By Brandon Hall
Director of Scouting, PBR NC

Follow us on Twitter: @PrepBaseballNC

 

The premier winter showcase event for baseball players in North Carolina took place at On Deck Baseball Academy in Pineville, NC on Saturday January 28th.  The invite only event featured 76 of the top players in North Carolina.  Running through an extended pro-style workout, position players were able to show off their talents on defense, in the cages, and with a series of speed and agility tests.  The pitchers threw controlled bullpens, keeping in mind it is still January, showcasing their delivery, arm slot and arm action.  

Below is a look at the infielders from the 2017 & 2018 classes.  Each player was able to showcase his ability on defense and in the box. 

CLICK HERE to view all of the statistical results.

CLICK HERE to see the complete roster of the Preseason All-State Event.

INFIELDERS

 
2017

 

Clinton English, 2B, Marlboro County HS, SC

Showed athleticism in a 5-foot-7, 150 pound frame, running a 4.00 thirty and recording a 8-foot standing broad jump.  Hands work with softness, funneling to the mid-section on the infield.  Plays through balls leveraging a long, loose arm swing to a high-3/4 slot.  Above average accuracy and some carry.  Arm strength tested at 76 across the diamond.  In the box, tends to coil, and uncoil, working to create better bat speed.  Waggle with the barrel as the load goes back.  Dives toward the plate with a short stride from an athletic setup.  Tends to work uphill with pull tendency.  Average barrel awareness.  Exit velo tested at 79.

 

Zach Bagley, 2B, Gray’s Creek HS, NC

Average build at 6-foot, 160 pounds.  Works from an athletic base, smooth load back and short stride that is early creating a choppy rhythm.  Average bat speed works to a get extension showing some barrel awareness.  Exit velocity peaked at 81.  Ran a 4.10 thirty and recorded a 7-foot-5 standing broad jump.  On the infield, the feet are ahead of the hands.  Tends to be a little stiff with the ball and through the exchange, with average feet.  Long arm action has some effort working to a high-3/4 slot, registering an arm speed of 77 from short. 

 

Eric Robinson, SS, Asheville HS, NC

Highly intriguing athlete that entered the event uncommitted.  Athletic, running a 4.10 thirty and testing in the standing broad jump at 9-foot-8.  Arm worked 83mph across the infield and the ball came off the bat at 85mph.  Well above average actions at short, working with ease and soft hands to funnel balls to the mid-section.  Quick, fluid feet prepared for clean exchanges.  Strong, short arm action worked to a high-3/4 slot.  Average accuracy with carry.  Actions suggest the ability to stay at short moving to the next level.  In the box, slightly rushed as the load works back and up.  Athletic base with a flat barrel position work to better than average bat speed.  Pull heavy with an active back side.  Listed at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, well put together, with room to add strength.

 

2018

Spencer Treadaway, 3B, Reagan HS, NC

5-foot-9, 160 pounder.  Works from a balanced, athletic stance in the box.  Load back, raising the barrel to a vertical position, using a short stride to create better than average bat speed.  Very aggressive demeanor.  Average barrel awareness with exit velocity topping at 78.  Worked to stay level, creating extension, with a pull side tendency.  On the infield works to funnel balls to the mid-section while the feet and hands can fight the rhythm at times.  Long arm action, has some effort, getting to a high-3/4 slot, flashing average accuracy and carry.  Arm strength measured at 78 across the diamond.  Ran a 4.38 thirty and tested with a 8-foot-3 standing broad jump.

