By Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

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Tuesday July 25th brought about the first outdoor invitation event with Prep Baseball Report in North Carolina.  A roster of over 50 elite players, mainly from the 2018 class, with a few 2019's sprinkled in, met at Boshamer Stadium on the campus of the University of North Carolina.  The all-star event was attended by college coaches and pro scouts as well as national crosscheckers from PBR.

Each player ran through a full workout, including multiple rounds of BP on the field and exit velocity testing in a cage area.  Defensively, players were put under the spotlight, working out from their primary position.  Players, divided into four teams, then played in a controlled scrimmage, facing live pitching.  Each player was filmed and video, along with the updated statistics and an evaluation, will be added to the player's PBR Profile page.

The middle infield group presented a mixture of players with different body types and skill sets.  Some were geared to be defensive minded while others showed a prowess for the offensive end.  Many fundamentally sound with projection left in their frames give college coaches a reason to continue to follow their progress.

Middle Infield Analysis

 

Blue Team MIF

 

Max Hildreth SS / 2B / New Hanover, NC / 2018 Advanced defender with an ease in the body on most ground balls.  Active feet took efficient routes.  Soft hands produced quick, clean exchanges.  Arm action matched the feet and the play, showing an ability to lengthen and shorten.  Arm slot can move from high-3/4 to sidearm when needed.  Advanced accuracy and above average carry across the diamond at 87 mph.  Offensively beginning to be more consistent with the barrel.  Tall and balanced in the setup.  Loose and level path worked the middle of field.  Would guide the bat head at times in BP and late in counts but did not see this in positive counts in game.  Exit velocity peaked at 87 mph.

 

 

Anthony Palma SS / 2B / Lake Norman , NC / 2018 Left handed hitter works with a level swing, staying in the middle of the field.  At 5-foot-9, 160 pounds works with a short, compact stroke that lifts off the shoulder and is direct to the ball.  Rushed through the load at times, the ball has better carry when the load completes.  Exit velocity touched 78.  Competitive at-bats in game, with an ability to fight off out-pitches.  Hands showed quickness to clear the inner half and barrel a fastball.  Hung tough against left-handed pitching.  Defensively plays through balls, catching them deep.  Clean exchanges work to a long arm stroke and high-3/4 slot showing average carry and accuracy.  79 mph from shortstop.

 

 

Gray Team MIF

 

Connor knapp SS / 3B / Green Hope, NC / 2018 Committed to North Carolina A&T shortly after the Top Prospect Games.  Catches the ball cleanly on the infield with soft hands.  Works to the right hip, still with clean exchanges.  Long arm action presents with some stiffness in a workout that is not evident in game settings.  An over-the-top slot measured 75 mph across the diamond with average carry and advanced accuracy.  In game, the feel for speed of the game elevates the tools.  Left handed hitter works with balance from an athletic position.  Waggle in the bat head works to a vertical launch position.  Short stride and level bat path with above average bat speed.  Top hand dominate through BP, creating some top spin and average barrel awareness.  In game the barrel awareness improved, staying through the ball and using the entire field.  Competes with two strikes, letting the ball get deep.

 

 

Cameron Mills SS / 2B / Ledford, NC / 2018 Athletic and lean frame at 6-foot, 170 pounds.  Ran a 4.40 down the line.  Right handed hitter is direct to the ball with a simple, repeatable swing.  Handsy with the bat, found the barrel frequently.  Occasionally cut across the ball.  Better than average bat speed.  Stayed in the middle of the field.   Defensively works with average hands and fluid feet.  Funnels to the midsection.  Clean exchanges work to a long arm action and high-3/4 slot.  Feet load the arm up showing accuracy on multiple types of throws.  Decent carry at 86 mph from short.

 

 

Red Team MIF

 

Austin Bailey 2B / SS / South Granville, NC / 2018 Some strength and fast twitch in the average 5-foot-8, 145 pound build.  Balanced on the left side of the plate, loading to a slight wrap with the bat head.  Short stride and above average bat speed.  Works flat through the zone staying in the middle of the field.  Strong hands.  Good feel for the barrel.  Exit velocity peaked at 83.  Barreled a pair of balls in game, showing strength to center field on a double.  Competed in left v left situation.  Ran a 4.41 down the line.  Average hands on the infield consistently caught the ball.  Lacks some bend in the hips.  Long arm action works behind the body line to an over-the-top slot.  Stiffness present.  Accurate on throws with average carry at 77 across the diamond.

