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Jun 17, 2025; Phoenix, AZ, USA; American Christian Academy (AL) outfielder Eric Hines during the MLB Draft Combine high school baseball game at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

'Special' Freshman Class Embarks On First Fall Camp With Alabama

Originally posted on Alabama Crimson Tide on SI
By Theodore Fernandez | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 5:45 PM ET

Alabama baseball had an incredibly successful offseason, landing multiple key transfers while retaining superstar shortstop Justin Lebron and other key players from the portal. Most significantly, the Crimson Tide landed the No. 8-ranked recruiting class in the nation. Alabama brings in three top-50 freshmen in Caleb Barnett (10), Eric Hines (16), and Myles Upchurch (42). With the speculation back in July being that all three of those players could very likely sign MLB contracts, head coach Rob Vaughn is ecstatic that he was able to get every single one of his signees to campus.

"We sat there on draft day very unsure about four or five of those games," Vaughn said. "They're plenty good enough, my goodness, there's some talent in there. You watch Eric Hines hit a baseball; not many guys can do what he does. Not many make Justin "ooh and awe" behind the plate, and Eric does. The talent is not the question. That class is really good."

First look at Eric Hines taking batting practice with Alabama baseball. The Tuscaloosa native is listed at 6'3, 215 pounds, and is Perfect Game's No. 16-ranked freshman in the nation. Hines has been hitting ropes today, and Rob Vaughn says he's impressed so far pic.twitter.com/uugtunOHSv
— Theodore Fernandez (@TheoFernandez__) September 19, 2025

Hines, who hit 20 home runs to power Tuscaloosa's American Christian Academy to a state championship last spring, is an imposing force at the plate at 6'3, 215 pounds. While he and the other freshmen are champing at bit to make a strong impression this fall, Vaughn has prepared them for the reality of what is to come.

"Everybody is talented in this league; everybody is talented on this team, so it really becomes how quickly they mature into it," Vaughn said. "How do they handle the adversity of the fall? How do they handle the day-to-day? They're getting a lot thrown at them. It's the first time getting out of their house. Having to figure out life on their own, they're having to figure out what college baseball workouts look like. They're going to see high-level arms all fall. Some of them are going to get punched in the mouth. The challenge becomes who can get back up."

Lebron burst onto the scene in 2024 as a freshman, winning the starting job at shortstop and going on to make the All-SEC First Team. Even he struggled mightily in his first fall, recording just one hit across all of Alabama's exhibitions. Now as a junior, and the bona fide face of the program, the 2025 Perfect Game Third Team All-American has a simple message for his new teammates.

"I struggled a lot my fall. It was pretty bad, honestly," Lebron said. "But they stuck with me, no one really gave up on me, and as long as you don't give up on yourself, you can realize that failure's good. It makes you who you are. That's why I like failure so much, because no one's perfect, and I know that for a fact. But I know that I get better each and every day because I can fail and learn from it."

Alabama has high expectations for the 2026 season, and with Lebron entering what will almost certainly be his final year, Vaughn’s squad looks poised to finally get past the regional—but that will depend heavily on the freshmen making immediate impacts. The road to Omaha will hinge not just on talent but on resilience, as Vaughn has stressed that while the newcomers have the tools to shine, their ability to handle adversity and learn from failure will ultimately determine how far this team can go.

"They're going to fail," Vaughn said. "They're going to fail today. Some of them have failed already. How quickly can they pick themselves back up? That's going to be the true tell-tale sign, but this class is going to be a pretty special group for Alabama baseball."