By Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

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Tuesday July 25th brought about the first outdoor invitation event with Prep Baseball Report in North Carolina.  A roster of over 50 elite players, mainly from the 2018 class, with a few 2019's sprinkled in, met at Boshamer Stadium on the campus of the University of North Carolina.  The all-star event was attended by college coaches and pro scouts as well as national crosscheckers from PBR.

Each pitcher worked vs. live hitters in a controlled scrimmage setting.  Facing 4 - 5 hitter per inning the PBR staff was able to dictate what they wanted to see from pitchers if needed.  Most arms were able to work through their innings cleanly.  Each player was filmed and video, along with the updated statistics and an evaluations, will be added to the player's PBR Profile page.

Pitcher Evaluation

Gold Team

Austin Kenyon LHP / OF / Hoggard , NC / 2018 At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds looks the part taking the bump.  Stretch only with a tall posture and average leg kick.  High front side tilts the shoulders up, creating some leverage as he works back down the hill.  Fastball sat 81-84 from a quick arm, out of a high-3/4 slot.  Long arm swing, with looseness.  Some effort in the finish as the head leaves the front side a little.  Body gets to the front side but has to fight to get over it and get extension, falling to the 1B side of the field at times.  Breaking ball used a gradual 1/7 arc at 64-66.  Erratic with the command at times, when he found it he was able to repeat.  Gets inside the change-up, working to create fade at 65.  Arm slows and the window is different but he showed some feel for adjusting this in the short outing.  Projection exists as the frame can continue to add strength and the arm looks clean.

Cade Ramsey RHP / RHP / North Buncombe , NC / 2018 6-foot-3, 180 pounds with some length in the limbs in an average build.  Works level and in-line to an over-the-top slot.  Slight stab on the bottom of the arm swing leads to a little stiffness and creates some effort in the body.  Fastball sat 75-80, around the zone.  Breaking ball worked elevated in the zone at 68-69, flashing occasional depth in the 12/6 shape.  Early and gradual it was a bit erratic but the future projection can be seen.  Delivery provides some deception as there is a quick rocker and a pause prior to lifting to an average balance point.  Stays tall on the backside, landing slightly stiff on the front side.  When the delivery syncs, there is angle to the fastball and breaking ball.

Blue Team

Alec Hunter LHP / OF / Westchester Country Day, NC / 2018 Average frame at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds.   Athletic demeanor in a delivery that is repeated.  Average leg kick that build rhythm to a long arm action and high-3/4 slot.  Ball hidden behind body line.  Head leaves the front side early.  Fastball played 78-80 with run.  Showed feel for both sides of the plate with the fastball.  Easy effort, worked level and in-line.  Breaking ball showed an early hump with a 2/8 gradual break at 65-67.  Slowed the arm some.  Hit and miss with the glove on the breaker.  Change-up worked near the fastball window and hand speed.  Occasional fade at 66-67.

Sen Kenneally RHP / Phillips Exeter, NC / 2018 Large 6-foot-8, 205 pound frame that has plenty of room for maturity with long limbs.  Showed good coordination for the big frame.  Fastball sat 85-88 from a high-3/4 slot and above average arm speed.  Short arm swing, lets the elbow load the scapular with good rhythm.  Easy effort, the strike thrower attacks the zone.  Ball jumps out of the frame and arm action.  Works level and in-line, falling to the 1B side at times.  Breaking ball flashed short, late 10/4 action at 73-76.  Still maturing the spinner was erratic as the body would run away from the line early at times.  Change-up has deception working near fastball hand speed.  Straight at 80-81, showed command of the zone with it.

Bryson Linkous RHP / 1B / Stuart Cramer, NC / 2018 Large frame at 6-foot-8, 240 pounds.  Has continued to add athleticism over the past year as he settles into his size.  Long arm action works to an over-the-top slot.  Works level and in-line.  Fights for the rhythm of the delivery at times, showing more consistency in the stretch.  Fastball ranged 79-81, seeming to play better vs hitters.  Around the zone with all pitches.  Breaking ball has a gradual 10/4 arc.  Similar window and hand speed to the fastball it sat 68-73.

Spencer Treadaway RHP / 3B / Reagan, NC / 2018 Right hander attacks the zone with feel for fastball and breaking ball.  Long, loose arm arc gets to a high-3/4 slot.  Good balance point and easy effort from a smooth delivery that works level and in-line.  Good tempo, pounded the bottom half of the zone.  Fastball worked 75-78, occasionally cutting.  Located at a high level to the arm side vs. left and right handed hitters.  Breaking ball has gradual arc in a 11/5 shape.  Window is similar to fastball with hand speed that can provide some deception. Breaking ball touched 62. Offensively the 5-foot-10, 160 pounder works from an athletic base with a short stride.  Loads the bat head to a vertical position.  Stays level through the zone, working the middle of the field.  Exit velocity hit 80 off the barrel.  Arm works with a long path to an over-the-top slot.  Advanced accuracy and average carry at 81 across the diamond.  Funnels to the midsection with clean exchanges as he plays through the ball.  Plays with a high motor and showed better feel for the barrel in game vs. BP.

