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 eight primary pitchers were typically around the zone, ranging in graduate years from 2018 - 2021.  Evan Lammers (2018, RHP, Nations Ford HS) has recently taken his slot to a low-3/4 area with some success.  There is movement and feel as the fastball peaked at 83.  Athletic frame, the ceiling is still ahead of him.  Dalton Thomason (2021, RHP, Forestview) is very young pitcher but with a quick hand and a feel for three pitches.  Solid athlete that plays shortstop as well, Thomason filled the zone up working 76-79 in the bullpen session.  The full analysis of the MegaStar primary pitchers 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

MegaStar Pitcher Analysis

 

Reed Bolin RHP / 3B / Charlotte Country Day School, NC / 2020 Working out of the stretch only, the 6-foot, 185 pound righty works with a long arm swing to an over-the-top slot.  Tall through balance, there is some effort in the arm and release.  Fastball ranged 77-79, erratic at times.  Fastball would cut when thrown to the glove side.  Change-up works with near fastball hand speed, showing fade, at 71-72.  Breaking ball works for 10/4 tilt at 60-62.  Thrown with a stiff wrist, the pitch tends to stay arm side and spin.  On the infield, has some rhythm in his feet, heavy at times as they work to play through the catch and exchange.  Transitions the ball to a long arm action and high-3/4 slot.  83 mph across the diamond with some accuracy and carry.  Right handed hitter ran a 7.53 sixty.  Slightly closed in his setup at the plate, uses a leg kick to load the weight back.  Drifts to the front side, wanting extension.  Lacked some barrel awareness with a swing geared to pull.  Exit velocity peaked at 80.

 

Graham Brown RHP / OF / Hickory Ridge , NC / 2020 Fastball played straight at 70-73, touching 74 from a high-3/4 slot.  Thin build with maturation ahead, listed at 5-foot-11, 130 pounds.  Some elbow lead as it climbs above the shoulder line in a long arm action with a slight hook out of the glove.  Some effort to get the arm on time.  Works level and closes the line at balance, landing with a slight crossfire at release.  Breaking ball has sharp 11/5 action at 63-65.  Fairly mature shape, with an ability to locate it to glove side.  Straight change-up works with some deception in the hand speed ranging 65-68. Right handed hitter is balanced, utilizing a leg kick to get to a short stride.  Average bat speed, works level through the zone showing a pull emphasis.  Strength can be added to the frame.  Average barrel ability with an exit velocity of 77 mph.  Arm speed measured at 76 mph from right field.  Long arm swing gets to a high-3/4 slot.  Some accuracy and carry.  Ran an 8.44 sixty.

 

Evan Lammers RHP / 1B / Nation Ford, SC / 2018 Athletic 6-foot-3, 185 pound frame with room to continue to mature.  Projection left in the body.  Righty has a quick arm working from a low-3/4 slot with a long, loose arm swing.  Tall at balance, works to a slight crouch as he begins to work toward the foot strike.  Fastball has late, hard run to the arm side at 78-83.  Smooth through the delivery, building rhythm with level shoulders.  Lands closed on the line creating some deception in the release point.  Change-up comes from a fairly quick hand with early run to the arm side.  Ranged 68-72.  Pitch is still developing with feel for the strike zone over location and at times pushing the ball through the release.  Breaking ball comes from a slot that creeps higher, working to create 10/4 arc at 65-66.  Arm slows a bit, creating gradual break on a pitch that is thrown for strikes.

 

R. Parker Manley RHP / 1B / Gaston Christian School, NC / 2018 Big bodied righty stands 6-foot-2, 225 pounds.  Some crossfire as he lands closed and works from a high-3/4 slot with average arm speed and a long arm arc.  Fastball ranged 75-78, around the zone, with run when thrown to the arm side.  Some rhythm, working level and closed with the shoulders to balance.  Breaking ball has a slight hump out of the hand with good feel for location at 65-68.  Gradual 10/4 tilt with good hand speed on the pitch.  Change-up ranged 73-74, showing occasional sink.  Some deception in the hand speed, mimicking fastball.  Left handed hitter works from a balanced stance, loading back with a partial weight shift.  Short stride gets to average bat speed producing an exit velocity of 86 mph off the barrel.  Some hook in the swing as it works for extension and pull side contact.  Does work level through the zone.  Ran an 8.40 sixty.

