On Saturday October 19^th, Prep Baseball Report was at Scotland County HS to run a PBR Scout Day for the TriState Arsenal South organization out of North Carolina.  The day included a full pro-style workout for position players and controlled bullpens for the pitchers on hand.  With close to thirty players on hand, PBR scouts were able to gather a lot of information.

The position players ran a laser timed 60, worked through several offensive stations, including multiple rounds of live BP, and a defensive workout at their primary position.  PBR Scouts collected information in each evaluation that will lead to a full player evaluation on each player in attendance, along with video that will be added to each player profile page.  The pitchers threw controlled bullpens with PBR scouts evaluating stuff, delivery, arm action, and command. 

We continue our look at the Arsenal players with an in-depth look at the primary pitchers and catchers from the event.  Players grad years ranged from 2021 - 2024.  Several high ceiling players in the group.  CLICK HERE for the full roster and statistics from the Scout Days.

 

Tri-State Arsenal: Pitcher & Catcher Analysis

 

 

PITCHERS

 

Owen Bynum RHP / Western Alamance, NC / 2022   Average 5-foot-10, 165 pound frame.  Small side step, lifting to the mid-chest.  Stable head.  Slight plunge out of the glove to a long arm swing and over-the-top release.  Works on-line, landing in-line and square.  Front side points toward the glove.  Average extension with average arm speed.  Fastball played straight at 76-78.  Around the zone with an ability to elevate it.  Spin rates ranged 1702 – 1809 rpm.  Showed feel for a breaking ball with gradual 12/6 tilt and a spin rate of 1780 – 1860 rpm, sitting 59-63.  Change-up tumbles out of the hand with fade and run at 63-68.  In the zone, there is some deception with the hand speed.  Change up spins at 1437 – 1509 rpm.

 

 

Casey Culbreth RHP / OF / Midway, NC / 2023   Lanky frame at 5 foot 11, 135-pounds.  Small rocker and easy turn to a leg kick to the low chest.  In-line, the front side works high creating some leverage in the shoulders.  Lands on-line and square with average extension and above average hand speed.  Fastball has good angle when down at 75-76 with a spin rate of 1865 – 1907 rpm.  Flooded the zone with the breaking ball at 56-59.  Slight hump out of the hand and a gradual 11/5 downer tilt with a max spin rate of 1810.  Flased a couple of change-ups at 66.  Third pitch that is still developing, choked in the hand at times.  High ceiling as the frame adds strength. Offensively he works from the right side with a relaxed, balanced setup.  Small, quick load with a short stride and his hands working back.  Handsy swing with a short path to the ball.  Quick hands working mostly middle to his pull side.  Has feel for his barrel with average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 72 mph and should improve as the body matures. Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Some accuracy and carry to his throws with a long arm action, throwing from an overhand slot.  Positional velocity topped at 80 mph.  Recorded a 7.58 in the 60.

 

 

John Nelson McLamb LHP / OF / Midway, NC / 2024   Young, thin frame with room for growth ahead at 5 foot 8, 140-pounds.  Side step and hip turn to a balance point with the kick to the mid chest.  Fights for consistent rhythm, building after balance.  Arm reaches out of the glove, wrapping around the body.  Closes his line out of balance, working back to on-line at foot-strike with a closed front foot.  Falls to the 3B side working for extension.   Average arm speed at a ¾ release.  Fastball at 67-70 with a spin rate up to 1725 rpm.  Presets the grip and hand placement for the breaking ball.  Decent hand speed, working in the zone with a 2/8 tilt at 60-62 and spin rates of 1460 rpm.  Change-up could be top secondary pitch with good hand speed and some feel at 66 with a spin rate of 1110. Hits from the left side with a balanced setup.  Hands cock during his load, creating some bat angle with a short stride.  Loose hands that get through the zone with a middle of the field approach.  Simple balanced swing with his exit velocity recorded at 66 mph and should improve as the body matures.  Average hands in the outfield.  Works through the ball with a longer exchange and arm action, throwing from a ¾ slot.  Arm topped at 68 mph to the plate.  Recorded an 8.59 in the 60.

 

 

Brandon Scheck LHP / OF / South Garner , NC / 2022   5 foot 8, 140-pound average build.  Simple delivery with loose hips and a high leg kick up to the chin.  Closes his line out of balance, working across his line.  Throwing with cross-fire and a ¾ slot there is some deception.  Long arm action can stab out of the glove at times.  Works level with some effort.  Fastball played straight, occasionally cutting, with spin rates ranging 1965 – 2153 rpm, sitting 72-75.  Fought to find release of the breaking ball at 59-60.  Arm was typically late creating a casting action at release.  Slight hump out of the hand with gradual 2/8 action.   The breaking ball did spin at 2141 rpm.  Change-up touched 73. Hits from the right side with an open setup, sitting into his legs.  Hands work back during his load with his lower half diving into the plate.  Some quickness to his hands with a short bat path to the ball.  Has feel for his barrel working through the middle of the field.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph.  Plays fluid through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Some accuracy and carry to his throws from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity topped at 79 mph.  Recorded a 7.26 in the 60.

