Baseball was back in North Carolina on Sunday May 31st.  With over 60 players in attendance, and the event being run in waves of approximately 10 players to promote social distancing, PBR Scouts were very impressed with some of the performances.  The Summer Kickoff ID featured North Carolina's first full Tech event with TrackMan and Blast running throughout the event gathering advanced analytics and basic numbers on pitchers and hitters.

The entire event took place at Ultimate Performance in Matthews, NC.  PBR has run several events out of this massive facility.  The layout allows for catchers to make a full length throw to 2B, for outfielders to show off their arm strength with a 60 yard throw, and for infielders to work across a full length diamond.  Offensively, the hitters are able to workout in a 60'x60' cage, seeing the ball fly off the barrel.

The day consisted of a pro-style workout.  Pitchers were up first, throwing controlled bullpens with TrackMan gathering velocity, spin rate, release metrics and movement metrics.  As the position players began their day, they ran a laser timed 30, took reps at their defensive position, and rolled through multiple offensive stations.  For the position players, a radar gun was used to measure arm strength from their positions.  The catchers were able to make full length throws to 2B so scouts could get pop times.  As the hitters progressed to their offensive stations, they were able to collect a static exit velocity off of a tee and then during the live BP portion, Blast gathered pre-contact metrics like batspeed and rotational acceleration.  Ball flight metrics like exit velocity, launch angle, distance, and hang time were collected by TrackMan.

Next up in the breakdown of the Summer Kickoff ID is a quick look the pitcher only participants.  North Carolina's Executive Director of Scouting breaks down each arm with a look into some of the deliveries, stats, and analytics.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the 2020 Summer Kickoff ID

Summer Kickoff ID - By the Numbers

• 63 Total Players in Attendance
• 2021 - 2024 graduating years represented
• 15 players ran a sub 4.05 laser timed 30 yard dash
• 10 position players showed arm strength above 85 mph from their position
• 4 catchers posted pop times of 2.11 or better
• 13 hitters showcased a static exit velocity off of a tee of 88mph or higher
• 13 pitchers touched 85 or higher in their bullpens
• 2 arms bumped 90 mph
• 13 hitters posted a live BP exit velocity of 85 or higher
• 4 hitters posted a live BP exit velocity of 90 or higher
• 3 hitters posted a live BP hard hit percentage of 70% or higher
• 355' marked the furthest ball hit on the day in BP
• 93.8mph marked the hardest hit ball on the day in BP
• 90.8mph was the top fastball thrown
• 2851 rpm was the top spin rate on a Curveball
• 2615 rpm was the top spin rate on a slider
• -2.87 (LHP) to 2.75 (RHP) - Range of release from the middle of the rubber, in feet of all pitchers at the event

 

Summer Kickoff ID pitcher onlys

*Click on player names to see their profile including their updated stats and video.

 

 

 

Zach Burgbacher RHP / Cox Mill , NC / 2021 Positional Profile: RHP. Body: 6’1”, 160 pounds. Thin with some length. Room to add strength. Delivery: Small side step and turn. Works tall with a short leg kick. Average stride, working slightly across his line, landing square. Arm Action: R. Short arc, working to load the scapular. Average arm speed and extension FB: T81, 78-81 mph. 2139 rpm. Strike thrower showed feel for both sides of the plate. FB stayed true out of the hand CB: 62-63 mph. 1809 rpm. Slight hump out of the hand. Solid arc with 10/4 tilt.

 

 

Grayson Chapman LHP / Westchester Country Day, NC / 2022 Positional Profile: LHP. Body: 5’11”, 150 pounds. Straight line build with room for strength in the lower half. Delivery: Side step and slide to the middle of the rubber with an average kick. Lands on-line with a closed foot-strike. Finishes with the arm across the chest Arm Action: L. Long arm action, slightly laid off at foot-strike. Slight wrist roll at the top of his arm arc. High-3/4 slot FB: T70, 66-70 mph. 1834 rpm. Around the zone with some misses to the arm side. CB: 58-60 mph. 1938 rpm. 11/5 tilt. Rolls out of the hand.

 

 

Marshall Coley RHP / 3B / Myers Park, NC / 2021 Positional Profile: RHP/3B. Intriguing frame with arm strength present Body: 6’4”, 200 pounds. Large frame. Broad shoulders. Delivery: Stretch only. Kick to the mid-chest. Gathers on the backside, reaching to a foot-strike across his line. Square foot at touch. Tends to fall to the 1B side. Arm Action: R. Long arm swing with some hip tilt and head clearance. Over-the-top slot. Long levers. FB: T86, 82-85 mph. 2011 rpm. Worked the top of the zone with almost true backspin on the ball. Average induced vertical break. CB: 65-69 mph. 1771 rpm. Top to bottom tilt with handspeed. Creates an average of -10.84 inches of induced vertical break. CH: 77-79 mph. 1706 rpm. Solid arm speed.

