2020 Preseason All-State West: 2021 Middle Infielders
February 10, 2020
Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
NC Executive Director & Scouting Director
On Sunday January 26th, ninety-one of the top players in the state of North Carolina converged at the Ultimate Performance Sports Center in Matthews, 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 take our first look at some player notes from the Preseason All-State West.
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.
We continue our breakdown of the PAS West with the 2021 players. The infielders in attendance were very impressive and the group out of the 2021 class may have led the way. A strong mix of defense and offense in this group with a lot of projection left in several players.
CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Preseason All-State West
Preseason All-State West – By the Numbers:
- 91 players went through the workout at Ultimate Performance
- 36 pitchers threw controlled bullpens
- 80 hitters went through offensive and defensive workouts
- 24 players ran a sub-4.00 on the 30 yard laser timed sprint
- 33 hitters posted an exit velocity of 90 mph or higher
- 9 of 19 catchers posted a pop time of 2.10 or lower
- 7 Outfielders posted a positional velocity of 90 mph or higher
- 10 Pitchers worked at 86 or higher
- 3 arms touched 90 or better
- 2468rpm was the top fastball spin rate at the event.
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Andrew Stephens SS / 2B / Southwest Guilford, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B.
Body: 5’9, 170 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: Quick feet with solid actions. Catches the ball in the center of his body with softness to his hands.
Arm: R. INF - 75 mph. Long arm action with a high 3/4 release.
Hit: LHH. Even base with his feet just wider than his shoulders. Loads knee to knee with hands working slightly back with bat angle behind his head. Loose hands with a flat barrel path, getting extension.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Uses the whole field with better than average bat speed and barrel awareness.
Run: 4.34 runner in the 30.
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Carter Bass SS / 3B / High Point Christian, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B.
Body: 5’10”, 181 pounds. Athletic build.
Defense: Plays relaxed, catches the ball in the center of his body with softness to his hands. Funnels to the belt after catch with clean transfers.
Arm: R. INF - 71 mph. Long arm action to a high 3/4 slot. Average arm speed.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open, relaxed setup. Smooth load against his back leg. Hands cock, creating bat angle behind his head. Fliud stroke with a flat barrel path.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Works through the middle with better than average barrel feel and average bat speed.
Run: 4.28 runner in the 30.
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Ick Cirino SS / 2B / Hickory Ridge, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B.
Body: 5’10”, 185 pounds. Strength present.
Defense: Catches the ball in the center of his body with average hands. Lets the ball deep at times affecting his rhythm.
Arm: R. INF - 82 mph. Medium arm stroke, using a mostly high 3/4 slot with accuracy.
Hit: RHH. Narrow base with bat starting flat on his back shoulder. Some barrel tip in the load, using a leg kick. Mostly flat barrel path, staying through the ball with quick hands.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Strength off the barrel with average barrel control and average to above average bat sped.
Run: 3.99 runner in the 30.
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Trent Turner SS / 2B / Tuscola , NC / 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B.
Body: 6’1”, 155 pounds. Wiry frame.
Defense: Athletic diffender with fluid actions. Soft hands with quick exhcanges. Showed comfort on all plays.
Arm: R. INF - 79 mph. Loose, quick, accurate arm with feel for different slots.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup. Simple load with a short stride, hands work back. Loose, short stroke. Keeps barrel through zone with extension, using the whole field.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed and barrel feel.
Run: 4.08 runner in the 30.
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Tate Ellis SS / 2B / Ardrey Kell, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B.
Body: 6’1”, 185 pounds. Srong build.
Defense: Catches the ball in the center of his body with average hands. Funnels to the midsection after catch with clean transfers.
Arm: R. INF - 81 mph. Long arm action to a high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Open, balanced setup with the bat starting flat above his back shoulder. Hands work back with some bat waggle with lower half diving into the plate. Flat barrel path working middle to his pull side. Quickness to his hands with some stiffness in the body.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Has strength with average bat speed and barrel feel.
Run: 4.16 runner in the 30.
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Nick Alderfer SS / 2B / Cox Mill, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B.
Body: 6’1”, 175 pounds. Long, lanky frame.
Defense: Plays with rhythm and confidence. Soft hands funnel to the belt after catch with smooth transfers.
Arm: R. INF - 77 mph. Short, loose arm action with feel for different angles.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, balanced setup with the bat starting flat above his back shoulder. Short stride with hands working back creating bat angle above his head. Loose, quick hands work short to the ball. Keeps barrel through the zone with middle of the field approach.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Pull strength with better than average bat speed. Average barrel feel.
Run: 3.97 runner in the 30.
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Vance Honeycutt SS / 2B / Salisbury, NC / 2021
North Carolina commit
Positional Profile: SS/2B. Lots of projection left. Bat should play early at the next level.
Body: 6’2”, 180 pounds. Long, athletic frame.
Defense: Smooth actions playing with rhythm. Soft hands with quick exhcanges.
Arm: R. INF - 78 mph. Short arm action with feel for different angles.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup. Small hand load with a short stride. Short stroke with quick hands. Line drive approach to all fields with barrel snap throuh the zone.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Lots of barrel feel with above average bat speed.
Run: 3.73 runner in the 30.
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Drew Sotell SS / 3B / Cardinal Gibbons, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: SS/3B.
Body: 5’10”, 170 pounds. Athletic frame with room to add strength.
Defense: Presents glove early with softness to the hands. Fluid actions with clean transfers.
Arm: R. INF - 82 mph. Medium arm stroke to a high 3/4 release.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced setup. Hands work back with a small leg load and short stride. Quick hands with some lift to the swing.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Lined balls to his pull side with some strength off the barrel. Average barrel feel and bat speed.
Run: 4.06 runner in the 30.
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Connor Miller SS / 3B / Charlotte Country Day , NC / 2021
Positional Profile: SS/3B.
Body: 6’1”, 176 pounds. Strength present.
Defense: Plays athletic with bounce to his feet. Catches the ball in the center of his body with softness to his hands.
Arm: R. INF - 81 mph. Long, loose arm action to a high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. No stride during the load with weight and hands working back with the barrel in an upright position. Mostly short to the ball with uphill leverage staying through the ball.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Pull pop with above average bat speed and feel for barrel.
Run: 4.10 runner in the 30.
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Ryan Dee SS / OF / Western Guilford, NC / 2021
Positional Profile: SS/OF.
Body: 5’10”, 158 pounds. Thin build.
Defense: Fluid actions with some rhythm to the feet hands. Average hands with clean transfers.
Arm: R. INF - 75 mph. Short arm action with a high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup. Hands work back with his feet getting back to even with a short stride. Direct barrel path, keeps his barrel in the zone with some quickness to his hands.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Works middle to his pull side with better than average barrel feel.
Run: 4.27 runner in the 30.
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