Prep Baseball Report

2020 Preseason All-State East: 2021 Pitchers


Brandon Hall
Executive Director, PBR NC

On Sunday February 2nd, sixty of the top players in the state of North Carolina converged at the Next Level Training Center in Greenville, NC.  The Preseason All-State showcase event is the top winter event in North Carolina year after year and with the increased demand, there are now two sessions, an east and a west.  Below we continue our first look at some player notes from the Preseason All-State East.   

The day consisted of a full pro-style workout with pitchers throwing controlled bullpens, followed by defensive workouts for the position players.  Hitters were able to go through multiple cages to get loose prior to moving through two exit velocity stations.  Live BP was taken in a large cage, allowing scouts and coaches to see the ball fly off the bat.

The 2021 group at the PAS East featured a lot of talent spread across the field.  We start our look at the 2021 class with the primary pitchers.  A mix of lefty and righty arms has two committed players and several high end follows moving into the spring.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Preseason All-State East

Preseason All-State West – By the Numbers:

  • 60 players went through the workout at Next Level Training Center
  • 50 players ran the laser timed 30 yard dash
  • 3.61 was the top 30 yard time
  • 15 players ran sub-4.00 in the 30 yard dash
  • 14 players registered an exit velocity of 90 mph or higher off the bat
  • 97 mph was the top registered exit velocity
  • 93 mph was the top positional velocity from the OF
  • 94 mph was the top positional velocity across the infield
  • 10 catchers flashed a pop time of 2.10 or better in their workout
  • 24 arms threw controlled bullpens at the workout
  • 9 players were 83 or higher
  • 89 mph was the top fastball from the event

 

2021 PItcher Analysis

 

 

 

Thomas Welton LHP / 1B / Leesville Road, NC / 2021

Positional Profile: LHP/1B.
Body: 5’10, 150 pounds.
Delivery: Side saddle with a small rocker and smooth lift to the low chest. Coils the lower half at balance, closing the top half. Front side swings open as he uncoils. Lands on-line with a square foot-strike
Arm Action: LH. Arm works in line with his shoulders through a full arm action. High-3/4 release with average to above arm speed.
FB: T74, 73-74 mph. 1875 - 1930 rpm. Some arm side run. Better feel as the bullpen progressed, showing fastball to both sides
CB: 63-67 mph. 1845 - 2845 rpm. 2/8 tilt out of the hand with gradual arc. Located for strikes.
CH: 65-66 mph. 1059 - 1105 rpm. Solid arm speed and extension. Located the change to the glove side

 

 

Blake Hanly LHP / 1B / Heritage, NC / 2021

Positional Profile: LHP/1B.
Body: 6’4, 195 pounds.
Delivery: Simple delivery with a small rocker and easy turn. LIfts to the low-chest, staying on-line. Lands open with a closed front foot. Works for extension
Arm Action: LH. Medium arm swing that accelerates after a slight reach. Head tilts toward the hand on release, creating a 3/4 slot. Average to above arm speed.
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. 1930 - 1990 rpm. Strike thrower with occasional sink to the arm side.
CB: 64-67 mph. 1590 - 1660 rpm. Short action with some tilt. Works to tunnel with the fastball.
CH: 65-68 mph. 1190 - 1200 rpm. Works to turn the change-up over creating heavy fade at times.

 

 

Cole Schiff LHP / 1B / Heritage, NC / 2021

UNC Asheville commit
Positional Profile: LHP/1B. Big frame that continues to mature and climb toward his ceiling
Body: 6’4”, 195 pounds. Lanky, athletic frame with strength present.
Delivery: Side saddle and short rocker to an average leg kick. Stable head. Lands slightly across his line with an open foot-strike. Good extension
Arm Action: LH. Medium arm arc works with strength to an over-the-top slot. Easy action with average to above arm speed.
FB: T84, 82-84 mph. 1790 - 2120 rpm. Strike thrower with feel for both sides. Pounded the down zone
CB: 68-69 mph. 1980 - 2310 rpm. Slight hump out of the hand, working to create hard, downer action.
CH: 75-78 mph. 1490 - 1510 rpm. Solid arm speed, working out of the same release as the fastball. Occasional fade to the arm side.

Defense:  Feel around the first base bag with active feet, bend in his hips, average hands with clean exchanges.
Arm: LH. INF - 84 mph. Accurate arm, long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: LHH. Tall, open setup. Medium stride diving into the plate with little hand movement. Quick, loose hands. Short bat path to the ball with lift out frong. Middle to pull spproach.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Has strength with plenty of bat speed and above average barrel feel.
Run: 4.30 runner in the 30. 

