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PBR Scout Day: The Performance Academy - Pitcher Analysis

June 28, 2018
Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

Prep Baseball Report was on hand early last week to take in The Performance Academy Scout Day.  Close to 50 players ran through a modified pro-style workout that included a laser timed 60, defensive workout, offensive evaluation, and controlled bullpens for pitchers.  


The Performance Academy (TPA) runs several teams at the high school age levels, based out of Raleigh, NC.  Players are given a unique opportunity in the TPA system to collect measurables and train to continue to better their baseball performance and overall athletic prowess.  


The PBR Scout Day took place at the beautiful Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, NC.  Ting Stadium is home to Wake Tech CC in the spring and the Holly Springs Salamanders, of the Coastal Plains League, in the summer.  TPA is able to use Ting Stadium throughout the summer to train for on field execution, as well as improving overall athleticism of their players.


Today we break down some of the pitchers from the event. In total we will talk about six arms, ranging in graduating years from 2020-2021. Several others arm did not throw at the workout as the date fell on a no throw, or light throw day, based on their individual throwing plan with TPA. Four of the six arms worked out at a 2nd position as well.


CLICK HERE for the complete roster from the TPA Scout Day with PBR


CLICK HERE for the complete statistical analysis from the TPA Scout Day with PBR

 

TPA Scout Day Quick Hitters:

+ 49 players from The Performance Academy teams worked out for PBR
+ 8 players ran sub 7.00 sixties with one at 6.50. In total, 20 players ran below 7.20
+ 12 players recorded an exit velocity of 85 or better with the leader at 89 mph

+ 11 pitchers threw bullpens. Top velo was 85 from a 2019 grad
+ 2 outfielders touched 89 on their positional throws with 7 of 16 working above 80 mph
+ 8 catchers worked out with 4 recording a pop time under 2.20.

 

The Performance Academy: Pitcher Analysis

 

Bryce Barrett RHP / 2B / Holly Springs , NC / 2020

 

Small frame at 5-foot-8, 150 pounds.  Still maturing with growth ahead. Quickness exist with a 7.38 sixty that will improve with strength additions.  On the mound, fastball ranged 74-76, straight, with better feel for the zone as the bullpen progressed. Breaking ball has sharp, downer action at 67-70.  Works from a fastball hand speed and there is a feel for the strike zone. The change-up sat 69-71, straight and with some feel for the strike zone. Tends to change the slot slightly on change as the hand works inside the baseball.  Choppy rhythm through the delivery, stays level and in-line, landing square. Short arm swing has some effort getting to a high-¾ slot. Tends to roll through his balance, creating some front side issues. Mechanical base should improve with added strength to the frame.

Defensively works through the ball with average hands.  Feet work around the ball setting up the hands to work off the right inside hip fo the catch and exchange.  Clean exchanges working through a little stiffness to a short arm action and high-¾ release. Some accuracy on throws at 71 mph across the diamond.  Offensively, works from an open position with a vertical bat and leg kick working to an average stride. Level through the zone. Strength should shorten the swing and improve bat speed.  Exit velocity peaked at 63 off the barrel.

 

Matthew Chisum RHP / 2B / Fuquay-Varina , NC / 2020

 

Intriguing lanky frame that has some athleticism at 6-foot, 155 pounds.  Plenty of projection left as he continues to add strength. Rhythmic delivery with a hand pump over the rubber as he works from pivot to balance.  Smooth throughout, is level, in-line, landing with a soft heel-to-toe foot strike. Fastball has consistent late arm side run at 78-80. Flooded the zone with a feel for each side of the plate with the fastball.  Long, loose arm swing with above average quickness gets to a high-¾ slot. Tall through balance, and controlled over the rubber, works with some ease. Slider sweeps, working out of a slightly lower slot than the fastball, ranging 68-70.  Around the zone, misses were to the glove side. Occasionally slows the arm on the change-up, sitting 68-70 with some sink. Good feel for pitching and the fastball will play harder than the gun reading with its movement.
In the box, a right handed hitter, uses a leg kick and long stride.  Pull approach, hooking some balls. Barrel awareness needs to improve.  Exit velocity peaked at 53 mph but will take a quick jump with more barrel.  Long arm action and ¾ slot on the infield with some carry at 79 mph across the diamond.  Works to play through the ball, clean exchange, and cautious with the transition. Hands and feet fight for rhythm, creating different catch points for the hands in relation to the body.  Ran a 7.80 sixty.

