By Brandon Hall
Director of Scouting, PBR NC

Follow us on Twitter: @PrepBaseballNC

 

On Saturday January 14^th Prep Baseball Report ran a scout day for the Carolina Viper organization, based out of Waxhaw, NC.  The event included players from the 2018, 2019, and 2020 graduating classes.  Each player participated in an extended pro-style workout.  Infielders and outfielders received extended defensive sessions.  All position players were able to take multiple rounds of batting practice.  The pitchers through extended bullpens.  As part of the scout day, PBR evaluated each player in attendance and posted the player’s verified statistics and video to his PBR Player Profile page. 

 

CLICK HERE to see the full roster from the Viper Scout Day.  Click on the player’s name to see his info and video.

CLICK HERE to see the statistical report from the Viper Scout Day.

 

In order to get an in-depth look into the Viper program, we will breakdown the roster by position to look at the results from their Scout Day.  Today we take an in-depth look at the infielders.

 

Infielders

Zack Budzik, SS, Sun Valley HS, NC (2018)

Athletic with some strength in the 5-foot-8, 145 pound build.  Right handed hitter works from a balanced stance with a short stride.  Better than average batspeed produced an exit velocity of 88mph.  Decent approach throughout BP, with a level swing working for extension led to gap-to-gap type rounds.  Average at best barrel awareness can improve as timing continues to improve.  Ran a quick 30 yard dash in 3.89.  Defensively, flashed athleticism with average hands and fluid feet.  Clean exchanges worked to a short arm action finishing with a high-3/4 release.  Accurate with carry, arm strength peaked at 85mph across the diamond. 

 

Chris Gill, SS, Porter Ridge HS, NC (2018)

Lanky athletic build suggests there is still a high ceiling to the 6-foot, 180 pounder.  Showed athleticism, quickness and strength throughout the day.  Caught the ball with ease, using fluid footwork and good hands.  Clean exchanges worked to a high-3/4 slot with a short arm stroke.  Arm showed carry and accuracy while topping at 85mph from shortstop.  Offensively, works easy and repeats his swing.  There  is some waggle in the load that causes some barrel awareness issues.  Good approach and level path lead to a little pull tendency in the swing.  Average to above batspeed produced an exit velocity of 90mph.  Flashed quickness running his 30 in 4.01.

 

Jackson Herring, 3B, Weddington HS, NC (2019)

Right handed hitter works from a tall base, loading back, using an average leg kick to create better than average batspeed. Flashed some barrel awareness with a vertical bat.  Good approach and gap-to-gap mentality works through some stiffness at the point of contact.  Exit velocity topped at 82mph.  Defensively showed average hands and works through some stiffness in the throwing action.  Long arm action leads to a high-3/4 slot showing some accuracy.  Arm strength tested at 73 across the diamond.  Ran a 30 in 4.31.

 

Jesse Hertis, 2B, Union Academy, NC (2020)

A young player with a lot of room to fill out.  Stands 5-foot-8, 130 pounds and flashed good actions on the infield.  Worked clean and athletic through the ball, chopping his feet, and funneling to the mid-section.  Arm winds up to work with a long stroke to a high-3/4 slot showing accuracy with arm strength testing at 66mph.  Right handed hitter works with a balanced, athletic stance.  Loads back, using a short stride to create a level, line drive path.  Bat drags through the zone some and can increase its quickness with the addition of strength.  Exit velocity topped at 76.  Ran a 30 in 4.32.

 

Ike Linton, 2B, Parkwood HS, NC (2020)

Small frame with a lot of maturation ahead. Worked with some athleticism on the infield using soft hands and quick feet to range.  Clean, quick exchanges worked to a short arm swing to a high-3/4 slot.  The arm is clean, easy, and loads the scapular.  Tends to finish through his target.  Flashed accuracy with arm strength topping at 61mph.  In the box, works as a switch hitter.  From the right side, begins with an open stance with the hands positioned near the chin.  Loads back a little creating a punchy, slap type approach.  Short stride dives toward the plate.  on the left side, starts in a narrow stance, even and uses a small leg kick to get started.  Bat begins vertical with minimal load showing some feel for the barrel but lacking high end bat speed. Exit velocity topped at 68.  Ran a 30 in 4.44.

 

Jordan Parr, 3B, Parkwood HS, NC (2018)

Physically imposing, standing 6-foot-1, 180 pounds with a strong athletic frame.  Flashed strength, registering an exit velocity of 93mph off the bat.  Works from an open stance and uses a leg kick to get to a long, aggressive stride.  Better than average batspeed is created from a load down with the hands.  Barrell awareness can improve as the bat can be thin through the ball at times.  Strength over quickness in the swing.  On the infield, tends to play through balls, allowing the ball to get deep into the body, forcing the hands to stab at times.  Long arm action works to an over-the-top slot.  Some up/down issues with accuracy as the timing in the arm can lead to some stiffness.  Ran a 30 in 4.15.

 

William McGee, LHP/1B, Northside Christian Academy, NC (2018)

Good fundamental setup in a lot of his actions.  Stands 6-foot, 180 pounds with strength in the lower half.  Played through balls, utilizing average hands.  Arm works well with a long stroke to a high-3/4 slot.  Showed accuracy and carry, with the arm strength testing at 80mph across the infield.  In the box, the left handed hitter works from a balanced, athletic setup using a leg kick to get to a short stride.  Creates better than average batspeed, staying level, working with a small pull tendency.  Good barrel awareness and gets extension.  Exit velocity topped at 90mph.  Ran a 30 in 4.16.

 

Blaise Smith, 1B, Hickory Ridge HS, NC (2020)

Young player with some strength in the 5-foot-9, 150 pound frame already.  Tended to play through balls with a conservative exchange.  Feet caused some stiffness in the body as he readied the arm.  Left handed thrower works with a long arm arc to a high-3/4 slot, almost over-the-top.  Flashed accuracy throughout the day.  From the right side of the box, worked with an athletic stance and no load.  Short stride leads to a level path with some hook in the approach, creating a heavier pull tendency.  A compact swing, the head does sink on the stride causing some barrel awareness issues.  Exit velocity topped at 81.  Ran a 30 in 4.19.

 

Ethan Zulueta, SS, Weddington HS, NC (2020)

An intriguing infielder that showed a short, quick arm action, clean exchanges, and accuracy around a fluid feel for the position.  Feet and exchange worked with quickness.  Hands showed the ability to catch the ball consistently.  Arm slot had the ability to float from high-3/4 to low-3/4 based on the direction his feet.  Accuracy played from every slot.  Arm strength topped at 66 across the infield.  Right handed hitter lacks strength at this time, but the 5-foot-7, 130 pound frame has a lot of maturity left in it.  Balanced setup, loads up with a short stride.  Tended to work opposite field with a slap type approach.  Exit velocity topped at 69mph.  Ran a 4.32, 30 yard.