 

 

William Sword RHP / C / Thales Academy, NC / 2022   6 foot, 182-pound average build.  Slight coil working to balance and a kick to the belt.  Long arm swing  works to an over-the-top release.  Simple and repeatable, works on-line, landing in-line with a slightly closed front foot.  Fastball at 79-82 with a spin rate of 1985 rpm.  Change-up has action, diving at times late, at 71-75.  Good arm speed for deception and consistent arm side run with a spin rate ranging 1295 – 1373 rpm.  Breaking ball works with gradual, downer tilt.  Around the zone the breaking ball ranged 71-75 with a spin rate of 1943 rpm. Hits from the right side with a balanced setup with some barrel waggle.  Weight works back during his load with an average stride, gliding into the ball.  Some quickness to his hands with a short bat path to the ball.  Stays inside the ball with a middle of the field approach.  Average feel for his barrel with his exit velocity recorded at 82 mph.  Accurate arm with some carry to his throws from the outfield that topped at 82 mph.  Stands up on his throws from behind the plate with clean transfers.  Arm topped at 76 mph to second base from a ¾ slot.  Accurate arm with pop times ranging from 2.16-2.33.  Low hips while receiving bullpens, presenting a low target with average hands.  Recorded a 7.60 in the 60.

 

 

 

CATCHERS

 

Henry Gardner C / 1B / Garner Magnet, NC / 2023   Thin frame at 5 foot 10, 140-pounds.  Switch hitter.  Sets up balanced from both sides.  Small leg kick with a short stride during his load.  Mostly pull approach from both sides.  Hands get through the zone from the right side with more strength and barrel awareness.  Quiet hands and barrel left-handed.  Exit velocity recorded at 74 mph.  Quick feet and exchange behind the plate with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Arm topped at 72 mph to second base.  Some carry and accuracy to his throws with pop times ranging from 2.19-2.35.  Some hip mobility behind the plate receiving bullpens with average hands.  Recorded a 7.60 in the 60.

 

 

Kaden Smith C / 1B / Western Alamance, NC / 2021   Athletic, strong build at 6 foot 2, 200-pounds.  Tall setup from the right side with a narrow base.  Uses a toe tap during his load, gliding into the ball.  Hands and barrel are quiet during the load.   Works gap to gap with his barrel getting extension through the front of the zone with.  Average bat speed and barrel feel with his exit velocity recorded at 85 mph.  Transfers across his chest with a short arm action, throwing from an overhand slot. Arm topped at 71 mph to second base.  Accurate arm with pop times ranging from 2.22-2.34.  Average hands receiving bullpens with higher hips in his setup.  Recorded a 7.52 in the 60.

 

 

Ethan Wilkins C / 1B / Purnell Swett, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 63 / POS: 9   6 foot 1, 205-pound build with a strong lower half.  Posted the highest exit velocity on the day at 94 mph. Relaxed setup from the right side with a narrow base.  Quiet hands during his load with a short stride. Made consistent hard contact during batting practice.  Direct barrel path to the ball with bat whip through the zone.  Homered during batting practice.  Bat speed and strength are present.  Feet work through his throws to second base with clean transfers, throwing from an overhand slot.  Arm topped at 73 mph from a crouch position.  Some feel for the second base bag with pop times ranging from 2.22-2.38.  Presents a low target receiving with average hands.  Recorded a 7.94 in the 60.

 

 

 

Reagan Harris C / RHP / Christiansburg, VA / 2021   5 foot 9, 180-pound strong build.  Hits from the right side with a balanced setup and bend at the waist. Quiet hands during his load with his weight working slightly back with a short stride. Has bat speed with some barrel whip through the zone.  Uphill bat path with the swing getting big at times.  Gap to gap approach with some strength in the swing.  Exit velocity recorded at 88 mph.  Feet work through his throws to second base, transferring across his chest, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm that topped at 78 mph from a crouch position.  Pop times ranged from 2.08-2.16.  Low hips in his setup during bullpens, receiving with average hands. Recorded a 7.36 in the 60.

 

Alex Levesque C / OF / Corinth Holders, NC / 2022   Athletic build at 6 foot, 165-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a tall setup.  Sits into his legs during his load with his hands working back with an average stride.  Loose hands with a middle of the field approach.  Gets extension out front with some feel for his barrel.  Better than average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 86 mph.  Arm topped at 74 mph to second base from a crouch position.  Transfers across his chest with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Pop times ranged from 2.01-2.16.  Athletic setup with average hands receiving bullpens.  Recorded a 7.46 in the 60.