 

Davie Morgan, 2B/C, Bunn HS, NC

A good athlete with strength in a small frame.  Listed at 5-foot-8, ran the thirty in 4.07 and recorded a standing broad jump of 8-foot-2.  Aggressive with bat speed in the box.  Never cheated.  Crouched with an open stance to start, uses a leg kick to create a long, aggressive stride.  Some waggle with the bat head as the hands load in a ‘C’ fashion.  Maintains good balance with an explosive back side to create strength and quickness with the bat through the zone.  Good barrel awareness as it works to get extension, staying level with a gap-to-gap approach.  Exit velocity topped at 86.  On the infield, hands work with soft actions, fluid, funneling to the mid-section.  Clean exchanges work to a short arm action and high-3/4 slot.  Plus accuracy outweighs carry.  Arm strength topped at 75.  Also catches, using quick twitch over arm strength to produce pop times of 1.99-2.21.  Sits side-saddled, creating some receiving issues that can be cleaned, but allows for better pop times on balls to  the glove side.  Will recoil out of throws.  Showed average accuracy working through to 2B. 

 

Brett Kerry, 3B, Wesleyan Christian Academy, NC

Athletic and strong at 6-foot, 185 pounds.  Committed to South Carolina.  Right handed hitter works with a vertical bat and tall stance.  Short stride leads to a slightly uphill path with a tendency to stay pull side.  Strength over quickness in the swing.  Registered an exit velocity of 90mph.  Easy actions on the infield, limiting unwanted movement.  Tends to catch balls on the right side of the body, working to funnel to the right hip.  Arm works with ease and carry, showing well above average accuracy.  Measured at 84 across the infield, there is more if needed. 

 

Brendan Wright, 3B, Holly Springs HS, NC

Powerfully built at 6-foot, 185 pounds.  Ran a 4.15 thirty and recorded a 8-foot-5 standing broad jump.  In the box, recorded an exit velocity of 85, working from an athletic base with a vertical bat.  Leg kick works to a long stride, creating whip with better than average bat speed.  Wants extension.  Good demeanor.  On the infield.  The arm works with a long arm swing to an over-the-top slot, 81mph across the diamond.  Flashed some accuracy and good carry on the baseball.  Feet work with quickness and fluidity.  Hands are behind the feet but showed an ability to catch the ball.  Exchanges can be quickened.

 

Jackson Prillaman, 3B, Wesleyan Christian Academy, NC

Intriguing offensive player with an exit velocity of 92.  Strength in the 5-foot-11, 195 pound frame. Works from an athletic crouch with a short stride.  Better than average bat speed gets through the zone level, wanting extension, staying gap-to-gap.  Fluid rhythm.  Ball jumped.  Works easy to create the whip, showing good barrel awareness.  Ran a 4.04 thirty and recorded a standing broad jump of 7-foot-8.  On the infield, works with some effort, playing through balls.  Arm works to a high-3/4 slot showing accuracy.  Stiffness leads to a lack of carry.  Arm strength measured at 77 across the diamond.

 

Nicholas Caldwell, 3B, Wesleyan Christian Academy, NC

Lanky and projectable, with strength already showing, listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds.  Aggressive in the box, the righty attacks the baseball.  Works from an athletic position, using a leg kick to leverage a long stride.  Quick bat is slightly uphill working for constant extension, staying gap-to-gap.  Exit velocity topped at 87 with more to come.  Good hands on the infield, working soft and catching the ball.  Feet are out of position at times, but recovers with clean exchanges to an over-the-top slot.  Some effort in the arm, registering 77 across the infield with carry.  Accuracy can improve as feet and arms work with the hands.  Ran a 4.25 thirty.  Standing broad jump recorded at 7-foot-10.

 

Garrett McKinstry, 3B, Charlotte Catholic, NC

Lanky and athletic at 6-foot, 150 pounds with room to continue to add strength.  Showed some quickness and explosion with a 4.09 thirty and 8-foot-9 standing broad jump .  Left handed hitter has a feel for the barrel, using a sweepy swing that stays level, working gap-to-gap.  Flat barrel and balanced to begin, a short stride keeps the head consistent allowing the swing to repeat.  On the infield, flashes athleticism and quickness. Arm shows ability to work from multiples slots and arm actions with accuracy.  Arm strength measured at 73.  Feet show rhythm, fighting the hands through the catch at times.

