Carolina Rockies Scout Day Analysis: 2022 Grads

Trey Armstrong SS / RHP / East Surry, NC / 2022

Average frame at 5 foot 8, 155-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a narrow base with his weight over his back leg.  Short stride diving back into the plate, with quiet hands and an upright barrel.  Works mostly middle to his pull side with some length to his swing at times.  Swing path is mostly level, bud doesn’t always get extension through the zone.  Exit velocity recorded at 78 mph.  Plays through balls on the infield with the catch point a little deep at times.  Clean exchanges with a medium arm stroke, throwing from a high ¾ slot across the diamond.  Positional velocity topped at 78 mph.  Recorded a 7.19 in the 60.
Quick paced delivery on the mound with a low leg kick, below the belt.  Quick arm.  Athletic over the rubber with good extension.  Works on-line, landing in-line and slightly closed with the foot at ground strike.  Medium arm stroke works to a high-3/4 slot.  Some head movement as the arm works to release.  Fastball at 76-77, erratic, but around the plate.  Sink and run, heavy at times, especially to the arm side.  Breaking ball is tight at 69-71 with 10/4 tilt.  Hard, the spin pitch was around the dish, landing in the zone, but lacking command to any one spot.  Raw, but athletic, the arm quickness could lead to an increase in stuff.

Blake Benoit 2B / SS / Wake Forest, NC / 2022

5 foot 8, 185-pound build.  Offensively he works from the right side of the plate with a balanced setup.  Weight and hands work back during the load with a short stride.  Quick hands staying inside the ball with an opposite field approach.  Hands dominate the swing, lacking hip rotation.  Has feel for his barrel hitting a lot of line drives to the right side.  Exit velocity recorded at 91 mph.  Looks to work around the ball on the infield.  Some stiffness in the hands at catch when not getting the right hop.  Funnels to the center of his body after catch with an accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 76 mph.  Recorded a 7.47 in the 60.

Rhett Gryder 1B / RHP / Forsyth Country Day , NC / 2022

Lanky frame at 6 foot 1, 165-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a balanced setup.  Leg kick during his load with his hands working down and the barrel in an upright position.  Mostly level bat path.  Inconsistent timing creates some lack of barrel awareness.  Stays through the ball when on time.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph.  Feet work fluid off the bag at first base with average hands.  Clean transfers with an accurate arm that topped at 69 mph.  Recorded a 7.75 in the 60.

Ryan Palmer SS / 2B / Wake Forest , NC / 2022

5 foot 8, 150-pound frame with room for maturation ahead.  Hits from the right side with a wider base with his hands starting behind his back shoulder.  Small leg kick during his load with a short stride, hands cock during the load creating bat angle behind his head.  Gap to gap approach with average bat speed.  Drifts into the ball with some quickness to his hands.  Exit velocity recorded at 85 mph.  Active feet on the infield working around the ball. Average hands with his upper half leaning over the ball catching it deep at times.  Funnels to his belt after catch with clean exchanges and some accuracy to his throws across the diamond topping at 72 mph.  Recorded a 7.61 in the 60

Aiden Picciano SS / 3B / Mooresville, NC / 2022

Thin frame at 5 foot 7, 135-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a narrow base and his hands starting by his back shoulder.  Weight works back during his load using a toe tap.  Barrel works level through the zone.  Gets the barrel out when his hips work in the swing.  Exit velocity recorded at 78 mph and should improve with added strength.  Fluid actions on the infield with average hands.  Funnels to his midsection after catch with clean transfers.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 74 mph.  Recoded a 7.62 in the 60. 
Slow tempo over the rubber.  Small side step to a leg swing that coils the front hip.  Closed line at separation, works back to on-line.  Short strider, lands on-line and square.  Average extension, finishing upright.  Long arm swing, clean, gets to a high-3/4 slot.  Average arm speed.  Fastball at 68-72.  Occasional run to the arm side.  Slows the arm some on the breaking ball.  Gradual 10/5 tilt at 61-62.  Flashed feel for the breaking ball, landing it consistently.

Austin Sabo 2B / OF / Mooresville, NC / 2022

5 foot 4, 111-pound frame.  Hits from the right side with a balanced, athletic setup.  Loads against his back leg with a small leg kick with quiet hands and barrel.  Gap to gap approach and keeps his barrel in the zone.  Exit velocity recorded at 69 mph and should improve as the body matures.  Plays fluid through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Clean exchanges with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 72 mph.  Gets to a good catch position on the infield with average hands funneling to his belt after catch.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 71 mph.  Recorded a 7.85 in the 60.

