By Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

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On Sunday August 27th, the CBA Copperhead organization held their PBR Scout Day at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, NC.  A gorgeous day, the Copperhead players ran through a full workout in front of PBR's staff and college coaches. 

Each position player ran through a full style workout, running a sixty, taking a live BP on the field, and going through an individual defensive workout.  Statistics were taken on exit velocity off the bat, arm speed from the defensive position, and pop times for catchers.  Pitchers threw a controlled bullpen for PBR staff and coaches, allowing them to feature their repertoire, showing stuff and command. Each player attending the scout day will have their PBR profile updated with their updated statistics, an evaluation, and video from the workout.

2020 Outfielder Christian Thomas (Central Cabarrus HS) made his presence known very early in the day setting an event record by running a 6.59 sixty on the laser timer.  Still a little raw, there is a lot of projection left in the athletic right handed hitter.  Adam Dempski (2018, Hough HS) continues to show strength and quickness and is one of the better uncommitted players in the 2018 class.  The full analysis on Copperhead outfielders is below.

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

CLICK HERE for the complete statistical report from the Scout Day

CBA Copperheads Scout Day Quick Hitters
+ 42 players participated in the Scout Day
+ 28 pitchers threw bullpens
+ 36 position players completed the workout
+ 2020 OF Christian Thomas ran a PBR NC Event record 6.59 sixty (laser timed / hand started)
+ 15 hitters posted an exit velocity of 80 mph or better
+ 7 players ran better than 7.30 in their sixty
+ 9 pitchers touched 78 or better off the mound
+ Players ranged in graduate years from 2018 - 2021

Outfielder Analysis

 

Joshua Allen OF / RHP / Langtree Charter, NC / 2020 5-foot-10, 148 pound frame.  Works from a balanced setup on the right side.  Toe tap and weight shift back set the swing foundation.  Short stride with a flat bat head.  Good bat speed works level through the zone.  Stays on the back side, rotational through the swing.  Produced line drives, staying in the middle of the field, with an exit velocity of 79 off the barrel.  Good rhythm.  Showed versatility as the primary outfielder worked out on the infield.  Clean exchanges through the ball, working from an athletic position.  Hands can get stiff at times as the feet fight for rhythm.  Short arm swing to a high-3/4 slot with some accuracy at 72 mph out of the hand.  Ran a 7.68 sixty. On the bump, has angle to the fastball with quickness in the arm from a high-3/4 slot.  Fastball up to 76, ranging 72-76.  Straight, the fastball falls off in the stretch.  Good direction and loose, works level through balance with normal effort.  Breaking ball has 12/6 shape, sharp at times at 64-68.  Erratic command as the pitch is maturing, but thrown on his line, missing up and down.  Change up has fade at 61-65 with a feel for the zone.

 

Dylan Castoria OF / RHP / Hough, NC / 2021 Lanky body with plenty of room for added strength.  Wide base and works without a stride.  Loose through the zone showing some strength and feel for the barrel.  Average bat speed stays level through the zone, wanting extension.  Works the middle of the field with a slight pull emphasis.  Rotational on the back side, exit velocity peaked at 79.  Balance wains on the finish with low hands.  Some quickness exists in the young frame, running a 7.36 sixty.  Long, loose arm showed accuracy from right field with average carry at 81 out of the hand.  Cautious through the ball and with the exchange.  Projection is evident. Arm speed slows from the mound from an over-the-top slot.  Ball works down hill when on time at 69-71.  Control comes and goes with the tempo and rhythm.  Choppy delivery, rolling through balance, works level and lands on-line.  Breaking ball lacked consistent shape with a gradual arc at 64-66.  Straight change works with deception in the hand speed at 64-67.

