Prep Baseball Report

Player Evals: Gate City Titans Pitchers & Middle Infielders


Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
Executive Director & Director of Scouting, PBR NC

PBR was on hand at High Point Christian Academy's home field to run a Scout Day for the Gate City Titans.  The Titans had over 30 players in attendance, representing NC, VA, and WV on their roster, with a majority of players hailing from the Triad Region of NC.  Players went through a full pro-style workout with pitchers throwing controlled bullpens. 

The pro-style workout started with a laser timed 60, followed by an offensive and defensive workout for the position players.  TrackMan was used during the live BP to gather ball-flight information on each hitter.  After the position player workout, pitchers threw a controlled bullpen, again with TrackMan gathering ball-flight info out of the hand. 

Below we highlight some pitchers who stood out during the Gate City Titans Scout Day. 

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Gate City Titans Scout Day.

 

Pitcher & Middle Infielder evaluations 

 

 

PITCHERS

 

Elijah Broach LHP / LHP / Grimsley, NC / 2022

Positional Profile: LHP.
Body: 6/1, 145 pounds. Thin frame, room for growth ahead.
Defense:  Athletic through the ball, relaxed hands, catches the ball off his right side, clean transfers.
Arm: L.  OF - 68 mph. Accurate, long arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: L. Balanced, even base, hands just below back shoulder, barrel waggle. Short stride, small hand pump, barrel tips forward and back. Loose hands, barrel stays through the zone, gets extension out front, works gap to gap with feel for his barrel.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Above average bat speed.
Run:7.42 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Small side step and turn. Lift to the mid-chest with the foot slightly outside the knee. Works level and on-line, landing in-line with a square foot-strike. Balanced finish
Arm Action: L. Long arm swing with a slight reach at the bottom of the arc. Works to a high-3/4 slot. Average arm speed
FB: T64, 61-64 mph. 1461 rpm. Plays true with a 11:45 spin tilt out of the hand. Some ride. Showed feel for the glove side
CB: 48-51 mph. 1698 rpm. Early, big horizontal break. 9/3 to 10/4 tilt. Soft out of the hand.
CH: 55-59 mph. 1264 rpm. 11:45 spin tilt out of the hand, matching the fastball. Average arm speed

 

 

Thomas Franks LHP / Bethany Community , NC / 2022

Positional Profile: LHP.
Body: 5/9, 134 pounds. Average frame with athleticism
Run:7.92 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Side saddle over the rubber. Small foot movement and easy turn. Builds rhythm slowly over the rubber. Closed on the lift to the high-chest. Loose hips. Swings to a closed foot strike with the landing across his line. Fights with back side to get through t
Arm Action: Long, loose arm swing. Ball turns slightly early. High-3/4 slot. Whippy arm with average to above arm speed
FB: T72, 70-72 mph. 1754 rpm. 10:30 spin tilt with over 13 inches of horizontal movement. Has feel for the zone. Worked down in the zone
CB: 62-64 mph. 1707 rpm. Late 2/8 tilt with length at times. Sprayed through the zone.
SL: 69-72 - cutter mph. 1756 - cutter rpm. .
CH: 65-66 mph. 1231 rpm. Good arm speed creating deception. Some misses up and arm side. Slight fade

 

 

Michael Connelly LHP / 1B / Western Guilford , NC / 2023

Positional Profile: LHP/1B.
Body: 6/3, 143 pounds. Thin frame, room for growth ahead.
Defense:  Athletic, has feel around the first base bag, above average hands, clean exchanges.
Arm: L.  INF - 77 mph.  Accurate, long arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: R. Balanced, slightly open base, hands at back shoulder. Weight and hands load back, short stride into the plate. Quick hands, some lift to the barrel path, stays through the ball out front, works through the middle and to his pull side.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, numbers should improve with added strength.
Run:7.83 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Side saddle with a small rocker and easy turn. Some head movement as he lifts the knee toward the back shoulder, closing his line and loading his front hip. Slightly uphill, works with athleticism to an on-line and square foot-strike. Athletic finish
Arm Action: L. Plunges out of the glove. Long arm swing to an over-the-top slot. Occasionally late with the arm at foot-strike. Average arm speed
FB: T74, 72-74 mph. 1958 rpm. 11:00 spin tilt from the hand. Around the zone. Occasionally elevated
CB: 63-67 mph. 1832 rpm. Hard with depth when on time, creating 11/5 tilt. Occasionally around the pitch with more sweep.
CH: 72-74 mph. 1928 rpm. Elevated and arm side with misses. Solid arm speed

 

 

