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 catching in North Carolina is very deep across each class and the Preseason All-State highlighted some of the younger backstops that will take center stage before long.  Of the six 2021 and 2022 catchers highlighted below, two are already committed. The 2021 and 2022 outfielders are highlighted by an athletic group, including several runners.

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 Evals: 2021 - 2022 Catchers

 

 

Jeb Despard C / 3B / Marvin Ridge, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 27 / POS: 6 6 foot 1, 195-pound strong build. Right hand hitter uses a tall, slightly open setup.  Smooth load with a short stride.  Lower half works through the ball.  Fluid swing with average feel for the barrel.  Above average bat speed, keeping his barrel in the zone.  Looked to stay gap to gap with a line drive approach.  Exit velocity recorded at 91 mph.  Plays through balls on the infield with average hands.  Clean exchanges, short arm action, throwing from a ¾ slot.  Some accuracy across the diamond with his throws topping at 76 mph.  Relaxed setup behind the plate with soft hands.  Positional velocity recorded at 72 mph from a crouch position.  Quick, clean exchanges, short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Some feel for the bag with pop times at 2.18-2.23.  Recorded a 4.27 in the 30-yard dash, 4.69 in the 5-10-5, and 8-2 in the standing broad jump

 

 

Chris Katz C / 3B / Heritage, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 121 / POS: 13   Wake Forest commit.  6 foot, 200-pound strong build.  Hits from the right side using a balanced setup.  Smooth load with a short stride and hands working back to a good launch position.  Fluid swing with strength and barrel awareness.  Drives the ball gap to gap with an advanced approach.  Keeps his barrel in the zone with above average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 96 mph.  Receives easy with a relaxed setup and soft hands behind the plate.  Quick, fluid exchanges, with a short arm action, throwing form an over the top slot, with an accurate arm to second base.  Pop times recorded at 1.98-2.07.  Positional velocity topped at 76 mph.  Recorded a 4.11 in the 30-yard dash, 4.89 in the 5-10-5, and 8-3 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Andrew Schuldt C / SS / William A. Hough, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 52 / POS: 10   5 foot 9, 168-pound build. Balanced setup from the right side.  Strong load in his lower half with a controlled leg kick.  Hands get to a good launch position at foot plant.  Strong lower half, with quick hands creating some barrel whip through the zone.  Fluid swing with above average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 89 mph.  Low, relaxed setup behind the plate with average hands.  Fluid feet, with quick, clean exchanges, and short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Pop times ranged from 2.03-2.08.  Accurate arm to second base that peaked at 73 mph.  Fluid feet with average hands on the infield.  Funnels to the midsection after catch with clean exchanges, a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy across the diamond with his arm topping at 74 mph.  Recorded a 4.06 in the 30-yard dash, 4.52 in the 5-10-5, and 9-1 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Graham Smiley C / 3B / East Lincoln, NC / 2022   NC State commit.  Average build with strength at 6 foot, 180-pounds.  Smooth load with a short stride, getting his hands ready to attack the ball.  Quick hands with strength in his swing.  Barrel works short to the ball and stays in the zone.  Works gap to gap with some pop to his pull side.  Above average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 93 mph. Accurate arm to second base with his positional velocity peaking at 78 mph form a crouch position.  Athletic setup behind the plate, receiving with ease.  Fluid feet, with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Arm has carry, with his pop times ranging from 1.98-2.01.  Recorded a 4.27 in the 30-yard dash, 4.59 in the 5-10-5, and 8-1 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Matthew Suppa C / 3B / Ardrey Kell, NC / 2022   5 foot 10, 190-pound build.  Tall, slightly open setup from the right side of the plate.  Works back in his load with a short stride.  Barrel works level through the zone with a pull approach.  Looks to get extension.  Some stiffness in his hands through the swing.  Exit velocity recorded at 82 mph.  Some flexibility in his hips, receiving with average hands behind the plate.  Fluid feet, with clean exchanges, and short arm action, throwing form an over the top slot.  Some feel for the bag on his throws to second base with pop times ranging from 2.20-2.28.  Positional velocity topped at 73 mph from a crouch position.  Recorded a 4.70 in the 30-yard dash, 4.82 in the 5-10-5, and 6-8 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Peyton Wilkins C / OF / Wayne School of Engineering, NC / 2022   5 foot 11, 175-pounds. Hits from the right side, using a tall setup.  Medium length stride with his hands working back.  Some feel for his barrel, with his bat working level through zone.  Gets extension out front.  Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 83 mph.  Some mobility in his hips behind the plate with average hands.  Longer exchange, throwing from an over the top slot.  Some feel for the bag with pop times recorded at 2.08-2.18.  Positional velocity peaked at 77 mph from a crouched position.  Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Accurate arm that topped at 84 mph.  Recorded a 4.11 in the 30-yard dash, 4.59 in the 5-10-5, and 8-4 in the standing broad jump.

 

 

Preseason All-State Evals: 2020-2021 Outfielders

 

 

Payton Bloom OF / SS / Apex Friendship, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 54 / POS: 8   6 foot 1, 160-pound wiry, athletic build.  Hits from the right side using a balanced, athletic setup.  Weight and hands work smooth back during his load with a short stride.  Fluid, balanced swing.  Line drive approach, working mostly middle to his pull side.  Feel for the barrel, keeping it in the zone.  Average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph.  Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with fluid feet and average hands.  Long, loose arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Arm peaked at 87 mph.  Recorded a 4.20 in the 30-yard dash and 4.7 in the 5-10-5.

 

 

Drew Gugino OF / SS / Lake Norman Charter, NC / 2021   5 foot 11, 145-pound build.  Open, athletic setup from the left side of the plate.  Smooth load, with a short stride and some barrel waggle.  Short bat path to the ball, getting extension out front.  Some feel for the barrel working mostly middle to his pull side.  Average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 84 mph.  Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Clean exchanges, with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity topped at 76 mph.  Recorded a 4.07 in the 30-yard dash and 4.59 in the 5-10-5.

 

 

Archie Dean Herring OF / SS / Westchester Country Day, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 31 / POS: 5   5 foot 10, 160-pound quick twitch athlete.  Event best 3.71 thirty yard and an explosive 9-9 in the standing long jump.  Offensively, balanced, athletic setup from the right side of the plate.  Works back in his load with a small, smooth leg kick, loading against his back hip.  Balanced approach with quick hands.  Drives the ball with a short path, keeping his barrel in the zone.  Feel for the barrel with above average bat speed.  Fluid swing with his exit velocity reaching 89 mph.  Plays athletic through the ball with quick, fluid feet and average hands.  Clean exchanges with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm with carry that topped at 87 mph.  Recorded a 4.53 in the 5-10-5.

 

 

Lefrederick Wooten OF / 3B / East Bladen, NC / 2021   5 foot 10, 168-pound build.  Offensively he works from the right side using a tall setup.  Uses a leg kick for his load with a slight cock in the hands.  Quick hands.  Works mostly gap to gap with some feel for the barrel.  Still raw as a hitter but shows tools that leave projection.  Average bat speed with strength in the swing.  Exit velocity recorded at 85 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with quick feet and average hands. Quick arm, using a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity peaked at 85 mph.  Recorded a 3.93 in the 30-yard dash and 4.57 in the 5-10-5.