One hundred of the top players from across North Carolina converged on Pineville, NC and the On Deck Academy to take part in the PBR Preseason All-State event.  In its third year, the Preseason All-State event has become one of the premier events in North Carolina for high caliber high school players. 

Billed as one of the top events in the state, with an incredible roster put together the day did not disappoint.  Personal records, as well as event records were shattered throughout the day.  The catchers from the 2020 class were a big part of the big numbers put up at the Preseason All-State.  Below we take a look at all 10 catchers in attendance with an evaluation, including their stats, and a link to their video.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster from the workout, along with the baseball analytics compiled on each player.
CLICK HERE to see the speed and agility numbers compiled on players in attendance.

Preseason All-State - By the Numbers:

+ The event soldout in record time, over 20 days prior to the event
+ 95 of the 100 registrants showed up for the workout
+ 26 players in the Senior Class
+ 48 players in the Junior Class
+ 80 players ran a timed 30 yard dash.  Median time of 4.08 with 31 players running a 3.90 or better
+ 44 players worked out on the infield
+ 78 mph was median velocity of infielder’s positional throws.  12 players clocked 81 or higher
+ 28 players worked out in the outfield
+ 86 mph was the median positional throw from the outfield with 2 players above 90 mph.
+ 18 catchers workout behind the dish with 6 players recording a positional velocity of 76 mph or higher
+ 2.08 – 2.18 was the median Pop Time range for catchers
+ 9 catchers registered a best pop time of under 2.10 in the workout format
+ 35 pitchers worked out in the bullpen format
+ 83 mph was the median of the max fastballs from each pitcher
+ 13 arms touched 85 or better with one arm reaching 90 mph

 

Preseason All-State Evaluations: 2020 Catchers

 

 

Ethan Martin C / 1B / Northwest Guilford, NC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 121 / POS: 18   5 foot 11, 175-pound athletic build.  Left hand hitter.  Setups in a slightly open stance with his weight on his back leg. Hands start low and work back up to shoulder height during the load, with a short stride.  Balanced swing, with some quickness in his hands.  Line drive approach, with his barrel working level through the zone, getting extension out front.  Works gap to gap with some feel for the barrel.  Fluid swing with average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph.  Average hands behind the plate with a slightly higher setup.  Transfers across his chest, with a quick exchange and short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Some feel for the bag with positional velocity topping at 73 mph.  Pop times ranging from 2.11-2.18.  Received with some ease showing a good target and remaining quiet.  Clean, quick hands receiving.  Recorded a 4.32 in the 30-yard dash.

 

 

Nathan Nygaard C / 1B / Sun Valley, NC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 81 / POS: 9   6 foot 1, 195-pound build with strength present. Offensively he works from the right side with a balanced setup.  Smooth load with a short stride and his hands working back.  Barrel works short to the ball with quick hands.  Keeps his barrel in the zone with the strength in his swing.  Gets extension out front with a gap to gap approach.  Above average bat speed with his exit velocity reaching 87 mph.  Presents a low target behind the plate with average hands.  Base can get narrow while receiving.  Arm topped to second base at 74 mph with clean transfers, a short arm action, and throwing form an over the top slot.  Pop times ranged from 2.15-2.18.  Longer arm action on the infield with some life to his throws topping at 87 mph.  Some stiffness during catch with a long exchange.  Recorded a 4.34 in the 30-yar dash and 8-6 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Kenny Leiner C / 3B / Pro5 Baseball Academy, NC / 2020   Lanky, projectable build at 6 foot 2, 200-pounds.  Switch hitter.  Balanced, slightly open setup from the right side.  Weight works slightly back in his load with a knee to knee load in the lower half.  Short bat path, keeping his barrel in the zone, working gap to gap.  Tall setup from the left side, with his weight stacked on his back leg.  Fluid knee to knee load in the lower half.  Looser hands form the left side with more bat speed and some whip through the zone, looking to get extension.  More strength from the left side.  Exit velocity recorded at 86 mph from each side.  Sets up behind the plate with low hips, showing flexibility and average hands.  Stands up through his throws to second base with a longer transfer and long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy to his throws with pop times ranging from 2.11-2.18.  Positional velocity topped at 75 mph.

