Player Evals: Team 1 - Top Underclass Games
September 14, 2020
Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
Executive Director & Director of Scouting, PBR NC
Each year the North Carolina Top Underclass Games is a must see for college coaches and pro scouts. The 2020 event featured close to 50 of the top uncommitted underclass players in the state. Hosted at the Burlington Royals Stadium in Burlington, NC, players were treated to a 1st class playing surface to compliment the talent on hand.
The day featured a full pro-style workout for position players with a laser timed 60, full offensive and defensive workout, plus an 8 inning controlled scrimmage. Pitchers threw live to hitters, allowing scouts to gauge stuff and pitch-ability.
Today we take our 1st look at the event with an analysis of some of the stats produced, as well as leaders from several traditional statistics. As PBR Scouts continue to pour over the efforts from the day, there will be more information released and more player analysis coming.
CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Top Underclass Games.
By the Numbers:
- 44 players participated in the full pro-style workout
- 2 players ran sub-7.00 sixties
- 9 players ran sub-7.20 sixties
- 12 hitters posted exit velocities of 90mph or higher off the tee
- 23 hitters were at 85mph or better off the tee
- 5 hitters flashed an exit velocity of 85mph or higher in live BP
- 9 INF or OF showed arm strength of at least 83mph from their position
- 3 catchers threw pop times of under 2.00 in the workout
- 6 catchers flashed at least one pop time under 2.20 in the workout
- 20 pitchers threw live in the game setting
- 8 pitchers worked at 83 or higher
- 87mph was the top bolt of the day
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Matthew McCray SS / RHP / Croatan , NC / 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP.
Body: 5/8, 150 pounds. Strong, athletic build.
Defense: Quick feet, short choppy steps, catches the ball near center, average hands, funnels to the belt, quick exchanges.
Arm: R. INF - 77 mph. Accurate, some carry, short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Tall, open base, hands at back shoulder. Loads with a leg lift, long stride, barrel lifts from back shoulder getting angle to the pitcher. Some quickness to his hands, barrel works slightly up through the ball, extension out front, uses the whole field.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Lined a ball to center in game action, average bat speed.
Run:7.14 runner in the 60.
Delivery: Side step and slight pause through the pivot. Lifts to the belt while tucking the head toward the knee. Closed at balance, works back to an on-line landing with a square toe. Front side swings open to get to the slot. Average extension, falling slightly to the 1B side
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing, locked until getting to the top of the stroke. 3/4 slot that occasionally worked higher. Average arm speed. Has deception.
FB: T79, 74-79 mph. 1780 rpm. Arm side run out of the hand with up to 17 inches or horizontal movement. 2:15 spin tilt out of the hand. Better feel for arm side. Elevated at times
CB: 67-70 mph. 1908 rpm. Sweepy, side to side action, out of the hand. Good arm speed. Elevated.
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Colby Vanhook RHP / OF / West Cabarrus , NC / 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/OF.
Body: 6/1, 185 pounds. Strong frame.
Defense: Aggressive through the ball, catches the ball off his left foot, average hands, clean transfers.
Arm: R. OF - 84 mph. Accurate, long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Tall, open base, hands at back shoulder. Small leg kick, short stride back to even, hands get set. Loose hands with quickness, gap to gap approach, some lift to the barrel path staying through the zone, above average barrel feel.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed, some strength off the barrel.
Run:7.76 runner in the 60.
Delivery: Stretch only. Rocks back on the leg lift, working the front knee toward the back shoulder. Simple and stable upper half. Lands on-line and square. Solid extension
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing. Strong arm. Strength over arm speed. Works to a high-3/4 slot. Has intent and direction.
FB: T81, 78-81 mph. 1907 rpm. Hard arm side run when on the arm side. Average of 14.5 inches of horizontal break. Good feel for the glove side. Worked up and down in the zone.
CB: 71-72 mph. 1942 rpm. Early, sweeping action. Still developing.
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Eli McCoy C / RHP / Scotland , NC / 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP.
Body: 6/2, 165 pounds. Lanky frame, room to add strength.
Defense: 2.07-2.21 pop times. Fluid feet, clean transfers across the chest.