Brendan Wright RHP / 3B / Holly Springs, NC / 2018 Committed to Campbell shortly after the Top Prospect Games.  Quick arm reached 88 on the bump from a loose high-3/4 slot.  Good rhythm builds the arm speed, working level and in-line.  Finishes slightly to the 1B side as the hips work to get through each pitch.  Attacks the zone with the fastball jumping on hitters at 86-88.  Slider is tight, working from the same window as the fastball, with the same hand speed.  10/4 tilt on the sharp, late break at 73-76.  Arm continues to work easy, with the elbow loading the scapular in an average arm swing.  Projection still exists as the body continues to get stronger on the 6-foot, 180  pound frame.  Offensively, right handed hitter is open in a tall base using a short stride to get back to even.  Above average bat speed looks for extension peppering the left centerfield gap.  Aggressive and strong, tends to stay on the back leg and rotate through contact.  Occasionally cuts across the ball.  Ran a 4.53 home to first.  Arm worked from the outfield as well, touching 91, showing accuracy to each base.

Gray Team

Conor McGee LHP / OF / Hickory Ridge, NC / 2018 Average build in a 6-foot, 175 pound frame.  Arm works behind the body line slightly, with some elbow lead above the shoulder line.  Long arm action has an average arm speed producing fastballs ranging 79-81.  Front side coils at balance, unwinding as he works down the line.  Arm gets caught at time working from a high-3/4 to a ¾ slot.  Slider is short with 2/8 break.  Similar to fastball with the handspeed and ranging 72-73.  Body works hard to uncoil on change, sacrificing some extension but creating early run at 73-74.  Shows feel for the zone on all three pitches.  Decent rhythm to the delivery and the tempo of the game.  Works level and in-line, falling to the 3B side on finish. Left handed hitter sets with high hands and a slight crouch.  Weight is pressed to the back leg.  Weight shift back to load and no stride.  Loose with above average bat speed and a level path.  High finish.  Stays gap-to-gap with good rhythm and barrel awareness.   Exit velocity of 79 mph off the barrel.  Caustious through the ball in the outfield.  Easy exchange to a long arm action and 3/4-high3/4 slot, cutting across the finish.  Average carry and showed accuracy.  Arm speed measured at 78.

Sam Kaplan RHP / 1B / Northern Guilford, NC / 2018 Long, lanky build at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds.  Repeats the delivery with good lines and an average leg kick.  High-3/4 slot with a long arm swing.  Slight hook out of the glove as the arm bottoms out.   Tall base at balance and easy effort.  Fastball ranged 80-82, around the zone.  Breaking ball rolled out of the hand with a slight hump at 67-69.  Gradual 11/6 arc.  Similar hand speed to the fastball.  Offensively works from a balanced setup on the right side.  Short stride with waggle in the bat head.  Flat through the zone with a pull tendency.  Cut across the ball at times.  Exit velocity peaked at 87 mph.  Average hands and easy, clean exchanges at 1B.  Long arm swing, with some stiffness, gets to an over-the-top slot.  Looseness in the body through the catch and exchange.  Accuracy from several throwing positions.  Good carry at 80 mph out of the hand.

Jack Ratliff RHP / 1B / Greensboro Day School, NC / 2019 Average build in a 6-foot-4, 185 pound frame.  Room for strength as he continues to mature.  Quick arm from a high-3/4 slot.  Rushed and choppy rhythm as he works to find balance and his line.  Out of the wind-up the hips tilt up at balance, after a small pause.  Fastball ranged 81-84.  Two breaking balls with curveball at 67-69.  Downer action, occasionally late tilt.  Slider is 72-74 with 10/4 gradual tilt.  Wind-up and stretch deliveries differ with arm action and tempo.  Stuff plays more consistent out of stretch but the zone is controlled more out of the wind-up.  Elbow loads the scapular in a position of strength from the stretch.  Elbow works above the shoulder line from the wind-up.  Still a young frame, this should clean itself.

Red Team

Kyler Eckert RHP / OF / Sun Valley, NC / 2018 Average 5-foot-10, 155 pound frame.  Works from a high-3/4 slot with average arm speed.  Average leg kick from a good balance point.  Easy effort with smooth rhythm working level and in-line.  Good head stability as the front side clears slightly early.   Fastball ranged 77-79 with run and sink.  Feel for pitching to the arm side.  Slider has tilt with a mature 10/4 shape.  Similar window and hand speed to fastball, sitting 68-69.  Showed an ability to adjust with the pitch and start fastball and slider to same spots.  Showed feel for game control, holding runners and pitch sequencing.

Michael Hargett RHP / 1B / Porter Ridge, NC / 2018 Big bodied 6-foot-1, 205 pound right handed hitter.  Open stance with a short stride that dives back toward the plate.  Cuts across the ball at times showing some feel for the barrel.  Worked the middle of the field.  Exit velocity peaked at 76.  Good glove around the bag.  Lacks some bend in the hips, playing high, catching balls deep.  Clean exchanges work to a long arm swing and an over-the-top slot.  Some feel for accuracy, especially when the ball stays in his frame work for the catch.  Average carry at 75 mph across the diamond.  Ran a 5.12 through 1B in game. On the bump, has some feel for controlling his body.  Fastball ranged 76-77.  Arm side run when thrown to the arm side.  Change-up played well at 70-71.  Arm side fade from the same window as the fastball.  Deceptive to the hitter.  Threw one breaking ball at 70.  Long arm arc works to a high-3/4 slot.  Works level and in-line, landing square.