 

Adam Dempski OF / Hough, NC / 2018 Rankings  State Rank:118 POS:19 Strength and quickness exists in a strong frame.  Defined lower half with broad shoulders.  Stands 5-foot-10, 180 pounds.  Exit velocity off the barrel peaked at 89.  Ran a 6.95 sixty.  Open stance from the right side.  Rushed through the load.  Waggle in the bat head with the launch position seeing some lag in the barrel at times.  Short stride and above average bat speed.  Wants extension working to show power to the pull side.  Strength in the hands.  Average barrel ability.  Athletic through the ball in the outfield.  Short, strong arm swing from a quick exchange works to a high-3/4 slot with carry at 83 mph out of the hand.  Some accuracy apparent.

 

Harris Dowdy OF / RHP / South Iredell , NC / 2021 Young frame with plenty of maturation ahead.  Left handed hitter works from an open stance, loading back with a flat bat position.  Short stride, stays level, working gap-to-gap.  Handsy swing, with average barrel awareness.  Exit velocity will improve as strength is added from the 73 mph recorded.  Outfielder works with good hands, breaking down cautiously on balls.  Long exchange to re-load the feet, works to a long arm action and high-3/4 slot.  Some accuracy on throws measuring 74 mph out of the hand.  Ran a 7.73 sixty. Right hander worked 60-64 with his fastball from a ¾ slot.  Average leg kick with a stable head and repeatable delivery.  Long arm action with some looseness, lacks premium arm speed.  Breaking ball lacks consistent shape at 55-59, wanting to sweep through the zone with 10/4 action.  Change up is straight, with some feel for the zone at 57-60.  Hand speed mimics that of fastball.

 

Benjamin Gorman OF / RHP / Hough, NC / 2021 Average build at 5-foot-8, 130 pounds.  Some quickness exists, with a good burst in the sixty and turning in a 7.46.  Has rhythm and some athleticism on approach in the outfield.  Easy transition to an over-the-top slot with an arm speed measured at 76 mph from right field.  Some shoulder restriction on finish.  Accuracy can improve with carry.  Right handed hitter starts balanced.  Simple approach, with a shot stride, repeats the swing.  Down early with the stride.  Some barrel awareness as he works to stay on top of the ball and in the middle of the field.  Exit velocity peaked at 75 off the barrel. Around the zone with all three pitches on the mound.  Over-the-top slot produced a straight fastball at 71-73, touching 74.  Change acts as second pitch with good hand speed and fade at 66-69.  Feel for the pitch, missing down and on-line, when missing.  Breaking ball ranged 65-68 with inconsistent shape, spinning at times.  Looking for 11/5 action.  Works level and on-line with some rhythm and normal effort.

 

Gabriel Kitchens OF / SS / West Iredell, NC / 2020 6-foot-1, 165 pound frame.  Young with time to mature and add strength.  Right handed hitter works from a balanced setup, using a weight shift to load early.  Hands load in toward the body.  Bat head works from a flat position off the back shoulder.  Short, or no stride.  Rotational emphasis with a pull conscious swing.  Wants extension.  Some feel for the barrel.  Primary outfielder, has versatility, working out on the infield.  Plays through the ball with average hands.  Hips work high and the ball gets deep in stance.  Low exchange.  Loose arm gets to a high-3/4 slot showing some accuracy at 70 mph across the diamond.  Athletic to the ball with cautious feet in the outfield.  Loose arm swing works behind the body line slightly to a high-3/4 slot with some carry and accuracy.  Ran a 7.75 sixty.

 

Christian Thomas OF / 1B / Central Cabarrus , NC / 2020 Scout Day record, 6.59 sixty on the laser timer.  Long strider with power in each step.  Lanky, athletic frame is still maturing.  6-foot, 150 pounder hits from the right side.  Open stance using a leg kick to get to a short stride.  Bat head works from a lagged position.  Strong and quick with the bat trying to stay level through the zone.  Some barrel awareness staying in the middle of the field.  Raw with projection ahead.  In the outfield, quick feet and a long arm swing work to a high-3/4 slot.  Accurate throws with average carry measuring 74 mph out of the hand.