Player Evals: Team 4 - Top Underclass Games

September 21, 2020
Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
Executive Director & Director of Scouting, PBR NC

Each year the North Carolina Top Underclass Games is a must see for college coaches and pro scouts. The 2020 event featured close to 50 of the top uncommitted underclass players in the state. Hosted at the Burlington Royals Stadium in Burlington, NC, players were treated to a 1st class playing surface to compliment the talent on hand.

The day featured a full pro-style workout for position players with a laser timed 60, full offensive and defensive workout, plus an 8 inning controlled scrimmage. Pitchers threw live to hitters, allowing scouts to gauge stuff and pitch-ability.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Top Underclass Games.

By the Numbers:

44 players participated in the full pro-style workout
2 players ran sub-7.00 sixties
9 players ran sub-7.20 sixties
12 hitters posted exit velocities of 90mph or higher off the tee
23 hitters were at 85mph or better off the tee
5 hitters flashed an exit velocity of 85mph or higher in live BP
9 INF or OF showed arm strength of at least 83mph from their position
3 catchers threw pop times of under 2.00 in the workout
6 catchers flashed at least one pop time under 2.20 in the workout
20 pitchers threw live in the game setting
8 pitchers worked at 83 or higher
87mph was the top bolt of the day

Team 3 Player Evaluations

Luke Cannon RHP / 3B / North Lenoir, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: RHP/3B.
Body: 6/2, 170 pounds. Lanky frame, room to add strength.
Defense: Quick feet, short, choppy steps, catches the ball left of center, relaxed hands, clean exchanges at the midsection.
Arm: R. INF - 79 mph. Accurate, some carry, long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Slightly open, hands at back shoulder, vertical barrel. Small load, short stride, quiet hands. Quick hands, short swing, level barrel through the zone, works middle to his pull side, line drive approach.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed.
Run: 7.33 runner in the 60.

Delivery: Rhythmic delivery with a side step and easy turn. Coils the front hip on the leg lift, working to the low chest. Hands remain at the belt, separating as the front leg works out to stride. Uphill leverage through the shoulders with a high front side. Slightly across his line with a square foot-strike.
Arm Action: R. Better than average arm speed. Long, plunging out of the glove, working to an over-the-top slot
FB: T84, 80-84 mph. 1937 rpm. 1:00 spin tilt with average ride. Elevated, but around the zone throughout
CB: 63-65 mph. 2166 rpm. 12/6 tilt with solid arm speed. Creates depth with -10.7 inches of vertical break.

Bristol Carter OF / SS / Northwest Guilford, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/SS. Good motor. High end twitch. Swing is raw but shows advanced barrel feel
Body: 5/10, 165 pounds. Athletic build, strength present with room to add more.
Defense: Athletic, quick feet through the ball, relaxed hands, catches ball off his left foot, clean transitions.
Arm: R. OF - 85 mph. Medium arm stroke, quickness through high 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Hit: R. Slightly open, hands high above back shoulder. Small leg load against back leg, short stride in to the plate, quiet hands. Quick hands, direct barrel path, stays through the ball, lined balls all over the field.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed, doubled to right center in game action, shows in game barrel awareness.
Run: 6.67 runner in the 60. Quickness present.

Christian Cole 2B / OF / Scotland, NC / 2022

Positional Profile: 2B/OF.
Body: 5/6, 140 pounds. Athletic frame, room to add strength.
Defense: Quick feet, works around the ball, catches the ball in the center of his body, relaxed hands, clean transfers.
Arm: R. INF - 76 mph. Accurate, medium arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: S. RHH-Athletic base, slightly open, barrel flat over back shoulder. Fluid load, short stride, hands get set. LHH-Slightly open, wide base, barrel flat over back shoulder. Loads knee to knee, short stride, hands get set. RHH-Balanced, short to ball, level barrel through the zone, middle of the field approach. LHH-Balanced, loose hands, short to ball, barrel stays through the zone, line drive approach using the whole field.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Barreled two balls from the left side in game action, average to above average bat speed.
Run: 7.4 runner in the 60.

Mayson Dear C / 2B / Union Pines, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: C/2B.
Body: 6/1, 165 pounds. Average frame, room to add strength.
Defense: 1.97-2.07 pop times. Fluid feet gain ground to target, quick exchanges across the chest.
Arm: R. C - 78 mph. Accurate with carry, short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Tall, slightly open, narrow base, hands at back shoulder. Controlled leg lift, short stride, small hand load back. Quick hands, lift to the barrel path, barrel gets extension through the middle of the field.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Barreled a ball to right field in game action, above average bat speed.
Run: 7.45 runner in the 60.

Jake Dulski OF / C / Christ the King, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/C.
Body: 6/2, 155 pounds. Long, lanky frame, room to add strength ahead.
Defense: Plays through the ball, relaxed hands, catches the ball in front of his left foot, clean exchanges.
Arm: R. OF - 80 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Hit: L. Tall, open base, barrel flat above back shoulder. Simple load, short stride back to even, quiet hands. Some quickness to his hands, mostly level bat path, uses the whole field, some feel for his barrel.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Average bat speed, numbers should jump with added strength.
Run: 7.55 runner in the 60.

Andrew Franz 2B / RHP / Northwest Guilford , NC / 2022

Positional Profile: 2B/RHP.
Body: 5/8, 145 pounds. Athletic build.
Defense: Quick feet, catches the ball in the center of his body, average hands, clean exchanges.
Arm: R. INF - 75 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy and carry.
Hit: R. Balanced, even base, hands behind back shoulder. Simple load, short stride, quiet barrel. Direct barrel path, barrel stays through zone, line drive approach using the whole field, above average barrel feel.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Barreled a ball to center in game action, average bat speed.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60.

