Preseason All-State Evaluations: 2021-2022 Dual Players

February 12, 2019
Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
North Carolina Director of Scouting & PBR Assoc Scout

One hundred of the top players from across North Carolina converged on Pineville, NC and the On Deck Academy to take part in the PBR Preseason All-State event. In its third year, the Preseason All-State event has become one of the premier events in North Carolina for high caliber high school players.

Billed as one of the top events in the state, with an incredible roster put together the day did not disappoint. Personal records, as well as event records were shattered throughout the day.

Eleven players from the 2021 and 2022 classes worked out on the mound and as a position player. Several high end athletes are included in this group with each player showing upside. Below you will see a full evaluation on each player along with links back to the player's PBR Profile with video from the Preseason All-State.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster from the workout, along with the baseball analytics compiled on each player.
CLICK HERE to see the speed and agility numbers compiled on players in attendance.

Preseason All-State - By the Numbers:

+ The event soldout in record time, over 20 days prior to the event
+ 95 of the 100 registrants showed up for the workout
+ 26 players in the Senior Class
+ 48 players in the Junior Class
+ 80 players ran a timed 30 yard dash. Median time of 4.08 with 31 players running a 3.90 or better
+ 44 players worked out on the infield
+ 78 mph was median velocity of infielder’s positional throws. 12 players clocked 81 or higher
+ 28 players worked out in the outfield
+ 86 mph was the median positional throw from the outfield with 2 players above 90 mph.
+ 18 catchers workout behind the dish with 6 players recording a positional velocity of 76 mph or higher
+ 2.08 – 2.18 was the median Pop Time range for catchers
+ 9 catchers registered a best pop time of under 2.10 in the workout format
+ 35 pitchers worked out in the bullpen format
+ 83 mph was the median of the max fastballs from each pitcher
+ 13 arms touched 85 or better with one arm reaching 90 mph

Preseason All-State Evaluations: 2021 and 2022 Dual Pitcher / Position Players

Michael Gracer 3B / 1B / Northwest Cabarrus, NC / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 32 / POS: 2

5 foot 10, 185-pound average build. Hits from the right side using an athletic setup. Smooth back in his load with a short stride, getting his hands ready to attack the ball. Fluid swing with above average bat speed. Aggressive gap to gap approach with his barrel working level though the zone. Strength and bat whip with his exit velocity reaching 96 mph. Advanced hitter with feel for the barrel. Looks to play through balls on the infield. Fights to get hand and feet in sync with some stiffness at catch. Short arm action, throwing from a ¾ slot. Arm peaked at 81 mph across the diamond. Recorded a 4.56 in the 30-yard dash and 7-1 in the standing broad jump.
Simple delivery with small rocker to an average leg kick. Long arm swing to a high-3/4 slot. Easy arm with a quick hand. Lands on-line with a closed toe and aggressive back side. Fastball sat 78-81 with sink to the arm side. Attacked the zone with fastball. Breaking ball is sharp, using near fastball hand speed. 11/6 tilt, late, at 71-73. Slows the arm some on the change-up at 73-75. Some fade, missing to the arm side with the pitch.

Logan Hall OF / LHP / Myers Park, NC / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 43 / POS: 6

6 foot, 155-pound projectable build. Hits from the left side using an open, athletic stance. Fluid load with hands and lower half working in sync. Good rhythm throughout his swing. Quick hands with barrel awareness. Keeps his barrel in the zone with average bat speed. Line drive approach, finding lots of barrels during his front toss round. Feel for swing should allow him to handle quality pitching. Exit velocity recorded at 86 mph. Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with fluid feet and average hands. Clean exchanges, with a long arm action, throwing from a ¾ slot. Some accuracy with his arm topping at 82 mph. Recorded a 4.11 in the 30-yard dash, 4.69 in the 5-10-5, and 8-0 the standing broad jump.
From the mound, works from a slower tempo and slight side step, lifting the kneed to the chest with a slight tuck at balance. Long arm swing to a ¾ slot, fighting for extension in the upper half. On-line and square at landing with give in the front side at foot strike. Strike thrower, has better feel for change that curveball. Fastball ranged 76-78 with early run out of the hand. Deception in the hand speed on change-up, sitting 67-72 with some arm side tail. The breaking ball sweeps with slight tilt at 65-67, using early, gradual break. Build, frame, and arm action suggest more may come.

