PBR Scout Day: Carolina Rockies - Pitcher Analysis

September 3, 2017

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 pitchers consistently showed an ability to command the strike zone with a variety of pitches. Mason Gwyn (2019, North Surry HS) created some buzz with arm speed and movement. Luke Stephens (2019, RJ Reynolds HS) catches the eye immediately in a lower slot with athleticism in the delivery. Each pitcher from the day is profiled below.

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

Pitcher Analysis

Mason Gwyn RHP / OF / North Surry, NC / 2019

Rankings State Rank:80 POS:25

Lean, athletic build at 6-foot-2, 160 pounds. Room to continue to add strength. Shows feel for all three pitches with the slider presenting out-pitch potential. Fastball ranged 82-84, playing harder than the reading. Arm side run to the arm side. Pounded the down zone. Slider sat 69-70 with a sharp 10/7 action. Slurvish at time times with good hand speed. Change flashes arm side action at 74-77. Works from a high-3/4 slot with a quick arm. Long, loose arm swing, working to stay tall through balance. Smooth delivery, repeats, working level and in-line.
Flashed an 82 from the outfield with carry and advanced accuracy. Fluid through the ball with clean exchanges. Switch hitter works better from the right side, showing similar exit velocities of 82 from the left and 83 from the right. Wide stance from the right side with a small stride. Direct to the baseball with a level swing. Pull tendency with heavy top hand action. On the left side, also a wide setup with a short stride. Lacks some head discipline as the swing is geared to pull with limited barrel awareness.

Chris Moutos RHP / 3B / Mount Tabor, NC / 2018

5-foot-5, 140 pound right hander. Short strider has aggression, attacking the zone with a feel for all three pitches. Fastball ranged 76-78, downhill, with occasional arm side run. Breaking ball has late action, working 68-70 with 12/6 tilt. Flooded the zone with the pitch, showing deception with similar to fastball hand speed. Straight change sat 70-71. Over-the-top slot with quickness in the arm. Some rhythm in the delivery that sets the shoulders uphill after working to stay tall at balance. Foot strike is open to the line.
Infielder ran a 7.30 sixty, showing feel for the barrel from the right side. Balanced and athletic, load can be rushed as the weight is pushed back. Short stride works to better than average bat speed staying level through the zone. Length in the swing at times. Pull tendency. Exit velocity peaked at 82 off the barrel. Defensively, shows average to above hands with a cautious exchange. Works through the heels a little as the short arm action works to a high-3/4 slot. 74 across the diamond.

Cooper Nester RHP / OF / Mount Airy , NC / 2018

Feel for all three pitches from the right hander who touched 81, sitting 78-81. The breaking ball works with gradual 11/5 tilt at 67-70. Occasionally on the side of the ball, lacking consistent tilt. Throws a split-finger to act as a change. Limited action on the pitch but it does work with hand speed at 67-74. High-3/4 slot with a glove point from the front side. Long arm swing has some stiffness in the wrist. Level and on-line, worked with regular effort. Command will allow stuff to play up at times.

Spencer Nifong LHP / 1B / Davie County, NC / 2020

Young build with length in the limbs at 6-foot-2, 154 pounds. Works from a high-3/4 slot with a long arm action. Arm works behind the body line on the way to the top, creating some stiffness. Shows an ability to work through and find feel for all three pitches. Fastball sat 66-69. Occasionally slows the hand speed to gain command. Breaking ball shows better action to his arm side at 60-61. Gradual 1/7 action out of fastball type hand speed. Straight change sat 64-65 with good deception from the hand. Fairly easy effort, working level and slightly closed through the shoulders. Slight fall to the 3B side on finish
First baseman caught the ball consistently with some stiffness in the hands. Controlled, cautious exchange to a long arm action. Showed accuracy on multiple types of throws, topping at 67 from the position. Left handed hitter starts in a tall, balanced stance. Front arm almost barred in setup as back elbow works from a high position. Short stride. Level bat path working to rotate on the back leg, showing a pull tendency. Ran an 8.42 sixty.

Luke Stephens RHP / 2B / RJ Reynolds, NC / 2019

Rankings State Rank:99 POS:31

Side armer that has pitch-ability and developing stuff. 5-foot-11, 145 pounds with a young frame that is still developing. Fastball sat 77-78 with late run. Showed action to both sides of the plate. Can elevate the fastball on command as well. Breaking ball has average action, sweeping the zone with gradual break at 61-64. Flooded the zone with the change to his arm side at 63-65. Long arm action as the head stays tall to balance and tucks as the hands break. Good rhythm and feel for the delivery. Lands closed and finishes athletic. Athletic tendencies throughout the delivery.

Travis Winslow RHP / 1B / Eastern Randolph, NC / 2018

Lanky right hander stands 6-foot-3, 202 pounds. Quick arm works with a long action to a high-3/4 slot with some effort. Lands slightly open with a square toe. Front side works long through the glove, sweeping across the zone after pointing. Fastball worked 78-80. Good command of glove side. Showed an ability to elevate on command. Breaking ball comes out hard, lacking consistent shape. Late tilt when there at 68-72. Uses knuckleball as change. Shows some rotation at 69-71.