By Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

On Saturday August 26th, Prep Baseball Report ran a Scout Day for the Charlotte MegaStars program.  The MegaStars are based out of the Charlotte, NC area, drawing players from the greater Charlotte area and extending their reach into the Triangle and into South Carolina.  Forty-two players participated on the day, receiving updated statistics for their PBR profile, with an option to add an evaluation and video.

Each position player ran through a full pro-style workout, receiving a timed 60, an offensive workout, and a defensive workout.  Bat speed and exit velocity were measured in a BP cage setting, while arm speed was measured from their primary position.  Pitchers in attendance, through a controlled bullpen allowing PBR's staff to evaluate stuff and command.

The corner infielder group is led by Western Carolina commit Seth McAulay (2018, 1B, Hough HS).  McAulay set the pace with an exit velocity of 95 mph and carried that power onto the field BP.  Third baseman Luke Absher (2020, Hibriten HS) showed some pop with the barrel, working up to 88 on his exit velocity.  Lots of projection left in a 6-foot-3, 185 pound frame.  The complete analysis for the MegaStar corner infielders is below.

CLICK HERE for a full roster from the Charlotte MegaStars Scout Day

CLICK HERE for a full statistical breakdown from the Scout Day

Charlotte MegaStar Scout Day Quick  Hitters
+ 42 players in attendance
+ 41 players went through position player workout
+ 21 pitchers threw bullpens
+ On a slow track, 5 players ran a sub 7.30 sixty
+ 12 hitters recorded an exit velocity of 85 mph or better... 3 better than 90 mph
+ 4 catchers worked out behind the dish, each recording a pop time under 2.20
+ 3 infielders showed arm strength of 83 mph or better across the diamond... 1 at 88 mph
+ The workout featured 10 SR, 12 JR, 10 SO, and 10 FR

First Basemen Analysis

 

Tyson Clawson 1B / OF / Independence, NC / 2021 Average frame at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds.  Right handed hitter works off the back leg as he rotates to get the bat through the zone.  Flat, works to stay in the middle of the field with an exit velocity of 78 off the barrel.  Tall and balanced in the setup.  Loads back and uses a short stride to dive toward the plate.  Lacks some barrel awareness that can increase with strength.  Listed as a primary first baseman, shows some versatility working with the outfield group.  Cautious exchange works to a high-3/4 slot showing some accuracy.  Arm strength measured 64 mph out of the hand.  Ran a 7.84 sixty.

 

Cole Fuller 1B / 3B / Cox Mill, NC / 2020 6-foot, 208 pound right handed hitter works to swing the bat every chance he gets.  Projection left as there is average bat speed in a very controlled swing.  Exit velocity peaked at 82 mph and more should be coming soon.  Balanced, uses a weight shift back to load.  Vertical bat head has some waggle as it settles to a lagged position on a short stride.  Swing produces line drives, working gap-to-gap with a flat swing.  Defensively, the first baseman the feet are slightly static as the hands have looseness and catch the ball with ease.  Simple transitions to a strong arm swing.  High-3/4 release worked up to 71 across the diamond with ease and carry.  Shows a feel for accuracy on a variety of throws.  Ran an 8.19 sixty.

 

Ra'nik Little 1B / C / Anson , NC / 2021 Some strength present in a 5-foot-8, 167 pound frame.  Young with maturation coming.  Right handed hitter works from an athletic base with a waggle in the bat for looseness.  Short stride works to a level swing with average bat speed.  Line drive type swing, staying in the middle of the field.  Average barrel awareness.  Exit velocity peaked at 77.  Soft hands with heavy feet.  Cautious exchanges, allowing the feet to get set patiently.  High-3/4 slot shows some feel for accuracy at 74 mph from the position.  Ran a 7.96 sixty.

 

Seth McAulay 1B / 3B / Hough, NC / 2018 Rankings  State Rank:197 POS:2 Raw power is evident in a big 6-foot-1, 237 pound frame.  Western Carolina commit is working for extension with some uphill leverage from the right side of the plate.  Exit velocity impressed at 95 mph off the barrel.  Works slightly closed, using a weight shift back to load.  Short stride.  In getting to extension early, seemed to pull off the ball.  As BP continued, the timing got better and the ball rocketed off the barrel.  Average barrel awareness that improved throughout the BP session.  Average hands with high hips on the catch at first base.  Feet work with some suprising nimbleness during a low exchange creating decent accuracy from an over-the-top slot.  Arm shows easy carry at 73 mph from the position.  Ran an 8.08 sixty.