Cyle Phelan LHP / OF / Fuquay Varina, NC / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 4 OverallRank: 190 / POS: 22

6 foot 1, 195-pound strong build. Very controlled bullpen after throwing at a camp the day prior. Arm and body work with efficiency. Arm speed and arm strength exist. Fastball peaked at 85, playing easy catch from 80-83. Angle and run when down in the zone. Breaking ball spins well, with tight bite when the hand speed is there. From 65-74 on the day, the 12/6 arc was late and will create issues for hitters, allowing the fastball to work at the top of the zone as well. Change-up has fade, and was landed at 75 with some deception in the hand speed. Average kick, loading the front hip at the top of the leg swing. Rhythmic hand pump over the head. Lands on-line and square. Aggressive and quick back side. Strong arm swing to a high-3/4 release. Good extension through the pitch. Athleticism lends itself to the mound.
Left hand hitter. Tall setup with his weight stacked on his back leg. Smooth load with the hands working back and a short stride. Looks to drive the ball to his pull side. Fluid swing with strong lower half and some bat whip through the zone. Keeps his barrel in the zone with a slight uphill path at times. Above average bat speed. Exit velocity recorded at 90 mph. Recorded a 4.40 in the 30-yard dash, 5.01 in the 5-10-5, and 8-5 in the standing broad jump.

Matt Poole RHP / 1B / Corinth Holders, NC / 2021

6 foot 2, 165-pound lanky, projectable build. Quick tempo delivery. Small rocker, swings body to balance, closing his line. Hands separate with the coiled body, creating some wrap in the arm swing as the front side works to find the line. Long arm action gets back to a high-3/4 slot. Length in arms and legs could allow for jump in the coming year. Fastball at 77-80. Occasional arm side run. Flooded the zone with fastball. Breaking ball sat 66-70. Some feel for the 12/6 tilt. Slightly different window vs. the fastball. Change-up could be a weapon at 74-75 with run and deception out of the hand.
Hits from the right side using a tall setup. Medium length stride during his load with quiet hands. Short bat path to the ball, keeping his barrel in the zone. Hit a lot of line drives with a balanced, gap to gap approach. Average bat speed. Exit velocity recorded at 83 mph. Works through balls in the outfield with some stiffness at catch. Clean exchanges with a long arm action, throwing from a ¾ slot. Some accuracy to his throws topping at 82 mph. Recorded a 4.28 in the 30-yard dash and 8-3 in the standing broad jump.

Adam Quintero SS / RHP / Piedmont, NC / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 69 / POS: 15

6 foot, 145-pound athletic build. Hits from the right side using an athletic setup. Smooth load with some barrel waggle getting his hands back in sync with his stride. Fluid swing with barrel awareness. Found a lot of barrels during front toss with a solid approach. Keeps his barrel in the zone with above average bat speed. Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph. Athletic defender on the dirt. Plays through balls with quick feet and soft hands. Short arm action with feel to use different slot, based on the play. Average arm across the diamond. Recorded a 4.00 in the 30-yard dash, 4.32 in the 5-10-5, and 8-0 in the standing broad jump.
On the mound, small rocker and coils to balance using a hand pump. Short strider, lands across his line with a closed toe. Front side swings through foot strike creating run and arm side misses. Medium arm swing and an over-the-top release. Fastball at 76-78. Gradual tilt to a breaking ball with 11/5 tilt at 68-69. Slows the arm a bit on the change-up at 71-73 with fade. Misses with offspeed were down in the zone.

Nathan Samii 3B / RHP / Charlotte Latin , NC / 2021

5 foot 9, 160-pound build. Offensively he works from the right side using a crouched setup. Works back during his load, using a toe tap, raising up out of his crouch. Hands cock during the load creating some bat angle behind his head. Flatter swing path, getting long at times. Works gap to gap with a line drive approach. Exit velocity recorded at 87 mph. Average hands on the infield. Sweeps to the right hip after catch, with clean exchanges. Short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot, with his arm topping at 77 mph across the diamond. Recorded a 4.21 in the 30-yard dash, 4.69 in the 5-10-5, and 8-0 in the standing broad jump.
From the bump, small rocker to a short leg lift, using a medium arm swing. Over-the-top release with average arm speed. Short strider lands across his line with a square toe. Average extension. Fastball at 74-76. Aggressive to the zone with the fastball. Fastball tends to jump as it gets to the plate. Breaking ball comes from a slower arm, sitting 60-62 with 12/6 tilt. Slight hump out of the hand. Change-up at 65 with slight sink and deception in the hand speed.

Carson Starnes RHP / SS / Parkwood, NC / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 24 / POS: 3

6 foot 2, 165-pound lanky build. Athleticism plays on the mound. Arm strength and arm speed are present. Coils at balance, showing his back to the plate. Uncoils, back to on-line with a long arm swing, clean, to an arm slot that can float. Will throw from an over-the-top slot and a ¾ slot. Lands on-line with a closed toe. Backside fires early with a stable front side working to create plane. Fastball at 81-84, around the zone. Breaking ball is sharp with power type 11/5 tilt. Throws it hard at 68-70. Change-up tends to come from a high-3/4 slot at 75. Frame and arm speed suggest a high ceiling on the mound.
Works to the ball on the infield with fluid feet. Average hands funneling the ball to his midsection after catch. Clean exchanges with a short arm action, throwing from a low ¾ slot. Arm has carry across the diamond, topping at 76 mph. Exit velocity recorded at 88 mph. Recorded a 4.23 in the 30-yard dash, 4.75 in the 5-10-5, and 7-6 in the standing broad jump.

