The Performance Academy Open ID - Dual Catcher / Pitcher & Outfielder / Pitcher Analysis

November 21, 2018
Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
North Carolina Director of Scouting & PBR Assoc Scout

On Saturday November 11^th, Prep Baseball Report held an open prospect identification, in conjunction with the Performance Academy, at Jim Perry Stadium, on the campus of Campbell University. With over 70 players in attendance, PBR ran a full pro-style workout, gathering information on each player in attendance.

Position players were up first, going through a full offensive evaluation that included a laser timed 60 on the turf at Campbell, an exit velocity test off a tee in the cage area, and several rounds of batting practice, live on the playing field. Following the offensive testing, a full defensive evaluation took place with outfielders throwing from right field, infielders working out at shortstop and at first base, and catcher being evaluated on pop times, blocking and recovering, and receiving.

Following the position players, pitchers and catchers were evaluated in a bullpen setting. Delivery, arm action, arm speed, stuff, velocity, and command were all taken into account as scouts dialed into each arm in attendance.

PBR scouts in attendance were able to take stats on each player in attendance, while compiling evaluations on players that will lead to potential invites to the Preseason All-State, Top Prospect Games, the Future Games, and the Super 60. Player statistics are available, with evaluations and player video coming in the near future.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster from the workout, along with the statistics compiled.

Below we dive into players that worked out as position players and pitchers. We take a look at primary catchers and outfielders. Each player went through the full workout with the position players and followed it by throwing a controlled bullpen for PBR's scouts on hand.

By The Numbers:

+ 72 players worked out at the event. All players ranged from 2020 – 2022 graduates.
+ 17 players ran a sub 7.20 sixty on the laser timer.
+ 7.51 was the median sixty time for the event
+ 91 mph was the top arm velo on the day from Infielder Daniels Stephens (2020)
+ 6 players worked at 83 mph or better across the diamond with a median infield velocity of 73 mph
+ 89 mph was the top OF velocity with 6 at or above 82 mph from right field. The median velocity was 75 mph
+ 18 catchers worked out with a median pop time of 2.12 and a median positional velocity of 72 mph out of the crouch
+ 2 catchers posted a sub-2.00 pop time with 7 at or below 2.10
+ 2 hitters broke the 90 mph barrier in exit velocity with 13 above 85 mph. The median exit velocity was 80 mph
+ 87 mph was the top Fastball in the bullpen sessions
+ 6 players worked at 81 mph or better, out of the 16 bullpens
+ 78 mph was the median fastball for the event.

Dual Catcher / Pitcher Analysis

Adam Booker C / RHP / Middle Creek, NC / 2022

6 foot 2, 160-pound lanky, athletic build. Hits from the right side using a balanced setup. Smooth load with his hands working back with a quiet barrel. Short stride slide diving back into the plate with his lower half. Has some strength in his swing with his barrel working short to the ball and staying in the zone. Simple swing with a line drive approach working gap to gap. Above average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 76 mph. Higher setup behind the plate with some stiffness. Quick feet with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Accurate arm with pop times ranging from 2.04-2.31. Positional velocity peaked at 72 mph.
On the mound gets his delivery started with a step to the side then into his leg lift with his leg working up to his chest. In line to the plate with a long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot. Arm drags a bit at times, causing some misses to the arm side. Works in the zone with his fastball at 76-79 mph. Fastball has run and sink. Showed feel for his changeup with run and sink at 69-70. Curveball has gradual break at 61-64 mph. Try to overthrow his curveball at times but did show the ability to spin the ball. Recorded a 7.86 in the 60.

Matthew Knight C / 1B / Holly Springs, NC / 2021

Average 5-foot-10, 165 pound frame. Right handed hitter is balanced and athletic with a simple setup. Short stride, diving towards the plate, while loading the back side. Pull conscious swing working for extension with some uphill leverage. Exit velocity of 72 mph off the barrel. Average bend in the hips. Tends to fall forward while working to throw. False step with the throwing arm foot prior to receiving. Low exchange works to a short arm action and high release. Pop times ranged 2.26 – 2.51 with a positional velocity of 65 mph out of the crouch. At first base, shows good bend in the hips with an exchange at the point of the catch. Long arm swing to a high-3/4 release. Accurate with throws having average carry.
On the mound, the fastball sat 68-71, occasionally cutting to the glove side. The change-up works with near fastball hand speed at 60-62. The breaking ball ranged 55-57 with early, gradual tilt. Tilt varied from 11/5 to 10/4. Breaking ball is still be developed and was occasionally pulled across the zone. Some rhythm to the delivery working level and on-line, landing with the toe open. Short arm swing to a high-3/4 slot.

