2020 Preseason All-State East: 2021 Catchers & Outfielders
February 17, 2020
Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
NC Executive Director & Scouting Director
On Sunday February 2nd, sixty of the top players in the state of North Carolina converged at the Next Level Training Center in Greenville, NC. The Preseason All-State showcase event is the top winter event in North Carolina year after year and with the increased demand, there are now two sessions, an east and a west. Below we continue our first look at some player notes from the Preseason All-State East.
The day consisted of a full pro-style workout with pitchers throwing controlled bullpens, followed by defensive workouts for the position players. Hitters were able to go through multiple cages to get loose prior to moving through two exit velocity stations. Live BP was taken in a large cage, allowing scouts and coaches to see the ball fly off the bat.
The 2021 group at the PAS East featured a lot of talent spread across the field. Below we dive into the catchers and outfielders. Each group showed a lot of offensive talent and there could be at least 1 draft follow for June of 2021 in each group.
CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Preseason All-State East
Preseason All-State West – By the Numbers:
- 60 players went through the workout at Next Level Training Center
- 50 players ran the laser timed 30 yard dash
- 3.61 was the top 30 yard time
- 15 players ran sub-4.00 in the 30 yard dash
- 14 players registered an exit velocity of 90 mph or higher off the bat
- 97 mph was the top registered exit velocity
- 93 mph was the top positional velocity from the OF
- 94 mph was the top positional velocity across the infield
- 10 catchers flashed a pop time of 2.10 or better in their workout
- 24 arms threw controlled bullpens at the workout
- 9 players were 83 or higher
- 89 mph was the top fastball from the event
CATCHERS
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Kaden Swaim C / 1B / Oak Grove , NC / 2021
Positional Profile: C/1B.
Body: 6’1”, 195 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.04 - 2.08 pop times. Quick feet with quick exchanges across his chest. Gives low target receiving with better than average hands.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Some feel for the second base bag.
Hit: RHH. Sits in his legs, balanced setup. Loads knee to knee, short stride diving into the plate, quiet barrel. Aggressive swing with lift. Some quickness to his hands, with strenght, gap to gap approach.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Better than average bat speed and barrel feel.
Run: 4.24 runner in the 30.
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Brendan Burke C / 1B / Panther Creek, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: C/1B.
Body: 6’3”, 200 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.14 - 2.26 pop times. IF-Balanced at the catch position with average hands. Lacks rhythm. C-Fluid, clean transfers. Gives a low target with low hips, average hands.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. INF - 80 mph. IF-Accurate arm, some carry, short arm action, high 3/4 slot. C-Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, throws have carry with feel for the second base bag.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, hands start just below his back shoulder. Hands load slightly back with a short stride. Aggressive swings with quick hands, Keeps barrel in the zone with a middle to pull approach.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Drove ball with strength, above average bat speed and barrel awareness.
Run: 4.35 runner in the 30.
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Positional Profile: C/3B. Has continued to make strides towards his ceiling with numbers continuing to improve each time we see him.
Body: 5’11”, 170 pounds. Athletic build.
Defense: 2.08 - 2.14 pop times. Plays with rhythm. Good bend in the hips. Above average hands, funnels to the belt with clean transfers. C-Smooth, clean tranfers across the chest. Loose hips, presents a low target, receives with average hands.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. INF - 83 mph. IF-Accurate, short arm action, high 3/4 slot. C-Accurate, short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: LHH. Relaxed, slightly open setup, narrow base. Smooth load, small leg lift, medium stride, hands get back. Loose, fluid swing working middle to his pull side. Barrel works uphill out front getting extension.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed and barrel feel.
Run: 4.28 runner in the 30.
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Bryan Arendt C / 3B / Holly Springs , NC / 2021
UNC Wilmington commit
Positional Profile: C/3B. Big arm and athletic frame. Potential 2021 draft follow.
Body: 6’1”, 200 pounds. Athletic, strong frame.
Defense: 1.90 - 2.01 pop times. IF-Solid actions. Fluid feet work around the ball, above average hands, funnels to the belt with clean transfers. C-Relaxed, fluid, quick exchanges.
