BY:  Brandon Hall
Director of Scouting, PBR NC 

Follow us on Twitter: @PrepBaseballNC 

In late June, at the National Team Training Complex in Cary, NC, 108 of the best high school players from across the country were invited to attend the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars.  Heavily populated with players from California, Texas, and Florida, North Carolina was well represented.  The purpose of the Tournament of Stars is to allow the 18U Team USA Staff a week to interact and evaluate the best talent as a 40-man roster is built. 

Four players from North Carolina made it to the 40-man Trials Roster.  That roster is in Houston, TX and beginning on September 17^th, Team USA will begin to build their final 20-man roster for the COPABE18U Pan American Games in Monterrey, Mexico, Sept. 23-Oct. 2. 

The four players competing in Houston this week are Patrick Bailey (2017 Catcher, Wesleyan Christian Academy), Kyle Blendinger (2017 RHP, Southwest Guilford HS), Sam Hall (2017 IF/OF, Topsail HS), and Kier Meredith (2017 OF, Glenn HS).  Below you can link back to the player profiles from earlier in the week and see more about today’s profile, catcher, Patrick Bailey. 

Player:  Patrick Bailey
High School:  Wesleyan Christian Academy
Position:  C
Summer/Fall Team:  NCBA Golden Spikes
College Commitment:  North Carolina State
PBR Rank in 2017 Class: #152 Overall | #14 in NC 

Scouting Report:  Athletic catcher that has advanced catch and throw skills.  Accuracy stands out above arm strength, although there is carry on the throw.  Quick hands, consistent exchange, and good feet.  Easy transition and short arm action.  Game pop times have ranged 1.95 - 2.11.  Offensively, a switch hitter that flashes power but lacks some barrel awareness at times.  Whippy bat, with strength through his hands.  Can get a little pull happy at times with an aggressive approach. 

18U USA Baseball Team Trials:

>> Kyle Blendinger

>> Kier Meredith

>> Sam Hall

>> Schedule for the week in Houston, TX