Brayden Dilday RHP / 2B / Western Guilford, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: RHP/2B.
Body: 6/2, 150 pounds. Thin frame, room to add strength.
Defense:  Active feet, works around the ball, catches the ball near center, average hands, funnels to the midsection, clean transfers.
Arm: R.  INF - 67 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, loose arm with a 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Wide, even base, barrel flat over back shoulder. Hands load back, short stride. Aggressive swings, barrel is flat through the zone, some quickness to his hands, works through the middle of the field.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Some strength off the barrel, average bat speed, numbers should jump as the body matures.
Run:7.85 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: 1B side setup. Rocker and pause as he turns, lifting to the mid-chest. Level, loads the backside, slightly closing the front side. Swings the leg to an open landing and square foot-strike. Athletic with rhythm, finishing balanced
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing with some effort to a high-3/4 slot. Whippy. Average arm speed. Finishes across the chest.
FB: T77, 68-77 mph. 1817 rpm. Around the zone with feel for the arm side. Some arm side run out of the hand
CB:  mph.  rpm. .
SL: 59-63 mph. 1787 rpm. Early sweeping action. Some feel for the zone.
CH: 71-73 mph. 1843 rpm. Average arm speed. Change in speed creates the deception

 

 

 

MIDDLE INFIELDERS

 

Payne Bradley SS / 3B / Caldwell Academy , NC / 2022

Positional Profile: SS/3B.
Body: 5/11, 165 pounds. Athletic frame, room to add strength.
Defense:  Active feet, catches the ball near center, average hands, clean transfers.
Arm: R.  INF - 73 mph.  Accurate, long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Balanced, slightly closed base, hands just below back shoulder with barrel waggle. Weight and hands load back, short stride. Direct to the ball, flat barrel path through the zone, some quickness to his hands, middle fo the field approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Some strength off the barrel, average to above average bat speed.
Run:7.6 runner in the 60. 

 

 

Jack Woodard SS / C / Northern Guilford , NC / 2023

Positional Profile: SS/C.
Body: 5/10, 155 pounds. Thin frame, room to add strength.
Defense: 2.43-2.44 pop times. IF-Active feet, catches the ball near center, better than average hands, clean exchanges. C-Feet gain ground to his target, clean transfers across his midsection, has bend to his hips receiving, average hands.
Arm: R. C - 67 mph. INF - 59 mph.  IF-Accurate, short arm action, 3/4 slot. C-Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, some feel for the second base bag.
Hit: S. RH-Narrow, slightly open base, hands at back shoulder. Loads knee to knee, short stride, hands go back. LH-Slightly open, hands at back shoulder, more upright barrel. Loads knee to knee, short stride, small hand load back. RH-Barrel works slightly uphill through the zone, gets extension out front, works through the middle and to his pull side. LH-Uphill swing path, some feel for his barrel using the whole field.
Power: Average bat speed, numbers should increase with added strength.
Run:8.63 runner in the 60.

 

 

Dalon Arrington SS / RHP / Uwharrie Charter, NC / 2021

Positional Profile: SS/RHP.
Body: 5/11, 150 pounds. Athletic frame, room to add strength.
Defense:  Athletic, fluid feet, catches the ball in the center of his body, better than average hands, clean exchanges.
Arm:  INF - 71 mph.  Accurate, loose arm, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: . Athletic, even base, hands at back shoulder. Small hand pump, short stride. Loose hands, short to the ball, barrel stays through the zone, lined balls gap to gap.
Power: 72 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, numbers should improve with added strength.
Run:7.44 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: 1B side. Long rocker and turn, lifting to the mid-chest. Athletic throughout with building rhythm. Slight uphill leverage through the shoulders, working on-line. Lands in-line with an open foot-strike. Balanced finish
Arm Action: . Long, loose arm action. Works to a high-3/4 slot. Average to above arm speed
FB: T72, 70-72 mph. 1897 rpm. Spin tilt ranges from 12:00 to 1:30 out of the hand with an average spin of 12:45. Better feel for arm side. Elevated at times
CB: 59-62 mph. 1785 rpm. Working for 11/5 tilt. Around at times. Inconsistent break.

 

 

Stephen Adamczak SS / RHP / Grimsley, NC / 2022

Positional Profile: SS/RHP.
Body: 6/1, 160 pounds. Thin frame, room to add strength.
Defense:  Active feet, aggressive to the ball, catches the ball in the center of his body, some softness to his hands, funnels to the belt, clean transfers.
Arm: R.  INF - 79 mph.  Accurate, long arm action, feel for different arm slots.
Hit: R. Balanced, even base, hands at back shoulder. Weight loads back, short stride, quiet barrel. Barrel works down through the ball, high two hand finish, some quickness to his hands, works through the middle and to his pull side.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, numbers should improve with added strength.
Run:7.6 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Side step and turn. Lifts to the high chest. Compact at balance. Level, reaches with his landing across his line. Square foot-strike. Athletic finish
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing to an over-the-top slot. Average to above arm speed. Fights for a position of consistent strength at release
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. 2112 rpm. Down zone. 1:15 spin tilt. Some run when thrown to the arm side
SL: 66-69 mph. 1999 rpm. Slows the arm. Threw for a strike. Sweeping action with some tilt.
CH: 72-74 mph. 1474 rpm. Threw for a strike. Average arm speed.

