Attends Doniphan High School in Doniphan, Mo. ... the top-ranked player in the state of Missouri according to Perfect Game USA ... rated as the No. 86 right-handed pitcher nationally by PG ... tabbed the No. 4 right-hander in Missouri and the 13th overall prospect in the state by Prep Baseball Report ... selected to the MLB Prospect Developmental Pipeline League for the summer following his junior year at DHS, joining future teammate Dylan Ray ... earned 2019 Class 4A All-State First Team honors from the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association ... also named to the 2018 Missouri Class 3A All-State Second Team by the MHSBCA ... two-sport athlete who also competes in basketball, earning all-conference honors ... Jacob Drew Eddington ... born on April 26, 2001 ... son of Bradley and Jessica Eddington ... has two sisters, Paige and Madison.

Bryce Eblin, Greenwood, Ind.

Attends Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Ind. ... the top-rated player in Indiana and No. 36 shortstop nationally according to Prep Baseball Report ... No. 1 shortstop prospect and the No. 5 overall player in the state of Indiana by Perfect Game USA ... has started as CGHS's varsity shortstop all three seasons of prep ball ... earned first team all-state honors from PBR as a junior ... added first team all-state recognition from the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) in 2019 ... excelled at the plate as a junior batting .451 with 11 doubles, two triples and a home run ... added 26 RBI, 36 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in 26 games of action during his 2019 season ... helped the Trojans to a 23-3 record, including a 13-1 conference mark, and an appearance in the IHSAA Class 4A State Playoffs as a junior ... batted .434 with 36 hits as a sophomore, including nine doubles, a triple and five home runs ... recorded at least one hit in 25 of his 28 games played in 2018 while contributing 28 RBI and 41 runs scored ... born on Oct. 20, 2001 ... son of Jim and Jenny Eblin ... has one sister, Brooke.