Delivery: Simple rocker and turn. Kick to the mid-chest, coiling the front hip and stabilizing over the back leg. Slightly closed, working level, reaches for his foot-strike, getting back to on-line, with a square landing. Athletic finish
Arm Action: R. Long arm swing working to a high-3/4 slot. Better than average arm speed.
FB: T77, 73-77 mph. 2251 rpm. 1:00 spin tilt out of the hand with good ride through the zone. Worked to the arm side with most misses up and to the arm side.
CB: 62-65 mph. 2261 rpm. 10/4 sweeping action out of the hand. Gradual tilt.

Gavin Gallaher SS / 2B / Middle Creek, NC / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 8 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 192 / POS: 47

Positional Profile: SS/2B.
Body: 6/1, 162 pounds. Athletic frame, projection ahead.
Defense: OF-Aggressive through the ball, above average hands, catches the ball in front of his left foot, clean exchanges. IF-Advanced defender, good body control, fluid actions with soft hands, made a tough play on a chopper in the 6-hole showing athleticism and feel for playing shortstop.
Arm: R. INF - 81 mph. OF - 83 mph. OF-Accurate, medium arm stroke, high 3/4 slot. IF-Accurate, feel for different arm angles.
Hit: R. Relaxed, slightly open base, barrel flat over back shoulder. Smooth load, controlled leg lift back to even, hands get set to attack. Balanced, mature approach, loose hands let his barrel work through the zone, plenty of barrel feel, can use the whole field.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed, has pop to his pull side.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60.

Briggs Gentry C / OF / East Wilkes, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: C/OF.
Body: 5/9, 145 pounds. Thin frame, room to add strength.
Defense: 2.26-2.31 pop times. Quick feet, aggressive through the ball, average hands, catches the ball off his left side, clean transfers.
Arm: R. OF - 82 mph. Medium arm stroke, over the top slot, some accuracy.
Hit: L. Even base, weight over back leg, hands at back shoulder, more vertical barrel. Loads knee to knee, average stride, quiet hands, barrel flattens out. Some quickness to his hands, slight lift to the barrel path, uses the whole field, some barrel feel.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. Average bat speed, numbers should jump with added strength.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60.

John Scarbrough OF / LHP / Pinecrest, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/LHP.
Body: 5/11, 154 pounds. Thin frame, room for growth ahead.
Defense: Athletic through the ball, relaxed hands, catches ball off right foot, clean transfers.
Arm: L. OF - 72 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Hit: S. RHH-Even, starts with more weight on back leg, barrel on back shoulder. Short stride, hands load back. LHH-Balanced, even base, barrel on back shoulder. Simple load, average stride, quiet hands. RHH-Direct barrel path, gap to gap approach, barrel gets extension through the middle. LHH-Loose, quick hands, barrel is short to ball, stays through the zone, uses the whole field.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Average bat speed, numbers should improve with added strength.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60. Aggressive base runner with quickness.

Delivery: Rocker forward and easy, athletic turn. Some head stability as the leg lifts to the low-chest. On-line and level. Lands in-line with a closed foot strike.
Arm Action: L. Medium arm swing. Ball is hidden. High-3/4 slot, at times letting the arm sling through the release. Average arm speed.
FB: T75, 72-75 mph. 1728 rpm. Early run out of the hand. Flashed an ability to locate in to RHH
CB: 62-63 mph. rpm. Gradual, sweeping action, working out of the hand. Created chase vs. LHH.
CH: 70-71 mph. 1657 rpm.

Ryley Norton 1B / 3B / Pinecrest, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: 1B/3B.
Body: 6/1, 215 pounds. Large frame.
Defense: Active feet, average hands, clean transitions.
Arm: R. INF - 62 mph. Accurate, short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: R. Tall, open base, hands above back shoulder, flat barrel. Short stride, small hand load. Aggressive approach, uphill barrel path, gap to gap approach, some barrel feel.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Average bat speed with some strength off the barrel.
Run: 8.49 runner in the 60.

Lance Phillips RHP / 1B / Green Hope, NC / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 14 / POS: 3

Positional Profile: RHP/1B.
Body: 6/4, 195 pounds. Average frame with length
Delivery: Closed off at the set, working out of the stretch exclusively. Coils the front hip on the leg lift to the belt. Lower half works closed as the upper half begins to unwind, landing on-line and square. Average extension, sometimes falling off early to the 1
Arm Action: R. Medium arm swing working to a high-3/4 slot. Average arm speed.
FB: T80, 78-80 mph. 1893 rpm. Early arm side run to the arm side. 1:00 tilt out of the hand. Elevated throughout
CB: 66-68 mph. 1973 rpm. Working to be 12/6, wanting top to bottom action. At times, he is around the pitch, creating more sweep.

Ethan Suchenski RHP / 1B / Mountain Island Charter, NC / 2023

Positional Profile: RHP/1B. Arm strength is present with solid feel for multiple pitches
Body: 6/4, 245 pounds. Large frame with broad shoulders
Delivery: Straight on with a side step and turn, sliding toward the 1B side of the rubber. Lifts the knee toward the back shoulder, loading the front hip, remaining on line with the top half. Level, works to an in-line landing and slightly closed foot-strike.
Arm Action: R. Better than average arm speed works to an over-the-top slot.
FB: T84, 80-84 mph. 2125 rpm. Good ride through the zone with 1:15 spin tilt out of the hand. Attacks with the fastball
CH: 68-72 mph. 1903 rpm. Slightly lower slot, maintaining arm speed. Has feel for the zone.