Prep Baseball Report

Preseason All-State Evaluations: 2019 Outfielders & Catchers


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

One hundred of the top players from across North Carolina converged on Pineville, NC and the On Deck Academy to take part in the PBR Preseason All-State event.  In its third year, the Preseason All-State event has become one of the premier events in North Carolina for high caliber high school players. 

Billed as one of the top events in the state, with an incredible roster put together the day did not disappoint.  Personal records, as well as event records were shattered throughout the day. 

Four outfielders from the 2019 class are evaluated below.  Two are committed with athleticism still on the board in the uncommitted player.  The catcher may be the top uncommitted back stop left in the 2019 class in North Carolina.  Full evaluations with links back to the player videos are below.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster from the workout, along with the baseball analytics compiled on each player.
CLICK HERE to see the speed and agility numbers compiled on players in attendance.

Preseason All-State - By the Numbers:

+ The event soldout in record time, over 20 days prior to the event
+ 95 of the 100 registrants showed up for the workout
+ 26 players in the Senior Class
+ 48 players in the Junior Class
+ 80 players ran a timed 30 yard dash.  Median time of 4.08 with 31 players running a 3.90 or better
+ 44 players worked out on the infield
+ 78 mph was median velocity of infielder’s positional throws.  12 players clocked 81 or higher
+ 28 players worked out in the outfield
+ 86 mph was the median positional throw from the outfield with 2 players above 90 mph.
+ 18 catchers workout behind the dish with 6 players recording a positional velocity of 76 mph or higher
+ 2.08 – 2.18 was the median Pop Time range for catchers
+ 9 catchers registered a best pop time of under 2.10 in the workout format
+ 35 pitchers worked out in the bullpen format
+ 83 mph was the median of the max fastballs from each pitcher
+ 13 arms touched 85 or better with one arm reaching 90 mph

 

Preseason All-State Evaluations: Outfielders and Catcher

Outfielders

 

 

Pres Cavenaugh OF / OF / Myers Park, NC / 2019

 

Lenoir-Rhyne commit.  6 foot, 180-pound athletic build. Hits from the left side using a balanced, athletic setup.  Smooth load with a short stride staying balanced throughout his swing.  Keeps it simple with little movement showing feel for his barrel.  Loose hands allow for some barrel whip through the zone.  Good rounds of batting practice finding his barrel a lot with a line drive approach working gap to gap.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph. Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with fluid feet and soft hands.  Shorter, fluid arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity peaked at 77 mph.  Recorded a 4.05 in the 30-yard dash, and 4.77 in the 5-10-5.

 

 

Dylan Mauldin OF / OF / Ashbrook, NC / 2019

 

Rockingham CC commit.  6 foot 2, 200-pound build.  Hits from the right side with his weight back during his setup.  Short stride with his hands working back during his load.  Weight stays back during his swing at times causing the barrel to have a longer path.  Has strength and looks to lift the ball.  More strength than bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 95 mph.  Works through the ball in the outfield with average hands.  Long, fluid arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot with his positional velocity topping at 86 mph.  Recorded a 4.22 in the 30-yard dash and 4.90 in the 5-10-5.

 

 

RJ Rhem OF / 1B / Myers Park, NC / 2019


6 foot 1, 185-pound projectable build.  Hits from the left side with his weight back during his setup.  Short stride with a small hand movement back during his load.  Loose, balanced swing with feel for his barrel.  Hit with wood, showing a good approach, hitting a lot of line drives working gap to gap.  Keeps his barrel in the zone with his exit velocity peaking at 88 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity peaked at 75 mph.  Recorded a 4.09 in the 30-yard dash.

 

 

Darius Welcome OF / OF / East Wake, NC / 2019

 

5 foot 11, 134-pound build.  Hits from the right side using a tall, open setup.  Uses a leg kick for his load with his hands working slightly down and back.  Hands cock, creating some angle in the bat behind his head.  Some feel for the barrel with it working short to the ball and level through the zone.  Line drive approach working gap to gap.  Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 75 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with quick feet.  Some stiffness in the hands at catch with clean exchanges, long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity peaked at 75 mph.  Recorded a 3.88 in the 30-yard dash and 4.59 in the 5-10-5.

 

 

Catchers

 

 

Lane Rhodes C / OF / Fuquay Varina, NC / 2019

 

6 foot 1, 180-pound athletic, projectable build.  Hits from the right side using a balanced, athletic setup.  Smooth load with a short stride and his hands working back.  Fluid swing with loose hands and some barrel whip through the zone.  Barrel works level through the zone looking to get extension out front.  Works gap to gap with above average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 90 mph.  Athletic setup behind the plate with flexibility in the hips.  Receives easy with soft hands and good actions.  Clean exchanges with fluid feet and a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm with his positional velocity peaking at 74 mph from the crouch.  Pop times recorded at 2.00-2.07.  Plays through balls in the outfield with fluid feet and average hands. Fluid, long arm action throwing from an over the top slot.  Accurate arm that topped at 83 mph from the outfield.  Recorded a 4.08 in the 30-yard dash, 4.39 in the 5-10-5, and 8-5 in the standing broad jump.