Prep Baseball Report

Future Game Trials II: Catcher Evals


Matt Payne
Director of Scouting, PBR of NC

The PBR Future Games is the top underclass showcase event in the country each year.  PBR territories from across the country work to put together teams of the top uncommitted, underclass players to compete each year.  Team Carolina is made of players from North Carolina and South Carolina.  

On June 23 and 24, PBR of North Carolina ran invite only events to continue to identify players for Team Carolina.  Players attending the Future Game Trials were able to go through a full pro-style workout, running a laser timed 60, working through an offensive evaluation, and a defensive evaluation.  Pitchers threw controlled bullpens for PBR Scouts. Each day was live streamed with over 60 colleges and university programs watching one, or both days of workouts through the PBR of NC channel on Watch Your Game's live streaming feed.

Below are the full evaluations from the Future Game Trials at Louisburg JC on June 24th.

CLICK HERE to see the full stats and roster from Future Games Trials I at Tuckaseegee Park in Charlotte, NC

 

By the Numbers:

  • 35 players took part in the Future Games Trials I at Tuckaseegee Park
  • 21 players worked out at Future Games Trials II at Louisburg JC
  • 14 hitters saw a peak exit velocity off of a tee at 90 mph or higher
  • 4 position players ran a sub-7.00 laser timed sixty
  • 9 players ran under a 7.20 sixty
  • 6 infielders or outfielders produced arm strength above 85mph
  • 9 catchers saw their top pop time at 2.15 or better
  • 13 pitchers worked at 84 mph or higher

 

catchers

 

Matthew Hall RHP / C / West Johnston, NC / 2022

 

Positional Profile: RHP/C.
Body: 6/2, 185 pounds. Strong, athletic frame.
Defense: 2.01-2.09 pop times. Quick fluid feet, quick exchanges across chest.
Arm: R. C - 81 mph. Quick arm, high 3/4 slot, throws have carry, extremely accurate.
Hit: R. Slightly open, weight stacked on back leg, barrel on back shoulder. Small load, short stride, quiet barrel. Uphill barrel path, gets extension out front, uses the whole field, above average barrel feel.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed.
Run:7.72 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Preset pivot. Small rocker and easy turn. Builds tempo out of balance. Kick to the Mid-chest. Sinks into the backside. Works on-line, landing in-line and square. Recoils and spins at times through his finish.
Arm Action: R. Medium arm swing has rhythm working to a high-3/4 slot. Cuts extension off with the arm finishing across the chest. Average to above arm speed
FB: T85, 81-85 mph. 2156 rpm. Some sink and run to the arm side. Elevated at times. 1:45 spin tilt out of the hand
CB: 74-77 mph. 1673 rpm. Inconsistent spin. Hard sweep at times..
SL: 73-74 mph. 1731 rpm. Similar break and spin to the curveball.
CH: 74-7 mph. 2158 rpm. Slight fade or arm side run. Solid arm speed. Misses to the arm side

Elijah Jordan C / Heritage, NC / 2022


Positional Profile: C/OF.
Body: 6/1, 190 pounds. Length to frame with strength present.
Defense: 2.01-2.34 pop times. Fluid feet, quick transfers across chest, athletic receiving, low target, strong hands.
Arm: R. C - 76 mph. Accurate, short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: S. RHH-Even base, hands at back shoulder, weight loads back, no stride, hands cock. LHH-Even base, hands at back shoulder. Weight loads back, short stride, hands load down, barrel goes vertical. RHH-Loose hands, short to ball, barrel stays through zone with extension out front, works through the middle with barrel feel. LHH-Loose swing, level barrel path, gets extension out front, middle to pull approach with barrel awareness.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Has strength from both sides, slightly more bat speed left handed.
Run:8.00 runner in the 60.

Peyton Wilkins C / 3B / Wayne School of Engineering, NC / 2022

 

Positional Profile: C/3B.
Body: 5/11, 185 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.12 - 2.25 pop times. IF-Relaxed hands, catches ball off left hip, funnels to belt clean exchanges. C-Fluid feet, gains ground to target, transfers across midsection, uses one knee setup, receives with above average hands.
Arm: R. C - 78 mph. INF - 77 mph. OF -  mph. IF-Short arm action, over the top slot, some accuracy and carry. C-Carry with some accuracy, short arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: R. Balanced, even base, hands just below back shoulder. Weight loads back, short stride, hands work up and back. Direct barrel path, barrel gets extension through the middle, line drive approach working gap to gap.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, some strength of the barrel.
Run:7.21 runner in the 60. 