 

Nolan Connaughton RHP / 3B / Middle Creek , NC / 2021

 

Lanky 6-foot-5, 162 pound frame.  Plenty of projection left in the frame as he continues to mature and add strength.  Works tall through his delivery with the arm swing working through some stiffness to a high-¾ slot.  Some uphill leverage through the shoulders, working on-line and landing square with some recoil at the finish.  Arm speed should improve as the body gains more coordination and strength. Fastball ranged 74-78 with slight sink and a feel for the strike zone.  Gradual 12/6 tilt to the breaking ball at 56-60. Slows the arm some on spin, and feel for the pitch can be erratic. The change-up works with solid hand speed, straight, attacking the strike zone at 65-66.  Change-up over breaking ball at this time and has a chance to be a weapon vs hitters. Ran a 7.53 on the laser in the sixty yard dash.

 

Anthony DeBerardino RHP / 3B / Apex Friendship, NC / 2021

 

Average 5-foot-10, 162 pound build.  Some rhythm in the delivery, working level and landing square.  Coils at balance slightly, getting the shoulders back on-line as he drives towards the plate.  Front side can be soft at times allowing the body to roll to the 1B side on release. Fastball ranged 68-71, cutting when on the glove side.  Showed feel for the arm side with the fastball. Change-up has occasional sink, slowing the arm slightly through release, sitting 62-65. Attacked the zone with the change.  Breaking ball has a slight hump out of the hand with early, gradual 12/6 tilt at 60-61. Has feel for the strike zone with spin. More control than command.
Right handed hitter is balanced and athletic using a small weight shift back to load.  Short stride. Level through the zone, staying gap-to-gap with an exit velocity of 78 mph.  Average bat speed and barrel awareness. Cautious on the infield on his approach. Hands work late to present, fighting for rhythm with the feet as the hips lack bend.  Long exchange with a long arm stroke to an over-the-top release. Accuracy and carry can improve with a positional velocity peaking at 60 mph across the diamond. Ran a 8.51 sixty on the laser timer.

 

Thomas Hudson RHP / 1B / Ravenscroft, NC / 2020


Average 6-foot, 175 pound frame.  Stretch only on the bump with the fastball ranging 66-69.  Some run and around the zone, but lacked feel for the glove.  Change-up tends to cut at 63-64, working with near fastball hand speed.  Breaking ball sat 60-63 seeing early, gradual 10/4 tilt. Choppy rhythm, staying level, and landing across his line.  Long arm swing to a high-¾ slot, staying tall through balance with some effort in the delivery.
Right handed hitter is tall, loading the hands back slightly with a long stride.  Some length in the swing, working to produce line drives. Average barrel awareness with an exit velocity of 73 mph.  Defensively at first base, hips have bend as the hands work to catch off the inside left hip. Hands funnel, showing some softness.  Feet are heavy through the exchange. Short arm action and high-¾ release with inconsistent accuracy at 60 mph across the diamond. Ran a 8.91 sixty.

 

Brandon Lovell RHP / OF / Apex Friendship, NC / 2020

 

Average 5-foot-11, 182 pound frame.  Rushes through the delivery, fighting for rhythm but working to speed the arm up.  Some quickness in the hand as it gets to a high-¾ release. Fastball ranged 75-78, cutting to the glove side.  Threw strikes with control over command. Slightly uphill through the shoulders, lands open on his line, recoiling on the finish.  Change-up at 67-68, is around the zone, coming from a slightly slowed arm. Breaking ball has early 10/4 tilt, sitting 60-62, filling up the zone.  
Right handed hitter is crouched with a low handset, gearing for uphill leverage in the swing.  Short stride working for some extension and a pull emphasis. Exit velocity peaked at 78 mph off the barrel.  Defensively, rushed at times, working to play through the ball from the outfield. Short arm action, working to load the scapular, gets to a high-¾ release.  Has carry and accuracy on throws measuring 83 out of the hand. Turned in a solid 7.23 sixty that should continue to improve with maturity.