By Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

On Monday September 4^th, Prep Baseball Report ran a PBR Scout Day with the South Charlotte Panthers organization.  The day included players from the South Charlotte Panthers and the South Charlotte Cougar programs.  Players from the programs ran through a complete pro style workout at Providence High School.

The catching group leads our positional analysis of the Panther Scout Day.  A total of six catchers worked out at the event.  As good as the pop times were, the overall athleticism from the position may have impressed more.  Top pop times ranged from 1.94 - 2.25 out of the young group.  Accurate with carry, most of the receivers still have room to continue to fill out in the coming years.  The top pop time came from 2020 Carson Arnold.  2019 Bo Rusher impressed across the board with a solid statistical day, running a 7.28, turning in a 2.00 pop time with a positional arm speed of 75 mph.  Offensively, the lefty recorded an exit velocity of 84 mph off the barrel.  Below is an in depth look at each of the catchers from the workout.

South Charlotte Panther Scout Day Quick Hitters
+ 34 total players took place in the scout day
+ 14 players from the 2018 class. 13 players from the 2019 class. 5 from the 2020 class and 1 from the 2021 class
+ 8 players ran a sub 7.10 sixty with another 4 under 7.30
+ 5 catchers went through the workout with 4 producing a 2.00, or better, pop time
+ 7 infielders were better than 80 mph across the diamond
+ 6 outfielders were better than 85 mph from right field
+ 11 hitters topped the 85 mph mark in their exit velocity testing
+ 5 pitchers worked 85 mph or better in their bullpen

CLICK HERE for the complete roster from the South Charlotte Panthers Scout Day

CLICK HERE for the complete statistics from the South Charlotte Panther Scout Day

South Charlotte Panther - Catchers

Carson Arnold C / 3B / Lake Norman, NC / 2020 Rankings  State Rank:40 POS:5 Athletic build with some strength at 5-foot-10, 172 pounds.  Advanced Accuracy with carry behind the plate with pop times ranging 1.94-2.10.  Quiet setup with bend through the hips.  Solid exchange across the chest working to a short, quick arm action and over-the-top release.  Emphasizes extension.  Positional velocity of 73 mph out of the crouch.  Balanced and athletic in the box, on the right side.  Coils the body as he loads back.  Uses a short stride.  Strength and leverage exist as the bat works to gain extension through the zone.  Pull oriented.  Average barrel awareness with an exit velocity of 80 mph.  Ran a 7.69 sixty.

 

 

Spencer Bright C / 3B / Lincoln Charter School, NC / 2019 Rankings  State Rank:150 POS:23 Lanky 6-foot-1, 175 pound frame.  Plenty of room to continue to add strength.  Athletic nature.  Easy receiver with a good target behind the plate.  Simple setup.  Short arm action works from clean exchanges to an over-the-top slot.  Advanced carry and accuracy with the positional velocity peaking at 76 out of the crouch.  Pop time ranged 1.99 – 2.12.  Offensively, works from the right side in a wide, balanced stance.  Weight shift back sets timing and load as he works without a stride.  Repeats a short, level swing, looking for extension. Utilizes the middle of the field with some feel for the barrel.  Exit velocity touched 84.  Ran a 7.87 sixty.

 

 

Maxwell Doherty C / 2B / Lake Norman Charter, NC / 2020 Average build at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds.  Has some quick twitch about him, running a 7.25 sixty.  Flexible hips, sits low, presenting a easy target.  Hands work with ease, receiving with softness.  Explosive through the ball on throws, working to a vertical base with the shoulders working slightly uphill.  Short arm action from a strong, high exchange.  Over-the-top slot with a feel for accuracy.  Pop times ranged 1.99-2.21.  Positional velocity topped at 71.  Open stance with a weight shift back to load the right hander’s swing.  Short stride, works off the back leg, at times around balls.  Pull emphasis with some uphill leverage.  Average barrel awareness with an exit velocity of 82 mph.

 

 

Sam Edwards C / 3B / Ardrey Kell, NC / 2018 Rankings  State Rank:221 POS:26 Athletic and lanky at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds.  Frame can handle continued strength gains.  Quick transitions out of the glove from behind the dish.  Average carry at 75 mph out of the crouch with pop times ranging 2.10-2.18.  Shows feel for accuracy.  Fights for rhythm between the exchange and release as the front side can land soft.  Easy, low target with good bend in the hips.  Right handed hitter.  Balanced, using a weight shift to load back with a vertical bat.  Short stride works to gain extension, staying in the middle of the field.  Exit velocity peaked at 81 off the barrel. Ran a 7.62 sixty.

 

 

Wesley Lug C / 3B / Hough, NC / 2021 Right handed hitter has good feel for the barrel with quickness through the zone.  Stands 5-foot-10, 200 pounds and works from an athletic and balanced setup.  Loads back with rhythm, using a toe tap for timing.  Short stride, works for extension with some uphill leverage.  Fluid, stays gap-to-gap.  Repeats the swing and has confidence in the box.  Exit velocity of 81 off the barrel.  Behind the dish, there is some effort from a low transition and exchange to a long arm action.   Pop times ranged 2.25-2.39 showing some accuracy.  Positional velocity of 71 out of the crouch.  Ran a 7.89 sixty.

 

 

Bo Rusher III C / OF / Salisbury, NC / 2019 Rankings  State Rank:68 POS:10 Strength exists in a 6-foot-1, 165 pound frame.  Ran a 7.28 sixty with a good burst off the line.  Pop times of 2.00-2.15 with advanced accuracy.  Fluid feet and a quick, clean exchange work to a short, over-the-top slot with carry.  From the crouch, measured 75 mph out of the hand.  Left handed hitter is balanced, using a leg kick to load.  Lacks a big weight shift from the 50/50 balance in his setup.  Simple swing begins with a short stride, producing at least average bat speed.  Works level through the zone, looking for extension.  Average barrel awareness.  Lacks some leverage in the back side at this time and could lead to big jumps soon.  Exit velocity peaked at 84 off the barrel.