 

Tylan Reece, SS, South View HS, NC

Quick and athletic.  Listed at 5-foot-7, 152 pounds, strength is beginning to be added to the frame.  Ran a 4.13 thirty and recorded a 9-foot-2 standing broad jump.  In the box, works from a tall stance.  Short stride and smooth load begin with low hands.  Very aggressive with good head posture.  Barrel awareness is good when the timing is set.  84mph exit velocity.  Soft hands with quick, fluid feet allowed for clean exchanges and an easy process to catch the ball.  Athleticism shows on the infield.  Arm works to load at times, registering 80 across the infield with average carry and some accuracy. 

 

Johnny Guarantano, 2B, RJ Reynolds, NC

Listed at 5-foot-9, 150 pounds and ran a 4.13 thirty.  In the box, works from a balanced position with a short stride and flat barrel, creating average bat speed. No load in the hands but uses a weight shift back to begin the timing process.  Works level, staying gap-to-gap.  Decent barrel awareness and repeats the swing consistently.  Exit velocity hit 80 off the barrel.  On the infield, arm strength topped at 70, with a long arm arc to a high-3/4 slot.  Hands work through some stiffness to provide decent feet, showcasing some quickness, getting to clean exchanges and creating some accuracy on throws.  Tested in the standing broad jump at 7-foot-9.

 

Darien Farley, 2B, Southlake Christian Academy, NC

Swings it from the right side with well above average barrel awareness.  Powerfully built in the 5-foot-10, 160 pound frame.  Works from a balanced, athletic stance, loading back with a short stride.  Backside is very aggressive creating a fast bat through the zone and finishing with balance.  Wants extension, while staying level and working the gaps.  Some effort in the arm from the field.  Hands work to catch the ball with decent rhythm in the feet that can be methodical at times.  Arm works long, with some stiffness to a high-3/4 slot topping at 75 across the diamond.  Ran a 4.32 thirty and recorded a 7-foot-11 broad jump.

 

Stephen Ridge, SS, Marvin Ridge HS, NC

Lanky, athletic build at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds with quick twitch and strength in the lower half.  Turned in a thirty time of 3.94 and a standing broad jump of 8-foot-7.  From short, features soft hands with fluid feet and clean, quick exchanges.  Athleticism shows.  Hands can work to funnel to right hip at times creating an extra step with the feet.  Arm showed 76 across the field.  Left handed hitter uses his quickness to create an efficient swing that emphasizes barrel awareness.  Works from an athletic stance with a short stride.  Better than average bat speed.  Short path that can get inside-out at times, will show flashes of being slightly uphill.  Early strider.  Stable head.  Lots of barrel.  Exit velocity topped at 78.

 

Jason White, SS, Jay M Robinson HS, NC

Fundamentally sound across the board.  From short the 5-foot-11, 155 pounder works efficiently to catch the ball consistently.  Clean exchanges work to a long arm arc, turning the ball over early at a high-3/4 slot.  Accurate with average carry, topping at 80 across the field.  Offensively, works from a tall stance with a vertical bat.  Short stride leads to an exit velocity of 81 with a pull tendency.  Posture tends to lean toward the plate, creating some hook in the swing.  Some barrel awareness.  Recorded a broad jump of 7-foot-7. 

 

Josh Haney, SS, Southlake Christian Academy, NC

Charlotte commit that showed above average tools in several phases.  Ran a 4.15 thirty while recording a 8-foot-8 broad jump.  Arm measured 78 across the infield.  Exit velocity off the bat registered 87.  Average build at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, has strength and quickness.  Left handed hitter works from an open stance and with an aggressive stride is still slightly open at the launch point.  Still has plate coverage.  Hands begin at should height using a big load up and back to get to a more neutral position.  Timing continued to improve throughout the BP rounds.  Good approach with a level swing, working gap-to-gap.  Exit velocity topped at 87, showing an ability to drive baseballs.  Loose and athletic on the infield.  Active feet and a loose arm.  Good body balance with the ability to create throwing lanes with his arm.  Arm action worked with different path and different angles depending on the ball and his body alignment.  Soft hands, quick fluid feet and clean, quick exchanges.  Showed 78 across the infield with the arm.

