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.

A deep crop of middle infielders should give the MegaStars a lot of options throughout their upcoming seasons.  Dosi Jonas (2018, SS, East Gaston HS) is committed to Spartanburg Methodist, showing strength and quickness on the field.  The bat works uphill a bit, but the hand strength controls the bat head.  Jack Stevens (2020, SS, Hibriten HS) has an impressive feel in the box with balls showing advanced carry off the barrel.  Jason White (2018, SS, JM Robinson HS) is an uncommitted MIF that checks several boxes for coaches that see him.  There is foot speed.  There is carry.  There is accuracy.  There is bat speed.  Along with White, the MegaStars group of MIF will be an interesting follow for the future.  All of the middle infielder analysis 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

Second Basemen Analysis

 

Reeves Jones 2B / RHP / Myers Park , NC / 2020 Thin, 5-foot-6, 130 pound frame with maturation coming.  Right handed hitter works tall and slightly open utilizing a short stride that dives toward the plate.  Bat head works to a lagged position at launch.  Level through the zone, staying in the middle of the field with average barrel ability and an exit velocity of 74.  Feet are active, working to play through balls showing average hands.  Quick, clean exchanges  work to a loose arm action with multiple release points to match the play.  Routine slot seems to be a ¾ release measuring 66 mph across the diamond with accuracy.  Ran a 7.88 sixty. On the mound the fastball ranged 65-67 from a high-3/4 slot.  Long, loose arm swing has some effort.  Rushes out of the stretch.  Works on-line and level through the delivery.  Breaking ball has gradual, soft 11/5 tilt at 58-59.  Change-up shows some deception out of the hand, mimicking fastball and ranging 64-66.

 

Will Joyner 2B / SS / Northwestern , SC / 2019 5-foot-10, 130 pound right handed hitter.  Thin frame with room to add strength.  Clean and fluid on the infield.  Works to play through the ball creating some energy as the transition gets to a high-3/4 slot.  Loose arm shows some accuracy at 71 mph from shortstop.  Ran a 7.78 sixty.  Tall in the box with a vertical bat.  Short stride.  Uphill leverage with a loop in the hands.  Works to stay gap-to-gap with an exit velocity of 79 off the barrel.

 

Julio Moreno 2B / Nation Ford, NC / 2019 Average 5-foot-7, 185 pound frame has some strength.  Right handed hitter works from a tall base and loads back, using a short stride.  Average bat speed through the zone as the shoulders set the swing to uphill.  Sweeps through the zone producing pull side contact with an exit velocity of 78 off the barrel.  Fluid feet and clean exchanges on the infield.  Works to play through the ball into his transition to a short, loose arm action and high-3/4 slot that can be adjusted lower for the play.  Lacks some extension on the finish.  Some accuracy with a positional velocity peaking at 68 mph out of the hand.

 

Shortstop Analysis

 

Michael Ashford SS / 2B / Lake Norman Charter, NC / 2018 6-foot, 170 pound frame.  Soft hands and quick, easy exchanges.  Funnels to the mid-section.  Plays through the ball with active feet.  Loose arm action to a high-3/4 release with a positional velocity of 83.  Accuracy and carry are present.  Consistently caught the baseball.  Right handed hitter begins balanced, loading back with a vertical bat, on a short stride.  Works from extension, with a pull conscious BP.  Loose with good rhythm, the swing is rotational and lacks some head discipline.  Exit velocity, when on the barrel, peaked at 83.  Ran a 7.82 sixty.

 

 

Jake England SS / RHP / Forestview, NC / 2019 Rankings  State Rank:154 POS:22 Athletic build with length in the levers, standing 6-foot-3, 175 pounds.  Right handed hitter uses a toe tap to load the weight back from a balanced stance.  Short stride works to better than average bat speed.  Wants extension, looking to the pull side.  Loose, there is average barrel ability as the head discipline can improve.  Exit velocity peaked at 80 mph.  Soft hands and clean exchanges on the infield.  Works to play through the ball with his feet, loading the arm to a high-3/4 slot from a short arm swing.  Advanced accuracy with a positional velocity of 79 mph across the diamond, showing average carry.  Ran a 7.92 sixty. Projection left on the bump with a quick arm and long arm circle working to a high-3/4 release.  Fastball ranged 76-79, pounding the strike zone.  Tall trough balance, works level and on-line.  Arm action reaches a bit toward 2B after an average leg kick.  Breaking ball is hard with inconsistent shape at 67-72.  Works off of fastball hand speed and wants to tilt on a sharp 11/5 axis.  Straight change comes with deception from the hand speed, sitting 70-71.  Both secondary pitches were around the zone.

