By Brandon Hall
Director of Scouting, PBR NC

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The premier winter showcase event for baseball players in North Carolina took place at On Deck Baseball Academy in Pineville, NC on Saturday January 28th.  The invite only event featured 76 of the top players in North Carolina.  Running through an extended pro-style workout, position players were able to show off their talents on defense, in the cages, and with a series of speed and agility tests.  The pitchers threw controlled bullpens, keeping in mind it is still January, showcasing their delivery, arm slot and arm action.  

Below is a look at part I of the Pitchers, with the 2017 and 2018 graduates.  Many of these arms are on pitch counts or regulating their effort with the January bullpens.  PBR still got a good look at each arm and a feel for how they are continuing to develop.

CLICK HERE to view all of the statistical results.

CLICK HERE to see the complete roster of the Preseason All-State Event.

PITCHERS

2017 Graduates

Clinton English, RHP, Marlboro County HS, SC

Athletic and quick twitch in a 5-foot-7, 150 pound frame.  Choppy delivery works to a high-3/4 slot, using an infielder type, short arm swing.  Some effort in the arm generates fastball at 76-79.  Curveball worked with 10/4 rotation, gradual arc, and near fastball arm speed, sitting 63-64.  Change is pushed from a lower slot at times, lacking look-alike quality at 66-69.  Aggressive demeanor.  Ran a quick 4.00 thirty yard.

 

Zach Bagley, RHP, Grays Creek HS, NC

6-foot, 160 pound righty flashed average arm speed.  Fastball worked 76-79 as the arm gets lost with some wrap in the arm swing behind the line and a little pie action at the top.  Worked with level shoulders, in-line, creating a good rhythm.  Breaking ball sweeps across the zone with a gradual break, 69-74.  Change flashed at 68-70, maintaining hand speed.  Ran a 4.10 thirty.

 

Caden O’Brien, LHP, Maiden HS, NC

The lanky 6-foot-2, 180 pounder North Carolina commit has strength and leverage in the body.  Works with an exaggerated front side, working well above the shoulder line.  Creates tempo and leverage driving down the line, creating an over-the-top slot from a long arm action that pauses at the bottom.  Fastball worked 81-84, touching 86 as O’Brien consciously controlled his effort in the January bullpen.  Arm speed should have no issue continuing to build into the season.  Breaking ball flashed sharp, downer action, 63-65 with some effort while filling up the zone.  Change is an average pitch now, with a high ceiling, sitting 69-71, using near fastball hand speed.  Threw an impressive amount of strikes for the early in the year bullpen.

 

Noah Eaker, RHP, Cherryville HS, NC

Lanky 6-foot-4, 185 pounder has length in his limbs.  Still working to maximize his arm strength after taking time off in the fall, fastball ranged 78-81.  Short-strider works from an over-the-top slot with a long arm stroke.  Rhythm builds from slow to quick through the delivery, with the shoulders creating a little uphill leverage. Breaking ball is 12/6 with late action.  Hand speed worked near the fastball allowing the spin pitch to sit 63-65.  Change is the third pitch, flashing some comfort at 73-75. 

 

2018 Graduates

Jason White, RHP, Jay M Robinson HS, NC

Easy delivery with level shoulders, working on line produced fastballs ranging 74-77 from the 5-foot-11, 155 pound frame.  Long arm swing turned the ball over early, setting up a high-3/4 slot.  Front side clears a little early effecting some command.  Curveball ranged 61-65 with gradual 10/4 shape, from a slowed arm producing consistent strikes.  Change sat 69-71.

 

Spencer Treadaway, RHP, Reagan HS, NC

Athletic 5-foot-9, 160 pound frame has some stiffness through the arm swing working to a high-3/4 slot.  Average to above arm speed was being controlled with the January time of the bullpen.  Fastball reached 75 from a delivery that has some rhythm, working level and in-line, with a long arm swing.  Change-up has advanced potential ranging 65-68 with late arm side run and filling the zone up.  Curveball showed a sweepy 10/4 arc with early, gradual break.  Arc may tighten as the hand speed increases with the pitch, as the season nears.  Sat 61-64, erratic at times but flashing strike zone awareness with it.

 

Zachary Hammer, RHP, Alexander Central HS, NC

Lanky and projectable 6-foot-2, 160 pound frame.  Throwing one of his first bullpens of the young year, fastball reached 86, sitting 84-86.  Low hands and an easy rhythm worked to a high-3/4 slot with an average arm swing.  Levels stay level, closing the line down slightly at balance.  Breaking ball is advanced, ranging 69-70 with a sharp, power 11/5 action.  Change touched 77 and is the third pitch.  Flooded the zone with all three pitches for a majority of the bullpen.

