By Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

On Monday September 4^th, Prep Baseball Report ran a PBR Scout Day with the South Charlotte Panthers organization.  The day included players from the South Charlotte Panthers and the South Charlotte Cougar programs.  Players from the programs ran through a complete pro style workout at Providence High School.

Carson Lowder's stats jump off the page after the workout.  The North Stanly HS 2019 graduate posted an exit velocity of 97 mph and ran a sub-7.00 sixty. The quickness and power has translated into games and there is room in the build for continued growth.  Stephen Ridge (Marvin Ridge HS, 2018), one of the top uncommitted middle infielders in the state, came to the workout hobbled by an ankle but still was impressive on the infield.  There is barrel awareness with the bat and the frame suggests more strength can be added.  Below is the complete evaluations for the middle infielders in the South Charlotte Panther organization.

South Charlotte Panther Scout Day Quick Hitters
+ 34 total players took place in the scout day
+ 14 players from the 2018 class. 13 players from the 2019 class. 5 from the 2020 class and 1 from the 2021 class
+ 8 players ran a sub 7.10 sixty with another 4 under 7.30
+ 5 catchers went through the workout with 4 producing a 2.00, or better, pop time
+ 7 infielders were better than 80 mph across the diamond
+ 6 outfielders were better than 85 mph from right field
+ 11 hitters topped the 85 mph mark in their exit velocity testing
+ 5 pitchers worked 85 mph or better in their bullpen

CLICK HERE for the complete roster from the South Charlotte Panthers Scout Day

CLICK HERE for the complete statistics from the South Charlotte Panther Scout Day

 

South Charlotte Panther Middle Infielder Analysis

 

Blake Burchette SS / 2B / Mooresville, NC / 2019 Rankings  State Rank:109 POS:15 Active feet and a high motor on the infield from the 5-foot-9, 160 pounder.  Good hands present with easy catch-ability on routine balls.  Good rhythm between the feet and hands.  Quick exchanges as he works to play through the ball.  Loose arm gets to a high-3/4 slot with average accuracy and carry.  Arm carried better than radar reading of 69 mph.  Ran a 7.54 sixty but plays the position with better quickness.  Right handed hitter works from an open stance.  Loads back getting the bat head to a lagged position after a short stride.  Better than average bat speed is whippy through the zone.  Works for extension, maintaining good rhythm, and working the middle of the field.  Exit velocity peaked at 76 mph off the barrel.

 

 

Trey Donathan SS / RHP / Charlotte Christian, NC / 2019 Rankings  State Rank:76 POS:10 Average build with some quickness in the 5-foot-9, 165 pound frame.  Arm has elite carry across the diamond at 89 mph from the position.  Good hands work to transition the ball to the mid-section.  Hips can play high at times as the feet either work hard to play through the ball, or sit and squat on routine plays.  Quick hands through the exchange.  Short arm action gets to a high-3/4 slot with life and accuracy on his throws.  Sixty time of 7.09 matched the quickness on the infield.  Right handed hitter is open, using a leg kick to shift the weight back.  Quick bat stays level through the zone, working the middle of the field.  Aggressive, does not get cheated on any swing, maintaining his balance and showing barrel awareness.  Exit velocity of 89 mph when centered on the ball.  Raw on the bump but the arm strength does translate.  Sat 83-86, with a bunch of pitches at 86 on the front and back end of the pen.  Around the zone with fastball.  Works from a high-3/4 slot with a short, loose arm swing, loading the scapular.  Quick hand with some effort as he works to maximize his velocity.  A little stiff on the leg lift and the front side can swing open early, creating some rotation.  Change-up comes from a slower hand at 77-81.  The breaking ball is hard but erratic with command and shape.  Curve ranged 69-72.

 

 

Carson Lowder 2B / 3B / North Stanley, NC / 2019 Rankings  State Rank:28 POS:1 Power potential is present in the 6-foot-1, 196 pound right handed hitter.  Exit velocity up to 97 mph off the barrel.  Quickness exists in the body, running a 6.98 sixty.  Open stance using a leg kick to press the weight back.  Bat head has waggle working to a lagged position at launch.  Aggressive, the ball jumps off the bat.  Average plus bat speed with a slight pull emphasis as he works for extension.  Average barrel ability and the timing can improve.  Soft hands on the infield work to a quick, fluid exchange.  Loose arm works from a ¾ slot with the ability to adjust to the play.  81 mph across the diamond with advanced accuracy and good carry.

 

 

Stephen Ridge SS / 2B / Marvin Ridge, NC / 2018 Rankings  State Rank:81 POS:16 Good hands and easy catch-ability on the routine ball from a 5-foot-11, 160 pound frame.  Playing on a sprained ankle, he did not run the 60, but did show some quickness on the infield, moving laterally.  Good rhythm in the feet as the hips can set high at times.  Quick, clean transitions to the mid-section.  Short arm swing gets to an over-the-top slot showing carry and advanced accuracy at 79 mph across the diamond.  Showed some ability to loosen the slot when moving side to side, with accuracy.  Left handed hitter is open, using a leg kick to load back.  Bat head works to a vertical position on the load.  Good barrel awareness with average plus bat speed.  Stays level in the zone, working gap-to-gap, with good rhythm.  Exit velocity peaked at 78 mph off the barrel.

 

 

Wes Terte SS / 2B / South Mecklenburg, NC / 2019 Small frame has some quickness and strength.  Listed at 5-foot-7, 150 pounds.  Was 84 mph across the diamond from his position.  Ran a 7.31 sixty with a better burst off the line.  Quickness played laterally on the infield.  Soft hands work to exchange after a funnel to the mid-section.  Playing theough the ball with quick exchanges.  Loose arm swing to an over-the-top slot that can be adjusted based on the play.  Showed some accuracy from multiple arm slots, with better than average carry.  Right handed hitter sets up in a tall base, slightly open.  Loads back with the lead arm near barred.  Short stride gets to better than average bat speed and an exit velocity of 78 mph off the barrel.  Short, direct path works to stay level and get extension, producing line drives.  Sprays the field during BP.