On Sunday October 28th, PBR was at NC State's Dail Park to host the Top Prospect Games: Underclass.  The event featured perhaps the most talented underclass field of talent that PBR has put together for one event.  With over 50 of the top players in the state on one field, we thought we would have a great day... and we did.

The day opened with the position players going through some athletic testing with Swift Athletics.  Players had the chance to run on a laser timed 60 yard on turf.  With Swift, PBR Scouts were able to collect the 60yd time, plus a 10yd split and a 30yd split.  With younger athletes, the 10yd and 30yd give a great glimpse and a players explosiveness out of the gate and a top end run speed, even if they cannot maintain that top end speed through the 60 yd course.  Players also went through some jumping test with Swift.  Players were tested in the vertcial jump as well as a 4-jump RSI.

Following the athletic testing, each hitter took multiple rounds of BP.  During BP, TrackMan was used to get ball flight information off the bat.  BLAST sensors were used to get readings on each hitter with their swing prior to contact.  Following BP, players went through a defensive workout at their primary defensive positions with PBR scouts taking metrics on arm strength.

After the player workouts, the event concluded with two controlled scrimmages.  Pitchers threw to live hitters in game situations that were controlled by PBR Scouts.  While the workout gives PBR Scouts and coaches a lot of information to digest, the game setting allows players to continue to show their skill set and to apply their tools in a competitive fashion.

Top Prospect Games: Underclass - Notes
+ 4 Players ran sub 6.90 in the sixty
+ 18 players ran sub 7.20 in the sixty
+ 20 players saw their peak run speed above 19mph
+ 19 players ran sub 4.00 in the thirty yard split
+ 12 players saw a max vertical jump of 30in or more
+ 10 players posted a BLAST Bat Speed Max of 75mph or higher
+ 12 players posted an average exit velocity above 85mph through their two rounds.
+ 99.9mph was the top exit velocity recorded on Sunday
+ 22 players posted an exit velocity of 90mph or higher
+ 5 catchers posted a velocity out of the crouch of 79mph or better

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stat breakdown from the Top Prospect Games: Underclass

Quick Hitters - 2027 Grads

Luke Talley, 1B/LHP, Green Level HS, 2027
6-foot, 159. Good athlete that will continue to build strength in a thin frame. Plays with some ease in his actions. Potential projection both as a position player and pitcher. Left handed hitter with a max exit velocity of 87.8mph.  Ran a 4.22 thirty yard split.  Athletic arm that was up to 78 on the bump while around the zone with a three pitch mix.

Brody Morris, Wake Chrisitian Academy, SS, 2027
Young frame at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds. Swing positioned to see immediate impact of added strength to the frame. Shows solid barrel feel.  Quickness present with a 4.04 thirty yard split and 7.32 sixty. 78 across the infield.

Caleb Renn, LHP/1B, Holly Springs HS, 2027
Thin frame. Lots of maturation ahead. Stands 5-foot-10, 155 pounds. Strike thrower with an athletic arm working through a ¾ slot.  Solid arm speed.  Showed good feel for moving his fastball throughout the zone. Has the feel to attack with three pitches.

Giovanni Buccino, 1B, West Forsyth HS, 2027
Physical presence at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds. Nimble around the bag and showed a solid burst running a 1.80 ten yard split. Right handed hitter with big power potential. Max exit velocity of 99.9mph. Peak distance in BP reached 384’. Bat speed max from BLAST at 73.5mph.

Baker York, OF/RHP, Broughton HS, 2027
Lean, athletic frame at 6-foot-1, 170 pounds. Youthful look. Athletic presence, running a 7.29 sixty with a 4.02 thirty yard split.  81 mph from the outfield.  Solid bat path and feel for the barrel. As he adds strength to the frame, the hit tool is poised to make gains. Clean arm and solid direction on the bump.

Connor Salerno, LHP, Sun Valley HS, 2027
Physical presence with broad shoulders and strength in the lower half. Stands 6-foot-2, 195 pounds. Stable with a loose arm through a long action.  High-¾ slot. Fastball works with a lot of ease out of the hand, peaking at 85.1mph. Solid ride with heavy run at times.  Paired with solid feel for a breaking ball and change-up.  Breaking ball spin up to 2253rpm. High ceiling.

Christine Xavier Romine, 3B/RHP, Union Pines HS, 2027
Thin, athletic build. Stands 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. Advanced bat speed with average feel for the barrel. When on the barrel, the ball jumps, maxing the exit velocity at 92mph. BLAST measured the bat speed up to 74.1mph. Ran a 7.34 sixty with a 4.05 thirty yard split. Bat ahead of the defense, but a lot of development still to come as he grows into his frame in the coming years.

Ethan Wisler, OF/RHP, Wakefield HS, 2027
6-foot, 155 pounds. Arm has easy carry and impressed in the outfield where it peaked at 85mph but had much better carry than the radar reading.  On the bump the athletic arm up to 83.1, 2384rpm. Solid ride, peaking above 19in, paired with heavy arm side run. 

Connor Woods, 3B, Grace Christian, 2027
Athletic presence with broad shoulders and thin waist. Stands 6-foot-1, 175 pounds. Ball jumps off the barrel.  Flat through the zone with above average bat speed for the age. Exit velocity up to 91.5mph with an exit average of 86.3mph.  Good rhythm in the hands and feet on the infield with an arm that has easy carry, maxing at 78mph across the diamond.