 

 

Michael Colonna RHP / OF / Weddington, NC / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 8 / POS: 4 OverallRank: 138 / POS: 40 Positional Profile: RHP/OF. High ceiling right-hander with arm speed and athleticism Body: 6’3”, 195 pounds. Tall, lean, muscular frame with room for continued additions of strength Delivery: Small side step and easy turn. Kick to the mid-chest. Stable head. Good direction. Lands on-line and square. Good extension Arm Action: R. Medium arm swing working to load the scapular. Average rhythm. Good arm speed. FB: T91, 89-91 mph. 2233 rpm. Worked down in the zone with feel for the strike zone. 1:00 tilt on the FB. Median induced vertical break of 17.11 inches with horizontal break of 9.55 inches CB: 79-81 mph. 2258 rpm. Bigger action compared to his slider. Good hand speed. Creates hard 11/5 action. SL: 82-84 mph. 2190 rpm. Shorter, side-to-side action. Late, mimicking fastball out of the hand.

 

 

Blake Efird RHP / 3B / Porter Ridge, NC / 2021 Positional Profile: RHP/3B. Strike thrower with upside in the frame Body: 6’4”, 170 pounds. Lean with length. Delivery: Side step and slide to 1B side of rubber. Kick to mid-chest with slight pelvic tilt out of balance. Head clears. Lands across his line, occasionally with an open foot strike. Arm Action: R. Long arm swing. Elbow works above the shoulder line in the back. Quick arm. Works for extension. Over-the-top slot. FB: T85, 82-84 mph. 1791 rpm. Flooded the zone. Low induced vertical break with FB tilt at 1:15. CB: 69-70 mph. 1976 rpm. Around and casts slightly. 11/5 action from a slightly lower slot and slower arm speed. SL: 73-75 mph. 2065 rpm. Maintains slot and arm speed. Short, darting side to side movement. CH: 67-68 mph. (Split) 897 rpm. Good arm speed. Has feel. Tumbles out of the hand

 

 

Everette Harris RHP / 1B / Charlotte Christian , NC / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 94 / POS: 26 Positional Profile: RHP/1B. Ultra quick hand and athletic frame make for a high ceiling Body: 6’1”, 160 pounds. Lean, athletic frame with room for added strength Delivery: 1B side with a simple turn and kick to the high-chest.  Loose hips.  Good rhythm.  Head tends to sway through the delivery.  Athletlc throughout Arm Action: R. Extremely quick hand from an athletic, medium arm stroke.  Works to an over-the-top slot.  Good looseness and extension. FB: T87, 85-87 mph. 2221 rpm. Low induced vertical break of 9.53 inches, suggesting an ability to create soft contact and ground balls.  Some run, especially to the arm side of the plate.  Still developing consistent tilt and feel. SL: 76-78 mph. 1969 rpm. Hard, late tilt.  Average feel. CH: 78-80 (split) mph. 1459 rpm. Slows the arm a bit.  Has fade and downer action.

 

 

Jackson Humphries LHP / OF / Fuquay-Varina, NC / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 33 / POS: 3 Positional Profile: LHP/OF. High ceiling with a quick arm and frame that will add strength Body: 6’1”, 165 pounds. Some length in the limbs.  Thin and should add strength Delivery: Side step with an easy turn.  Coiled at balance with a kick to the mid-chest.  Loose hips get back on-line.  Lands with a closed foot-strike, on his line. Arm Action: L. Medium arm swing works to a high-3/4 slot.  Quick arm and hand.  Solid extension and direction FB: T88, 86-87 mph. 2273 rpm. Around the zone.  Slightly above average induced vertical break with average horizontal break. SL: 76-80 mph. 2524 rpm. Advanced arm speed.  Late, hard 2/8 tilt.  Chnce to be an out-pitch with development. CH: 76-77 mph. 1655 rpm. Solid arm speed.  3rd pitch at this time.