 

Brett Pope, RHP, Alleghany HS, NC

Lanky, loose, and long limbs at 6-foot-3, 168 pounds.  Best is yet to come.  Fastball worked to 84 with a quick arm slotting at a high-3/4 spot from a long arm arc.  Easy effort, while slightly coiled at balance, lands in-line from a smooth rhythm.  Slider has advanced potential with late 10/4 action, ranging 74-75.  Change worked up to 75.

 

Brett Kerry, RHP, Wesleyan Christian Academy, NC

South Carolina commit stands 6-foot, 185 pounds.  Easy effort, working into his spring with a relaxed nature in the bullpen.  Fastball ranged 83-85, ramping up to 88 towards the end of the outing, with ease.  Easy arm works to a high-3/4 slot.   Repeatable with easy effort and great direction.  Curveball comes out easy flashing late 10/4 action, ranging 68-69.  Change flashed at least average with slight arm-side run at 77-78.  Flooded the zone with all three throughout the bullpen.  Advanced fastball command.

 

Brendan Wright, RHP, Holly Springs HS, NC

Strong 6-foot, 185 pound frame.  Quick arm comes from a coiled lower half that lands slightly closed and allows the front side to float across the line at times, effecting extension.  Long arm swing leads to a high-3/4 slot with the fastball ranging 80-81.  Slider fills up the zone with a hard sweeping action, flashing out-pitch ability, sitting 65-66.  Straight Change flashes look-alike potential working 68-71 hitting the glove consistently.

 

Bryson Linkous, RHP, Stuart Cramer HS, NC

Tall with length, standing 6-foot-7, 220 pounds.  Projection left in the delivery and arm.  Touched 80 in one of his first bullpens of the year working from a high-3/4 slot with some rhythm in the delivery, working level and in-line.  Head leaves the line at times as the arm reaches the top of the arc, opening the window for the hitter early.  Change-up has downward action at times, producing deception with hand speed, sitting 71-73.  Curveball has late 10/4 arc with near fastball hand speed, ranging 66-68.  In the zone with all three, lacking command in the January bullpen. 

 

Koty Proctor, LHP, Wesleyan Christian Academy, NC

Strong 6-foot-1, 200 pounder works with some ease throughout the delivery.   Level and in-line, the body allows the arm to work loose to the high-3/4 with average to above quickness.  Fastball ranged 82-83, around the zone, with occasional arm side run.  Curveball was obviously dialed down with the January bullpen, sweeping through the zone at 59-60, showing feel for the zone.  Slows arm on change-up, losing the slot at times producing 73-77 with early arm side run.

 

Tyler Tuthill, LHP, Clayton HS, NC

Grabs attention walking to the mound with length and body type, listed at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds.  Appalachian State commit is still working into full speed on the mound but showed a fastball touching 82 and flashing command to the arm side with some arm side run.  Average to above arm speed works to a high-3/4 slot.  Smooth rhythm, repeats with level shoulders and lands on-line.  Curveball is advanced with late 11/5 action, spotting it to both sides of the plate.  Change has arm side run and is located to the arm side, ranging 77-78, lacking some hand speed at times.

 

Austin Primm, RHP, North Gaston HS, NC

Physically imposing at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds with room to continue to improve.  Flashes athleticism and body awareness.  Arm works with a long swing, loose, to a high-3/4 slot showing above average arm speed.  Consciously dialed down with the early season bullpen fastball reached 84, without any effort, producing late run.  Slider has a high ceiling, sitting 71-73 with late tilt.  Change sat 76-79 in the strike zone.  Easy delivery and repeats producing a lot of strikes from all three pitches. 

 

Luke Little, LHP, East Mecklenburg HS, NC

Power arm potential in a big body, listed at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds.  Committed to Gardner Webb, touched 87 with fastball, while sitting 84-85 in one of his first bullpens of the  year.  Slot floats at times between a high-3/4 and a 3/4 release.  Long arm swing works behind the body line with looseness, creating whip.  For a big guy, has some rhythm over the rubber, working level and landing on line.  Tends to coil at balance, staying tall, and loses some extension as he leaves the line early.  Breaking ball has a sweepy 2/8 arc with late break, touching 73.  Although erratic, it has a high ceiling in the future.  Slows the arm on the change-up, ranging 75-76, with a feel for the zone.