Arm: R. C - 73 mph. Accurate, short arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: R. Slightly open base, narrow with knee bend, hands at back shoulder, flat bat. Loads to his back hip with some hip turn, average stride, some barrel waggle. Direct barrel path, stays inside the ball with a middle of the field approach, better than average barrel feel.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Made hard contact to center in game play, average to above average bat speed.
Run:7.96 runner in the 60.
Delivery: Slow to quick delivery. Uses a hand pump. Kick to the high-chest. Lands on-line and square. Solid finish. Lacks a load out of the stretch. Quick to the plate, but never sets over the backside
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing to an over-the-top slot. Loose. Average arm speed
FB: T81, 75-81 mph. 1870 rpm. Average feel with average movement metrics. Worked the down zone.
CB: 65-68 mph. 2363 rpm. Slow breaking ball with 10/4 tilt. Gradual. Around the zone with some feel.
CH: 73-74 mph. 1627 rpm.
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Positional Profile: OF.
Body: 6/2, 170 pounds. Athletic frame, projection ahead, quickness present.
Defense: Athletic through the ball, catches the ball in front of his left foot, relaxed hands, clean transitions.
Arm: R. OF - 82 mph. Accurate, some carry, long arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: R. Open base, barrel flat on back shoulder. Smooth load, short stride into the plate, barrel lifts off shoulder. Fluid swing, quick hands, barrel stays through the zone, balanced approach with above average feel for barrel.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed, has strength, barreled a ball to left center in game action.
Run:7.06 runner in the 60.
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Isaiah Hipp OF / LHP / RS Central, NC / 2023
Positional Profile: OF/LHP.
Body: 5/9, 154 pounds. Athletic frame, body has room for growth ahead.
Defense: Athletic through the ball, catches the ball off his right foot, relaxed hands, clean transfers, took a good route tracking a ball down deep in the right center gap.
Arm: L. OF - 75 mph. Accurate, long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: L. Tall, even base, barrel flat above back shoulder with some waggle. Small leg lift against back leg, short stride, hands load back. Direct barrel path, level through the zone, some quickness to his hands, line drive approach working middle to his pull side, above average feel for barrel.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Some strength off the barrel, had contact to shortstop in game play, average to above average bat speed.
Run:7.9 runner in the 60.
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Austin Renn C / 2B / Holly Springs, NC / 2023
Positional Profile: C/2B.
Body: 5/9, 154 pounds. Average build, body has room for maturation ahead.
Defense: 2.04-2.15 pop times. Quick, fluid feet, transfers across chest, higher hips.
Arm: R. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, over the to slot, accurate.
Hit: R. Slightly open base, hands below back shoulder, vertical barrel. Quick load, toe tap, average stride back to even, hands get back. Level barrel path, weight lunges forward, works middle to right center, some quickness to his hands.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Average bat speed.
Run:8.02 runner in the 60.
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Matthew Gross 3B / RHP / Marvin Ridge, NC / 2023
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP.
Body: 5/10, 180 pounds. Strong, athletic build.
Defense: Fluid feet, has hip bend, catches the ball near center, above average hands, funnels to the midsection, clean exchanges.
Arm: R. INF - 81 mph. Accurate, long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Relaxed, even base, barrel on back shoulder. Leg kick against back hip, average stride, hands load back, barrel lifts off back shoulder. Short to ball, slightly uphill barrel path, extension out front, works middle and to the opposite field in BP, some quickness to his hands with better than average barrel feel.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Lined two balls hard to his pull side in game play, above average bat speed.
Run:7.42 runner in the 60.
Delivery: Worked with pace. Attacked throughout the outing. Simple rocker and turn. Coils up to balance, closing his line with a kick to the low-chest. Early hand break and pause. From the 3B side, lands slightly across his line with a square foot-strike. Exaggerates his finish, with solid direction
Arm Action: R. Early separation to the hip, working up from that point to a high-3/4 slot that can creep higher. Average arm speed.
FB: T83, 80-83 mph. 1911 rpm. Created swing and miss in the zone. Flat arm side run, late, boring in on hitters with 11.8 inches of horizontal break.