Stephen Lamb C / RHP / Durham Academy , NC / 2022


Positional Profile: C/RHP.
Body: 5/11, 150 pounds. Thin frame, room for growth ahead.
Defense: 2.18 - 2.40 pop times. Fluid feet, gains ground to target, exchanges across chest, hip mobility in setup, average hands.
Arm: R. C - 70 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Hit: R. Open base, weight on back leg, hands even with back shoulder. Short stride into the plate, hands load back. Level swing, some quickness to hands, stays inside ball, line drive approach through the middle.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, numbers should improve as the body matures.
Run:8.12 runner in the 60.

Caden Christman C / 3B / Apex Friendship, NC / 2024


Positional Profile: C/3B.
Body: 6/1, 165 pounds. Athletic frame, plenty of room for maturation ahead.
Defense: 2.18-2.43 pop times. IF-Feet work around ball, catches ball in center of body, soft hands, funnels to the belt, clean exchanges. C-Quick feet gain ground to target, transfers across midsection, loose hips in setup, average to above average hands.
Arm: R. C - 71 mph. INF - 74 mph. OF -  mph. IF-Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy across diamond. C-Accurate, short arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: R. Open base, hands at back shoulder. Controlled load, toe tap against back side, short stride, quiet barrel. Loose hands with quickness, uphill barrel path, works middle to the opposite field, above average barrel feel.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Barrel has quickness through the zone, numbers should improve as the body matures.
Run:7.75 runner in the 60.

Luke Evans C / 3B / Trinity Academy of Raleigh, NC / 2022

 

Positional Profile: C/3B.
Body: 6/1, 185 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.20 - 2.45 pop times. IF-Catches the ball left of center, softness to hands, funnels to belt, clean transfers. C-Quick feet gain ground to target, exchanges across chest, receives with average to above average hands with strength.
Arm: R. C - 67 mph. INF - 73 mph. OF -  mph. IF-Accurate, short arm action, high 3/4 slot. C-Accurate, longer arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Upright, narrow base, hands at back shoulder. Controlled leg kick, average stride, some barrel tip. Short to ball, barrel works level through the zone, has barrel feel lining balls middle and to right center.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Has strength, average bat speed.
Run:7.71 runner in the 60. 

William Sword C / RHP / Thales Academy, NC / 2022

 

Positional Profile: RHP/C.
Body: 6/1, 184 pounds. Athletic frame, room to add strength.
Defense: 2.26-2.43 pop times. OF-Works to the ball, relaxed hands, catches ball off left foot, clean exchanges. C-Feet gain ground to target, transfers across midsection, hips have looseness in setup, average to above average hands.
Arm: R. C - 75 mph. INF -  mph. OF - 83 mph. OF-Accurate with carry, long arm action, high 3/4 slot. C-Short arm action, quickness through high 3/4 release, some accuracy.
Hit: R. Even base, weight on back leg, hands behind back shoulder. Weight loads over back leg, long stride, hands work back. Flat swing, quickness to hands, line drive approach working to both gaps with feel for his barrel.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Above average bat speed.
Run:7.84 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Simple delivery. Stable over the rubber. Good rhythm that builds throughout. Simple lines, landing on-line and square. Good direction. Strike thrower with feel for 3 in the zone.
Arm Action: R. Long arc working to an over-the-top slot. Average arm speed. Repeats
FB: T84, 82-84 mph. 1978 rpm. Average movement metrics. Flooded the zone. Flashed to both sides of the plate. 12:45 spin tilt out of the hand
CB: 71-73 mph. 2020 rpm. Downer action, thrown with arm speed. 12/6 tilt. Gradual movement. In the zone.
CH: 73-78 mph. 1467 rpm. Good arm speed. Has fade. 1:30 spin tilt out of the hand. Better to the arm side.