Prep Baseball Report

Player Evals: Gate City Titans Catcher & Outfielders


Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
Executive Director & Director of Scouting, PBR NC

PBR was on hand at High Point Christian Academy's home field to run a Scout Day for the Gate City Titans.  The Titans had over 30 players in attendance, representing NC, VA, and WV on their roster, with a majority of players hailing from the Triad Region of NC.  Players went through a full pro-style workout with pitchers throwing controlled bullpens. 

The pro-style workout started with a laser timed 60, followed by an offensive and defensive workout for the position players.  TrackMan was used during the live BP to gather ball-flight information on each hitter.  After the position player workout, pitchers threw a controlled bullpen, again with TrackMan gathering ball-flight info out of the hand. 

Below we highlight some pitchers who stood out during the Gate City Titans Scout Day. 

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Gate City Titans Scout Day.

 

Catcher & Outfielder evaluations 

 

 

CATCHERS

 

Isaiah Brown C / 1B / Northeast Guliford, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: C/1B.
Body: 6/1, 161 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: 2.32-2.44 pop times. Fluid feet, gains ground to his target, clean exchanges across his chest, average hands receiving.
Arm: R. C - 65 mph.    Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, some feel for the second base bag.
Hit: R. Balanced, even base, hands at back shoulder. Short stride, small hand load. Relaxed hands, barrel stays through the zone, gets extension out front, lined balls to his pull side.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Some strength off the barrel, average to above average bat speed.
Run:8.03 runner in the 60.

 

 

Nolan Coe C / 3B / South Stokes, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: C/3B.
Body: 6/1, 175 pounds. Athletic build.
Defense: 2.10-2.35 pop times. Quick feet, clean transfers across his midsection, presents a low target receiving, average hands.
Arm: R. C - 70 mph.    Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, some feel for the second base bag.
Hit: R. Slightly closed base, sits in legs, hands above back shoulder. Loads knee to knee, average stride, hands cock back. Direct barrel path, level through the zone, some quickness to his hands, lined balls to his pull side.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average to above average bat speed, numbers should increase with added strength.
Run:8.55 runner in the 60. 

 

 

Jaden Hairston C / SS / Northern Guilford, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: C/SS.
Body: 5/8, 139 pounds. Thin frame, room for growth ahead.
Defense:  Athletic through the ball, catches the ball off his left foot, relaxed hands, clean transfers.
Arm: R.  OF - 81 mph. Accurate, long arm action, quickness through an over the top slot.
Hit: R. Narrow, even base, hands above back shoulder. Short stride, small hand load back. Level barrel path through the zone, gets extension out front, works through the middle and to his pull side.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, numbers should improve with added strength.
Run:7.06 runner in the 60. 

 

 

 

OUTFIELDERS

 

Bradyn Yates OF / OF / Ledford , NC / 2023

Positional Profile: OF.
Body: 5/6, 115 pounds. Young frame, room for maturation ahead.
Defense: 
Arm: R.  OF - 75 mph. Accurate, medium arm stroke, overhand release.
Hit: R. Upright, narrow, even base, hands at back shoulder. Smooth load, short stride, hands go back. Direct barrel path, mostly flat through the zone, gets extension out front, some quickness to his hands, some feel for his barrel working through the middle of the field.
Power: 73 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, numbers should increase with added strength.
Run:8.1 runner in the 60. 

 

 

Jesse Barker OF / 2B / Western Guilford , NC / 2021

Positional Profile: OF/2B.
Body: 5/8, 140 pounds. Average frame, room to add strength.
Defense:  OF-Aggressive through the ball, relaxed hands, catches the ball in front of his left foot, clean transfers. IF-Aggressive through the ball, average hands, clean transfers.
Arm:  INF - 67 mph. OF - 67 mph. OF-Accurate, long arm action, high 3/4 slot. IF-Accurate, long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Hit: . Balanced, even base, has knee bend, hands at back shoulder, more vertical barrel. Weight and hands load back, short stride. Direct barrel path, mostly level through the zone, line drive approach working through the middle of the field.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, numbers should increase with added strength.
Run:7.93 runner in the 60. 

 

 

Colby Niten OF / 2B / East Forsyth, NC / 2022

Positional Profile: OF/2B.
Body: 5/9, 169 pounds. Athletic build, room to add strength.
Defense:  Athletic through the ball, soft hands, catches the bll in front of his left foot, clean exchanges.
Arm: R.  OF - 78 mph. Accurate, some carry, long arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: R. Balanced, even base, hands at back shoulder. Short stride, hands load back. Relaxed, slightly uphill barrel path, quick hands, gets extension out front, gap to gap approach.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, numbers should improve with added strength.
Run:7.27 runner in the 60. 