 

Garrett Smith RHP / 1B / Freedom , NC / 2019 6-foot, 215 pounder has some strength in a big frame.  Works from an over-the-top slot with an average arm swing.  Fastball ranged 65-68.  Some effort within the delivery, fighting for rhythm throughout.  Level and on-line, tends to fall to the first base side on release.  Change-up has some deception with arm speed mimicking fastball.  Straight change sat 59-60.  Breaking ball has gradual 12/6 action at 60-61.  Erratic but around the zone with all three pitches.  Control continued to improve as the bullpen lengthened and timing became better.  Misses were typically up and to the arm side. Right handed hitter has strength with an exit velocity of 84 off the barrel.  Open and tall uses a leg kick to set his weight.  Vertical bat works to a lagged position.  Better than average bat speed with strong hands work for extension.  Occasionally long the swing works to stay gap-to-gap.  At first base, the feet have rhythm and allow the hands to work.  Limited range but catches balls in his frame work.  Clean exchanges to a high-3/4 slot showing accuracy on a variety of throws, measuring 65 mph out of the hand.  Ran an 8.44 sixty.

 

Carson Starnes RHP / OF / Parkwood, NC / 2021 Average build in a young frame at 6-foot, 155 pounds.  Plenty of room for projection.  Fastball ranged 76-78 from an over-the-top slot.  Long arm action has some effort working through a little shoulder restriction at release.  Rushes through balance at times.  Works level and on-line, finishing with athleticism.  Breaking ball as gradual 12/6 tilt at 60-62.  Erratic at time with misses up and down.  Controlled dialed in as he threw several in consecutive order.  Change-up ranged 63-64.  Some deception in the arm speed as it mimics fastball.  Right handed hitter works from a tall base, loading back.  Bat head has some waggle, setting in different launch positions at times.  Live drive approach works the middle of the field with an exit velocity of 81 mph.  Good hands and quick feet in the outfield.  Low exchanges work to a loose, high-3/4 slot.  Accuracy and carry with throws measuring 76 mph out of the hand.  Ran a 7.72 sixty.

 

Dalton Thomason RHP / SS / Forestview, NC / 2021 Athletic stature at 5-foot-8, 135 pounds.  Works quick through the delivery throwing strikes with all three pitches.  Fastball ranged 76-79, showing carry through the glove.  Lacked tilt or action, but may play harder than the velocity.  Breaking ball and change are both game ready.  Breaking ball has hard, downer action at 60-63.  Change has occasional run to the arm side, ranging 66-68.  High-3/4 slot with a quick arm working through a long arm arc.  Plenty of projection left as the body continues to mature.  Right handed hitter works from a balanced stance, using a leg kick for timing.  Bat head has some waggle into the launch.  Bat stays flat through the zone producing line drives in the middle of the field.  Exit velocity peaked at 82.  Average barrel awareness.  Average hands and fluid feet on the infield.  Feet remain active, working to play through the baseball.  Exchanges were clean working to a loose arm swing and high-3/4 slot.  Can manipulate the slot down based on the play, still showing some accuracy.  Arm has carry at 78 across the infield.  Ran a 7.59 sixty.

 

Josh Williams RHP / 1B / Independence, NC / 2021 Average frame at 5-foot-7, 170 pounds.  Long arm arc with a slight stab at the bottom works to an over-the-top slot with some shoulder restriction at the finish.  Fastball ranged 65-68 with some feel for the strike zone.  Easy effort as the shoulders stay level and he lands on-line.  Breaking ball has early but sharp, 11/5 tilt at 57-59.  Has feel for the pitch.  Mature arc.  Change-up ranged 60-63, with occasional sink toward the arm side.  Around the zone consistently with the pitch.  At first base, shows soft hands as he plays through the ball.  Feet can get heavy.  Short arm swing to a high-3/4 slot showing accuracy on throws peaking at 62 from the position.  Right handed hitter is balanced, using a short stride.  Works for extension, wanting to pull the baseball, while rotating on the back leg.  Exit velocity peaked at 71 off the barrel.  Ran a 9.41 sixty.