By Brandon Hall

Director of Scouting, PBR NC

 

Follow us on Twitter: @PrepBaseballNC

 

Prep Baseball Report recently worked out players from across the state at Pine Forest High School in Fayetteville, NC.  The catchers had the longest day, working out defensively at a secondary position, prior to BP, and then moving into receiving, throwing, and blocking drills.  They also caught the bullpens for the pitchers.  Each catcher receives verified stats from the PBR staff, along with a scouting report and video.  Below are highlights from the catchers attending the Fayetteville Prospect Open.

HIGHLIGHTS

+  5 Catchers took part in the workout

+  Prior to working their Pop Times, each catcher worked on bunts, blocking, receiving, & picks

+  Full evaluations and video are available on each catcher listed below

 

CLICK HERE to view the complete Fayetteville Prospect Open roster, with links to each player’s profile

CLICK HERE to view all of the statistical results.

 

Catchers

Nathan Campbell, C, Corinth Holders HS, NC (2020)

Young frame that still has a lot of growing and maturing, listed at 5-foot-8, 150 pounds.  Right handed hitter works from a slightly opened stance, minimal load in the hands, and a short stride, back to even.  Back side triggers creating average bat speed for the age, with an inside-out type swing producing a gap-to-gap BP.  Occasionally late with the timing, barrel awareness can improve.  Head remains very consistent, tracking contact to the barrel.  Behind the plate worked with a long arm actin to a high-3/4 slot.  Exchanges were low, and bobbled at times, creating pop times ranging 2.38-2.57.  Arm strength measured at 66mph from the crouch.  Sixty measured at 8.30.

 

Austin Gilley, C, Southern Alamance HS, NC (2019)

Athletic build with strength in the 5-foot-10, 165 pound frame.  Left handed hitter works with some uphill leverage and better than average bat speed.  Starting from an athletic stance, high back elbow, and utilizing a short stride produced good balance throughout the swing.  Good approach leads to a pull emphasis throughout BP.  Exit velocity topped at 79mph, with a future power rating that will rise.  Behind the dish, registered Pop Times 2.10-2.19, flashing carry and some accuracy.  High transfer leads to a short arm swing and high-3/4 slot, with some stiffness as he re-coils out of extension.  Landing slightly open at foot strike, the ball did not seem to tail too much to arm side.  Arm speed measured at 71mph from his stance.  Sixty timed at 7.80.

 

Aaron Smith, C, Gray’s Creek HS, NC (2020)

Fundamentally sound in several phases, flashed Pop Times between 2.00-2.31.  From the crouch worked with a short arm swing and short feet to produce a quick exchange and release.  Arm showed some carry, touching 72 from the crouch.  Offensively, the right handed hitter is slightly open in an athletic stance to start.  Loads back with an aggressive stride forward.  Better than average bat speed, creating whip, works for extension with some uphill leverage.  Fluid rhythm produced gap-to-gap rounds of BP.  Occasionally long, barrel awareness should continue to improve with time and strength.  Exit velocity topped at 84mph.  Sixty measured at 7.86.

 

Luke Parks, C, Sun Valley HS, NC (2017)

Physical at 6-foot, 205 pounds, still flashed athleticism running his sixty in 7.36.  Strength showed in the swing, with exit velocity topping at 97mph and aggression on every swing taken.  Right handed hitter works from a slightly open stance with an average stride working back to an even base.  The load takes the bat to a vertical alignment, creating whip and bat speed as the swing work level through the zone.  Wants extension, staying gap-to-gap, throughout BP.  Fluid rhythm, occasionally late with the load, led to average barrel awareness.  From the crouch, flashed arm strength, touching 75mph.  Pop Times ranged 2.23-2.39 with accuracy.  Long arm action and long feet, leads to some transfer issues. 

 

Gordon Pihl, C, Richmond Sr HS, NC (2018)

Working out the day after a state playoff football game, still flashed strength and feel.  Listed at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds with lanky levers and a strong lower half.  Right handed hitter works from an open stance, loading back, to almost a barred arm.  Bat works to a vertical position.  Uses a small leg kick to start the short stride.  Worked gap-to-gap, showing more barrel awareness toward the back end of each round.  Tends to stay on the back side after stride, still creating average bat speed that produced an exit velocity of 91mph.  Strength over quickness in the swing at this time.  Behind the plate, showed accuracy on throws registering 77mph from the crouch.  Pop Times ranged 2.05-2.21.  Exchanges were not always clean as the hands have some stiffness from the receiving area to the transition.  Strength level makes him an interesting watch over the next year as he works to add athleticism to the frame.