2020 Preseason All-State West: 2022 Catchers
February 12, 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 2022 players. The catching position has traditionally been very deep in the state of North Carolina. The class of 2022 proves that statement with the talent that was on hand at the PAS West. Below is a breakdown on each catcher from the 2022 class, with links to their personal video.
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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Blaine Hartness C / OF / Alexander Central, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF.
Body: 5’9”, 150 pounds. Thin, athletic frame.
Defense: 2.29 - 2.30 pop times. Fluid feet through his thows, clean exchanges across the chest. Athletic recieving with average hands.
Arm: R. C - 70 mph. Accurate arm. Short arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Small leg kick with his hands working back during the load. Quick hands with a level barrel path working through the middle. Lines balls out when he stays behind the ball.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average barrel feel with average bat speed.
Run: 4.04 runner in the 30.
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Mason Mozeley C / 3B / Freedom, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B.
Body: 5’10”, 158 pounds. Athletic build.
Defense: 2.00 - 2.15 pop times. IF-Athletic, relaxed with better than average hands, clean transfers. C-Quick exchange across the chest with quick feet. Has hip mobility, recieves with average hands.
Arm: R. C - 78 mph. INF - 85 mph. IF-Long arm action, high 3/4 slot with some quickness. C-Short arm action, over hand slot, accurate.
Hit: LHH. Tall, slightly open setup. Hands get way back with a short stride during the load. Fluid swing, gets barrel in the zone with some lift out front. Centered several ball middle to his pull side.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Better than average bat speed and barrel feel with some pull pop.
Run: 4.18 runner in the 30.
Delivery: Simple with a building pace. Stable head. Average kick. Lands across his line with an open foot strike
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing works easy to an over-the-top slot. Average arm speed and extension
FB: T82, 80-82 mph. 1300 - 1361 rpm. Low spin creates sink when in the down zone. Good feel for down zone with some angle
CB: 64-66 mph. 1950 - 2006 rpm. Rolling downer that fights to get to the glove side. Several arm side misses.
SL: mph. rpm. .
CH: 77-78 mph. 1399 rpm. Decent feel with solid arm speed. Good fade when down.
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Jacob Gorman 2B / C / Hough, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/2B.
Body: 5’10”, 165 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.18 - 2.44 pop times. IF-Catches the ball in the center of his body, average hands. Clean exchange, pats ball in glove, getting ready to throw. C-Longer exchange across chest. Recieves with average hands and looseness in the hips.
Arm: R. C - 72 mph. INF - 77 mph. IF-Medium arm stroke, high 3/4 slot. C-Shorter arm action, high 3/4 slot. Some feel for second base bag.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open, strong base with higher hands. Short stride with a small hand load. Mostly flat barrel path with some quickness to the hands. Middle of the field approach.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Some strength when synced up. Average bat speed, some barrel feel.
Run: 4.24 runner in the 30.
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Carson Cabbage C / 3B / Lake Norman Charter, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B.
Body: 5’11”, 175 pounds. Average build.
Defense: 2.12 - 2.26 pop times. IF-Solid action, plays relaxed with some softness to his hands. Funnels to the belt after catch with clean transfers. C-Transfers near his back shoulder with his feet working through his throws. Relaxed and comfortable receiving.
Arm: R. C - 73 mph. INF - 78 mph. IF-Medium arm stroke to a high 3/4 slot. C-Some accuracy, short arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Medium stride, hands create bat angle above his head. Level bat path, working middle to his pull side with a line drive approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Some strength to his pull side, average barrel feel.
Run: 4.53 runner in the 30.
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Brooks Brannon C / OF / Randleman, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF. Advanced receiver with elite barrel skills in the box. Has added strength and the numbers translated immediately.
Body: 5’11”, 190 pounds. Strong, athletic build.
Defense: 2.01 - 2.12 pop times. Quick clean exchanges across his chest. Loose hips, relaxed, comfortable recieving with better than average hands.
