Prep Baseball Report

NC/SC Border Battle - NC Underclass INF Analysis


Matt Payne
Associate Scout, PBR North Carolina

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.  Along with stats, each player has a PBR Video from their workout on their profile page. 

Today we begin to take a look at the individual performances from the Border Battle.  Below is a comprehensive look at the underclass infielders from North Carolina

 

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

 

NC/SC Border Battle - NC Underclass Infielder Analysis

 

 

 

Jordan Bryant SS / 2B / Lumberton , NC / 2022

 

5 foot 10, 125-pound skinny frame with room for maturation ahead.  Balanced setup from the right side of the plate.  Short stride with his hands working back with some barrel cock.  More hands than lower half during his swing.  Hands work through the front of the zone, getting extension out front.  Gap to gap approach with his barrel working mostly level through the zone.  Exit velocity recorded at 74 mph and should improve with added strength.  Quick feet on the infield, playing with rhythm to the feet and hands.  Above average hands. Funnels to the belt after catch and gets the ball in the air quickly to first base.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 71 mph.  Recorded a 7.65 in the 60.

 

 

Devin Tonkins SS / OF / Greensboro Day, NC / 2021

 

Thin, athletic build at 5 foot 9, 150-pounds.  Quickness is present, recording a 6.62 in the 60.  Hits from the right side with an athletic setup.  Simple load with a short stride.  Controlled approach during batting practice, staying in the middle of the field with some feel for his barrel. Got a base hit to left field during game action.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with quick feet and average hands.  Accurate arm from an over the top slot that reached 80 mph.  Fluid actions on the dirt with quick feet.  Average hands, funneling to the belt after catch with an accurate arm from different slots to first base.  Arm topped at 79 mph across the diamond. 

 

 

Jaxon Masterson SS / 2B / Sanderson, NC / 2021

 

Athletic, projectable frame at 5 foot 10, 155-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a balanced setup.  Weight and hands work back during the load with a controlled, small leg kick.  Some barrel movement in the load create an inconsistent launch position.  Gap to gap approach and can drive the baseball to his pull side.  Above average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 85 mph.  Plays relaxed and confident on the infield with rhythm to his feet and hands.  Soft hands with a loose arm, with feel from different slots.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 79 mph.  Recorded a 7.55 in the 60.

 

 

Greg Bello 3B / OF / Sun Valley, NC / 2021

 

Average frame at 5 foot 11, 175-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a tall, balanced setup.  Weight and hands work back during the load, creating some bat angle over his head with a short stride.  Fluid swing with his hands getting through the zone.  Level bat path with some feel for his barrel.  Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 88 mph.  Athletic and fluid on the infield with some rhythm to his feet and hands.  Better than average hands with an accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 78 mph.  Recorded a 7.22 in the 60. 

 

 

Hunter Powell 1B / OF / Lakewood , NC / 2021


5 foot 11, 175-pound build with strength present.  Relaxed, slightly open setup from the right side of the plate.  Hands work back during the load with a small leg kick.  Fluid swing with looseness to his hands.  Gap to gap approach with feel for his barrel.   Above average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 78 mph.  Feet work around the bag at first base with some stiffness at the catch position.  Shorter arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity topped at 65 mph.  Recorded a 7.28 in the 60.

 

 

Carson Dunlap SS / 2B / Covenant Day, NC / 2022

 

6 foot, 170-pound build with room to add strength.  Hits from the left side, sitting in his legs with a balanced setup.  Leg kick during his load with his hands working down and back.  Quickness to his hands with his barrel working short to the ball.  Flashes feel for his barrel with a gap to gap approach.  Drove a ball to right center in game action.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph and should improve as the body matures.  Feet work around the ball on the infield.  Hands should play better as the work more in sync with his feet, getting better hops.  Quick arm with some carry across the diamond that topped at 84 mph.  Recorded a 7.53 in the 60.
On the mound worked with a slow rhythm over the rubber, raising the knee to the belt.  Works level and in-line, landing on-line with an open toe at foot strike.  Long arm swing to an over-the-top slot.  Average arm speed.  Fastball ranged 75-77.  Big, sweeping breaking ball sat 61-66, working out of a slightly lower slot than the fastball.