BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University baseball program announced eight signees for the 2025-26 signing class, head coach Tony David announced Wednesday.
 
C.J. Aubuchon (LHP, Simpsonville, S.C./Southside Christian), A.J. Cruz (Miami, Fla./ESB Academy), Chance Dixon (INF, Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy), Burton Moore (RHP, Columbia, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian Academy), Will Price (LHP, Knoxville, Tenn./Gibbs HS), Garrett Reid (RHP, Tuscumbia, Ala./Deshler HS), Bray Touchstone (UTL, Cantonment, Fla./Gulf Coast CC) and Ty Waters (C/INF, Mobile, Ala./UMS Wright) have all signed with the Bulldogs.
 
"We have stayed committed to our process of bringing in young talented players that will play in our program right away and develop daily while they are here," David said. "Our staff does an incredible job of not only finding talented players but the right kind of guys that are the right fit for our program and Samford University. We are very intentional in working as hard as we can to locate talent that can help us continue to grow this program, keep us at the top of the Southern Conference and help us take the next steps."
 
Aubuchon has been a five-year starter at Southside Christian in South Carolina. As a junior in 2025, he posted a record of 11-1 with a 2.29 ERA in 49 innings pitches. At the plate, he hit .421 with 11 doubles, two home runs and 30 RBI. He was named to the 3A All-Region team in 2025.
 
"C.J. comes to us from a place that our program has done a lot of winning the last 15 years in Greenville, SC.," David said. "He has a tremendous frame and tons of upside from the left side. He will come in and continue to fill out his frame with an opportunity at mound time right away."
 
Cruz has lettered four seasons at shortstop for ESB Academy. He has a career batting average of .403. Cruz has been named first team All-Dade by the Miami Herald, District 3A-16 Hitter of the Year and first team All-State by Perfect Game. He was also named a team captain.
 
"A.J. continues our incredible pipeline in the state of Florida and the Miami area specifically," David said. "As all his rankings will attest, he is a unique and special talent and one of the top high school infielders in the country. He is an immediate impact type of player as a defender and hitter with day one starter ability."
 
Dixon lettered four years at Woodward Academy in Georgia. He hit .326 as a junior and .348 as a sophomore. He led his team in triples as a junior and in home runs in his sophomore season. He was named first team All-Region in 2025 and honorable mention All-Region as a sophomore. He has also been named a team captain for his upcoming senior season.
 
"Chance came to two of our Showcase Camps last fall and showed us how much he wanted to be here," David said. "He is a great athlete that can play all over the field. Plus defender that swings it from both sides of the plate with a little pop."
 
Moore played three seasons at Columbia Central High School and one at Christ Presbyterian Academy. He was named to the 2023 12 AAAA All-Tournament Team and the 2024 Division 1 Class AAAA Region 5 District 9 All-District Team.
 
"Burton is a strong, strike thrower that is already touching some really good velocity that will continue to grow and develop quickly for us," David said. "He is a mentally tough bulldog on the mound that will help right away."
 
Price lettered four years at Gibbs High School in Tennessee. In his final two seasons, he posted a record of 22-1. He posted a 1.14 ERA with 222 strikeouts in the last two seasons. He threw a no-hitter against Grainger County High School. He was named All-District, All-Region and All-State in each of the last two seasons.
 
"Another really good frame pitcher that we love to recruit and develop," David said. "Will gives us another quality left-handed arm with the ability to help us right away and again, a ton of upside moving forward."
 
Reid has posted a career .357 batting average in three seasons at Deshler High School in Tuscumbia, Ala. He has collected 110 hits, 28 doubles, five triples, one home run and 65 RBI. In 2025, he was named All-State, Super All-State and the 4A Player of the Year. He was named team MVP in 2024 and Defensive MVP in 2025.
 
"A two-sport star in high school," David said. "Love the toughness that comes from playing football but also the growth and quick development we often see from those guys that get to us and just do baseball year around."
 
Touchstone comes to Samford after two seasons at Gulf Coast Community College. He was named First Team All-Panhandle Conference, Second Team All-FCSAA and he was selected for the first team PGCBL All-Star Team. He played his high school baseball at Tate High School. He posted a .388 average with 12 home runs and was named First Team All-State and All-Area three times. He was also named the 2023 PNJ Player of The Year, 2024 Region 1 Player of The Year and was a three-time Team Captain.
 
"Bray represents the junior college part of this class and will bring instant power for us next season," David said. "When you put up the average and power numbers in that junior college conference in Florida you can flat out hit. We needed an older power bat in this group and had our eye on him for a while. I had the opportunity to see his dad play a lot in college (South Alabama), and he has the same intense competitive drive."
 
Waters lettered four seasons at UMS-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile. He hit .402 in 2025, posting a 4-1 record with a 0.54 ERA. He also hit .380 in 2024 and .314 in 2023. He was named his team's MVP and won the Batting Title Award, Slugger Award and Mr. Clutch Award. He was also named honorable mention All-State and he was also named the South Team MVP in the North-South All-Star Game.
 
"Ty is another guy that came to multiple camp events on our campus last year and gave us a great opportunity to see him and his versatility," David said. "He can catch and defend on the infield at a high level, has had an outstanding pitching career and can swing it. He plays for Coach Raley, who I have known for a lifetime, and his guys are always ready for the next level."
 
In addition to these eight signees, David says the team plans to add at least one junior college arm in the class.
 
"These additions understand they are joining our Samford community overall and are coming into a program that will play for championships and expect to make it to the NCAA tournament," David said. "Tradition matters and they want to embrace it here."
 
 
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