Peter Maldonado C / RHP / Heritage, NC / 2021

5 foot 11, 160-pound athletic build. Hits from the left side using an open, athletic setup. Smooth load with a leg kick, getting back in line with his feet. Loose, fluid swing with his lower half getting through the ball. Has barrel tip during his load with above average bat speed. Aggressive approach working gap to gap during batting practice. Shows strength to his pull side. Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph. Athletic behind the plate with a low setup. Fluid feet, with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot. Accurate arm with pop times at 2.15-2.26. Positional velocity peaked at 72 mph.
On the mound he has a fluid delivery with a short step to the side with a compact leg lift working up to his chest. In line to the plate with a long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot. Loose arm with his fastball working at 77-80 mph. Curveball ranged from 60-64 mph with 11/5 action and gradual break. Changeup has fade at 67-71 mph. Flashed a split with sink at 68-71 mph. Strike thrower with feel for his secondary pitches. Recorded a 7.74 in the 60.

Jared Mayer C / RHP / South Garner, NC / 2022

5 foot 7, 160-pound build. Hits from the right side using a balanced setup. Weight works back during his load. Uses a small leg kick, looking to get his lower half through the ball. Some feel for the barrel, staying through the zone. Works gap to gap driving some balls to his pull side during batting practice. Has some strength in his swing. Exit velocity recorded at 77 mph. Pop times ranged from 2.36-2.62 with a long exchange. Short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Some accuracy to his throws with his positional velocity peaking at 69 mph.
On the mound he worked only from the stretch, throwing from a low ¾ slot. Fastball has some arm side run and sink at 64-66 mph. Touched 68 mph from a slightly higher slot. Feel for his sweeping breaking ball at 58-59 mph. Flashed a changeup at 57 mph. Recorded a 8.53 in the 60.

Dual Outfielder / Pitcher Analysis

Cole Christman OF / RHP / Apex Friendship, NC / 2020

Lanky frame at 6-foot-4, 160 pounds. Plenty of room to add strength. Right handed hitter is tall in his setup. Loads back before working to create some uphill leverage in the swing path. Average bat speed. Rhythm can be choppy at times and may hurt his current barrel ability. Exit velocity peaked at 74 mph. From the outfield, works through some stiffness as he plays through the ball. Athletic exchanges to a Long arm swing and over-the-top slot. Accurate with some carry at 71 mph out of the hand. Ran a 7.59 laser timed sixty.
On the mound, the fastball filled the zone at 69-71. Change-up plays as the 2^nd pitch with occasional sink at 65-66. Maintains hand speed on the change and attacks the zone. Breaking ball has a slight hump out of the hand, working with early, gradual 11/5 tilt, ranging 57-59. Attacked the zone with feel for all three pitches. Some rhythm in the delivery, working level, landing slightly across his line. Long arm action has some effort getting to an exaggerated over-the-top slot.

Ethan Clinkscales OF / 3B / Panther Creek, NC / 2022

5 foot 9, 165-pound build. Offensively he hits from the left side using a tall setup. Short stride with his upper body working slightly forward during his load. Has quickness to his hands with his barrel working short to the ball. Some feel for the barrel, staying through the zone and getting extension out front. Exit velocity recorded at 80 mph. Plays through balls in the outfield with fluid feet and average hands. Gets momentum into his throw with a long exchange and longer arm action, throwing from a low ¾ slot. Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 74 mph.
On the mound has a slow tempo to his delivery with a short step to the side and leg working to around his waist during leg lift. Works in line to the plate with a loose arm, throwing from a ¾ slot. Filled the zone up with his fastball at 73-76 mph. Fastball has run and sink. Feel for his changeup with fade and sink at 69-71 mph. Curveball is a work in progress at 63-65 mph. Creates spin on the ball but lacked some feel for it during the bullpen. Recorded a 7.20 in the 60.

Ethan Watkins OF / LHP / Bunn , NC / 2020

5-foot-11, 215 pounds. Left handed hitter is tall and balanced in the box. Pre-pitch rhythm with a low hand set and vertical bat. Toe tap to load with an average stride. Good rhythm. Works for extension with a pull gap emphasis. Flat through the zone. Has barrel awareness. Exit velocity peaked at 76 mph off the barrel. Defensively, works to be athletic through the ball, fielding off the right foot with good hands. Long exchange with a long arm action to an over-the-top slot. Shows accuracy with a positional velocity of 74 mph out of the hand. Ran a 7.89 in the laser timed sixty.
On the mound, lefty works with an average leg kick and stability over the rubber. Slow tempo allows for a long arm action getting to an over-the-top slot. Lands slightly open to his line with an open toe. Finishes with good direction. Flooded the zone with a fastball at 67-70. Occasional arm side action. Worked the down zone. Breaking ball is inconsistent, slowing the hand some. Gradual break with a hump out of the hand and downer action at 56-58. Change-up uses average arm speed. Inconsistent feel, working to be down, ranging 63-65. Seems to choke the change through the release and pitch may develop with time.