For the second year, the NC/SC Border Battle was one of the most anticipated events of the summer.  This year saw the event moved to BB&T Point Stadium in High Point, NC, home of the High Point Rockers Independent Professional club.  Hosted at Winthrop in 2019, the 2020 event was suppose to be at UNC Charlotte, but moved to High Point with the ongoing NCAA Dead Period on recruiting. 

With the move, the event saw more of a North Carolina flavor as most players and families are still working to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 issues.  Due to the NCAA Dead Period, the event was live streamed utilizing multiple camera angles to allow college coaches to view from their offices. 

Position players were taken through a full pro-style workout, with a laser timed 60, full offensive workout, and a full defensive workout.  The pro-style workout was followed by a controlled scrimmage with pitchers throwing to live hitters.  PBR Scouts were on hand to evaluate and report on the players in attendance.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and statistics from the 2020 NC/SC Border Battle

 

By the Numbers:

• 73 players were a part of the NC/SC Border Battle
• 61  players went through the pro-style workout
• 28 pitchers threw in the controlled scrimmages
• 92 mph was the top fastball thrown on the day
• 8 arms worked at 87 mph or higher
• 84 mph was the median fastball for the event
• 4 players ran sub-7.00 on the laser timer
• 23 players ran sub-7.20 sixties
• 14 position players posted a positional velocity of 85 mph or higher in their workout
• 90 mph was the top infield velocity
• 91 mph was the top outfield velocity
• 86 mph was the top catcher velocity, working out of the crouch
• 2 hitters posted an exit velocity of 100+ mph off the tee
• 22 hitters worked at 90 mph or higher off the tee with their exit velocity
• 8 hitters posted exit velocities of 88 mph or higher in live BP

 

Statistical Leaders

 

THE 60 YARD DASH

Players ran a laser timed 60 yard dash at the outset of their workouts.  At each workout, the 60 was run on the artificial turf surface.  Four players ran under 7.00 with another 19 running under 7.20.  The median 60 from the NC/SC Border Battle came in at 7.24.

 

EXIT VELOCITY (OFF A TEE)

Hitters worked through offensive testing, including a static exit velocity test, working off a tee.  The exit velocity from live BP, gathered by TrackMan will be release soon.  The top exit velocity off the tee came in at 103 mph.  Two player were above 100 mph with another 20 above 90 mph. 

 

POSITIONAL VELOCITY – INFIELDERS

Infielders were able to workout at shorstop, throwing across the infield, or from 1B throwing to 2B and 3B in the pro-style workout.  Coaches are working to evaluate rhythm, footwork, hands, exchanges, arm action, accuracy, and carry.  To measure arm strength PBR Scouts utilize a radar gun.  Below are the top posted positional velocities from each day.

 

POSITIONAL VELOCITY – OUTFIELDERS

Outfielders worked out from right field, making throws to the plate.  Scouts are able to watch exchanges, arm action, arm strength, carry, and accuracy in this type of workout.  PBR adds a radar reading to assist with adding a number to the arm strength grade.  Below are the top radar readings from the outfielder workouts.

 

CATCHER POP TIMES & POSITIONAL VELOCITY

In the pro-style workout, catchers workout from behind home plate, making multiple throws to 2B, simulating a stolen base attempt.  Scouts again are looking for a quick, clean transition to the release as well as carry and accuracy on the throw.  For catchers, evaluators will put a stopwatch on the “pop time” or the time the ball hits their glove to the time the ball hits the MIF’s glove at 2B.  Coaches can also time the transition from when the ball hits the catchers glove to when he is able to release his throw.  PBR scouts add the radar gun to put a number on the arm strength out of the crouched position.

 

MAX FASTBALL

Pitchers faced live hitters in a controlled scrimmage.  Most pitcher-only players threw 2 innings, while the dual players threw 1 inning.  During the scrimmage, an LED Board was used to report velocity to the live stream and scouts in attendance.  TrackMan was in use as well, giving the most accurate accounting of each pitch.  More will come from TrackMan in the coming weeks.  For all the posted velocity, TrackMan was the hard ware used for posting.