Prep Baseball Report

2022 Junior Future Games: Team Carolina (NC) Game 1 Recap


Matt Payne
Director of Scouting, PBR of NC

The 2022 Junior Future Games are underway at LakePoint in Emerson, GA featuring some of the top 2026 and 2027 prospects from across the country. Team Carolina kicked off their Junior Future Games with a workout on Tuesday. The workout day consisted of a full pro-style workout with players taking BP on the field with Trackman capturing ball flight data, a defensive workout, and players running a laser timed 60. Team Carolina will take on Texas, Canada, and Mississippi in their pool play action with bracket play to follow. 

Game 1 Recap


Game 1: Team Carolina- 2  Team Texas- 10

Team Carolina got a strong start from Jake Hunter who tossed 2 scoreless. With the game still scoreless in the 3rd the Carolina offense would strike first in the top half of the inning. Jeter Bynum and Ethan Gilchrist would draw 2 out walks, advance to second and third and score on a Meridian Leffew base hit through the 6-hole giving Carolina a 2-0 lead. Texas would quickly answer in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead. Carolina would go scoreless the rest of the game falling to Texas by a final score of 10-2. Carolina will take on Team Canada on Thursday morning in game two of pool play. 

 

 

Player Notes

Jake Hunter, RHP, 2026

Long, lanky frame with projection ahead at 6-foot-2, 160-pounds. Impressed on the mound working 2 scoreless innings. Fastball worked mostly in the 79-81 mph range topping at 82 mph. Has feel for his breaking ball in the low 70’s. Easy effort to the delivery with a clean, long arm action using an over the top slot. Attacked hitters filling up the strike zone with both his fastball and breaking ball. Pitches with confidence. 

Meridian Leffew, SS/2B, 2026

6-foot, 160-pound build with room for growth ahead. Barreled a ball through the 6-hole for a 2 out knock to score 2 runs. Athletic in the box with looseness to his swing, hands are quick with feel for the barrel. Moves well defensively with some carry to his throws.

Ethan Gilchrist, RHP, 2027

5-foot-10, 135-pound frame with room for maturation ahead. Pitched in relief after playing second base. Arm has quickness with his fastball working in the upper 70s to low 80s. Mixed in a breaking ball at 63-64 mph. Competes on the mound.