 

 

Andrew Poon RHP / 1B / Northwest Guilford, NC / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 88 / POS: 24 Positional Profile: RHP/1B. Lean athlete that has continued to take steps forward each time we see him.  Intriguing stuff Body: 6’1”, 165 pounds. Average frame with room for continued strength additions Delivery: Side step and small slide to the 1B side.  Loads the hips as he kicks to the high-chest.  Loose hips.  Loads the backside on hand break.  Easy direction with a slight uphill tilt.  Lands on-line and square. Arm Action: R. Long arm swing working back to an over-the-top slot with ease.  Above average arm speed. FB: T85, 83-85 mph. 2011 rpm. 12:30 tilt with average induced vertical break.  Ball runs when on the arm side. SL: 74-76 mph. 1909 rpm. Front side can get early creating a cast.  When on line ball has late tilt and should develop to a solid option.. CH: 78-79 mph. 1350 rpm. Sink and fade when in the zone.  Solid arm speed.

 

 

 

Liam Riordan RHP / 2B / Friends Seminary, NY / 2022 Positional Profile: RHP/2B. Body: 6’1”, 140 pounds. Average frame.  Thin and will add strength Delivery: Simple rocker and turn.  Loose hips.  Kick to the mid-chest.  Solid direction, working level. Lands on-line  and slightly closed at foot strike. Arm Action: R. Long arm swing, plunges slightly out of the glove.  Solid arm speed working to a high-3/4 slot FB: T76, 73-76 mph. 2010 rpm. Strike thrower.  Feel for both sides.  Average vertical break but shows some horizontal movement that ranks above average. CB: 58-61 mph. 2293 rpm. Good feel and consistent 10/4 shape.  Has depth and length.  Potential out pitch as he continues to develop. CH: 67-68 mph. 1502 rpm. Tunnels with fastball.  Good hand speed and extension.  Occasional fade.

 

 

Jackson Roberts RHP / OF / Northern Guilford , NC / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 72 / POS: 20 Positional Profile: RHP/OF. Polished with arm speed and 3 solid pitches.  High follow through the summer Body: 6’1”, 175 pounds. Athletic build that has added strength since the winter. Delivery: Slight forward rocker step and simple turn.  Stable head.  Leg lift to the high chest with a slightly closed line.  Reaches with the front leg, landing just slightly across his line with a closed foot-strike.  Solid extension. Arm Action: R. Medium arm swing.  Clean.  Works with leverage through a high-3/4 slot creating angle at release.  Quick arm.  Repeats. FB: T88, 86-88 mph. 2384 rpm. Attacks the zone.  Has feel to both sides.  Works the down zone.  1:15 tilt out of the hand.  Slight run. CB: 71-74 mph. 2720 rpm. Working for 11/5 tilt.  Inconsistent at times but thrown with intent and good spin rates.  Solid average pitch moving forward with a chance to continue to develop. CH: 76-79 mph. 1737 rpm. Straight change with good arm speed.and extension.

 

 

Aidan Smith RHP / OF / Gaston Day, NC / 2021 Positional Profile: RHP/OF. Body: 6’3”, 170 pounds. Average.  Thin with room to add strength Delivery: Stretch only.  Closed at set, looking over his left shoulder.  Kick loads the hips with a slight turn.  Loose hips.  High leg kick.  Lands on-line and square.  Average extension. Arm Action: R. Long arm swing, slightly wrapped.  Exaggerated over-the-top slot working to create angle.  Average to above arm speed. FB: T84, 82-83 mph. 2370 rpm. High spin rate but with 11:30 tilt creating cut out of the hand.  Has a chance to pitch elevated, missing barrels as the tilt becomes more true. CB: 66-69 mph. 2226 rpm. Top to bottom.  Hard at times.  Hump out of the hand.  Flashed some feel. SL: 71-75 mph. 2313 rpm. Inconsistent with hard cutting action when he is on top of the ball.  Lacks extension on the pitch at times.

 

 

Brady Turner LHP / Oak Grove , NC / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 58 / POS: 6 Positional Profile: LHP. Quick arm with an advanced breaking ball Body: 5’7”, 160 pounds. Strength is present. Delivery: Controlled through balance with a stable head.  Rhythm picks up as the hands break.  Loads the back side.  Aggressive stride.  Works with some cross-fire, landing with a square foot-strike.  Loose hips fire through the cross-fire, creating solid extension Arm Action: L. Long, clean arm swing to an over-the-top release.  Good arm speed.  Aggressive. FB: T85, 83-85 mph. 2005 rpm. Strike thrower has better feel to the arm side.  Elevated at times.  Average vertical break.  11:30 tilt out of the hand. CB: 70-73 mph. 2032 rpm. Hard, downer tilt with a similar look to the fastball out of the hand.   Consistent 1/7 tilt.  Chance to create swing and miss. CH: 76-80 mph. 1502 rpm. Solid arm speed.  Stays true.