Layton Helms 2B / RHP / North Stokes, NC / 2018 Average frame at 5-foot-1, 180 pounds with strength present.  Right handed hitter begins open, lacking a true load.  Short stride dives toward the plate.  Looks for extension with a pull tendency.  Occasionally cuts across while staying on the back leg.  Decent hand strength.  Exit velocity topped at 80.  Ran a 4.59 down to 1B.  Defensively takes a direct route, sitting on the catch position.  Feet lack some rhythm as he catches deep in his posture.  Clean exchanges work to a long, over-the-top slot with some effort.  Accuracy is present with average carry at 79 across the diamond.  Intriguing arm on the bump.  Relief profile.  Stretch only.  Limited projection but the arm works with some quickness.  Fastball up to 86, sitting 83-85.  Seemed to play harder vs. hitters.  Showed an ability to elevate.  Slider ranged 72-76 with hard, late 10/4 action.  Similar window to fastball and produced some bad swings.  Change-up came out of a slightly different window with a slower arm.  Sat 75.

 

 

Anthony Saieed SS / 2B / JH Rose, NC / 2018 Athletic and quick twitch tendencies.  Solid defender with soft hands and fluid feet.  Clean and quick with exchanges to a short arm action and high-3/4 slot.  Accurate with carry at 85 mph across the diamond.  Chance to stick on the left side moving forward.  Right handed hitter works from a crouch, loading back with a toe tap.  Easy, simple, repeat-able swing.  High barrel-ability with above average bat speed.  Level with rhythm, stays in the middle of the field.  Exit velocity of 86 off the barrel.  Little more uphill leverage in game situations.  5-foot-10, 155 pound frame is still maturing.

 

 

Gold Team MIF

 

Braxton Boddorf SS / 2B / Athens Drive, NC / 2018 Body is still maturing and has plenty of room for added strength at 5-foot-8, 135 pounds.  Quickness and strength is beginning to enter his game that comes with fundamentals in place.  Hands show softness, funneling to the midsection.  Footwork is quick, decisive, and fluid.  Clean exchanges to a loose, high-3/4 slot.  Accuracy and carry are present with the arm speed measuring 83 across the diamond.  Offensively, the left handed hitter has decent bat speed and strength will continue to propel this part of the game forward.  Slightly uphill, working the middle of the field with good rhythm.  Starts open and tall, using a short stride and aggressive back side to get a whippy bat through the zone.  Exit velocity peaked at 76.  Ran a 4.47 down the line in game.

 

 

Tylan Reece SS / 2B / South View , NC / 2018 Athletic in an average, thin 5-foot-8, 150 pound frame.  High motor with quick twitch tendencies.  Ran a 4.28 to 1B in a game situation.  Strength in the hands.  Right handed hitter works from a balanced setup, slightly open.  Smooth load back with a short stride.  Better than average bat speed produced an exit velocity of 87 mph.  Level through the zone with good rhythm, producing line drives and ground balls staying in the middle of the field.  In game, continued to spray the ball, staying on the barrel with a flat path.  Athleticism plays at shortstop.  Decent hands with fluid feet.  Range is adequate and may improve with better a more in-line first step.  Relies on foot-speed to make up for angles at times.  Quick, clean exchanges work to a long arm action.  Some shoulder restriction and re-coil in throwing motion.  Over-the-top slot presents carry and accuracy at 85 mph across the diamond.

 

 

Jason Slaughter 2B / Orange, NC / 2018 Average build with some strength in the 5-foot-8, 150 pound right handed hitter.  Works from an open stance, loading the bat head to a vertical position as the hands load down slightly for rhythm.  Uses a leg kick to get the weight shifted back and works with a short stride.  Better than average bat speed with a level swing.  Peppered the pull side gap with fluid rounds of BP, working for extension.  Exit velocity peaked at 85, but as the barrel is on the ball more consistently this number may rise.  Defensively there is some effort from the left side of the field.  Hands work and appeared more calm on the right side.  Feet work to load the arm after the catch.  Short arm swing gets to a high-3/4 slot showing a feel for accuracy with average carry at 79 mph across the infield.  Elbow works above the shoulder line in the arm swing, allowing time for the head to leave the front side early.  Occasional fade on the ball.