 

 

Jacob Coffin LHP / OF / Apex , NC / 2021

Positional Profile: LHP/OF.
Body: 5’10”, 150 pounds.
Delivery: Small side step and turn to pivot. High leg kick to the chin with a slight pelvic tilt. Loose hips. On-line, lands slightly across his line with a closed foot-strike. Good extension
Arm Action: LH. Long, fluid arc to a high-3/4 slot. Average to above arm speed.
FB: T82, 81-82 mph. 2140 - 2180 rpm. Firm, plays straight. Misses were to the arm side. Showed feel for both sides.
CB: 67-69 mph. 2020 - 2160 rpm. Hard 1/7 tilt with a slight hump out of the hand.
CH: 69-71 mph. 1520 - 1690 rpm. Solid arm speed. Slight fade when he finished with extension.

 

 

Dawson Wiggins RHP / 3B / Midway, NC / 2021

Positional Profile: RHP/3B. Lower arm slot righty that can his slider
Body: 6/1/2000, 190 pounds. Average build.
Delivery: Small rocker, lifting to the high-chest while closing his front side and coiling. Uncoils, landing closed to his line with a square foot-strike, falling toward 1B.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing is clean to a high-3/4 slot. Good arm speed
FB: T83, 78-83 mph. 1910 - 2211 rpm. Around the zone but erratic at times. Arm side run is hard to the arm side.
CB: 68-70 mph. 2400 - 2530 rpm. Attacked the zone. Slight hump out of the hand with hard 10/4 tilt..

Defense:  OF-Plays through the ball, average hands, clean exchanges, gets momentum into his throws. IF-Active feet, average hands, lacks rhythm.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. OF - 84 mph. OF-Accurate, loose, some quickness, 3/4 slot. IF-Accurate, some carry. Long arm action, some quickness, 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Sits in his legs, balanced, slightly open. Short stride diving into the plate, hands work slightly back. Barrel stays through the ball with some lift to the swing. Bat path gets long at times.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Better than average barrel feel, average bat speed.
Run: 4.30 runner in the 30. 

 

 

Carson Kelly RHP / SS / Lee County, NC / 2021

NC State commit
Positional Profile: RHP/SS. Potential dual that should have big impact on the bump with his ability to spin the baseball
Body: 6’2”, 190 pounds. Athletic frame.
Delivery: Athletic delivery that builds tempo with solid direction. Stable head. Average leg lift. Works on-line, landing slightly closed with an aggressive stride. Square foot-strike
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing. Quick arm with arm strength. Over-the-top slot that he will drop to a 3/4 slot at times.
FB: T89, 87-89 mph. 2130 - 2260 rpm. Quick arm. Around the zone. Aggressive.
CB: 75-81 mph. 1730 rpm. Hard downer action. Tunnels with the fastball. Attacks the zone.
SL: 82-83 mph. 2233 - 2233 rpm. 3/4 slot with a hard sweeping action.
CH: 78-80 mph.  rpm. Solid arm speed. Down zone. Good extension

Defense:  Plays light on his feet. Has rhythm to his feet and hands. Above average hands with easy exchanges.
Arm: RH. INF - 88 mph. Accurate arm with carry. Loose, quick arm, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, balanced setup. Smooth load, hands go back with average stride. Loose, quick hands. Short barrel path to ball, staying through the zone, line drive approach.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Lots of hard contact with above average bat speed and barrel control.
Run: 3.97 runner in the 30. 

 

 

Rhett James RHP / SS / Fuquary-Varina, NC / 2021

Positional Profile: RHP/SS. Lanky frame with a quick arm. Should be a high follow into the spring.
Body: Lanky, athletic frame.
Delivery: Simple over the rubber with the hands separating at the belt. Kick to the Mid chest. Loose hips. Good direction, landing on-line with extension.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing, reaching toward 2B. Hand gets back inside the elbow with strength, throwing out of his sleeve from a high-3/4 slot. Whippy arm.
FB: T88, 85-88 mph. 2070 - 2190 rpm. Around the zone, lacking pure command. Arm side action to each side
CB: 66-70 mph. 2160 - 2460 rpm. Soft sweeping breaker with action out of the hand.
SL: 72-73 mph. 2430 - 2430 rpm. Hard sweeping action. Big break.
CH: 71-76 mph. 2190 - 2250 rpm. Solid arm speed, working to tunnel with fastball. Has fade. Average feel.

Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Hands load back to a cocked position, short stride. Loose, quick hands. Stays through the zone, ball comes hard off the barrel, middle approach.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Above average bat speed and feel for barrel.