By Brandon Hall
North Carolina

Saturday August 19th saw nearly thirty players from the Carolina Rockies organization gather at Forsyth Country Day School for a PBR Scout Day.  The Rockies organization is run out of the Greensboro / High Point area, drawing players from the Triad Area of North Carolina, and beyond.  

The event allowed players to run through a full workout in front of PBR’s staff.  As part of the scout day, each player is receiving a full PBR player profile page equipped with verified stats, evaluations, and video.  Stories of the event will be posted in the “news” section of PBR in the coming week, giving more individual details on the player’s performance at the Scout Day.

The corner infielders were taken through a complete pro-style workout, including a sixty, live BP, and defensive work.  Players were evaluated while verified stats were taken by PBR's staff.  A physical group, each player registered an exit velocity of better than 80 mph.  The grad years ranged from 2018 - 2020.

For the catchers, there is plenty to dream about as each is continuing to develop on their own.  2019 Angel Gonzalez shows strength and quickness, while still raw and developing behind the dish and at the plate.  Each of the four catchers flashed a pop time under 2.25.

Scout Day Quick Hitters

+ 29 total players participated in the workout
+ 6 players ran a sixty of 7.30 or better
+ 2 catchers had pop times of 2.10 or better
+ 12 position players registered an exit velocity of 80 mph or better
+ 14 pitchers participated with 3 working 83 or better

CLICK HERE for a full roster of players attending the Carolina Rockies Scout Day

CLICK HERE for full stats of the event

Corner Infielder Analysis

 

 

Spencer Claus 1B / 3B / West Forsyth, NC / 2018 Strength is present in the 6-foot-2, 195 pound frame.  Exit velocity off the barrel up to 85 mph.  Right handed hitter works from a crouch, using waggle in the bat head as he loads back and sinks his base.  Short stride gets to better than average bat speed, working with uphill leverage and wanting extension.  Strength over quickness.  Pull side emphasis.  At first base, works to play through the ball, showing good hands.  Fights for rhythm in the feet.  Clean transition to a long arm arc.  Shows accuracy and carry while 73 mph across the diamond.  Ran a 7.94 sixty.

 

 

Nick Leonard 1B / 3B / Reagan, NC / 2019 Decent athlete with some strength in an average build at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds.  Ran a 7.29 sixty and posted an exit velocity of 88 mph off the barrel.  Right handed hitter works from a balanced, athletic stance using a weight shift back to load.  Vertical bat position.  Short stride.  Average bat speed works to the pull side with a strong top hand presence.  Average barrel awareness.  On defense at first base, works through some effort, playing on his heels somewhat.  Clean transitions on the catch working to a short arm swing.  Showed some feel for accuracy on throws measuring 74 mph out of the hand.

 

 

Will Rice 3B / RHP / Reagan, NC / 2019 Rankings  State Rank:174 POS:19 Average frame with athleticism present at 5-foot-9, 150 pounds.  Swung the bat well from the right side.  Starts athletic and balanced using waggle in the bat head to create rhythm.  Is set and consistent with his launch position.  Short stride, down early, and linear action with the back side work to create average bat speed.  Level through the zone there is a slight pull tendency.  Exit velocity peaked at 81 mph.  Average hands and fluid feet on the infield work to play through the ball.  Clean exchanges work with a short arm action, showing accuracy across the diamond on throws measuring 75 mph.  Ran a 7.34 sixty. Right handed pitcher works with some quickness in the arm from an over-the-top slot.  Elbow works slightly above the shoulder line in the long arm swing that can bottom out.  Fastball sat 79-80 early, showing 82-83 as the bullpen progressed.  Feel for the strike zone, elevating throughout.  Breaking ball has sharp 12/6 tilt at 69-70.  Late action was under control and in the zone.  Change-up sits as third pitch, ranging 68-69, slowing the arm at times.  Choppy rhythm as the arm fights for timing, the shoulders work level.  Lands slightly across the body.

 

 

Adam Shoemaker 1B / RHP / North Wilkes, NC / 2018 Average build with some length at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds.  84 mph across the infield showing life and carry with a need for improved accuracy.  Works with effort through the catch and is cautious through the exchange to a long arm arc.  Left handed hitter starts balanced, using a leg kick and aggressive stride.  Wants extension and has a pull emphasis while getting to the front side early at times.  Average barrel awareness with exit velocity reaching 86 mph off the barrel.  Ran a 7.77 sixty. On the mound the righty worked 81-83 with occasional run and an aggressive demeanor.  Above average arm speed from a high-3/4 slot and long arm swing.  Some effort as the head clears the line early to open the slot.  Starts with a large rocker step to the side, swinging his leg up to coil the lower half.  Choppy rhythm, staying level through the shoulders and landing on-line.  Breaking ball works with 12/6 arc at 60-65.  Gradual tilt, with a slight hump out of the hand.  Arm works near the fastball hand speed, slowing at times.  Showed a feel for the zone with the breaking ball.  Change worked 73-77, with deception, while missing down consistently.

