Quick Hitters - NC/SC Border Battle: '24 NC Pitchers
July 7, 2023
Over 115 of the top players from North Carolina and South Carolina converged on UNC Charlotte’s Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium on June 28, 2023 for the PBR NC/SC Border Battle. In front of over 30 college and professional coaches and scouts, players from each state went through a pre-game workout and then played 9+ innings in a controlled scrimmage.
Position players opened the day with an offensive workout, taking live BP on the field. TrackMan and Blast were used to track pre-swing and ball-flight analytics. Players then went through a defensive workout at their position, allowing coaches and scouts to get a feel for their athleticism, movement, and arm strength.
After the workout, North Carolina took on South Carolina in game play. Pitchers threw to live hitters in a controlled environment, allowing PBR Scouts to control pitch count and stress of each inning. Hitters got live looks at pitchers, allowing the coaches and scouts in attendance to further their evaluations after BP, in the live setting.
One of the marquee events of the summer, the 2023 NC/SC Border Battle did not disappoint. Several players boosted their profiles, while others solidified their spot as one of the top prospects in the Carolinas.
Below we break down some of the numbers from the event. To see a player’s full profile, simply click on his name. To see the NC/SC Border Battle roster, full stat page, plus analytics from the event, CLICK HERE.
Quick Hitters - NC Pitchers
Shane Bernhardt, LHP, Holly Springs HS, 2024
Athletic presence at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds. Erratic at times, but effective as he kept hitters off balance. Fastball at 82-85, 2098rpm. Attacked with fastball throughout. Flashed breaking ball with some depth at 75-77, 1961rpm.
Christopher Donaldson, RHP, Pro5 Academy, 2024
Broad shoulders and thick lower half at 6-foot, 210 pounds. Big winner on the day, attacking hitters with power stuff. Fastball at 87-91, 2127rpm. 1:30 spin tilt out of the hand. Some run with sink metrics. Breaking ball up to 76, 2856rpm. Occasional hard, late bite with short 10/4 tilt. Breaking ball has out-pitch potential.
Trey Roberts, RHP, Pro5 Academy, 2024
Long, lean, athletic and projectable frame. Stands 6-foot-6, 205 pounds. Still working to find consistent timing and direction. Long, loose, over-the-top slot. Fastball peaked at 88, 2465rpm. Average ride with run out of the hand, heavy at times, with 1:30 spin tilt at release. Good feel for the change-up at 79, 1910rpm.
Dalen Boykin, RHP, Rolesville HS, 2024
Physical presence. Strong build. 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. Advanced slider created swing and miss at 74-76, 2300rpm. Sharp, late side to side action that out ran the barrel. Fastball up to 88, 2000rpm. Average ride with some arm side run action. Showed feel for both sides of the plate and an ability to elevate to setup a more top to bottom breaking ball.
Thomas Conrad, RHP, Forbush HS, 2024
Athletic on the bump. Stands 6-foot, 170 pounds. Long and loose arm action through a high-¾ slot. Fastball up to 89.3, 2203rpm. Average ride with 1:00 spin tilt at release. Breaking ball is tight at 72-76, 2343rpm. Solid feel for glove side. Flashed ability to land change-up.
Tate Jones, RHP, Williams HS, 2024
Lean 5-foot-11, 165 pounds. Good mover down the mound. Works with pace and presence. Flooded the zone with multiple pitches, rarely giving the hitter two looks at a pitch in the same slot. Fastball peaked at 86, 2278 and paired it with a cutter from the same window at 80-81. Short, late darting action to the glove side kept balls off the barrel. Advanced feel for change-up 77-80, 1742 with heavy late fade working under barrels.
Carson Dahle, RHP, East Lincoln HS, 2024
Athletic presence at 6-foot, 170 pounds. Fastball peaked at 87.6, 2372rpm. Ability to move the ball in and out and showed feel for elevation, setting up th breaking ball with 11/5 tilt. Curveball at 72-76, 2162rpm. Late depth created issues for hitters.
Cole Kuklick, RHP, Heritage HS, 2024
6-foot, 165 pounds. Over-the-top slot with solid arm speed. Fastball at 82-86, 2130rpm. Solid ride with a 12:45 spin tilt at release. Showed feel for pitching elevated in the zone at times. Slider has late 10/4 tilt at 75-77, 2377rpm. Length over depth.
Seth Sharpe, RHP, Morehead HS, 2024
Average build. 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. Medium arm swing to an over-the-top slot. Fastball at 82-84, 2270rpm. Sink metrics, playing true with 12:00 spin tilt at release. Solid feel for arm side. Slider has length at times, sweeping across the plate at 73-76, 2245rpm.
Landon Johnson, RHP, Forsyth Country Day, 2024
Intriguing build and arm swing. Stands 6-foot-8, 220 pounds. Athletic mover down the hill. Long arm swing to an over-the-top slot. Some uphill leverage in the front side. Fastball peaked at 86.6, 2106rpm. Sink metrics, working true through the zone with a 12:45 spin tilt at release. Room to his ceiling.
Ethan Plesser, LHP, Cape Fear HS, 2024
Physical presence at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds. Defined strength in the lower half. Build rhythm through the delivery. Long arm swing, plunging out of the glove, working back to a high-3/4 slot. Closed through balance, works back to an on-line foot-strike. Average to above arm speed. Fastball up to 82.5, 2108rpm. Sink metrics with heavy run, over 15in, with a 9:45 spin tilt out of the hand. Could be setup to create a ton of ground balls. Breaking ball has some length with 10/4 shape, working out of the hand, sitting 73-74, 2810rpm. Late tilt at times. With longer action, the window could create a sink / slider type effectiveness.