Arm: RH. C - 85 mph. INF - 94 mph. IF-Long, loose, fast arm, high 3/4 slot. Accurate throws with carry. C-Accurate throws with good carry. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, strong base. Quiet, smooth load with a short stride. Quick, loose hands. Uphill leverage, getting extension. Barrel whip through zone.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Plenty of bat speed with lots of hard contact. Above average barrel feel.
Run: 3.78 runner in the 30.
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Ethan Stanley C / 1B / Lee County, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: C/OF.
Body: 6’1”, 170 pounds. Lanky frame.
Defense: 2.08 - 2.15 pop times. Quick fluid feet with clean exchanges across his chest. Receives with average hands, some stiffness in the hips.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Accurate throws. Short arm action with some quickness, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Short stride, hands work quick back during load. Level bat path. Gets long and uphill at times when he doesn't stay behind the ball.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Average bat speed and barrel awareness.
Run: 4.17 runner in the 30.
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OUTFIELDERS
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Dallas Ellis OF / 1B / Heritage, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: OF/1B.
Body: 6’1”, 200 pounds. Lanky frame.
Defense: Some stiffness working through the ball, lacking fluidity. Clean, long transfers.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Accurate throws, long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Even, wide base. Loads with a leg kick, quiet hands. Gap to gap approach. Barrel stays in zone at times, swing can get big.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed with strength, average barrel awareness.
Run: 4.480 runner in the 30.
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Ryan Bellamy OF / LHP / Croatan, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: OF/LHP. Physical with an athletic presence.
Body: 6’2”, 185 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: Plays through the ball with average hands, clean, longer exchanges.
Arm: LH. OF - 79 mph. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate throws.
Hit: LHH. Wide, even base. Minimal load, short stride, quiet hands. Quick hands, short path bat path with barrel staying through the ball. Gap to gap approach.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat control with strength, average bat speed.
Run: 4.18 runner in the 30.
Delivery: Stable over the rubber with a hand pump and lift to the mid-chest. On-line, works with an aggressive stride, slightly closed with a square foot-strike. Good hip action and extension
Arm Action: LH. Long arm swing works to a strong position and high-3/4 slot. Quick arm.
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. 2040 - 2210 rpm. Around the zone, showing some feel for both sides.
CB: 67-69 mph. 1860 - 2020 rpm. Mature action with a 1/7 tilt. Good arm speed allows the pitch to tunnel with the fastball.
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Positional Profile: OF/OF.
Body: 5’11”, 150 pounds. Lanky, athletic frame with room to add strength.
Defense: Aggressive through the ball with quick feet and athleticism. Average hands with clean transfers.
Arm: LH. OF - 84 mph. Accurate arm with some carry. Medium arm stroke, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, athletic setup. Small load against his back leg with a short stride, quiet hands. Flat swing, with some quickness to his hands. Balanced approach.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed, barrel feel.
Run: 3.92 runner in the 30.
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Alec DeMartino OF / OF / Millbrook, NC / 2021
UNC Wilmington commit
Positional Profile: OF/OF. High ceiling for a physical player with strength and quickness present. Will be a draft follow if games mimic workouts.
Body: 6’2”, 210 pounds. Athletic frame with strength.
Defense: Athletic through the ball with above average hands. Gets momentum into his throws, clean exchanges.
Arm: RH. OF - 93 mph. Quick arm, long arm action, high 3/4 slot. Acurate throws with good carry.
Hit: RHH. Tall, relaxed setup, even base. Hands load back with a leg lift against his back hip. Fluid, aggressive swings with barrel snap through the zone. Gap to gap approach.
Power: 97 mph exit velocity from the tee. Made lots of hard contact with plenty of bat speed and above average barrel feel.
Run: 3.92 runner in the 30.
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Ethan Velazquez OF / RHP / Wakefield, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP.
Body: 6’3”, 165 pounds. Athletic build with strength present.
Defense: Plays through the ball with average hands, clean transfers.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Accurate arm with some carry. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Minimal load, Short stride, hands work slightly back. Loose hands, direct barrel path staying through the zone, line drive approach.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ball comes hard off the barrel with above average bat speed and barrel control.
Run: 3.83 runner in the 30.
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