Alabama baseball is preparing to start its second season under head coach Rob Vaughn, who Alabama hired from the Maryland Terrapins.

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Vaughn has his work cut out for him on the recruiting trail, with several key battles taking place against SEC baseball powerhouses such as Florida and LSU. The SEC got even tougher with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma to the conference on July 1, 2024.

Despite the difficulties in the SEC, Vaughn and the Crimson Tide added positive momentum to the recruiting trail in 2026, with Evan Malone, a pitcher and third baseball in the class of 2026, committing to the University of Alabama on Wednesday.

In Malone's commitment post on Instagram, he wrote, "First off, I want to thank God for the ability to play the game I love; none of this would be possible without him. Next, I want to thank all of my coaches, teammates, family, and friends for their support throughout the years to get me where I am today. With that being said, I am extremely excited to announce that I will be continuing my athletic and academic career at the University of Alabama. I want to thank the entire coaching staff at Bama for this incredible opportunity! Roll Tide!"

Malone stands at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds from Northridge High School right here in Tuscaloosa Alabama.

Malone attended the 2022 Perfect Game Prospect Showcase, where the baseball recruiting website evaluated the new Alabama commit:

"Recorded a 7.79 second 60-yard dash time. Primary right-handed pitcher with a medium frame and strong lower-half build. Side step to a higher lift from the middle of the rubber and high 3/4 arm slot getting down the slope. Rhythmic delivery with a shorter arm swing and fastball up to 82 mph (1970 RPM). Curveball at 71 mph (1870 RPM) and changeup with slight fade at 73 mph (1510 RPM) complete his three-pitch mix. Curveball showed solid depth when out front with extension at release. Secondary third baseman with good hands and clean gather to exchange. Windup throws from across the diamond at 86 mph. Worked in the outfield with solid footwork on approach and long arm action from a high arm slot on throws to the bases at 87 mph. Right-handed hitter with an even base and closed front side in the box. Deeper load to separation with a double load of the hands before launch. Some leverage in the frame when he gets impact out front. Excellent student. Named to the 2022 Gulf Coast Prospect Showcase Top Prospect List."

Malone is the seventh 2026 commitment to Alabama according to Perfect Game, and the first commit from the state of Alabama in the 2026 recruiting class.

Wyatt Fulton is the TIde 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.

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