Arm: R. C - 78 mph. Short, quick arm, overhand slot. Some accuracy with carry to second base.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, athletic setup. Smooth load, short stride, gets to a good launch position. Loose, quick hands. Short to the ball with lift. Loud batting practice, driving balls all over the cage.
Power: 98 mph exit velocity from the tee. Plenty of bat speed with pop. Above average barrel control.
Run: 4.07 runner in the 30.
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Owen Williams C / 3B / Myers Park, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B.
Body: 6’1”, 175 pounds. Average build with room to add strength.
Defense: 2.18 - 2.19 pop times. Fluid feet with clean exchanges.
Arm: R. C - 75 mph. Short arm action with some quickness, over the top slot. Carry to second base.
Hit: LHH. Relaxed, balanced, slightly open base. Smooth load, hands work back, short stride. Fluid stroke, loose, quick hands. Keeps barrel in zone with line drive approach.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Better than average bat speed and barrel control.
Run: 4.22 runner in the 30.
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Matthew Suppa C / 3B / Ardrey Kell, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B.
Body: 5’10”, 205 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.10 - 2.19 pop times. Quick, clean transers acorss his chest. Balanced receiving with strenght to his hands.
Arm: R. C - 76 mph. Short arm action with quickness, high 3/4 slot. Accurate arm with some carry.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open base, barrel starts flat above his back shoulder. Medium stride, hands cock creating bat angle behind his head. Gap to gap approach with barrel working slightly uphill.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Strength to his pull side with average to above average bat speed. Better than average barrel awareness.
Run: 4.55 runner in the 30.
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Daniel Lawson C / 1B / Davie County, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/1B.
Body: 6’1”, 195 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.25 - 2.43 pop times. Relaxed and fluid through exchange. Balanced receiving with better than average hands.
Arm: R. C - 69 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Some feel for the second base bag.
Hit: RHH. Tall, relaxed, slightly open setup. Smooth load with a short stride, quiet barrel. Smooth swing, keeps barrel in the zone using the whole field.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Strength of the barrel with average bat speed and barrel control.
Run: 4.15 runner in the 30.
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Jaxon Cogdill C / RHP / East Gaston, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP.
Body: 6’1”, 195 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.11 - 2.29 pop times. Clean transfers across the chest. Strength in hands receiving.
Arm: R. C - 74 mph. Short arm action with some quickness, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Weight works slightly back with a short stride, quiet barrel. Looks to stay short to the ball, middle-oppo approach with stiffness in the hands.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Has strength with average bat speed, some feel for barrel.
Run: 4.20 runner in the 30.
Delivery: Side step with a slide to the 1B side of the rubber. Kick to the belt. Average stride, working on-line and landing in-line. Slight fall to the 1B side through finish.
Arm Action: R. Slight plunge and long arm to an over-the-top slot. Average to above arm speed.
FB: T81, 79-81 mph. 2350-2400 rpm. Heavy. Good angle when down.
CB: 68-73 mph. 2222 rpm. Big 12/6 action. Late with depth. Misses were on-line and down.
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Hayden Friese C / 1B / Morehead, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/1B.
Body: 6’1”, 190 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.04 - 2.36 pop times. OF-Fluid feet with average hands, longer excahnge. C-Quick feet with quick transfers across his chest. Has flexibility in his hips, receiving with average hands.
Arm: R. C - 75 mph. OF - 82 mph. OF - Medium arm stroke, high 3/4 slot, accurate. C-Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, Hands load slightly back using a toe tap. Fluid swing. Looks to lift with an uphill path, getting extension, with a gap to gap approach.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed with average bat control.
Run: 4.16 runner in the 30.
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Evan Wyrick C / OF / Northern Guilford, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF.
Body: 6’2”, 175 pounds. Long, lanky frame.
Defense: 2.12 - 2.26 pop times. Quick feet with quick transfers across his chest. Athletic receiving with average to above average hands.
Arm: R. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot. Some accuracy and carry to second base.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup. Sinks into his legs during the load, short stride, quiet barrel. Some quickness to his hands, keeps his barrel in the zone, long at times, middle approach.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average barrel awareness, average bat speed.
Run: 3.84 runner in the 30.
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