2020 Preseason All-State West: 2021 Catchers & Corner INF
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. First up out of the Junior class are catchers and corner infielders. An impressive group of players, there was a lot of power present from the hitters in this group.
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.
Corner Infielders
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Michael Gracer 1B / 3B / Northwest Cabarrus, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: 1B/3B. Potential dual prospect
Body: 5’11”, 185 pounds. Strength is present in an athletic frame.
Defense: Solid hands working to transition from the midsection. Works for rhythm between feet and hands.
Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Long arm swing and over-the-top release. Plenty of carry and good accuracy.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, balanced setup. Smooth load with weigh working back and hands getting ready to attack. Loose hands, stays through the ball a long time with slight lift driving the ball to all fields.
Power: 99 mph exit velocity from the tee. Barrel feel through the zone with plenty of bat speed. Has pop and better than average barrel feel.
Run: 4.12 runner in the 30.
Delivery: Slight side saddle working with a slow tempo to a lef lift at the low-chest. Lands on-line and square.
Arm Action: RH. Arm plunges out of the glove working to an over-the-top release
FB: T87, 84-85 mph. 2011-2201 rpm. Downhill angle. Decent feel for lower zone
CB: 73-76 mph. 2303 rpm. Power breaking ball potential with top to bottom tilt late. Advanced feel for a big breaker
CH: 77-78 mph. 1610 rpm. Solid arm speed.
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Derek Farley 1B / 3B / SouthLake Christian, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: 1B/3B.
Body: 5’10”, 245 pounds. Large frame.
Defense: Good bend in the hips with better than average hands. Fluid feet through his transfers.
Arm: RH. INF - 71 mph. Medium arm stroke to a high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Tall, open setup with a narrow base. Small leg kick with quiet barrel staying in a vertical position during the load. Direct barrel path with a strong top hand. Pull apprach with lift at times.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Has strength with average bat speed and barrel feel.
Run: 4.78 runner in the 30.
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Andrew Grande 3B / 1B / Christ School, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: 3B/1B. Potential middle of the order threat at the next level.
Body: 6’5”, 210 pounds. Large, athletic frame.
Defense: Catches the ball in the center of his body with average hands. Exchanges at the center of his body.
Arm: R. INF - 78 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Wide, even base with the bat starting flat above his back shoulder. Loads back with a short stride with barrel getting some angle behind his head. Looks to get the ball in the air middle to his pull side with an uphill bat path.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity from the tee. Average bat speed with strenght off the barrel and some barrel awareness.
Run: 4.15 runner in the 30.
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Catchers
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Wesley Lug C / 1B / William Amos Hough, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: C/1B.
Body: 5’11”, 195 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.09 - 2.22 pop times. Presents a low target with strength to his hands recieving.
Arm: R. C - 77 mph. Longer arm action with some stiffness to a high 3/4 slot with some carry to the bag. Flashed average accuracy.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with bat starting flat above his back shoulder. Hands work slightly back using a leg kick against his back hip. Direct path to the ball with loose hands. Barrel stays through the zone with a middle of the field approach.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Strong with a quick barrel through the zone. Average barrel awareness.
Run: 4.09 runner in the 30.
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Jeb Despard C / 1B / Marvin Ridge, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: C/1B. Multi-sport athlete with big upside and strength.
Body: 6’1”, 205 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.08 - 2.15 pop times. Quick feet with quick exchanges. Has flexibility in his hips and receives with better than average hands.
Arm: R. C - 71 Accurate arm. Short arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: RHH. Open, balanced setup. Medium stride getting back to even with his barrel working to an uprigh position. Direct bat path with some quickness to his hands. Will use the whole field.
Power: 99 mph exit velocity from the tee. Has pop to his pull side with average to above average bat speed. Better than average feel for his barrel.
Run: 4.05 runner in the 30.
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Positional Profile: C/1B.
Body: 6’1”, 205 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.17 - 2.30 pop times. Quick transfers across his chest. Has hip mobility, receiving with average hands.
Arm: R. C - 74 mph. Very accurate arm. Short arm action to an over the top slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with a wide base. Short stride with a small hand load. Balanced, short stroke with quick hands. Keeps his barrel in the zone driving the ball through the middle of the field.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity from the tee. Pull pop with above average bat speed and barrel awareness.
Run: 4.19 runner in the 30.
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Luke Johnson C / 2B / Southwest Guilford, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: C/2B.
Body: 5’10”, 165 pounds. Average build.
Defense: 2.04 - 2.18 pop times. Gets in line to second base, with clean trasfers across his chest. Receives with a low target and average hands.
Arm: R. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot with some feel for the second base bag.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Weight loads back with a short stride and minimal hand movement. Slightly uphill path. Barrel can get in and out of the zone to quickly at times.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Middle of the field approach with average bat speed and barrel feel.
Run: 4.13 runner in the 30.
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Kyle Brittain C / 3B / North Lincoln, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: C/3B.
Body: 5’9”, 160 pounds. Strength present in average frame.
Defense: 2.00 - 2.07 pop times. Quick, clean transfers. Athletic and relaxed recieving with average hands.
Arm: R. C - 73 mph. Short arm action with an over the top release. Accurate to second base.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, sitting into his legs. Loads knee to knee with hands cocking creating bat angle above his head. Aggressive with an uphill path.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Middle of the field approach with average barrel feel and bat speed.
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Eli Agosto C / OF / Lake Norman Charter, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: C/OF.
Body: 5’10”, 175 pounds. Average frame.
Defense: 2.12 - 2.26 pop times. Quick feet, clean transfers across his chest.
Arm: R. C - 75 mph. Short arm action to an over the top slot. Some accuracy and carry to second base.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, balanced setup. Knee to knee load. Hands work back with barrel going to an upright position. Uphill barrel path with some lenght to the swing. Loose hands, staying inside the ball.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Middle-oppo approach with some strength. Average barrel feel.
Run: 3.97 runner in the 30.
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Campbell commit
Positional Profile: C/SS. Athletic, twitchy frame.
Body: 5’11”, 168 pounds. Present strength.
Defense: 2.04 - 2.07 pop times. Receives with ease. Athletic with low, mobile hips.
Arm: R. C - 76 mph. Relaxed, short arm action to an overhand slot. Accuare arm with some carry.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with a strong base. Loads with a leg kick with the hand cock work back with bat angel above his head. Fluid swing. Stays through the ball with some uphill leverage.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Quick hands with the ball coming hard off the barrel. Above average bat speed and barrel awareness.
Run: 4.05 runner in the 30.
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