 

 

Jace Tillman OF / 2B / Triad Math and Science, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/2B.
Body: 5/5, 135 pounds. Young frame, room for growth ahead.
Defense: Accurate, medium arm stroke, high 3/4 slot. pop times.
Arm: R.  OF - 70 mph. Plays through the ball, relaxed hands, catches the ball in front of his left foot, clean exchanges with momentum into his throws.
Hit: R. Narrow, even base, has knee bend, hands at back shoulder. Hands load back, short stride. Quick hands, direct barrel path, mostly level through the zone, hands stay close to the body, middle of the field approach.
Power: 72 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, numbers should improve with added strength.
Run:7.43 runner in the 60. 

 

 

Conner Hale OF / RHP / Ledford, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/RHP.
Body: 5/11, 145 pounds. Thin frame, room for growth ahead.
Defense: Accurate, medium arm stroke, high 3/4 slot. pop times.
Arm: R.  OF - 77 mph. Plays through the ball, uses a two hand catch, catch point in front of his left foot, clean transfers.
Hit: R. Upright, narrow base, hands at back shoulder. Toe tap, short stride, small hand load back. Mostly level barrel path through the zone, gets extension out front, some quickness to his hands, works middle and to his pull side.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed, numbers should improve with added strength.
Run:7.55 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Rocker to the side and turn, lifting to the mid-chest. Slightly closed at balance, builds his rhythm to an on-line and closed foot-strike. Short strider. Fall to the 1B side on the finish
Arm Action: R. Small arm swing working to load the scapular. High-3/4 slot. Average to above arm speed
FB: T76, 75-76 mph. 1889 rpm. Feel for the arm side with run out of the hand. 1:15 spin tilt from the hand
CB: 63-67 mph. 1730 rpm. Hard, working to create downer action. Occasionally around with softer 10/4 tilt.
CH: 66-67 mph. 1638 rpm.

 

 

 

Paxton Tucker OF / 3B / Magna Vista, VA / 2022

Positional Profile: OF/3B.
Body: 6/1, 167 pounds. Athletic build, strength present.
Defense:  IF-Feet work to the ball, has bend to his hips, catches the ball in the center of his body, has softness to his hands, clean transfers. OF-Athletic through the ball, relaxed hands, catches the ball in front of his left foot, clean exchanges.
Arm: R.  INF - 75 mph. OF - 87 mph. IF-Accurate, short arm action, high 3/4 slot. OF-Accurate with some carry, long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Tall, narrow, slightly open base, barrel flat above back shoulder. Sits into legs, average stride, hands load back. Quick hands, flat barrel path through the zone, gets extension out front, works through the middle of the field.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Made hard contact during BP, above average bat speed.
Run:7.09 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Side saddle on the 3B side. Small rocker and easy turn. Hands pump above the head relaxing on the leg lift to the chest where they seperate. Kicks the knee toward the back shoulder, lifting to the mid-chest, loading the front hip. Closed and level in the
Arm Action: R. Plunges out of the glove with a small pause at the bottom. Works back to a position of strength and high-3/4 slot. Above average arm speed.
FB: T83, 78-83 mph. 2034 rpm. Elevated at times with feel for the arm side. 1:00 spin tilt out of the hand
CB:  mph.  rpm. .
SL: 64-66 (SL) - 66-70 (Cut) mph. 1935 (SL) -- 1852 (Cut) rpm. SL - Sweeping action out of the hand. Has length. Cutter - Sweeping action. Short, late break. Threw for a strike.

 

 

Elijah Farrington OF / Independence , WV / 2022

Positional Profile: OF.
Body: 5/8, 175 pounds. Strong build.
Defense: Accurate with some carry, long arm action, high 3/4 slot. pop times.
Arm: R.  OF - 78 mph. Plays through the ball, catches the ball off his left foot, relaxed hands, clean exchanges.
Hit: R. Balanced, even base, barrel flat over back shoulder. Hands load back, short stride. Short to the ball, barrel is flat through the zone, some quickness to the hands, has barrel feel working gap to gap.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Has strength off the barrel, above average bat speed.
Run:7.59 runner in the 60.

 

 

Carson Brown OF / OF / Independence , WV / 2022

Positional Profile: OF.
Body: 6/2, 170 pounds. Athletic build, room to add strength.
Defense:  Fluid through the ball, soft hands, catches the ball in front of his left foot, clean transfers.
Arm:  OF - 77 mph. Accurate, loose arm, quickness through a high 3/4 slot.
Hit: . Tall, even base, barrel flat above back shoulder. Smooth load, short stride, quiet barrel. Short path to the ball, barrel stays through the zone, some quickness to his hands, has barrel feel working mostly to his pull side.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Made lots of hard contact during BP, above average bat speed.
Run:7.09 runner in the 60.