Top Stories of 2024: National Events Elevate North Carolina Prospects
January 16, 2025
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North Carolina's Finest Shine at Prep Baseball National Events
Prep Baseball events have become a proving ground for the nation's top high school baseball talent, offering a platform for players to showcase their skills in front of college coaches and professional scouts. North Carolina, with its rich baseball tradition, consistently sends a strong contingent of players to these prestigious events. Below we take a look at some of the standout performances on the national scene from 2024.
Prep Baseball All-American Game
The 2nd rendition of the Prep Baseball All-American Games was a huge hit in 2024. Hosted in Miami at the home of the Miami Marlins, the top 2025 grads faced off over the two day event against the top prospects in the 2026 class. Reigning MVP from 2023, Josh Hammond was back, performing at a high level yet again. He was joined by fellow 2025 grad, LHP Briggs McKenzie, who continued to turn heads with the ease he pumped his high octane stuff vs. the top Jr. hitters in the country.
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Josh Hammond SS / RHP / Wesleyan Christian Academy, NC / 2025
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Briggs McKenzie LHP / OF / Corinth Holders, NC / 2025 |
2024 All-American Game 🌴
Sept. 14 @ loanDepot Park in Miami, FL
+ 2024 Homepage
+ All Workout, Game Metrics
+ Full Game Recap
+ Rewatch the Game Broadcast
+ Workout Day Data Dive
National Program Invitational
The PBR National Program Invitational is an elite tournament that brings together some of the best high school baseball programs in the country. North Carolina was well-represented at this event, with several players making their mark.
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CJ Gray RHP / SS / A.L. Brown, NC / 2025
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Alex Hoffman RHP / C / Charlotte Catholic, NC / 2026
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+ Relive the 2024 NPI Tournament
Future Games
The PBR Future Games is a premier event for uncommitted underclassmen, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of college coaches from across the country. North Carolina had a strong presence at the Future Games, with several players emerging as top prospects. Team NC has featured 12 college commitments since the event, including 8 to ACC programs.
2024 Future Games 🔮
July 24-28 @ LakePoint Sports
+ #PBFG24 Homepage
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Senior Future Games
The Prep Baseball Senior Future Games kicked off its inaugural year in 2024. Running alongside the prestigious Future Games, uncommitted Seniors from across the country had a chance to shine in front of the 400+ College Coaches in attendance. North Carolina players joined forces with Virginia and Maryland players to form Team Mid-Atlantic. Going 3-0 was not the highlight of the event as over 230 players have committed to the college of their choice, including 10 players from NC.
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Bennett Baldassarre 1B / C / Providence, NC / 2025Rankings StateRank: 61 / POS: 3
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Cannon Lee RHP / SS / Pro5 Baseball Academy, NC / 2025Rankings StateRank: 55 / POS: 18
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+ Event Link with Rosters, Stats, and Analytics.
Jr. Future Games
The Prep Baseball Jr. Future Games has acted as a primer event for the top rising Freshmen in the country. Run at LakePoint in conjunction with the Future Games, the stars of tomorrow get a taste of the big time environment with college coaches flooding the facility while they workout and play. Team NC won their pool in 2024 and the group of 2028 players showcased a ton of depth for the class.
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Hunter Hedgecoe C / 3B / Terry Sanford High, NC / 2028 |
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Levi Kerr 3B / SS / Marvin Ridge, NC / 2028 |
+ Link to Roster, Stats, Analytics
East Coast Super Sophomore Games
With the changes in the recruiting rules and culture, the Prep Baseball Future Games was destined to see more of top rising Juniors in attendance. Always geared to the top uncommitted underclass players, the push in the contact period meant more of the rising Junior class would still be uncommitted and able to attend. That left a hole for the rising Sophomore class on the national landscape. In 2024, Prep Baseball introduced the Super Sophomore Games, broken down by region, to allow the top rising So. players to compete against each other. Team NC took on 9 other states from up and down the east coast, repping the state in a key week of work.
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Kellen Rogers SS / OF / Wake Forest, NC / 2027 |
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Oliver Van Tiem RHP / 3B / Orange, NC / 2027 |
+ Event Roster & Stats
Impact on North Carolina Baseball
The strong performances by North Carolina players at PBR national events have a significant impact on the state's baseball landscape.
Increased Exposure: These events provide players with unparalleled exposure to college coaches and professional scouts, increasing their chances of playing at the next level.
Elevated Reputation: The success of North Carolina players on the national stage enhances the state's reputation as a hotbed for baseball talent.
Inspiration for Future Generations: The achievements of these players serve as an inspiration for younger players in the state, motivating them to work hard and strive for excellence.
Team NC
North Carolina's baseball future is bright, thanks in part to the outstanding performances of its players at PBR national events. These events provide a platform for players to showcase their skills and achieve their dreams of playing college or professional baseball. As these players continue to develop and succeed, they will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the state's baseball legacy.
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