2020 Preseason All-State West: 2021 Arms
February 10, 2020
Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
NC Executive Director & Scouting Director
On Sunday January 26th, ninety-one of the top players in the state of North Carolina converged at the Ultimate Performance Sports Center in Matthews, 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 take our first look at some player notes from the Preseason All-State West.
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.
We continue our breakdown of the PAS West with the 2021 players. Eight pitchers from the 2021 class threw well in their controlled bullpens. Below we take a look at each pitcher, their delivery, arm action, and stuff. The breakdown includes velocity and spin rate numbers.
CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Preseason All-State West
Preseason All-State West – By the Numbers:
- 91 players went through the workout at Ultimate Performance
- 36 pitchers threw controlled bullpens
- 80 hitters went through offensive and defensive workouts
- 24 players ran a sub-4.00 on the 30 yard laser timed sprint
- 33 hitters posted an exit velocity of 90 mph or higher
- 9 of 19 catchers posted a pop time of 2.10 or lower
- 7 Outfielders posted a positional velocity of 90 mph or higher
- 10 Pitchers worked at 86 or higher
- 3 arms touched 90 or better
- 2468rpm was the top fastball spin rate at the event.
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Connor Higgins LHP / OF / Cuthbertson , NC / 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF. New to the bump, has made big strides, flashing advanced stuff.
Body: 5’11”, 165 pounds. Athletic frame.
Delivery: Small side step and easy lift to the belt, buidling tempo out of balance. Closed, works to a slightly cross-fire position at a closed foot-strike. Loose hips and good extension through finish.
Arm Action: L. Medium arm swing, loading the scapular. Loose and easy to a high-3/4 slot. Quick arm.
FB: T87, 84-87 mph. 2160-2325 rpm. Heavy. Sprayed at times but around the zone.
CB: 74-78 mph. 1982-2043 rpm. Easy spin creating 1/7 tilt from the fastball tunnel. Command will come with reps.
CH: 78-79 mph. Solid arm speed. Around the zone. Lacks the fastball extension at times.
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Matthew Hughes LHP / OF / Cedar Ridge, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF.
Body: 6’3”, 155 pounds. Average build.
Delivery: Side step to a lift to the mid-chest, loading the front hip. Uncoils out of balance, landing on-line and square, falling to the 3B side.
Arm Action: L. Slight stab out of the glove, working with length to a high-3/4 slot. Average arm speed
FB: T78, 75 - 78 mph. 1540 - 1782 rpm. Around the zone with some downill angle.
CB: 65-66 mph. 1990 - 2051 rpm. Early out of the hand, working for 1/7 tilt, sweeping at times.
CH: 67-68 mph. 1632 rpm. Slows the hand slightly. Creates arm side run.
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Anthony Miale RHP / 1B / Hickory Ridge, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/1B.
Body: 6’1”, 190 pounds. Strong lower half with length.
Delivery: Stable over the rubber with a lift to the mid-chest. Works on-line, landing square. Pelvic tilt forward at foot-strike, clearing the front side. Falls to the 1B side.
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing works to an exaggerated over-the-top slot.
FB: T78, 75-78 mph. 1642-1713 rpm. Showed feel for the arm side and down zone with slight run.
CB: 61-62 mph. 1216-1790 rpm. Big breaker working up out of the hand and wanting 12/6 action.
CH: 73 mph. 1504 rpm. Good feel for the down zone. Straight with solid arm speed.
Defense: Balanced at the catch position with some stiffness in the hands. Clean transfers.
Arm: R. INF - 78 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, sitting into his legs with bat flat on his back shoulder. Weight works back with a short stride and quiet barrel during the load. Barrel works short to the ball getting extension through the middle with quick hands.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Abover average barrel feel with average bat speed.
Run: 4.25 runner in the 30.
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Zachary Herman RHP / 3B / Alexander Central , NC / 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B.
Body: 6’5”, 190 pounds. Broad shoulders and large frame.
Delivery: Large side step, sliding across the rubber to the 1B side. Kicks to the high-chest. Lands on the 3B side of the rubber, with a square lead foot, falling slightly to the 1B side with better than average extension.
Arm Action: R. Short arm swing working to load the scapular works to a high-3/4 slot. Average to above arm speed.
FB: T85, 81-85 mph. 2184-2227 rpm. Around the zone. Cuts it to the glove side.
CB: 71-73 mph. rpm. Solid arm speed working for 11/5 tilt, occasionally leaving it arm side.
SL: 75-76 mph.
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Davis Hall RHP / 3B / Hickory, NC / 2021
Lenoir-Rhyne commit
Positional Profile: RHP/3B.
Body: 6’1”, 190 pounds. Average frame with strength present
Delivery: Stretch only. Simple leg lift and stable head. Slight lean forward as the hands break, working to a slightly closed foot strike and a closed toe on the lead foot.
Arm Action: R. Long, loose arm swing works to a low-3/4 slot. Good extension
FB: T82, 79-82 mph. 1990 - 2274 rpm. Strike thrower with feel for both sides. Solid sink to the arm side.
CB: 72 - 74 mph. 2085 rpm. Fights for tilt or sweep, landing between at times. Good arm speed and shows solid feel.
CH: 74-75 mph. 1969 rpm. Good arm speed and fade
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Riley Phelps RHP / C / Wesleyan Christian, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/C.
Body: 6’1”, 165 pounds. Young, lanky frame
Delivery: Simple delivery with a leg kick to the belt. Quick temp out of balance. Works on-line with average extension.
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing, wraps the body slightly, working to a high-3/4 slot. Average arm speed.
FB: T76, 74-76 mph. 1595 rpm. Around the zone with some arm side fade to the arm side.
CB: 65-67 mph. 1390 - 1435 rpm. Big arcing tilt to with feel for the zone.
CH: 71-74 mph. 1586 rpm. Solid arm speed.
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Parker Johnson RHP / OF / Christ School, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF. Still working into his full throwing program, flashed good stuff.
Body: 6’1”, 174 pounds. Physical lower half and athletic frame.
Delivery: Simple side step and lift to the mid-chest. Body leans to the 3B side out of balance, falling to a closed landing position and square lead foot.
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing, plunges out of the glove, working back to an easy over-the-top slot. Solid extension
FB: T85, 81-85 mph. 2207 - 2357 rpm. Heavy. Flooded the down zone. Good feel for the arm side
CB: 72-74 mph. 1783 -1940 rpm. Slight roll out of the hand with 11/5 tilt. Lacks extension seen on fastball.
Hit: RHH. Athletic, balanced setup. Short stride with a quiet barrel. Direct barrel path with quick hands. Pulls of the ball some with a middle to pull approach.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average barrel feel with average to above average bat speed.
Run: 3.79 runner in the 30.
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Brandon Hudson RHP / OF / Cuthbertson, NC / 2021
NC State commit
Positional Profile: RHP/OF. Arm speed and length projects to a high end follow moving forward.
Body: 6’4”, 185 pounds. Lanky athlete with plenty of room to continue to add strength.
Delivery: Small rocker and turn to a lift to the mid-chest. Tall over the rubber. Lands slightly across his line with a square front foot. Solid extension
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing with a good scapular load as the lower half fires. Over-the-top with a very quick arm.
FB: T90, 89-90 mph. 1754-2150 rpm. Around the zone lacking pure command. Good angle when down.
SL: 73-77 mph. 1836-2000 rpm. Breaking ball is still maturing, staying to the arm side with downer tilt.
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