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Sr Future Games: NC Hitters in Game

August 12, 2024
Brandon Hall
NC / Mid-ATL Director of Scouting

From Wednesday, July 24, through Sunday, July 28, Prep Baseball is hosting the next edition of its prestigious Future Games at LakePoint Sports Complex in Emerson, Ga., featuring the country's best uncommitted talent. And, for the first time ever, the Future Games is hosting not just its typical set of incoming juniors and freshmen, but also a 17U division of uncommitted Class of 2025 players who will participate in the inaugural Senior Future Games.

On the first day of the 2024 Future Games, all players representing grad classes 2025, 2026, and 2028 will be participating in a pro-style workout in front of a fleet of Division I coaches alongside fellow prospects representing nearly every state in the nation.

Today we take a look at some of the top performances from workout day with Team Mid-Atlantic's North Carolina players. These players took part in the Sr. Future Games and several players put up eye popping numbers.  North Carolina was well represented by this group of players.

+ Click here to view all captured statistics from the 17U Workout Day.

TEAM MID-ATLANTIC - NORTH CAROLINA HITTERS IN GAME SETTINGS

Reed Benamati OF / RHP / Northwest Guilford High, NC / 2025

A dynamic mover, Benamati showed an ability to stay flat through the ball and use the big tool he has. Swing was flatter in game action, showing strength to the pull side. Really good at-bats with runners on -base produced several RBIs in 2 out situations.  Defensively the speed is still working to add to his high end defenive potential. Flashed an ability to track the ball to his glove side gap and when he trusts his first step and line, he can open it up and go get the baseball.

Amare Burrus OF / SS / Durham Academy, NC / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 32 / POS: 7

Burrus checks a ton of boxes throughout the workout and looks the part walking around the park.  His game action showed that he is more than a "workout guy", swinging the bat and making hard contact in all three games.  Facing the top uncommitted arms from the country, getting 1 shot at each arm, can be tough, but Burrus was on barrel early and often. Very competitive in the box, each at-bat had "quality" written all over it.  Once on the bases, there is a solid instinct for the game, taking an extra base and reading pitchers.  Run tool plays up on the bases.

Ryker Butcher C / OF / DH Conley, NC / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 35 / POS: 2

The arm that stands out and catches eyes in the workout plays in game.  Butcher had the chance to show off the "stolen base eliminator" several times on the week with excellent carry and accuracy.  Athletic setup and a solid exchange works to a release that stays on the line through the MIF reception. 

Offensively Butcher showed power against some of the top uncommitted arms in the country with a triple and home run in the game settings. The approach will continue to develop, but one thing to remember is how much he was handling in games with new pitchers, pitch calling, and the idea of playing in front of a throng of potential future coaches with each outing.

Tanner Ferguson SS / 3B / Pro5 Baseball Academy, NC / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 58 / POS: 8

Ferguson does a lot well in a frame that has plenty left to develop.  For a longer body, he has good bend in the hips and flashed plenty of athleticism moving to his left to make plays off platform with arm strength and accuracy.  Offensively Feguson produced quality at-bat after quality at-bat. There is some natural loft to the swing that could turn in to real power as he continues to add strength.

 

Vincent Lee 2B / SS / Pro5 Baseball Academy , NC / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 92 / POS: 1

Lee caught some immediate eyes with his energy and style of play.  An advanced defender in the middle of the field, he was asked to play 3B early and quickly adapted to several tough plays thrown at him.  Some excitement early, Lee settled into showing excellent rhythm and feel for the speed of the game over his 3 days of work.

Offensively, the hands are extemely quick. There is some natural loft to the swing which can allow him to drive balls into either gap, but it the hand speed and bat speed that should excite evaluators for his future.

 

Bennett Baldassarre 1B / C / Providence, NC / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 129 / POS: 5

It was a loud couple of days for the power hitting righty.  Baldassarre produced good numbers in his workout, but his in-game at-bats may have been some of the best in the 2024 Sr. Future Games.  Two doubles and a home run highlighted the 3 game performance against some of the top uncommitted arms in the country.

On top of the offensive explosion, Baldassarre flashed solid athleticism on defense.  He is an advanced defender around the bag at 1B.  When he moved to the OF, he moved laterally with some ease and caught the ball naturally on the run and while stationary.  The physical Providence HS product has also caught some in the past year, giving coaches a lot of different ways to use his bat.