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2020 Preseason All-State West: 2023 Players

February 13, 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 a 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 2023 players. Six high end freshman were in attendance and performed very well.  Four of the six worked out as dual prospects where several may be followed well into their high school careers.

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.

 

2023 Players

 

 

Zachary Wernoski 2B / OF / East Chapel Hill , NC / 2023

Positional Profile: 2B/OF.
Body: 5’9”, 140 pounds. Young, athletic frame.
Defense:  Solid actions with quick, fluid feet. Above average hands with clean transfers at his chest.
Arm: R. INF - 72 mph. Long, loose arm with quickness, 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with bat waggle. Loads knee to knee with his weight working back, barrel works to a more vertical position. Loose hands with quickness. Barrel works short to the ball and stays through zone. Works middle pull side, jumpy at times.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, barrel feel.
Run: 4.18 runner in the 30.

 

 

Isaac Armstrong SS / RHP / East Lincoln, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: SS/RHP. Lean athlete with a good fundamental platform and high ceiling.
Body: 5’11”, 150 pounds. Young, athletic frame with room to add strength.
Defense:  Active feet with body control. Catches the ball in the center of his body with better than average hands. Funnels to the midsection with a longer exchange.
Arm: R. INF - 83 mph. Loose, long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Loads with a leg kick, quiet barrel. Fluid swing, quick hands. Barrel work shorts to the ball and stays through the zone. Middle, line drive approach.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Above average bat speed and barrel control.
Run: 3.89 runner in the 30. 

Delivery: Simple leg kick, stable over the rubber with an easy, rhythmic hand break. On-line, lands in-line and with a slightly closed front foot. Repeats the delivery with average to above extension.
Arm Action: R. Long, loose arm swing to a high-3/4 slot. Good arm speed. As strength is added, the arm is positioned to make jumps.
FB: T81, 80-81 mph. 2300-2375 rpm. Heavy. Decent angle when down. Around the zone.
CB: 66 mph. 2179 rpm. Still maturing. Can get around it early creating a more 10/5 break.
CH: 72 mph. 1550 rpm. Solid arm speed. Slight fade out of the hand

 

 

Cameron Cabe SS / RHP / Lee County, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: SS/RHP.
Body: 5’11”, 160 pounds. Young, lanky frame.
Defense:  Catches the ball in the center of his body. Relaxed hands funnel to the belt with clean transfers.
Arm: R. INF - 81 mph. Short, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Loads with a toe tap, hands work slightly down with barrel going to vertical position. Line drive approach through the middle. Some quickness to his hands, mostly level bat path.
Power: 75 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed and barrel awareness.
Run: 4.23 runner in the 30. 

Delivery: Tall with a leg kick led by the foot, working outside the knee. Slight pause at balance, separating at the chest. Lands on-line and square. Slight fall to the 1B side.
Arm Action: R. Medium arm swing works to an over-the-top slot. Slight clearance of the head. Quick hand.
FB: T82, 80-82 mph. 1946 rpm. Around the zone, spraying the fastball at times.
CB: 67-69 mph. 1865-1958 rpm. Flashed feel with depth and a 11/5 arc. Good arm speed.
CH: 71-72 mph. 1254 rpm. Has feel for the straight change. Solid arm speed.

 

 

Colby Umbarger OF / RHP / North Iredell, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/RHP. Lanky athlete with quickness present. High ceiling as strength is added.
Body: 6’1”, 162 pounds. Athletic frame with room to add strength.
Defense:  Athletic and fluid through the ball with above average hands, smooth transfers.
Arm: R. OF - 88 mph. Long, loose arm with quickness, high 3/4 slot. Accurate throws with carry.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup. Small leg kick loading knee to knee with medium stride gliding into the ball. Hands work back to a cocked position. Loose hands with a mostly level bat path. Works middle to his pull side.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Better than average bat speed and barrel awareness.
Run: 3.93 runner in the 30. 

Delivery: Small rocker. Lifts with a body turn, coiiling the hips. Loose hips. Closed out of balance, lands slightly across his line with a square foot-strike. Good extension. Athletic throughout
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing works to a high-3/4 slot. Excellent arm speed.
FB: T82, 80-82 mph. 2053 - 2149 rpm. Around the zone. Misses were to the arm side.
CB: 72-73 mph. 1758 - 1810 rpm. Short, late 11/5 tilt when on top and maintaining arm speed. Occasionally rotates off the pitch creating early sweep and staying elevated.

 

 

Tyler Zedalis SS / RHP / Cox Mill, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: SS/RHP. Advanced bat skills with an athletic frame that has projection left.
Body: 6’1”, 175 pounds. Athletic frame with room to add strength.
Defense:  Fluid action, balanced at the catch position with better than average hands, clean transfers.
Arm: R. INF - 79 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Athletic, balanced setup. Smooth load with a toe tap. Hands work back to a cocked position. Balanced, fluid swing. Loose, quick hands with barrel staying through the zone a long time. Line drive approach working gap to gap.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Above average bat speed with strength. Above average bat control.
Run: 4.22 runner in the 30. 

Delivery: Simple, repeatable delivery working tall over the rubber. Kick to the mid-chest. Lands on-line and square. Good extension.
Arm Action: R. Medium arm action working to load the scapular. High-3/4 slot. Strong arm
FB: T81, 79-81 mph. 2090 - 2160 rpm. Around the zone with a feel for the glove side. Occasionally dropped to a 3/4 slot on fastball - has feel with short arm side action.
CB: 67-74 mph. 1870 - 1965 rpm. Slightly slower arm, casting the pitch a bit. 11/5 tilt when on time. Slight hump and rolling action at times.
CH: 73-74 mph. 1515 rpm. Straight change with solid arm speed. Good feel for down zone.

 

 

Caleb Williams RHP / OF / Alexander Central , NC / 2023

Positional Profile: RHP/OF.
Body: 6’2”, 170 pounds. Athletic build with strength.
Defense:  Plays through the ball with average hands, catching the ball off his left foot with clean transfers.
Arm: R. OF - 84 mph. Long, loose arm with quickness, high 3/4 slot. Some accuracy and carry to his throws.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, balanced setup. Smooth load, hands work slightly back with a short stride. Loose, quick hands with a short barrel path to the ball. Fluid swing with barrel staying through the zone, using the whole field with a line drive approach.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Above average bat speed with strength present, above average barrel awareness.
Run: 4.20 runner in the 30.

Delivery: Kick to the mid-chest while loading the back side.  Short strider.  On-line and slightly closed with the foot strike.  Good extension.
Arm Action: R. Medium arm swing.  Works to load the scapular.  Some elbow lead above the shoulder line.  Over-the-top.  Quick arm.
FB: T85, 83-85 mph. 1763 - 1937 rpm. Down zone.  Good angle.  Around zone.  Lacked pure command.
CB: 72-73 mph. 1900 - 1994 rpm. Sharp, downer.  Good arm speed.  Tunnels with fastball.
CH: 73-74 mph. 1619 rpm.