On Sunday January 26^th, ninety-one of the top players in the state of North Carolina converged at the Ultimate Performance Sports Center in Matthews, NC.  The Preseason All-State showcase event is the top winter event in North Carolina year after year and with the increased demand, there are now two sessions, an east and a west.  Below we take our first look at some player notes from the Preseason All-State West.

The day consisted of a full pro-style workout with pitchers throwing controlled bullpens, followed by defensive workouts for the position players.  Hitters were able to go through multiple cages to get loose prior to moving through two exit velocity stations.  Live BP was taken in a large cage, allowing scouts and coaches to see the ball fly off the bat.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Preseason All-State West

Preseason All-State West – By the Numbers:

• 91 players went through the workout at Ultimate Performance
• 36 pitchers threw controlled bullpens
• 80 hitters went through offensive and defensive workouts
• 24 players ran a sub-4.00 on the 30 yard laser timed sprint
• 33 hitters posted an exit velocity of 90 mph or higher
• 9 of 19 catchers posted a pop time of 2.10 or lower
• 7 Outfielders posted a positional velocity of 90 mph or higher
• 10 Pitchers worked at 86 or higher
• 3 arms touched 90 or better
• 2468rpm was the top fastball spin rate at the event.

 

Superlatives: Preseason All-State West

Just like a high school may select best dressed or best hair, the PBR scouting staff got together and selected some superlatives from the Preseason All-State West in Mattews, NC.  A lot of this information is subjective and was hotly debated.  Below are the names we came up with for some of the hotly contested categories.  All categories have several names, listed in alphabetical order.

 

Top Athlete

Calvert Clark, OF/RHP, Charlotte Christian, 2022 -- Clemson commit
Vance Honeycutt, SS, Salisbury HS, 2021 -- UNC commit
Parker Johnson, RHP/OF, The Christ School, 2021
Devin Tonkins, OF/SS, Greensboro Day School, 2021

 

Best Fastball

Calvert Clark, OF/RHP, Charlotte Christian, 2022 -- Clemson commit
Connor Higgins, LHP, Cuthbertson, 2021
Brandon Hudson, RHP, Cuthbertson, 2021 -- NC State commit
Parker Johnson, RHP/OF, The Christ School, 2021
Cooper King, RHP, Carmel Christian, 2020 -- NC State commit

 

Top Curveball

Calvert Clark, OF/RHP, Charlotte Christian, 2022 -- Clemson commit
Michael Gracer, RHP/1B, Northwest Cabarrus, 2021
Cooper King, RHP, Carmel Christian, 2020 -- NC State commit
Gavin Mortenson, SS/RHP, Northwest Guilford, 2020 -- Western Carolina commit
Jackson Roberts, RHP, Northern Guilford, 2022

 

Projection Arms

William Bryant, SS/RHP, Myers Park, 2022
Calvert Clark, OF/RHP, Charlotte Christian, 2022 -- Clemson commit
Cooper King, RHP, Carmel Christian, 2020 -- NC State commit
Gavin Mortenson, SS/RHP, Northwest Guilford, 2020 -- Western Carolina commit
Mason Murdock, RHP, Northwest Cabarrus, 2022

 

Best Offspeed Mix

Casey Gouge, LHP, West Rowan, 2022
Michael Gracer, RHP/1B, Northwest Cabarrus, 2021
Gavin Mortenson, SS/RHP, Northwest Guilford, 2020 -- Western Carolina commit
Mason Murdock, RHP, Northwest Cabarrus, 2022
Jackson Roberts, RHP, Northern Guilford, 2022

 

Speedster

Drew Gugino, OF, Lake Norman Charter, 2021
Logan Hall, OF, Myers Park, 2021
Archie Dean Herring, OF, Greensboro Day, 2021 -- Stanford commit
Vance Honeycutt, SS, Salisbury, 2021 -- UNC commit
Parker Johnson, RHP/OF, The Christ School, 2021
Devin Tonkins, OF/SS, Greensboro Day, 2021

 

Hit Tool

Brooks Brannon, C, Randleman, 2022
Calvert Clark, OF/RHP, Charlotte Christian, 2022
Matt Heavner, SS, North Lincoln, 2022
John Newton, OF, Cuthbertson, 2021 -- UNCW commit
Tyler Zedalis, SS, Cox Mill, 2023

 

Raw Power

Brooks Brannon, C, Randleman, 2022
Calvert Clark, OF/RHP, Charlotte Christian, 2022 -- Clemson commit
Ryder Douglas, RHP/1B, Pinecrest, 2022
Michael Gracer, RHP/1B, Northwest Cabarrus, 2021
John Newton, OF, Cuthbertson, 2021 -- UNCW commit

 

Top Defender

Matt Heavner, SS, North Lincoln, 2022 -- NC State commit
James Hobbs, SS, Myers Park, 2020
Vance Honeycutt, SS, Salisbury, 2021 -- UNC commit
Gavin Mortenson, SS, Northwest Guilford, 2020 -- Western Carolina commit