Prep Baseball Report

Top Stories of 2022: Team Carolina Performances Solidify this Prospect's Status


Brandon Hall
Mid-Atlantic Scouting Director

Following high school baseball in North Carolina, we all know, there are a ton of great stories, players, and teams to follow each year.  As we continue to look back at 2022, we will take a look at some of the great stories of the year.  Today’s look back features a player that made the most of a couple of Team Carolina opportunities, eventually committing to Liberty to continue his playing career after high school.



Players that attend Team Carolina qualifiers receive a ton of information from each event.  For select players, they are invited to represent their home state on a regional or national level, where the level of competition can bring out college coaches and pro scouts.  For Sawyer Black (2024 OF, Wesleyan Christian Acad) his performance at the Preseason All-State in 2022 led to an invite to play for Team North Carolina in the NC/SC Border Battle.


The NC/SC Border Battle has quickly become a must see for college coaches and pro scouts.  The talent on hand for the 2022 event was the best in the evnet’s history.  Sawyer Black posted big numbers in the workout and in the game play portion, leading Team North Carolina in several offensive categories.  The performance from the Border Battle led to an invite to join Team Caroilna a the PBR Future Games, the nation’s biggest underclass event.


Scout Notes from the Border Battle (June 2022) – 6-foot, 180-pound frame with strength present. Left hand hitter. Impressed in both the workout and game action. Crushed a homerun off the scoreboard in right field and barreled another ball to right in a left on left situation in game action. Loose hands, barrel stays in the zone with above average bat speed. Top exit velocity at 96.2 mph in BP. Ran a 6.99 laser timed 60. Accurate arm from the outfield. 

 




At the PBR Future Games, Black would go through the Day 1 workout in front of nearly 400 college coaches, quickly turning heads with his frame, athleticism, and sweet left-handed swing.  While the Future Games are typically led by pitching performances, with hitters really only getting 1 look at each arm that throws, Black held his, producing high level at-bat after high level at-bat.  In game, Black produced several good at-bats against tough left handed looks.  He also showed off his athleticism tracking down a ball in the right-center gap, plus making a diving catch on a looping line drive to right field.


PBR Vice President of Scouting, Shooter Hunt, had this to say about Black after the PBR Future Games:

Finding the barrel over and over again throughout a mature batting practice, Black first drew my intrigue during workouts on the first day. The 6-foot, 180-pound outfielder is wiry-athletic with plenty more strength on the way, and is a sub 7.0 with upside at the plate. Comfortably working around the field throughout batting practice, Black demonstrated an acute ability to remain compact to the frame while working short-to-long through the zone. There is quickness created in a small window, and the potential for even greater power is in there as evidenced by a deep drive in game play on the final play. Black’s strong performance led to a commitment to Liberty following the event. ​​


After the Future Games, Black was able to commit to the school of his choice, Liberty University.  Coaches from Liberty saw Black several times, including at the NC/SC Border Battle as well as the PBR Future Games.