CB: 67-68 mph. 2013 rpm. Consistent spin with action and depth. 11/5 tilt maintaining average arm speed.
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Peyton Young SS / RHP / Saint Stephens, NC / 2023
Positional Profile: SS/RHP.
Body: 5/11, 140 pounds. Thin frame, room for growth ahead.
Defense: Fluid feet, catches the ball left of center, softness to hands, funnels to midsection, clean exchanges.
Arm: R. INF - 81 mph. Accurate, some carry, short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: L. Open base, weight over back leg, hands at back shoulder. Smooth load, average stride back to even, hands work slightly back. Short to ball, barrel works uphill through the zone, middle to pull approach, some quickness to the hands, better than average barrel awareness.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Average to above average bat speed.
Run:7.5 runner in the 60.
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Blake Hollar OF / LHP / Hopewell , NC / 2022
Positional Profile: OF/LHP.
Body: 5/11, 160 pounds. Lanky frame, room to add strength.
Defense: Aggressive through the ball, catches ball off right foot, relaxed hands, clean transfers with momentum into his throws.
Arm: L. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot, some accuracy.
Hit: L. Even, wide base, sits in legs, hands above back shoulder. Loads against back leg, small barrel tip up and back. Level swing, barrel gets extension, uses the whole field, some quickness to the hands, flashes barrel awareness.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Average bat speed.
Run:7.82 runner in the 60.
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Harrison Lewis 1B / RHP / West Forsyth, NC / 2023
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP. Physical with strength and some quickness. Has intent across the board
Body: 6/4, 210 pounds. Physical presence.
Defense: Has feel around the first base bag, relaxed hands, long, clean exchanges.
Arm: R. INF - 76 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Hit: R. Wide, even base, hands start low in front of chest, vertical barrel. Weight sways back over back leg, toe tap, average stride, hands get back. Fluid swing, loose, quick hands, some lift to the swing path with extension, works middle to left center, flashes barrel feel.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed, ball comes hard off the barrel.
Run:7.96 runner in the 60.
Delivery: Stretch only. Closes the front hip, lifting toward the mid-chest. Stable head through balance that begins to have some whip action as he gets to release. Works to an on-line, square foot strike.
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing gets to a high-3/4 slot. Above average arm speed. Has arm strength.
FB: T82, 77-82 mph. 1893 rpm. Good ride with 19 inches of induced vertical break and a 12:15 spin tilt out of the hand. Elevated with misses to the arm side
CB: 62-66 mph. 1607 rpm. Slowed the arm a bit. Gradual sweeping action, working for 11/5 arc.
CH: 72-74 mph. 1800 rpm.
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Ethan Young 3B / RHP / Hickory Ridge, NC / 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP. Physical presence. Strength in the arm and bat
Body: 6/1, 195 pounds. Strong, athletic build.
Defense: Athletic, will play through the ball, catches the ball near center, average hands, clean transfers.
Arm: R. INF - 82 mph. Medium arm stroke, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Hit: R. Open, wide base, sits in legs, barrel flat above back shoulder with waggle. Loads against back hip, short stride back to even, hands cock back. Quick hands, barrel stays through the zone, above average feel for barrel working to center and left center.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Has pop, homered to left in game action, strength and bat speed present.
Run:7.67 runner in the 60.
Delivery: Small rocker and turn. Head has a slight lean back as the hands rise with rhythm to the chin level. Separates after the kick to the mid-chest. Aggressive stride. Good extension. On-line and square at foot-strike.
Arm Action: R. Long arm reaches slightly in the back. Works to a high-3/4 slot. Front side leaves slightly early, creating some run. Arm strength over arm speed.
FB: T84, 78-84 mph. 1879 rpm. Hard run out of the hand, especailly to the arm side. Flooded the zone with the fastball
CB: 63-67 mph. 1530 rpm. Early, staying to the arm side at times. 10/4 action when it has depth. Lacked arm speed at times.
CH: 73-75 mph. 1331 rpm. Good feel. Has depth. Created swing and miss with fade and arm speed.
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