 

Jake Christman, SS, Western Alamance HS, NC

Athletic, powerful, and at times raw in a 5-foot-11, 180 pound frame.  Turned in a good thirty at 3.93 and an explosive broad jump at 9-foot-5.  Arm strength worked up to 78 across the infield.  Exit velocity topped at 86 off the barrel.  Balanced setup uses a vertical bat in the box with a short stride.  Wants extension.  Linear and aggressive through the ball, at times jumpy and sacrificing some barrel awareness.  Defensively shows flashes of soft hands and fluid footwork.  Effort in the arm as the front side opens early.  Long arm action to a high-3/4 slot with erratic accuracy.  Wants to play fast and can work to too fast at times.

 

Chris Gill, SS, Porter Ridge HS, NC

Fluid and easy in many phases.  Athletic and lanky at 6-foot, 180 pounds with long limbs.  Ran a 4.25 thirty.  Tall stance from the right handed hitter, with a smooth load and short stride.  Good head posture throughout.  Loose and easy as the bat works with better than average quickness.  Fluid, works gap-to-gap.  Some bat waggle through the setup and load effects some barrel awareness at times.  Exit velocity topped at 85 off the barrel.  At short, works with soft hands and fluid feet, showing above average consistency in catching the ball.  Quick, clean exchanges transition to a long, clean high-3/4 slot.  Ball has carry, touching 81 across the field with average accuracy.

 

Bryce Vestal, SS, East Wilkes HS, NC

Good offensive approach that wants extension and leans to a pull tendency.  At 6-foot, 180 pounds produces strength through the frame with exit velocity peaking at 85 off the barrel.  Crouched setup, the hands load down slightly.  Short stride works to fast bat through the zone.  Quick, strong, and aggressive, the swing can get hooky at times.  From short, some stiffness in the hands on approach.  Arm works through a long arc, to a high-3/4 slot with some accuracy.  Arm strength measured at 74mph.  Ran a 4.32 thirty and recorded a 7-foot-10 standing broad jump.

 

Blake Winebarger, SS, Forbush HS, NC

Catches the baseball.  Soft hands and efficient feet with clean exchanges.  Accuracy on throws can improve as arm strength tested at 76 across the infield.  Arm swing can adjust to the play, working to a high-3/4 slot.  Easy hands throughout.  Stands 5-foot-10, 190 pounds and ran a 4.34 thirty with a 7-foot-7 standing broad jump.  Offensively, works from a tall stance and uses a leg kick that dives toward the plate.  Level bat path is geared to pull as the body tends to be rotational through the zone.  Exit velocity topped at 74. 

 

Koty Proctor, 1B, Wesleyan Christian Academy, NC

Physically mature body at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds.  Works with ease in the box and around the bag.  Left handed hitter begins open with a tall posture.  Short stride, dives toward the plate.  Barrel begins flat, loading to a vertical position.  Good approach has some uphill leverage.  Tends to be pull oriented.  Some barrel awareness.  Fluid and easy demeanor.  At 1B, has soft hands and fluid footwork.  Easy exchanges on throws to 2B.  Short arm action is repeat-able working to a high-3/4 slot.  Ran a 4.15 thirty and tested the standing broad jump at 7-foot-6.

 

Austin Primm, 1B, North Gaston HS, NC

Physically imposing and light on his feet with a feel for the barrel.  Stands 6-foot-6, 235 pounds.  Balanced setup with a smooth load and short stride.  Back side explodes creating a fast bat with a level path wanting extension.  Tends to stay gap-to-gap.  Works easy.  Repeat.  Consistent barrel throughout every round.  Exit velocity topped at 93.  At 1B, works clean and with  ease.  Catches the ball regularly with soft hands.  Feet work with ease on all throws.  Arm is repeat-able at a high-3/4 slot, showing carry and accuracy.