 

 

Carter Merrill C / 3B / Stuart Cramer, NC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 99 / POS: 13   Physical build with strength at 6 foot 2, 210-pounds.  Hits from the right side using an open setup.  Gets his feet back to even during his load with a short stride and hands working back.  Balanced swing with a line drive approach working mostly middle to his pull side. Short bat path at times with his barrel working flat through the zone.  Looks to get extension out front with average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 91 mph.  Throws are around the bag to second base with his arm topping at 75 mph from a crouch position.  Clean exchanges with a short arm action, throwing form an over the top slot.  Pop times ranging from 2.18-2.22.  Receiving, presents a solid target.  Hips have some tightness creating a narrow base at times.  Recorded a 4.36 in the 30-yard dash, 4.72 in the 5-10-5, and 8-1 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Chet Sikes C / 3B / Wesleyan Christian Academy, NC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 38 / POS: 4   Strong build at 6 foot, 185-pounds.  Hits from the right side using a balanced setup.  Leg kick in his load with quiet hands.  Balanced swing, getting his lower half through the ball.  Drives the ball with quick hands and a fast bat.  Gets extension with some bat whip through the zone.  Works gap to gap with a line drive approach.  Exit velocity recorded at 86 mph.  Athletic setup behind the plate with confidence in his hands.  Throws to second base peaked at 74 mph.  Quick feet and exchange with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Feet don’t always get in line to second base causing the ball to sail at times.  Pop times recorded at 1.94-2.00.  Average hands on the infield with fluid feet.  Funnels to the belt after catch.  Short arm action, throwing form a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 78 mph across the diamond.  Recorded a 3.97 in the 30-yard dash and 8-11 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Maxwell Doherty C / OF / Lake Norman Charter, NC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 78 / POS: 7   Average build at 5 foot 10, 185-pounds.  Right hand hitter.  Sits in his legs with an open setup.  Works back during his load with a short stride and quiet hands.  Simple swing, staying balanced, with some barrel awareness.  Gets extension out front working mostly to his pull side.  Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 86 mph.  Relaxed setup behind the plate with some flexibility in the hips and average hands.  Base can be narrow creating balance issues at times.  Throws topped at 74 mph to second base with fluid feet working though his throws and short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Some feel for the bag with pop times recorded at 2.08-2.18.  Recorded a 4.13 in the 30-yard dash, 4.72 in the 5-10-5, and 8-6 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Michael Groves C / OF / Holly Springs, NC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 113 / POS: 15   UNC-Asheville commit.  6 foot 2, 188-pound strong, athletic build.  Switch hitter.  Balanced setup from the right side.  Loads against his back leg with a small leg kick and longer stride.  Glides to the ball creating weight transfer through the swing.  Looks to drive the ball with a slightly uphill path with some stiffness in his hands causing some length in the swing.  Slightly open setup from the left side with a leg kick and some barrel waggle during the load.  Hands are looser from the left side creating some bat whip through the zone.  Above average bat speed with some lift to the swing.  Exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.  Relaxed setup behind the plate with average hands.  Positional velocity recorded at 77 mph from a crouch position.  Quick feet with a quick transfer across his chest and short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Accurate throws with pop times at 2.00-2.08.  Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands.  High transfer with a shorter arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Arm peaked at 84 mph from the outfield.  Recorded a 4.26 in the 30-yard dash, 4.59 in the 5-10-5, and 9-1 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Jonathan Villa C / OF / Lumberton, NC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 145 / POS: 23   5 foot 11, 170-pound strong build. Right hand hitter.  Tall setup, with his weight on his back leg.  Small leg kick during his load with some barrel tip forward and back.  Loose hands with his barrel working flat through the zone getting extension.  Gap to gap approach with some feel for the barrel.  Exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.  Higher setup behind the plate with average hands. Arm topped at 68 mph to second base.  Clean transfers, with a high elbow, throwing from an over the top slot.  Pop times ranging from 2.25-2.28.  Recorded a 4.19 in the 30-yard dash, 4.60 in the 5-10-5, and 7-9 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Three Hillier C / RHP / Asheville, NC / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 79 / POS: 8   5 foot 8, 180-pound strong build.  Hits from the left side with a balanced setup and bat flat on his back shoulder.  Works back during his load with a short stride and small hand load.  Fluid, balanced swing with loose hands and some bat whip through the zone.  Quick hands with feel for the barrel and short path to the ball.  Keeps his barrel in the zone with above average bat speed.  Consistently found barrels during his front toss rounds driving the ball gap to gap with a solid approach.  Exit velocity recorded at 90 mph.  Receives with soft hands and relaxed setup behind the plate.  Confident receiver.  Positional velocity peaked at an advanced 81 mph with some effort to his throws.  Quick feet with a longer exchange and arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Accurate arm that has carry with pop times at 2.01-2.09.  Athleticism translates behind the dish.  Recorded a 4.08 in the 30-yard dash and 4.75 in the 5-10-5.