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 Kier Meredith

(Kier with his Tournament of Stars manager, John Hendricks of the NY Mets organization -- Hendricks also attended Glenn HS in Kernersville)

Player:  Kier Meredith
High School:  Robert B. Glenn HS (Kernersville, NC)
Position:  OF
Summer/Fall Team:  Dirtbags
College Commitment:  Clemson
PBR Rank in 2017 Class: #86 Overall | #7 in NC 

Scouting Report: A Clemson recruit, he’s listed at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds with a wiry strong frame. His sixty times have been consistent in the low 6.60 range, or better, throughout the summer.  He posted a 6.47 at the East Coast Pro Showcase in early August.  Has flashed strong contact in BP with solid bat speed. Game at-bats have an advanced feel for utilizing his speed weapon.  Works counts, shows the ability to drag/push, and will roll the ball on the ground.  Flashes some power in advantage counts.  Average defender that will improve with reps and time.  His arm should improve with physical maturation.  High energy, high make-up, infectious attitude at the field. 

INTERVIEW WITH PBR:

PBR: Tell us a little bit about the type of player/pitcher you are?

KM:  My biggest strength is definitely my speed. It's something that you can't teach. When I get on base I add a little bit more pressure to the pitcher and defense. That's the name of my game, getting on base.

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

KM:  Tournament of stars was amazing. It was great playing against the top competition in America and doing well there just gave me that extra boost of confidence that I needed for the summer. My host family was amazing, The Chriscoe family took me, and my buddy Sam Weatherly (Clemson Commit, Howell HS, MI) in as if we were their own!

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

KM:  I have been training with my man Andy Partin who is also my coach for the Dirtbags. I have also been playing in tournaments this fall with the Dirtbag Organization. If you're a baller in NC you need to be in a Dirtbag uniform next season!

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

KM:  Since I was 14… When I was 14 years old I was named an alternate to the 15U USA baseball national team trials roster. It hurt me deep down that I didn't make the roster so from that point forward I told myself I was going to work my butt off for the next opportunity I had!

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

KM:  First and foremost always remember to respect your parents and keep your schoolwork first. Secondly never let anyone tell you what you can't be or what you can't do. You can do anything in this world if you set your mind to it. Set your goals and work hard to achieve those goals. Hard work will take you many places in life and hang around people that have similar dreams and aspirations as you! Just stay focused!