Prep Baseball Report

Summer Preview Prospect ID - Pitcher & Catcher Analysis


Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
North Carolina Director of Scouting & PBR Assoc Scout

On Tuesday June 12th, PBR hosted the Summer Preview Prospect ID at Craven Stadium.  The event was designed to allow players the opportunity to update their profiles and video, while connecting with over 900 college coaches and programs.  The event featured a pro-style workout with players running a sixty, taking reps at their defensive position, and hitting multiple rounds of live BP. Pitchers were able to throw bullpens in a controlled environment.


An athletic group took part in the workout with five players running under a 7.10 sixty.  Ten players flashed an exit velocity of 80 mph or better off the barrel. Today we dive into the pitchers and catchers with complete evaluations on each player and a link to their profile where video from the day is housed.


CLICK HERE for the complete roster from the Summer Preview Prospect ID


CLICK HERE for the complete statistics from the day


Quick Hitters
+ 12 players took part in the workout
+ 3 players recorded sub-7.0 sixties
+ 4 players recorded exit velocities of 86 mph or better, with the top being 91 mph
+ 2020 LHP up to 85 mph

 

Pitcher and Catcher Analysis

 

Dustin Mercer LHP / OF / Weddington, NC / 2020


6 feet 1, 195-pound strong build. Good athlete with quickness and physicality.  Recorded a 6.96 in the 60-yard dash. On the bump, the left hander uses a simple delivery working in line to the plate with a long arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot and athletic finish. Works in the zone with his fastball sitting at 81-83 and topping at 85 mph. Good angle out of the hand, going to his glove side. Curveball has 1/7 tilt with gradual break at 65-67 mph. Change-up has fade at 67 mph. Overall a strike thrower with good feel for both off speed pitches. Potential dual prospect.  Hits from the left side with a slightly open, balanced setup. Goes back in load and uses a short stride getting his strong lower half through the ball at times. Quick hands with his swing path getting long at times. Line drive approach working gap to gap with ball off the bat topping at 91 mph. Plays through balls in the outfield with soft hands, fluid feet, and clean exchanges. Long arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot with carry to his throws. Accurate arm that peaked at 83 mph.

 

Josh Stephens LHP / OF / East Lincoln, NC / 2021

 

Average 6 feet, 185-pound frame.  Still maturing with a chance to add continued strength.  On the mound he uses a simple delivery, with a slower tempo, throwing across his body creating some deception with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Works in the zone with his fastball sitting at 73-77 mph. Shows a straight change-up at 69 mph. Slows arm on curveball with 1/7 tilt and gradual break at 61-62 mph. Stays around the zone with all 3 pitches.  Hits from the left side using a tall, slightly open setup. Uses a small leg kick in his load getting his lower half through the ball. Barrel works level through the zone, getting extension out front. Works mostly middle to his pull side with his exit velocity recorded at 81 mph and should improve with added looseness to his swing. On the infield he shows average hands with fluid feet and clean exchanges. Short arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot, with some accuracy to his throws and positional velocity recorded at 65 mph. Also, recorded a 7.48 in the 60-yard dash.

 

Carson Swaim RHP / 1B / Oak Grove, NC / 2020


5 feet 10, 175-pound strong build. The right hander uses a simple delivery with smooth tempo working in line to the plate with a long arm swing, throwing from a high ¾ slot and athletic finish.  Average leg kick from the 1st base side. Good extension with some quickness in the hand. Works in the zone with his fastball sitting at 73-77 mph. Fastball works with angle to the down zone. Curveball has 11/5 break at 60-63 mph. Feel for the zone on the breaking ball increased throughout the bullpen.  Maintains arm speed on the change-up with fade at 69 mph. Attacks the zone with the change and can see where it can be a weapon. Overall a strike thrower with good feel for his CH.

 

Connor Swain RHP / OF / East Lincoln, NC / 2021

 

5 feet 10, 140-pound lanky build.  Should be able to add strength to the frame as he continues to mature.  Some quickness exists as he ran a 7.28 sixty. On the mound he uses a simple delivery, staying in line to the plate with an athletic finish. Long arm swing getting the ball high behind his head before going to the plate with an over the top slot. Works in the zone with his fastball at 71-73 mph. Shows good feel for his change-up with sink and fade at 66-67 mph. CB has 12/6 break at 60-62 mph.  Strike thrower with feel for both his curveball and change-up. Hits from the right side using an athletic, balanced setup. Uses a small leg kick in his load and looks to get his lower half through the ball. Ok hands that show barrel awareness at times. Barrel works level through the zone and looks to get extension out front but can get long at times. Exit velocity recorded at 69 mph and should improve with added strength. Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands and clean exchanges. Long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Accurate arm that peaked at 68 mph.

 

Dylan Dodson C / 1B / Lincoln Charter, NC / 2019

 

6 feet 1, 170-pound build. Behind the plate he shows average hands, with fluid feet and clean exchanges. Short arm action throwing from an over the top slot with some accuracy to his throws.  Pop times at 2.10-2.13 and positional velocity recorded at 73 mph. Works from the right side offensively with an open, balanced setup, sitting in his legs. Uses a toe tap for his load with a short stride. Line drive approach working mostly to the pulls side with his barrel mostly working level through the zone. Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph and should improve with added looseness to his swing and using his lower half more. On the infield he shows average hands with clean exchanges and accurate arm peaking at 67 mph. Also, recorded a 7.32 in the 60-yard dash.