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).  Today we will learn a little bit more about Sam Hall.

Player:  Sam Hall
High School:  Topsail High School
Position:  IF / OF
Summer/Fall Team:  Team Elite
College Commitment:  Clemson
PBR Rank in 2017 Class: #63 Overall | #4 in NC

 

Scouting Report:  A Clemson recruit, looks the part with his projectable 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. A diverse athlete with the ability to play all over the field.  Defensively catches the ball with ease, an easy funnel, and transfer into a strong arm that shows carry and accuracy.  The right handed hitter has a simple setup and approach that leads to consistent barrel contact.  Hall shows the ability to drive balls into both gaps.  A slightly above average runner, he is advanced in his feel on the bases and is able to create offense.

PBR:  Tell us a little bit about the type of player you are -- What are your strengths as a player?

SH:  I am a very versatile player, I have been given the opportunity to play all positions minus pitcher/catcher this summer. My strengths as a player are my speed, versatility, arm strength, and ability to put the ball in play.

PBR:  USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars was a successful step for you. Can you talk a little about your experience in Cary?

SH:  The TOS was a once in a lifetime experience. I got an opportunity to play with some of my future Clemson teammates, which was really awesome. I also had friends on my team that I had previously played with in past events and it just made the experience even more enjoyable. Playing against the best players in the country is always a privilege because baseball really can't get any better than that. Staying with a host family was great. My host family, Joy and Dan Pike, really made my stay as homelike as possible and were huge fans of not only me as a baseball player, but me as a person as well. We still keep in touch because they were just that awesome.

PBR:  What have you been doing to prepare for the Team USA Trials in Houston?

SH:  To prepare for the Trials, I have been working out not only in the weight room, but on the field as well. I've also been focusing on the mental side of the game because that is just as important as the physical side if not more.

PBR:  When did the possibility of wearing "USA" across your chest become a legitimate goal -- something you strived for?

SH:  I set a goal for myself when I was 13 years old that I would one day play for the 18U National Team.

PBR:  For younger players reading this, any advice that could help them reach their goals?

SH:  My one piece of advice would be to understand the grind and to not just take part in it. Understanding how the grind works is key because there is a process involved. Ups and downs happen and that is a part of baseball. With the ups and downs, never get too high or too low because you have to be able to control your emotions or they will control you.