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Team Carolina Future Games - Day 3 Quick Hitters

August 3, 2019
Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

Team Carolina entered Day 3 of the PBR Future Games riding high from their big win over Team Georgia, but was quickly grounded by Team Florida.  In a 10-2 loss, Team Carolina committed 4 errors on the board and at least another 3 defensive miscues.  In an event such as the Future Games, there can be instances where players are out of position defensively because a school has made a request or to just balance out the lineup and allow players to grow their potential value.  Sometimes, the speed of the game can quicken when a player is out of position.  With all of that said, Team Carolina still had several bright spots in their game against Team Florida.

 

PBR Future Games – Day 3 Quick Hitters: Team Carolina

 

  • Carson Starnes (RHP, Parkwood HS, 2021) has been electric for much of the summer, throwing up big numbers with big outings at the PBR National Program Invite and the PBR National Championships, both at LakePoint.  His outing on Friday allowed coaches to see him work through some adversity.  In the first, he surrendered 3 runs, but only saw one ball hit hard, and worked through 4 infield hits.  The velocity was up to 88, getting swing and miss when down in the zone.  The slider and change work out of a slightly different slot, but both have depth and bite as they enter the hitting area.  Starnes earned some praise for his ability to compete through adversity.

  • Archie Dean Herring (OF, Westchester Country Day, 2021) continues to show that his 6.38 speed can be applied in games situations.  In his second at-bat of the day he hit what looked to be a routine ball to short… Herring blazed down the line at 3.97 on the PBR watch, while some coaches near the PBR dugout had him under 3.90.

  • John Newton (OF, Cuthbertson HS, 2021) continues to find the barrel and drive the baseball.  It resulted in one hit on the day, but his approach and hard contact has turned heads, while facing high level pitching… so much so that Newton has become the 1st member of Team Carolina to commit, selecting UNC Wilmington as his school of the future.

  • Reed Garris (RHP, Wando HS, 2021) worked two innings, allowing 1 unearned run, keeping Team Carolina within striking distance.  The fastball ranged 85-87 getting some swing and miss up, out of the zone.  The breaking ball seemed to vary in speeds, based on the count, sitting any where from 73-75 to 76-78 when he looked to finish a hitter.  Very composed on the bump, Garris attacked the strike zone with some ease.

  • In the 5th, Team Carolina needed another zero on the board and dual prospect Michael Gracer (1B/3B/RHP, Northwest Cabarrus HS, 2021) accomplished the feat in just three pitches.  A strike thrower, Gracer created ground ball opportunities for his defense and his defense came up big.  Gracer will throw again on Saturday after the three pitch effort on Friday.  Gracer also found a barrel in the box, resulting in a hit in the 4th innings.

  • Win Scott (LHP, Ragsdale HS, 2021) has a thin frame with a clean arm stroke.  The fastball peaked at 87 and created some chase up in the zone.  Scott featured feel for both his breaking ball and change up as well.  As he continues to add strength to the frame, there is no reason to think the stuff will not continue to tick up.

  • Tucker Toman (3B, Hammond HS, 2022) has impressed at the plate from both sides.  There is hand strength and barrel awareness.  Today there was a sharp single up the middle from the left side.  Team Carolina’s staff played him out of position at 1B for a few innings, where he really has never had any reps, and he took the job willingly.