 

Adam Rushing 1B / RHP / East Gaston, NC / 2020 5-foot-11, 190 pound first baseman with some strength in the build.  Average hands around the bag with good rhythm between the feet and hands.  Ball is occasionally deep on the catch.  Works to a clean exchange, trying to play through the ball with some looseness.  Long arm action gets to a high-3/4 release showing some accuracy at 64 mph across the diamond.  Right handed hitter is balanced and tall, loading the bat head to a lagged position.  Average bat speed works level thorugh the zone.  Works to stay gap-to-gap.  Average barrel awareness.  Exit velocity peaked at 74 mph off the barrel.  Ran an 8.39 sixty. On the bump the fastball sat 66-70 from an over-the-top slot.  Long arm action and easy effort from a smooth delivery with rhythm.  Works on-line and level throughout.  Located fastball and breaking ball with a good feel for the arm side.  Breaking ball peaked at 56, showing a slow, gradual 11/5 tilt when down in the zone.  Change-up ranged 57-60 with sink.  Change works on-line, missing up or down during the bullpen.

 

Third Basemen Analysis

 

Luke Absher 3B / RHP / Hibriten , NC / 2020 Length in a 6-foot-3, 185 pound frame.  Good projection left as the body continues to mature and add strength.  Right handed hitter is balanced, with good rhythm loading back.  Hands drop to their launch point with a short stride.  Good barrel ability on a swing geared to pull with an uphill emphasis.  Average bat speed, but with strength, producing an exit velocity of 88 mph.  Looks for extension.  Defensively, works to play through the ball with rhythm in the feet and average hands.  Transitions to a loose, high-3/4 slot with advanced accuracy on a variety of throws.  83 mph across the diamond with average carry.  Ran an 8.10 sixty. On the bump, a long, loose arm swing gets to an over-the-top slot with average arm speed.  Fastball sits 73-76, filling the strike zone up throughout the bullpen.  Smooth delivery works with rhythm and level shoulders.  Gradual, 10/4 tilt to a breaking ball with a slight hump out of the hand at 61-65.  Change-up plays straight with decent deception from the hand speed at 61-65.

 

 

Jake Kelly 3B / RHP / North Mecklenburg, NC / 2019 Right handed hitter works from a tall base and open in his stance with a strong frame.  Dives toward the plate with a short stride creating a rotational lower half through the swing.  Average bat speed works gap-to-gap with some barrel awareness.  Exit velocity peaked at 80 mph off the barrel.  Average hands defensively, with active feet that have rhythm.  Clean exchanges, around the mid-section, playing through the ball into the transition.  Loose, high-3/4 slot, with a short arm action, has some accuracy at 77 mph across the diamond.  Ran a 7.90 sixty. Working from the stretch only, the arm swing lengthens as it works to a high-3/4 slot.  Tall through balance, works with a lot of ease in a smooth delivery.  Arm speed may be able to quicken with a quicker pace.  Fastball worked 71-75, around the zone.  Change-up is straight with near fastball hand speed at 66-69.  The breaking ball has a hump out of the hand as it rolls through its break with an 11/5 arc, ranging 62-66.  Filled the zone up with the off-speed pitches, showing an ability to move all three pitches around to attack hitters.

 

 

Matthew Wendell 3B / RHP / Mooresville, NC / 2020 Average frame at 5-foot-11, 179 pounds.  Average hands and fluid feet caught the ball consistently on the infield.  Works to play through the ball with the exchange getting to a ¾ release that can float lower at times.  Loose, showed some accuracy.  Throws peaked at 69 mph from the position.  Offensively, the right handed hitter is tall in the box, using a short stride.  Glide approach onto the front side, feeling for bat speed and the barrel at times.  Works to be level, and staying in the middle of the field.  Exit velocity touched 75 off the barrel.  Ran a 7.99 sixty.  On the bump, the fastball ranged 68-70 from a ¾ slot.  Arm works through a little stiffness to the release, reaching and barring toward 2B out of the glove.  Works level and on-line, rushing through his balance at times.  Breaking ball has slow, gradual 11/5 arc from a slower arm speed at 51-52.  Shows good feel for the pitch, locating it consistently to the glove.  The change-up is around the zone, lacking some deception at 60-61.  Fade to the arm side is present.