BRADEN BOOTH WINS MR. BASEBALL

By Ben Thomas | bthomas@al.com Bob Jones coach Jared Smith told Braden Booth before the 2024 high school baseball season that his individual goal should be to win the coveted Mr. Baseball award. Mission accomplished. The Mississippi State signee, who led the Patriots to their first state baseball title last month, was honored as the state of Alabama’s top high school baseball player for the 2024 season by the Alabama Sports Writers Association on Sunday night. The award was presented at the ASWA’s 52nd annual convention held at Jacksonville State University and sponsored by ALFA Insurance and the Reese’s Senior Bowl. “I thought that should be a goal for him,” Smith said. “I knew it was definitely attainable but wouldn’t be easy. I don’t know how much he focused internally on it, but I know he had the kind of year and put in the work that it requires to be the best player in the state.” Booth is the first Bob Jones player to win the ASWA’s Mr. Baseball Award, which was first presented in 1999. He went 13-1 on the mound as a senior with a 1.51 ERA and 127 strikeouts. At the plate, he hit .429 with 10 homers and 49 RBIs. “The thing that separates him is his work ethic,” Smith said. “What he does day in and day out is different from anyone we’ve ever had. He’s the first guy at the park and the last to leave. He puts time into his entire game. He doesn’t just focus on pitching, hitting or defense. He puts a lot of time in on all aspects, and it has paid off.” It definitely showed in the Class 7A finals against Central-Phenix City. Booth threw a two-hitter in Bob Jones’ Game 1 win and struck out seven. At the plate, he hit .700 for the series and homered in each of the three games. “He’s continued to grow as a player for four years,” Smith said. “As an underclassman, he was a good player but not the kind that he was his senior year. He really learned how to affect others in a positive way in everything he does. When your best player is your hardest worker as well, it’s easy to get everyone else to fall in line. He put together the most complete season of anyone we’ve ever had.” Smith said he’s been in contact with Mississippi State officials and asked them to evaluate Booth both as a hitter and a pitcher. “His power can play. His bat can play,” he said. “I could see him playing third base or corner outfield. I’ve told his parents not to give up on hitting, but I think pitching is probably where he’s going to end up in college.” Booth played shortstop when he wasn’t on the mound for Bob Jones. He led the Patriots to a 44-9 overall record. The ASWA also named him the Class 7A Pitcher and Player of the Year when the annual All-State team was released on Saturday. “His fastball topped out at 94,” Smith said of Booth’s scouting report on the mound. “He sits at 90-92. What makes him different is he doesn’t just try to overpower guys. He can throw four pitches for strikes – fastball, slider, curve, changeup. He can really throw those four pitches in any count. I’ve watched him to go 3-0 on a hitter and then throw three off-speed pitches for a strike. You don’t see that a lot in high school. “He really commands the zone. He struck out four or five times the number of guys he walked this year (127 to 42). He can pitch backward, or he can pitch normal. When you face a big arm in high school, a lot of times they just try to throw the fastball by you. The higher you go, though, the less that works. You have to be able to really pitch unless you are throwing it 96-100. The ability to throw four pitches at any time sets him apart from other really good high school pitchers.” Booth also led the ASWA’s Super All-State team, which consists of the top 10 statewide players regardless of position or classification. Joining him on the team were Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa’s Jackson Henderson, Valley’s Jackson Sanders, Bob Jones teammate Zack Johnson, Hartselle’s JoJo Williamson, Brooks’ Christian Chatterton, Alexandria’s Andrew Allen, Lauderdale County’s Miles Edwards, St. Paul’s John Stowers and Sumiton Christian’s Landon Shumate.