PBR Scout Day: CBA Copperheads - Catcher & Corner Infielder Analysis

Prep Baseball Report of North Carolina held a scout day with the CBA Copperheads on Saturday August 25^th at Pfeiffer University.  Thirty-one players, ranging in graduation years 2019 – 2022, worked out for PBR.  The CBA Copperheads are based out of Concord and Lake Norman, just north of Charlotte.  They run multiple teams ranging from high school showcase teams down to the youth level.  Players and teams workout out of multiple fields and two indoor facilities.

Through the course of the workout, position players had the opportunity to run a laser timed 60, workout offensively in a cage setting and live on field, and then workout at their defensive position.  Pitchers were able to throw controlled bullpens.  The PBR staff was on hand to execute the day and record the stats on the players.  Each player in attendance will receive an evaluation from the PBR staff, verified statistics, and a prospect video added to their PBR profile. 

The corner infielders were led by 2019 graduate Derrick Sage.  Sage showed athleticism in a large frame throughout the day.  In the exit velocity testing station  he touched 98 mph with a wood bat.  Closely behind Sage was junior first baseman Jiwan Yun.  Yun's ball jumped when on the barrel, evidenced by an exit velocity of 94 mph.

For the catchers, it was a very young group with some upside in each player.  Consisting of two 2021 graduates and two 2022 graduates, this group will be one to follow in the coming seasons.

PBR Scout Day: CBA Copperheads By The Numbers
+ 31 Players took part in the scout day
+ 28 Players went through the position player workout
+ 18 Players threw controlled bullpens as part of the scout day
+ 2 players ran sub 7.00 sixties… 4 ran sub 7.10
+ Median sixty time on the laser timer was 7.57
+ 16 Players worked out on the infield with the top arm velocity of 81 mph
+ 9 Players threw from the outfield with 3 above 80 mph
+ 5 Catchers.  Top Pop time of 2.22
+ 5 arms above 76 with a high of 81… Most arms were still working back into condition after shutting down for a few weeks after the summer.

               CLICK HERE for the full roster from the CBA Copperhead Scout Day

               CLICK HERE for the full statistical breakdown of each player in attendance

Third Baseman Analysis

Derrick Sage 3B / 1B / Clyde A Erwin, NC / 2019 Athleticism is present in a 5-foot-10, 225 pound presence.  Surprisingly nimble and quick on his feet.  Ran a 7.74 sixty with a good bust off the line.  Good bend defensively.  Excellent balance and strength in the box.  Right handed hitter works from a closed stance and short stride.  Good rhythm to his load, smooth back, as the hands drop slightly.  Aggressive back-side, lower half and quick hands to the ball.  Fast bat with barrel awareness.  Some swagger in the box working for extension with uphill leverage through contact.  Ball jumped off the barrel, recording an exit velocity in testing of 98 mph with wood.  Average hands and feet defensively.  Quick, clean exchanges after working to funnel to the midsection.  Long arm swing to a high-3/4 slot.  Some feel for accuracy and average carry at 72 mph across the diamond.

First Baseman Analysis

Jiwon Yun 1B / RHP / Hough, NC / 2020 Physical presence with strength at 6-foot-1, 230 pounds.  Nimble feet and quickness present, especially for his size.  Ran a 7.35 sixty.  Active feet and good bend defensively, working to play through balls with average hands.  Clean transitions to a long arm swing.  Fights through some stiffness to an over-the-top release.  Some accuracy and average carry at 75 mph across the diamond.  Offensively the righty is balanced in his setup, diving towards the plate.  Slight wrap as the upper half coils into his launch position.  Tilt to the bat head back toward the mound.  Good approach, working gap-to-gap with fluid rhythm.  Average barrel awareness and bat speed.  Strength over bat speed at this time with an exit velocity of 94 mph off the barrel.  Strong hands work for extension with a one hand release through his finish.