 

 

Thomas Gamble III SS / RHP / Western Guilford, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: SS/RHP.
Body: 6/1, 155 pounds. Lanky frame, room to add strength.
Defense:  Active feet, catches the ball near center, relaxed hands, clean tranfers.
Arm: R.  INF - 73 mph.  Short arm action, 3/4 slot, some accuracy across the diamond.
Hit: L. Athletic, even base, hands above back shoulder. Loads knee to knee, average stride, small hand load. Has strength to his hands, lift to his barrel path, stays through the ball, has feel for his barrel working through the middle and to his pull side.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Made hard contact during BP, average to above average bat speed.
Run:8.23 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Small rocker and turn on the 1B side. Slow rhythm to balance, lifting to the mid-chest. Slight pelvic tilt at balance. Closed and slightly uphill through the shoulders. Swings back to an on-line landing and square foot-strike. Balanced finish
Arm Action: R. Long, athletic arm swing. Good rhythm. Above average arm speed.
FB: T82, 77-82 mph. 2071 rpm. Run out of the hand. Threw for a strike, elevated, but with feel to both sides. 1:30 spin tilt out of the hand
CB: 63-65 mph. 2308 rpm. Good arm speed. Around at times. 10/4 tilt with some length.
CH: 76-77 mph. 1957 rpm. Threw for a strike. Average arm speed

 

 

Adam Blevins 2B / RHP / East Forsyth, NC / 2021

St. Andrews commit
Positional Profile: 2B/RHP.
Body: 5/9, 145 pounds. Athletic build, room to add strength.
Defense:  Athletic, relaxed hands, catches the ball near center, clean transfers.
Arm: R.  INF - 74 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Balanced, even base, hands just above back shoulder. Hands load back, little to no stride. Balanced, loose hands, direct barrel path, flat through the zone, some quickness to his hands, lined balls through the middle of the field.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average to above average bat speed.
Run:7.46 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: 1B side. Stretch only. Simple lift to the belt. Level and on-line, lands in-line and square. Athletic throughout with rhythm. Balanced finish
Arm Action: R. Long, loose arm action to a high-3/4 slot. Whippy with solid arm speed. Works from a position of strength at release.
FB: T80, 79-80 mph. 2106 rpm. Threw for a strike. Big run out of the hand with over 19 inches of horizontal movement
SL: 73-76 mph. 1996 rpm. Hard, tight, late action. Short. Elevated at times. Threw for a strike consistently.
CH: 73-74 mph. 1961 rpm. Threw for a strike. Early run out of the hand. Length to the run. Arm side feel

 

 

Sammy Edwards 2B / RHP / The Burlington School , NC / 2022

Positional Profile: 2B/RHP.
Body: 5/9, 170 pounds. Athletic build.
Defense:  Active feet, has bend to his hips, relaxed hands, catches the ball in the center of his body, funnels to the midsection, clean exchanges.
Arm: R.  INF - 77 mph.  Accurate, medium arm stroke, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Balanced, even base, hands back just above back shoulder. Short stride, quiet hands. Strong hands, level barrel path through the zone, gets extension out front, has feel for his barrel working through the middle and to his pull side.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Made hard contact during BP, average to above average bat speed.
Run:7.95 runner in the 60. 

 

 

Andrew Franz 2B / RHP / Northwest Guilford , NC / 2022

Positional Profile: 2B/RHP.
Body: 5/8, 145 pounds. Athletic build.
Defense:  Active feet, works around the ball, catches the ball near center, relaxed hands, clean transfers.
Arm: R.  INF - 77 mph.  Accurate, long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Athletic, even base, hands at back shoulder. Short stride, hands cock back. Quick hands, short to the ball, barrel stays through the zone, stays balanced, has barrel feel working gap to gap.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Lots of line drives during BP, better than average bat speed.
Run:7.33 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Athletic delivery with a side step and small slide to the middle of the rubber. Coils the front hip on the leg lift to the mid-chest. Closes the shoulders, working level. Swings to a slightly closed line at foot-strike with a closed toe. Athletic finish
Arm Action: R. Medium arm swing. Athletic arm. High-3/4 slot. Average to above arm speed
FB: T74, 73-74 mph. 2227 rpm. Elevated in the zone. 12:45 spin tilt.
CB: 61-64 mph. 2426 rpm. Consistent action and arm speed. Hard with depth and 11/5 tilt. Chance to create issues for hitters.

 

 

Philip Griffin 2B / 3B / Wesleyan Christian, NC / 2022

Positional Profile: 2B/3B.
Body: 5/11, 145 pounds. Thin frame, room for growth ahead.
Defense:  Active feet, aggressive to the ball, catches the ball near center, relaxed hands, clean exchanges.
Arm:  INF - 68 mph.  Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy across the diamond.
Hit: . Even base, more weight over the back leg, hands behind back shoulder. Short stride, small hand load. Quick hands, short to the ball, barrel stays insdie the ball and through the zone, has feel for his barrel lining balls through the middle of the field.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Better than average bat speed.
Run:7.84 runner in the 60.