Unsigned Senior Showcase Evaluations

January 29, 2018
PBR Staff
Prep Baseball Report of NC

On Sunday January 21^st, 38 players from across North Carolina, and neighboring states, converged on The Hitting Factory in Taylorsville, NC. The day allowed for two events to run simultaneously as PBR hosted the Winter Future Game Trials and an Unsigned Senior Showcase.

The Winter Future Game Trials / Unsigned Senior Showcase workout included players going through a modified pro-style workout. Each position player ran a laser timed 20 yard dash, a 5-10-5 agility shuttle, and tested in a standing broad jump. They also went through a defensive workout that allowed PBR scouts to evaluate footwork, hands, throwing mechanics, and carry. Each positional workout recorded a radar reading on the throws. Catchers were able to throw for pop times as well. Offensively, hitters worked off a tee to get exit velocities and then took several rounds of BP in front of PBR’s staff. The pitchers threw controlled bullpens, with an understanding that we are still in January. The bullpens were filmed and the radar gun assisted in evaluating their stuff.

Today we will go through each player attending the Unsigned Senior Showcase. Eight players total, with 7 high school seniors and 1 Junior College RS Freshman worked out for PBR Scouts. The physicality of several of the players stood out when walking into the building. Each player's evaluation is below, with links to their PBR Profile and their showcase video.

Unsigned Senior Showcase – Highlights

Click Here for a complete roster from the event where 8 uncommitted seniors worked out
Click Here to see the complete statistical breakdown from the day
2 players ran a sub 3.00 twenty
Physical left-handed hitter / pitcher tested at 3.01 in the 20, 9-foot in the broad jump, while touching 78 off the bump and 82 off the barrel
Both catchers worked at 76 or better to 2B, from their crouch.

Unsigned Senior Evaluations

Andrew Davis 2B / OF / Jack Britt, NC / 2018

Has a simple setup at the plate with a build of 5-foot-9, 168 pounds. Showed a short swing and bat path that produced line drives when staying through the ball. Balanced setup with a vertical bat, uses a slight tap to load his weight. Average bat speed with looseness and rhythm. Swing peaked at 77 and should improve as he adds length to the front of his swing. Showed solid hands on defense with a clean exchange. Arm topped at 71mph and could improve as he gets more fluid. Ran a 3.12 twenty yard dash and a 5.5 in the 5-10-5 agility shuttle. 7’1” standing broad jump.

Abana Kafai 1B / LHP / Mount Tabor, NC / 2018

Impressive stature at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds with broad shoulders and a defined lower half. Instant projection in the athletic frame. Flashes potential throughout the workout, still raw in some aspects of the game. Left handed hitter works from a tall base with his hands set just above his shoulder. Loads with a slight shift to the back leg. The hands remain stationary and fire from his setup position. Short path showed some feel for the barrel, creating line drives gap-to-gap. Quickness and strength exists, even with the hands firing from his set. Exit velocity of 82 off the barrel could improve quickly as he settles into his lower half and loads the hands more. Defensively, flashed soft hands at 1B, working with some rhythm and clean transitions. Long arm arc gets to an over-the-top slot, working 81 on positional throws. Quickness and power showed in a 3.01 twenty yard dash time and a 9’0” standing broad jump.
On the mound, there is effort as he works to an over-the-top slot, that can float down pending his timing. Rolls through balance as he works to stay tall. Fastball ranged 74-77 both running and cutting out of the hand. Seems to play heavy, while erratic early in the bullpen. Control improved in the back half of the pen. Slows the arm on the change-up, working 68-69. Breaking ball lacks shape from a slow hand, sitting 57-59.