 

Catcher Analysis

 

 

Cullen Davis C / RHP / West Rowan, NC / 2020 Lanky build in a young frame at 5-foot-11, 140 pounds.  Right handed hitter works from a balanced athletic position, loading back and using a short stride.  Coils the front shoulder on the load creating some length in the swing.  Swing will become shorter as the long levers come under control and strength is added.  Average bat speed, tilted uphill at times, but working to stay level.  Fluid and loose, stays in the middle of the field with some barrel awareness.  Exit velocity peaked at 78.  Projection exists.  Behind the dish, works to a vertical position as he transitions to the throwing area with a short arm action.  Controlled and easy through the transition.  Arm worked up to 69 mph from the crouch with some accuracy and the ball fading to arm side.  Pop times ranged 2.25-2.45.  Average target and setup.  Some effort in the hands in receiving that should clean with added strength to the young frame. On the mound, works from a high-3/4 slot with a long, loose arm swing.  Fastball ranged 73-75, occasionally cutting.  Change-up has deception with the arm speed.  Occasional fade at 67-70.  Also throws a split-finger at 68-72.  Acts as a change, lacking defined rotation or action.  Breaking ball works with gradual 11/5 action at 62-66.  Some effort in the delivery, working for extension.  The shoulders work level and the foot strikes on-line.

 

 

Angel Gonzalez C / 3B / West Forsyth, NC / 2019 Rankings  State Rank:133 POS:19 Strong, compact frame at 5-foot-10, 176 pounds.  Ball jumped off the barrel, with exit velocities reaching 92 mph.  Right handed hitter works from a tall, narrow base.  Uses a leg kick to position his weight, working to a short stride.  High hands and a vertical bat that works to a lagged position at the launch point.  Stays in his legs and base through contact.  Quick bat through the zone works with leverage through the ball, staying in the middle of the field.  Moving parts throughout the swing can get him out of rhythm and limit some barrel awareness.  Loose throughout the swing.  Behind the plate works with clean exchanges to a short arm swing and high-3/4 slot producing pop times ranging 2.07 – 2.20.  Feet are aggressive and quick through the exchange.  Setup side-saddled and working high through his hips to receive.  Hands are average, showing an ability to receive pitches in his frame well.  Positional velocity of 74 from the crouch.  On the infield, hands can get stiff as the ball gets deep in the frame, allowing him to stay on his heels.  79 across the diamond, showing carry and some accuracy.  Ran a 7.37 sixty.

 

 

Caleb Miles C / OF / West Wilkes, NC / 2019 Projection still left in the lanky backstop.  Pop times ranged 2.06 – 2.18 with a positional velocity of 69 out of the crouch.  Prematurely aggressive to the baseball, pop times may adjust in game settings.  Low rhythmic exchanges as the feet gain ground.  High in the hips through the setup, does adjust in bullpen settings, settling in to produce a good target.  Average arm action to a high-3/4 slot showed some accuracy.  Ball has some fade to the arm side.  Right handed hitter starts open and tall in his stance.  Uses a leg kick to get to an average stride.  Aggressive demeanor with a whippy bat producing barrel after barrel.  Works level, wanting extension.  Line drives to the pull side were the norm.  Exit velocity peaked at 73.  Arm did work up to 71 from the outfield with some accuracy.  Ran a 7.65 sixty.

 

 

Garrett Ring C / 1B / North Forsyth, NC / 2018 Strong frame at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds.  Wide, balanced stance from the right side.  Loads back using a short stride to produce better than average bat speed.  Works level, creating some uphill leverage at times, driving balls to the pull side.  Stays on the back side through contact.  Exit velocity peaked at 82 off the barrel.  Positional velocity of 73 from behind the plate.  Sits side-saddled slightly, allowing for a longer exchange where the head tilts off the front side.  Pop times ranged 2.25-2.31 with some accuracy.  Good flexibility in the hips allowed for a low target where the hands are free to work.  Showed an ability to block and recover with some athleticism.  Ran an 8.26 sixty.