Prep Baseball Report

NC/SC Border Battle - NC Quick Hitters


Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
North Carolina Director of Scouting & PBR Assoc Scout

On July 24th, top players from North Carolina and South Carolina converged on Winthrop University for the first ever NC/SC Border Battle.  The Border Battle allowed players to workout and compete in front of college coaches and pro scouts, while updating their information for their PBR Profile, connecting them with over 900 college coaches and pro scouts that subscribe to PBR.

The event was a huge success with players from each state impressing those in attendance.  The process to break all of the information down has begun.  Player statistics have been loaded to the event page and onto each player’s personal PBR Profile.  PBR Scouts are pouring over all the information to produce evaluations on each player, and notes from the event.

Below we take our first look at some of the North Carolina players in attendance.  Much, much more is to come, but here are our Quick Hitters.

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

 

NC/SC Border Battle: North Carolina Quick Hitters

Event Notes

  • 19 Players ran a sub-7.00 sixty on the laser timer
  • Another 15 players ran under 7.20
  • 13 Infielders posted a positional velocity of 83 mph or better during the defensive workout
  • 10 of 20 outfielders in attendance posted a positional velocity of 82 mph or better
  • 10 catchers with pop times of 2.10 or better in the workout
  • 21 hitters recorded an exit velocity of 90 mph or higher
  • 13 pitchers worked at 84 mph or better in the live game situations
  • 92 mph was the top bolt thrown in game situations.

 

Player Notes

  • Zane Taylor (RHP/OF, Pro5 Academy, 2020) – Big arm from the outfield with a positional velocity of 94mph.  The arm strength is present on the mound as well, working 83-86.  As the rhythm of the arm swing from the outfield gets to his delivery on the bump, the fastball will continue to grow.  Flashed a late, hard 11/5 breaking ball with some feel.

  • Anthony Sullivan (LHP, Hopewell HS, 2020) – Worked 76-78 with a long arm swing.  Some deception in the delivery.  In the zone with all pitches, but lacked command of any one spot.  There is enough arm speed to see the velocity peaking higher in the near future.

  • Carson Swaim (RHP, Oak Grove HS, 2020) – Absolutely flooded the zone in his 2 innings of work.  Fastball peaked at 80 with late arm side run.  Advanced change-up and good feel for the breaking ball with downer action.

  • Mitchell Seymour (RHP, Pro5 Academy, 2020) – One of the top arms on the day, the ball jumped out of the hand, peaking at 88, but it was the heavy, explosive movement that drew much of the attention.  Erratic at times, it was understandable with the amount of hard movement he created.  Command and control will come with more and more reps, as he does repeat the delivery and arm slot, for the most part.

  • Gabriel Brewington (RHP, Corinth Holders HS, 2020) – High waisted athlete with a long arm stroke working to an over-the-top slot.  Peaked at 87 and very easy to dream about the fastball jumping in the near future.  Good competitor.  Showed feel for a good breaking ball with 11/5 tilt.

  • Kaden Brown (OF, Garner HS, 2020) - Athletic, loose projectable build.  Showed advanced barrel feel from the left side during batting practice and kept his hands back on a breaking ball in game action.  4.67 on the turn to first base.

  • Zachary Long (C/1B, Fuquay-Varina HS, 2020) - In game bat speed with some barrel whip from the left side.  Drove a ball to right field, getting good extension through the front of the zone.  Stayed through an off-speed pitch with 2 strikes with a single to right center.

  • Reece Landmark (1B/OF, Fuquay-Varina HS, 2020) - Has some quickness to his hands with an aggressive approach against live arms.  Keeps his barrel in the zone with better than average bat speed.

  • Jackson Bowman (IF/OF, Wesleyan Christian Academy, 2020) - Gap power during batting practice with above average bat speed.  Flat barrel path during game action with feel for his barrel.  Arm has some carry from the outfield. 

  • Hank Dodson (Northern Guilford HS, C, 2020) - Drove balls during batting practice with barrel whip from the right side. Has strength and his swing plays against live pitching. 

  • Daniel Stephens (SS/OF, Pro5 Academy, 2020) - Athletic with rhythm from the right side.  Better than average bat speed and barrel awareness during batting practice.  Made a nice backhand plat at shortstop during game action.

  • Trevor Faulkner (2B/SS, Reagan HS, 2020) - Loose hands with barrel whip from the left side.  Looks to get his swing off in game action.  Finds his barrel and drives the ball.

  • Hogan Stallings (1B, Wake Forest HS, 2020) - Physcial presence in the box from the left side.  Has lift in his swing and his power stands out in batting practice.  Stayed through a ball for a hit in game action during a left on left situation.

  • Gavin Mortenson (SS, Northwest Guilford HS, 2020) - Continues to stand out defensively with fluid actions and arm strength across the diamond.  Barreled two balls to center field during game action.

  • Alden Kolessar (OF/2B, Rockingham County HS, 2020) - Left hand hitter with a flat stroke.  Game bat speed and got his barrel out driving a ball to right field.  Athletic offensively and defensively. 

  • Jaxon Masterson (SS/2B, Sanderson HS, 2021) - Gap to gap approach during batting practice with strength to his pull side.  Better than average bat speed.  Soft hands on the dirt with an accurate arm to fist base.

  • Alejandro Rodriguez (C/SS, Wesleyan Christian Academy, 2020) - Switch hitter.  Loose and flat from both side during batting practice. Athletic with arm strength and carry from behind the plate and across the diamond. 

  • Jordan Thalacker (OF, Home Schooled, 2020) - Right hand hitter with a strong build.  Uses the whole field during batting practice with strength in his swing.  Got a knock to right field during game action.

  • Ethan Martin (C/1B, Northwest Guilford HS, 2020) - Worked gap to gap during batting practice from the left side.  Keeps his barrel in the zone with some strength in his swing.