On Saturday January 29th PBR of North Carolina hosted it’s Preseason All State East event at Diamond Xtreme in Kernersville, NC. The Preseason All State Events are the top winter events in North Carolina. Each year these events feature some of the top talent from each area of the state. Players ranged from the 2022-2026 grad classes. 

Pitchers and catchers were up first. Catchers were able to go through a full defensive workout, throwing through to 2B at the spacious indoor facility.  Pitchers threw controlled bullpens with Trackman collecting ball flight analytics.  Following the pitchers, infielders and outfielders went through a defensive workout, followed by all of the position players taking live BP in the open atmosphere of Diamond Xtreme with Trackman gathering ball flight data. 

Below we begin our breakdown of the players in attendance with a look at some of the standout pitchers.  Look for more statistics and information to follow in the coming days. 

CLICK HERE for the full roster and stats from the event

 

Quick Hitters - Pitchers

 

Tanner Collins, RHP, Ashley HS, 2022 – Strike thrower with good feel for locating his fastball.  Flashed 3 in the zone.  Solid direction throughout the delivery.  Clean arm works to a position of strength and high-3/4 slot.  Has multiple ways to attack hitters.  Breaking ball should create swing and miss, spinning up to 2582rpm with 10/4 tilt. 

Matthew Driver, RHP, Pro5 Academy, 2022 – Big winner from the event.  Clean 6-foot-3, 205 pound frame.  Fastball flashed at 91 with sink metrics and 2:15 spin out of the hand.  Showed feel for the zone, elevated at times.  Breaking ball and change-up have the promise to continue to develop and create issues for hitters. 

Christopher Gruskin, RHP, Broughton HS, 2022 – Intriguing uncommitted senior with a clean delivery that works to build tempo throughout.  Closed at balance with a slight arm wrap, but loading the scap with some ease.  Works to a high-3/4 slot.  Average to above arm speed.  Fastball ranged 84-85 with run out of the hand.  10/4 tilt to the breaking ball with early action, but solid length working away from the hitter.

Will Saxenmeyer, RHP, Pro5 Baseball, 2022 – Very intriguing uncommitted senior.  Stands 6-foot5, 195 pounds.  Long limbs.  Good direction, working level.  Long arm swing to a high-3/4 slot.  Quick arm with a clean arm stroke throughout.  Fastball up to 90 with average ride and movement.  Flashed solid feel for a change-up with good arm speed.

Chase Arrington, RHP, North Raleigh Christian, 2023 – Smaller frame but with some strength and quickness.  Fastball peaked at 85, spinning at 1907.  Clean delivery with some uphill leverage and a long arm action working to an over-the-top slot.  Breaking ball has big top to bottom tilt spinning up to 2195rpm. 

Landen Baker, RHP, Southern Nash HS, 2023 – Large frame with wide hips and broad shoulders.  Durable build.  Slow rhythm over the rubber.  Long arm action to an over-the-top slot.  Average arm speed.  Arm strength over arm speed.  Fastball at 82-85.  Sweepy breaking ball spinning up to 2166rpm.

Chace Chaplin, RHP, Middle Creek HS, 2023 – Strength and athleticism in an average frame.  Profiles as a position player but worth a follow on the mound where the fastball peaked at 87.  Flashed solid feel for a breaking ball at 77-79, with an average spin of 2384rpm, working with 10/4 tilt. 

Jeffrey Dobson, RHP, Fuquay Varina HS, 2023 – Lean frame with some length for his size.  Athletic delivery works to build tempo.  Medium arm swing works to a position of strength with a low-3/4 slot.  Sweepy slider has length.  Fastball up to 82 with 15.7in of run out of the hand.  Slider showed varying tilt with solid arm speed.

Cohen Harris, RHP, Southeast Guilford HS, 2023 – Broad shoulders and large frame.  Controlled tempo over the rubber.  Long arm works to a high-3/4 slot with some whip.  Fastball up to 86, sprayed through the zone.

Travis Rhoads, LHP, Ledford HS, 2023 – Lefty continues to make gains and show better and better feel for his elevated stuff.  Simple and repeatable delivery.  Clean arm to a high-3/4 slot with solid arm speed and whip.  Good direction throughout.  Fastball up to 84 with late run at times, especially when on the arm side.  Sweepy breaking ball has some length out of the hand, spinning in the 2300rpm range.

Stephen Williams, RHP, Carolina Royals, 2023 – Thin with strength present.  Body has twitch.  Rhythmic delivery.  Medium arm swing fights to find consistent rhythm.  Over-the-top slot with good arm speed.  Fastball up to 84 with solid ride out of the hand. 

Nate Hollenbeck, RHP, Rolesville HS, 2024 – Length present with maturity still ahead to fill out the frame.  Slow tempo builds in delivery, working slightly closed at balance.  Short arm action works to load the scap.  High-3/4 slot.  Average to above arm speed.  Fastball peaked at 86, spinning up to 2088rpm.  Some arm side run present. 

Cody Hughes, RHP, Durham Jordan HS, 2024 --   Lean frame with length in the limbs.  Slight crossfire with some pelvic tilt at foot-strike.  Long arm swing with a slight elbow lead getting to an over-the-top slot.  Average to above arm speed.  Fastball ranged 81-84, erratic at times.  Good ride out of the hand with over 20in of average induced vertical break. 

Ethan Plesser, LHP, Cape Fear HS, 2024 – Large frame.  Controlled tempo over the rubber.  Coiled and closed at balance, working back to an on-line landing.  Some pelvic tilt as the arm wraps the body line getting to a high-3/4 slot.  Strong arm.  Fastball up to 77 with an average spin of 1904rpm.  Breaking ball was sharp at times with 2/8 tilt.

Trey Roberts, RHP, Green Level HS, 2024 – Rangy 6-foot-5 frame with plenty of room to add strength in the coming years.  Simple setup through balance.  Some swing in the front side to a slightly closed foot strike.  Long arm swing, slightly cupping the ball out of the glove.  Some elbow lead as the arm works to a high-3/4 slot.  Average to above arm speed.  Fastball up to 86 spinning at 2335rpm.  Breaking ball spin peaked at 2315rpm with 10/4 tilt.

Gavin Turner, RHP, Cary HS, 2024 – Simple delivery working with a stable head and good direction.  Average arm speed from a high-3/4 slot and long arm swing.  Breaking ball spin up to 2336rpm with sweeping action out of the hand.

Seth Tickel, RHP, Rocky Mount Academy, 2025 – Strong armed righty has strength present in a 5-foot-11 frame.  Some movement in the delivery working to an on-line delivery with a high-3/4 slot and a sidearm slot.  Sidearm slot has some whip.  Fastball peaked at 86.  Slider from the sidearm slot had over 20in of horizontal break out of the hand.

Carson Crider, RHP, Wake Forest HS, 2026 – High level athlete with a strong arm and quickness in the body.  Will be a high level follow in the coming years.  Athletic delivery.  Quick arm.  High-3/4 release. Solid ride and life out of the hand.  Fastball up to 85 with sink metrics.   Breaking ball has an average spin of 2352rpm, up to 2411rpm, with short, late 10/4 tilt.