Bryson Chandler OF / 1B / West Forsyth, NC / 2022

5 foot 7, 160-pound build with strength.  Hits from the right side with a balanced setup.  Smooth load back with a short stride.  Fluid swing with loose hands, keeping his barrel through the zone.  Drove the ball during batting practice with better than average barrel awareness and average to above average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 84 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands and clean exchanges with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Accurate arm that topped at 82 mph.  Active feet off the bag at first base.  Some stiffness at the catch at times with clean transfers and an accurate arm that reached 75 mph.  Recorded a 7.31 in the 60

Brennan Hord OF / RHP / Oak Grove, NC / 2022

Thin frame at 5 foot 11, 135-pounds.  Right hand hitter with a tall setup and narrow base.  Weight rocks back during his load with a short stride and the hands working back.  Some looseness in the body with his barrel working short to the ball.  Works to get extension through the zone.  Exit velocity recorded at 77 mph and should improve with added strength.  Active feet working through the ball in the outfield with average hands.  Clean exchanges with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy and carry to his throws that topped at 81 mph.  Recorded a 7.77 in the 60.

Taj Jones OF / LHP / Southwest , NC / 2022

Long and lanky at 6 foot 3, 188-pounds.  Sets up from the right side with a balanced base with his hands up by his head with a high back elbow.  Short stride with his hands dropping to his shoulder during the load. Hands work down during the swing creating some barrel length with a high finish.  Exit velocity recorded at 83 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Gets momentum into his throws with clean transfers and long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Arm topped at 74 mph from the outfield. Recorded a 7.49 in the 60.
Slow temp over the rubber, building throughout.  Leg kick to the mid-chest.  Slight pelvic tilt out of balance.  Long arm swing as the front side and head leave the line.  Loose arm.  Over-the-top slot with an arced spinal angle at release.  Fastball at 69-72, lacking some feel for the zone.  Raw, the body suggests athleticism.  As the spinal angle becomes more vertical at release, there should be an increase in stuff and feel.

Dylan Mathis OF / RHP / Oak Grove , NC / 2022

Noah Hill C / 1B / High Point Christian, NC / 2022

6 foot 2, 200-pound build with strength present.  Left hand hitter with a tall, open setup with high hands and an upright barrel.  Gets back to even with an average stride and some barrel waggle during the load.  Drives the ball with pull pop and some lift in his swing.  Gets his lower half through the ball with above average bat speed.  Consistently drove the ball during batting practice with his exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.  Positional velocity from a crouch position topped at 84 mph with clean transfers throwing from an over the top slot.  Pop times ranged from 2.17-2.25 with some feel for the bag.  Average hands receiving with a lot of glove movement prior to catching the ball.  Recorded a 8.06 in the 60.

Daniel Lawson C / 1B / Davie County, NC / 2022

Strength present in 5 foot 11, 180-pound frame.  Athletic, slightly open setup from the right side of the plate.  Smooth load getting back to even during his load with a short stride.  Quick hands sitting on his back leg during the swing with an uphill bat path.  Has strength in his swing working mostly to his pull side.  Above average bat speed with some feel for his barrel. Accurate arm from behind the plate with his pop times recorded at 2.28-2.33.  Clean exchanges across his chest with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Positional velocity from a crouch position topped at 70 mph.  Receives with a narrow base and average hands.  Recorded a 7.34 in the 60.

Konor Davis LHP / 1B / Alexander Central, NC / 2022

5 foot 10, 152-pound average build with room to add strength.  Slow tempo over the rubber, working to maintain stability.  Kick to the mid-chest.  Slight pelvic tilt out of balance.  Closes the front side on separation.  Long arm stroke with a slight stab and reach.  Front side clears, with the head leaving the line.  Arm works to an over-the-top slot with average arm speed.  Fastball worked 73-79 with arm side movement out of the hand.  Slow breaking ball at 64-65 and gradual 1/7 tilt.  Flashed feel for a change-up with solid hand speed at 63.  As strength is added to the frame, the arm has a chance to quicken, seeing stuff tick up across the board.
Offensively, balanced setup from the left side with the bat resting on his shoulder.  Weight and hands work back during his load with a short stride.  Some quickness to his hands with his barrel working short to the ball.  Flat barrel path through the zone with average barrel awareness.  Exit velocity recorded at 78 mph and should improve with added strength.  Active feel at first base with some feel around the bag.  Average hands with clean exchanges.  Accurate arm that topped at 72 mph.  Recorded a 7.52 in the 60.

Chance Purvis RHP / 3B / Union Pines, NC / 2022

Average build at 5 foot 11, 185-pounds.  Stable over the rubber through balance with a kick to the low chest.  Slightly closed at separation.  Short strider, landing across his line with a closed front foot.  Falls slightly to the 1B side, fighting for extension.  Long arm swing that plunges out of the glove.  High-3/4 slot.  Fastball worked 74-77, touching 78.  Occasional arm side run.  Elevated with the fastball.  Breaking ball works with sharp, 11/5 tilt at 67-69.  Better feel for breaking ball in this bullpen vs. the fastball. 
Right hand hitter with a balanced setup and his hands starting by his back shoulder.  Weight and hands work back during his load with a short stride.  Some quickness to his hands.  Drifts into the ball working mostly middle to his pull side.  Some strength in his swing with his exit velocity recorded at 83 mph.  Catches the ball in the center of his body with average hands.  Funnels to the center of his body after catch with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 77 mph.  Recorded a 7.81 in the 60.