 

 

Dosi Jonas SS / OF / East Gaston , NC / 2018 Rankings  State Rank:131 POS:23 Spartanburg Methodist CC commit.  Strength in a compact and athletic 6-foot-1, 185 pound frame.  Balanced on the right side, the hands drop to a low slot while using a short stride.  Quick bat is set to an uphill angle through the zone.  Wants extension.  Produces a lot of hard pull side contact.  Strong hands.  Exit velocity peaked at 91.  Plays through the ball on the infield with active feet and soft hands, transitioning to the mid-section.  Short arm action works from multiple slots, depending on the play.  Routine throw made from a high-3/4 slot.  Accurate on routine play and while moving.  77 mph out of the hand from shortstop.  Ran a 7.47 sixty.

 

 

Anthony Palma SS / 2B / Lake Norman , NC / 2018 5-foot-9, 155 pound frame with quickness in the body.  Good rhythm on the infield with a positional velocity of 78 mph.  Soft hands work with active feet.  Plays through the ball, loading the arm with a short arm swing and high-3/4 slot.  Average accuracy and carry.  Left handed hitter is athletic, using a weight shift back to load the swing.  Vertical bat head.  Good barrel awareness with average bat speed.  Short and direct to the ball, using the entire field with an exit velocity of 79.  Ran a 7.35 sixty with a better burst off the line.

 

 

Kyle Raynor SS / RHP / Indian Land , SC / 2020 Balanced from the right side showing barrel ability with an exit velocity up to 83 already.  Loads back and uses a short stride, staying level through the zone with the swing.  Controlled and guided at times, bat speed can improve with strength.  Worked the middle of the field.  Defensively, has good hands, fighting for rhythm with the feet.  Clean exchanges worked to a loose arm action and high-3/4 slot showing an advanced feel for accuracy.  73 mph across the diamond.  Ran a 7.95 sixty. On the bump, repeated the delivery throwing all three pitches for strikes.  Fastball ranged 72-74, and worked 74-76 towards the end of the pen when working with more aggressive hand speed.  Some arm side run at 75-76.  Breaking ball works with early tilt and a hump out of the hand at 58-59.  11/5 action was controlled and in the zone.  Slows the arm on the straight change, at times pushing the pitch.  Change sat 65-67.

 

 

Jack Stevens SS / RHP / Hibriten, NC / 2020 Average build at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds with some quickness and strength beginning to develop.  Right handed hitter produced hard contact with carry and leverage.  Athletic stance, loads back and uses a short stride.  Quick bat through the zone with strong hands.  Good barrel awareness.  Consistent launch position with the bat head after working from a flat position to a vertical position on the load.  Simple, staying level through the zone, produced line drives.  Stayed in the middle of the field with an emphasis to the pull side gap where balls jumped off the barrel.  Good actions on the infield with soft hands and active feet.  Clean exchanges work with athleticism through the transition.  Loose arm works to a high-3/4 slot, showing an ability to drop to a side arm slot while on the move.  Advanced accuracy with average carry at 78 across the diamond.  Ran a 7.46 sixty.

 

 

Clint Turner SS / RHP / Kings Mountain, NC / 2021 Young frame with some length in the limbs at 5-foot-11, 135 pounds.  Balanced, athletic setup on the right side of the box, loading the bat head to a vertical position as the hands drop into slot.  Aggressive and works to air the swing out on each swing.  Average bat speed stays level through the zone producing line drives in the middle of the field.  Exit velocity of 79 off the barrel.  Active fee on the infield, working to play through the ball.  Clean exchanges load a loose arm to a high-3/4 slot.  Some accuracy and average carry at 75 across the diamond.  Ran a 7.68 sixty. On the bump, smooth delivery, has the ability to repeat the high-3/4 release.  72-76 with the fastball, around the zone.   Tall through balance, arm works with some length and looseness.   Easy effort.  Gradual tilt to an 11/5 breaking ball sitting 65-67.  Slows the arm on the change-up at 60-61.

 

 

Jason White SS / RHP / Jay M Robinson, NC / 2018 Rankings  State Rank:202 POS:36 An average build that has some strength and quickness in the 5-foot-10, 160 pound frame.  Ran a 7.16 sixty on a slow surface.  Positional velocity of 88 mph across the diamond from shortstop and an exit velocity of 88 from the right handed hitter.  Soft hands and quick feet work to play through the ball with rhythm.  Short arm action works to a high-3/4 slot.  Advanced accuracy with life on the baseball across the diamond.  Slightly crouched in an athletic stance in the box.  Uses a weight shift back on a leg kick to load.  Bat head works to a vertical position at launch.  Better than average bat speed works level to slightly up hill through the zone with some barrel ability.  Stays in the middle of the field. 80-82, touching 84 on the bump.  Arm action lengthens a bit, remaining loose.  Some effort as he works to quicken the hand.  Breaking ball is inconsistent, sweeping the zone and showing average tilt at times.  Curveball ranged 65-67.  Change-up as some deception in the release, slowing the arm just a bit, sitting 66-69.