Corner Infield & Outfield Analysis: Rawlings Prospects / College Prospect Open

Connor Hill 1B / 3B / West Johnston, NC / 2021

Large frame with broad shoulders at 6-foot, 235 pounds.  Still maturing. Physical lower half. Right handed hitter is balanced and quiet.  Uses a small stride and slight weight load back to load. Slight coil in the body, uncoiling through the swing creating extension and a pull tendency.  Average barrel awareness that may improve with more length in the zone. Strength over quickness producing an exit velocity of 93 mph. Nimble feet for a big guy, in short spaces.  Active feet around the bag at 1B. Trusts his hands. Has some softness working to funnel to the midsection with clean exchanges, a long arm swing and high-¾ slot. Easy carry at 80 mph out of the hand.  Ran a 8.28 sixty.

On the mound, fastball ran up to 85, sitting 81-85 with occasional arm side run when down in the zone.  Slows the arm a bit on each off-speed offering. Gradual 10/4 tilt, and sweeping at time, on the breaking ball.  Early, there is feel for the zone at 66-67. Straight change-up acts as third pitch, around the zone at 73-78. Stable over the rubber with an easy turn and above average leg kick.  Loose hips with good balance. Slightly closed at balance, works level, landing across his line. Long, loose arm swing with better than average quickness to a high-¾ slot.

Logan McCollum 3B / SS / William G. Enloe, NC / 2019

Small frame with athleticism present in a 6-foot, 165 pound build.  Defensively uses active feet working to get around the ball. Trusts his hands, catching the ball off the inside right hip.  Low exchanges to a long arm action as the feet work to gain ground. High-¾ slot with a positional velocity of 74 mph across the diamond.  Athletic through the ball with clean exchanges from the outfield. Accurate at 78 mph out of the hand. Offensively, the right handed hitter is open and balanced.  Uses a weight shift back and small stride with the bat head working to vertical to load the swing. Consistent barrel ability, spraying the ball to all fields. Flat through the ball, generating an exit velocity of 89 mph off the barrel.  Ran a 7.77 sixty.

Trey Black OF / RHP / Fuquay Varina , NC / 2021

Length is present in a still maturing 6-foot-3, 175 pound frame.  Room to continue to add strength in the coming years. Right handed hitter starts open and tall, using an average stride while the hands load back to launch.  Aggressive back side with some head discipline allows for average bat speed and barrel awareness. Flat through the zone, can over-rotate creating a pull emphasis at times.  Exit velocity of 78 mph will improve with added strength. Aggressive to the ball in the outfield, works to field the ball off his left foot. Clean exchanges can be long at times as the feet work to get in position.  Medium arm swing, loading the scapular. High-¾ release has accuracy with a velocity of 80 mph out of the hand. Ran a 7.63 sixty.

On the mound, works with an average leg kick and some rhythm as the shoulders remain level.  Long, loose arm swing with better than average quickness work to a 3/4 slot creating sink as the fastball attacks the zone at 75-79.  Change-up has run, with average hand speed at 64-67. Breaking ball is probably third pitch right now, rolling out of the hand and lack action at times.  When tilt is apparent it is early and gradual at 64-65 from a slower arm speed than the fastball. Thin frame and current arm speed should allow stuff to tick up as strength is added.  

Mitchell Seymour OF / RHP / Leesville Road, NC / 2020

Intriguing athlete whose tools are ahead of his skill.  Big ceiling ahead as the lanky, wiry 6-foot-3, 170 pound frame continues to fill out.  Solid follow as a dual prospect. Ran a 7.00 sixty on the laser timer. Continued to put up big numbers with an exit velocity of 95 mph off the barrel and a positional velocity of 87 mph from the outfield.  On the bump, the fastball touched 90. A right handed hitter, Seymour is balanced and tall with his hands set high. Vertical bat. Handsy load working down and back before loading slightly back up. Short stride.  Some length in the swing, with quickness and looseness. Average barrel awareness but ball jumps when on the barrel. Line drive approach working gap-to-gap. Good rhythm and balance throughout. Finishes high with his hands.  From the outfield, athletic and quick to the ball. Easy, quick, clean exchanges with a long arm swing to an over-the-top slot. Average accuracy with advanced carry.

On the bump, the fastball sat 84-87 in the wind-up before ramping up to 87-90 out of the stretch.  Much better timing in the hands and arm swing out of the stretch with less movement and better head stability.  Lands about 1 step across his line and can get rotational with some head whack at release as the front side clears early.  Long arm swing, stiff at times, works to an over-the-top slot. Good angle to the fastball with occasional sink when down in the zone.  Erratic with a breaking ball that can just spin and remain elevated. As he gets extension, late, hard, 12/6 tilt, short at times looks to be a pitch that could miss bats.  Curveball ranged 70-73. Change-up is used as the third pitch at 76.

Robert Smith OF / Northwest Guildford, NC / 2021

5 feet 6, 120-pound build. Hits from the right side using an open setup.  Uses a long stride with his hands working back during his load.  Gets his lower half through the ball, staying balanced.  Stiff hands cause his barrel to work in and out of the zone to quickly.  Exit velocity recorded at 70 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with quick feet.  Average hands, with clean exchanges, leading to a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity peaked at 60 mph.  Recorded a 7.49 in the 60-yard dash. 

Tyler Spruill OF / 3B / Hillside New Tech, NC / 2021

5 feet 10, 170-pound average build.  Offensively he works from the right side using a slightly open setup. Uses a leg kick for his load, maintain a quiet barrel and getting his lower half through the ball.  Uphill swing with a pull approach during batting practice.  Gets extension, with some barrel whip and his exit velocity peaking at 91 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield, with average hands and clean exchanges.  Shorter arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy to his throws topping at 71 mph.  Recorded a 7.56 in the 60-yard dash.

Jeriah Wilburn OF / LHP / CE Jordan, NC / 2020

6 feet, 190-pound build.  Offensively he works from the left side with a slightly open setup.  Short stride with his hands working back during his load.  Gets his lower half through the ball.  Barrel works short to the ball, working level to slightly uphill through the zone.  Mostly a pull approach with average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 86 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands and clean exchanges.  Long arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm that peaked at 74 mph.  Recorded a 7.49 in the 60-yard dash. 

On the mound the lefty's fastball ranged 72-73 from a high-3/4 release.  Long arm swing fights through some stiffness.  Level with some rhythm in the delivery, works with some effort as the front side is early, landing slightly open and square at foot-strike.  Change-up flashes feel for the zone at 68 with average hand speed.  Breaking ball has early, gradual 1/7 tilt at 57-61.  Rolls to the zone, with some feel for the glove.