Josh Stephens OF / LHP / East Lincoln, NC / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 72 / POS: 12

6 foot, 190-pound strong build. Balanced setup from the left side of the plate with hands above is back shoulder. Loads against his back side with a small leg kick. Quick hands with strength in his swing. Barrel works level through the zone. Works middle to his pull side with effort to the swing. Above average bat speed. Exit velocity recorded at 90 mph. Fluid feet with average hands in the outfield. Longer, clean exchanges, with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Some accuracy to his throws topping at 82 mph. Recorded a 4.08 in the 30-yard dash, 4.81 in the 5-10-5, and 7-3 in the standing broad jump.
From the mound, slow to quick tempo. Side step on rocker to an average leg kick. Slight pelvic tilt at balance leads to cross-fire in his landing leg. Toe is square. Tends to fall to the 3B side on release. Long arm swing to an over-the-top release with hand speed. Fastball sat 78-80, around the zone. Shows feel for a change-up at 69-71. Near fastball hand speed with fade. Flooded the zone with the change. Breaking ball ranged 64-66, rolling through a 12/6 arc. Early break and a slight hump out of the hand. Around the zone with spin.

Grant Sutton SS / RHP / William A. Hough, NC / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 48 / POS: 9

5 foot 10, 150-pound athletic build. Hits from the right side using a balanced, athletic setup. Works back in his load with a short stride. Quick hands. Works mostly to his pull side with some feel for the barrel. Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 83 mph. Plays through balls on the infield with fluid feet and average hands. Quick exchanges with a short arm action, throwing from a ¾ slot. Accurate arm across the diamond topping at 78 mph. Recorded a 3.84 in the 30-yard dash, 4.46 in the 5-10-5, and 7-11 in the standing broad jump.
Low leg kick and medium arm swing work from a slow to quick temp on the mound. ¾ release with some hand speed. Stable head. Fastball 78-80 and attacked the zone. Lands slightly across his line with a square toe. Average back side action. Breaking ball sat 70-72 with 11/5 tilt, using similar hand speed to that of fastball. Change-up has fade and sink at 73-76. Aggressive with the change, showed feel. Athletic presence and clean arm action. Attacked the zone with all three.

Matt Heavner SS / OF / North Lincoln, NC / 2022

NC State commit. 5 foot 9, 140-pound build. Hits from the right side using a balanced, athletic setup. Short stride with his hands working slightly back during the load. Simple, balanced approach working gap to gap. Feel for the barrel with quick hands. Barrel works short to the ball, staying in the zone. Above average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 86 mph. Plays athletic on the dirt with soft hands. Funnels to the midsection after catch with high hips. Quick, clean exchanges with a short, loose arm action. Accurate arm with carry across the diamond. Arm peaked at 80 mph. Recorded a 4.30 in the 30-yard dash, 5.03 in the 5-10-5, and 7-4 in the standing broad jump.
Simple, repeatable delivery with an average leg kick and stable head. In-line delivery, working level throughout. Medium arm swing, loading the scapular, working with ease to a high-3/4 slot. Lands in-line and square with average extension. Fastball 79-81, flooding the zone. Breaking ball has gradual 11/5 tilt at 68-71. Some feel for landing the spin pitch. Change-up at 75-76 with deception and good feel. Similar hand speed to fastball with arm side run present.

Jordan Santos RHP / 3B / Providence, NC / 2022

5 foot 10, 180-pound build. Strength is present in a powerful base. Simple delivery lifting to the belt and coiling around his front side at balance. Long arm action with a slight wrap behind the body line. Lands slightly across his line with a closed toe. Still allows for average to above extension. Clean arm to a high-3/4 slot with average hand speed. Fastball ranged 72-75, touching 77. Coil at balance created issues early with feel but as he found his rhythm, he landed all three pitches at a higher clip. Change-up has fade at 66-68, showing some feel, while misses were elevated to arm side. Breaking ball at 62-64 from a slower arm than that of fastball. Inconsistent arc and angle. Pitch should mature in the coming years. Loose arm suggests growth is still coming to stuff.
Hits from the right side with a balanced setup, sitting in his legs. Dives into the plate with his lower half. Hands work down and back during the load. Gets extension, with a slight uphill path working mostly middle to his pull side. Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 83 mph. Plays through balls on the infield with some stiffness through catch. Funnels to the midsection after catch with clean exchanges. Accurate arm across the diamond from a ¾ slot. Positional velocity peaked at 72 mph. Recorded a 4.79 in the 30-yard dash and 4.45 in the 5-10-5.