Prep Baseball Report

Quick Hitters: Burlington Preseason ID Hitters


Zach Boraski
North Carolina Assistant Scouting Director

Prep Baseball of North Carolina opened the 2024 event season with the Burlington Preseason ID.  An indoor event at Triad Baseball Academy, players had a chance to go through athletic testing, positional evaluations, as well as pitching and BP evaluations.  Prep Baseball scouts were on hand to run the event verify stats, and evaluate the players involved.

Triad Baseball Academy offered a spacious workout facility.  Players had plenty or room to run a laser timed 30, while catchers, infielders, and outfielders were able to stretch their arms in their evaluation phase.  Pitchers threw off of indoor mounds on a day that saw rain pummel the Carolinas.

In all, twenty players took part in the event.  Below we take a data dive into the results of the workout.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and statistical out put from the Burlington Preseason ID.

By The Numbers
+ 3 catchers saw pop times below 2.10
+ 5 infielder or outfielder arms were at 84 or higher from their position
+ 5 hitters posted an exit velocity of 90mph or higher
+ 364' was the furthest ball hit, as measured by TrackMan in the cage workout
+ 9 hitters had their average bat speed measured at 65mph or higher
+ 8 players ran 4.05 or better in the laser timed 30yd sprint
+ 3 players recorded a vertical jump above 30"
+ 4 Pitchers popped 83.9mph or better
+ 5 Pitchers spun their breaking ball at 2350rpm or higher

Burlington Preseason ID - Position Player Quick Hitters

Houston Poole, MIF, Overhills HS, 2025

5’10 125 pound frame. A left-handed hitter with looseness in the hands, working with a direct path to the ball. 30-yard dash was 3.92, top exit velo was 81.4 mph. 

Aiden Parker, MIF, South Central HS, 2027

5’9 125 pound frame. Leg kick load, whippy barrel hands have quickness as barrel works through the zone. Top exit velo was 83.3, arm peaked in inf at 77mph.

Lucas Riley, OF/SS, Ledford HS, 2025

5’11 165 pound frame. Vertical stance small leg load. Works through middle of field with line drive oriented swing. Top exit velo was 88.8 mph, Peak OF velo 84 mph, laser timed 30 yard dash 3.72. 

Cooper Mark, SS, Western Alamance HS, 2027

5’9 150 pound frame. Vertical approach creates natural loft in the swing.  Pull side emphasis with a fluid swing and barrel feel. Top exit velo was 89.1 mph, Arm peaked at 80 mph across diamond.

Calvin Tourville, SS, Northwood HS, 2026 

5’10 150 pound frame. Line drive approach works to the pull side. Barrell works flat and directional with good rhythm. Top exit velo was 87.3 mph, arm topped at 80 across the diamond. 

Owen Cho, C/OF, Broughton HS, 2026

5’8 155 pound frame. Leg left load with rhythm and good timing. Worked mainly middle to pull side. Quick exchange behind the plate pop time ranged 2.07-2.27. Max exit velo was 82.8 mph.

Christian Gentrup, MIF, Northwest Guilford HS, 2026

5’7 155 pound frame.  Strength present, working with a direct path to the ball. Feel for the barrel and ability to drive ball gap to gap. Max exit velo was 88.6 mph, arm maxed at 79 across the diamond.

Hank Gaston, C/SS, North Carolina Leadership Academy, 2026

6’0 165 pound fame. Vertical approach with arm bar load. Line drive approach with feel for the middle of the field.  Peak hand speed 23.4 mph, Top exit velo 89.8, Pop Time 2.16-2.19.

Gavin Jackson, 1B, Cleveland HS, 2026

6’3 200 pound frame. Physical presence who works inside the ball. Drives the ball with authority middle to backside. Max exit velo 96.3, avg exit velo 89.4, peak velo from 1B was 82.

Brodie Tuthill, SS, Reagan HS, 2027

5’11 155 pound frame. Uses a smooth leg load to create looseness in swing. Works gap to gap with some loft present in swing. Max exit velo was 87.8 MPH, From the OF was 84 MPH.

Ja’lynn Thomas. OF, Pine Forest, 2026

6’2 172 poidn frame. LHH with slightly closed stance worked through middle of the field. Athleticism is present in swing. Exit Velo topped at 88.7 mph, from the outfield led the event at 86 MPH.

Hudson Tuttle, C, Reagan HS,2027

5’11 175 pound frame.  Strong build catcher with pop times ranging 1.9-2.01 with a velo up to 79. The ball jumps off the bat with a exit velo of 90.1. Effort and intent are both present in the swing.

Preston Smith, SS, Hoggard HS, 2026

6’2 185 pound frame. Uses a toe tap swing load create loft to the pull side. Feel for the barrel is present. Exit velo maxed at 91.5, posted inf velo of 84 mph.

Hayden Fones, MIF, Apex Friendship HS, 2025

6’2 188 pound frame. Electric batting practice driving the baseball with a max exit of 96.8. Uses a high leg lift and loose whippy swing creating a 78 mph bat speed. Event leading ball off bat at 364 feet.

Garrett Byrd, C, North Lenior HS, 2025

6’0 190 pound frame. Physical presence in the box working middle to back side, driving the baseball with authority. Event leading exit velo of 97.9, along with top catching velo of 80 MPH.

Luke Haltom, OF, Athens Drive, 2025

6’2 190 pound frame. Lanky frame that uses upright stance to generate a line drive approach to the ball. Barrel path is direct and flat. From the OF topped out at 84 MPH.