Matthew Ferguson 1B / RHP / Community School of Davidson, NC / 2022 Average frame at 5-foot-10, 160 pounds.  Right handed hitter is open in his setup, remaining tall with some bat waggle.  Early stride, back to even, allowing the bat to settle into a slightly vertical position at launch.  Level through the zone working to stay short.  Produced line drives when on the barrel.  Exit velocity peaked at 74 mph off the barrel.  At first base, tends to stay high in his hips on his approach.  Feet can be flat at times. Clean, easy transitions to a long arm swing and high-3/4 release.  Some accuracy on throws measured at 69 mph out of the hand.  Ran a 8.27 sixty. On the mound the fastball ranged 65-68with some feel for the zone.  Mixed in a knuckleball at 52-54 that has some action.  Seemed to lack rotation.  Average leg kick and long arm swing to an over-the-top release.  Early wrist turn has the ball facing the plate at his foot strike.  Lands slightly across his body and square with the foot.  Average extension.   Good rhythm throughout.

Catcher Analysis

Garrett Brouwer C / OF / Southlake Christian Academy, NC / 2022 Thin frame.  Still maturing.  Stands 5-foot-10, 115 pounds.  Lanky with plenty of room to add strength as he matures.  Open stance from the right side, without much load.  Bat works from a vertical position.  Short stride does not get back to even.  Fair balance working to stay inside out, but showing a pull tendency in BP.  High finish with the hands.  Exit velocity peaked at 59 mph off the barrel.  Strength will play a big part in his development.  Behind the dish, has some looseness in his hips.  Square in his setup.  Hands are average.  Transitions across his chest with ease to a short arm action, working to load the scapular.  Vertical as the feet gain ground.  Over-the-top release.  Ball stays true at 65 mph out of the crouch.  Pop times ranged 2.58 – 2.86 with some feel for the bag.  Ran a 8.23 sixty

Carson Cabbage C / 3B / Lake Norman Charter, NC / 2022 Small frame, still maturing.  Stands 5-foot-6, 148 pounds.  Balanced from the right side, lacking a significant load.  Dives toward the plate with his stride.  Good approach, working to stay level and short to the ball.  Line drives worked gap-to-gap.  Good rhythm throughout BP.  Exit velocity of 74 mph off the barrel.  Slightly side-saddled in his receiving stance.  When throwing, two hands to the ball and a low transfer across the belt to a long arm action and over-the-top release.  Medium arm swing as the feet work to gain ground.  Pop times ranged 2.50 – 2.76 with a positional velocity of 65 mph from the crouch.  On the infield, works to play through the ball, but the feet can get flat at the point of the catch.  Clean transitions to a long arm swing and over-the-top slot showing some accuracy on throws measuring 65 mph out of the hand.  Ran a 8.93 sixty. On the mound, the fastball ranged 60-64, straight with a feel for the zone.  Occasionally elevated, he attacks the zone with aggression.  Breaking ball sat 53-55 with early, gradual 11/5 tilt.  Lacked some consistency in the pitch.  Change up at 57-58 has some deception in the hand speed, playing straight.  Tunneled with the fastball out of the hand.  Controlled over the rubber with a repeatable delivery to balance.  Long arm swing to an over-the-top slot.  Lands on-line and square getting average to above extension over the front side.

Mark Lyda C / 2B / Bandys, NC / 2021 Average frame with strength present in the lower half at 5-foot-9, 160 pounds.   Right handed hitter is open and balanced, using a smooth load back and short stride.  Lower half is not real active through the swing, costing him some potential power but there is feel for the barrel.  Short stroke, working to produce line drives with a slight pull emphasis.  Fluid and repeats his actions in the box.  Exit velocity peaked at 78 mph off the barrel.  Behind the dish, it is a quick transition with good feet. Exchanges with strength across the chest to a short arm swing and over-the-top release.  Front side tends to clear the line early, causing some fade on the ball.  Feel for the bag with average carry measuring 71 mph out of the crouch.  Pop times at 2.22 – 2.44.  Sixty time at 7.74 on the laser timer.

Ryan McCreary C / 2B / Community School of Davidson, NC / 2021 Thin with some length in a 5-foot-10, 155 pound frame.  Right handed hitter is balanced and open using a weight shift back to load.  Bat head has a slight lag in it at the launch position.  Dives back toward the plate slightly.  Flat through the zone with some barrel awareness and set to drive more balls to the opposite field.  Gets stiff on balls he works to get the head out on.  Exit velocity of 76 mph off the bat.  Narrow base with a slight side saddle behind the dish.  Some stiffness in the hips, sitting high in his stance.  Quick, clean transition to a short arm swing and high-3/4 release produced a positional velocity of 64 mph out of the crouch.  Pop times ranged 2.33 – 2.69 with some feel for the bag.  Ran a 7.63 sixty.