Logan Person C / OF / South View, NC / 2018

6-foot, 170 pounder with some length in the frame. The catcher/outfielder has room to add strength. Showed well offensively with good bat speed posting an exit velocity of 85mph off the barrel. Works from a slightly open stance. Loose with rhythm in his setup, utilizes a leg kick while loading the bat head to a lagged position. Short path has looseness producing better than average bat speed. Lacked some barrel consistency but will get more consistent has learns to control his body and stride more. Loose athletic stance behind the plate, presenting an aggressive target. Slightly side saddled to receive at times. On throws through to 2B, very aggressive through the ball, gaining ground with clean transitions. Easy transitions across the chest and a short arm action produced pop times of 2.18 – 2.48 with a positional velocity of 76 out of the crouch. 3.14 twenty yard dash and a 5.19 5-10-5 shuttle. Some explosiveness in the standing broad jump at 8’4”.

Jaydin Poteat OF / Orange, NC / 2018

Good quick twitch athlete standing at 5-foot-9, 145 pounds. Ran a 2.89 twenty yard dash with an impressive 9-3 in the broad jump. Offensively has an athletic setup with good balance and bat speed producing an exit velocity 0f 83. Showed fast hands driving the ball back through the cage. Still has room to add strength which will only help him as a hitter. Athletic on defense playing through the ball with quick fluid footwork and a long loose arm peaking at 74mph from the OF.

Nicholas Sciubba SS / OF / Cardinal Spellman, NC / 2016

Physical 2016 graduate stands 5-foot-10, 180 pounds. Mature, there is strength present. Attended Cardinal Spellman (NY) in HS but is currently at Guilford Tech CC where he is a rFR. Ran a quick 20 yard dash at 2.82 and also ran a 4.66 5-10-5 shuttle. Standing broad jump of 8’2”. Performed well offensively consistently driving the ball. Balanced, athletic setup. Rhythmic load allows the bat to lag slightly. Short stride and consistently on the barrel. Better than average bat speed with an exit velocity peaking at 87 off the barrel. Swing is short with good hands. Fluid with rhythm in the hands and feet on the infield. Plays through the ball well with good actions, working to funnel to the mid-section. Occasionally transitions from the right hip. Athletic exchanges with multiple arm angles based on the play. Arm peaked at 82 across the diamond.

Cody Strain RHP / 1B / Franklin, NC / 2018

Strong, athletic frame with length in the limbs. Stands 6-foot-3, 187 pounds. Plenty of projection left in the body for the coming years. Works out of the stretch with a simple delivery, staying tall over balance and then level and on-line through his landing. Slightly rushed, landing heavy at times. The fastball comes out of an over-the-top slot with better than average quickness in the hand. Ranging 81-82, maintaining is velocity throughout the early season bullpen. Change-up is a potential out pitch at 73-74 with impressive hand speed and feel. Pitch faded and ran to the arm side consistently. Breaking ball shows the makings of an average pitch, especially as the season lengthens. Sitting 66-67 with 11/5 tilt and some feel for the strike zone. Late at times, it also rolled out of the hand at times, almost expectedly this early in the year.

Joshua Topper C / OF / Hickory Ridge, NC / 2018

Strength present at 6-foot, 170 pounds. Right handed hitter works from a balanced setup with a smooth load getting his bat and legs through the ball. Slightly open, triggers with a leg kick, shifting the weight back and then attacking the baseball, working for extension. Showed good hands that produced an exit velocity of 86 off the barrel. Had good rounds of BP driving the ball through the cage. Loose hips and an average target behind the plate. Left foot is slightly ahead of left foot. Quick transition and a short arm swing still produce extension and carry on throws measuring 77 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.11-2.33, occasionally recoiling out of the throw. 3. 11 in the twenty yard dash and a 5.28 in the 5-10-5 agility shuttle. Standing broad jump of 6’4”.

Brady Tucker RHP / C / Pine Lake Preperatory, NC / 2018

Lanky 6-foot-3, 175 pounder with long limbs. Thin frame suggests more strength can be added. Works level and on-line, fighting for his rhythm at times, as he works to an over-the-top slot. Long arm swing has some stiffness while he stays tall on the backside through balance. Fastball only in the early season bullpen, ranging 69-72, and touching 73. Showed feel for the strike zone. Timed at 4.87 in the 5-10-5 agility shuttle. Standing broad jump of 7’11”.