Quick Hitters - Team Carolina Trials: Charlotte Pitchers
June 3, 2022
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On Saturday May 28th PBR of North Carolina hosted trials for Team Carolina at Moor Park in Mooresville, NC. The Team Carolina Trials leads to identifying prospects for some of the summer’s biggest invite only events like NC/SC Border Battle, PBR Southeast Senior Games, Top Prospect Games, and the PBR Future Games. The event featured players from the 2023-2027 grad classes.
The day began with catchers going through a full defensive workout. Pitchers then threw a controlled bullpen with Trackman gathering ball flight analytics. Following the pitchers, position players ran a laser timed 60 and also had jumping metrics recorded using Swift Technology. Position players then took batting practice on the field with Trackman collection ball flight data. The day concluded with outfielders and infielders taking part in a defensive workout.
Below we begin our breakdown of the players in attendance looking at the top performers in different categories. Look for more statistics and information to follow in the coming days.
CLICK HERE for full roster and stats
Quick Hitters: Pitchers
Garrett Pyne, RHP, Hickory Ridge HS, 2023
Commanding presence with strength present in a defined lower half and broad shoulders at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. Simple, repeatable delivery with looseness in the hips. Good direction, staying level. Long, loose arm swing to a high-¾ slot. Athletic arm has above average arm speed and arm strength. Fastball at 86-90, averaging 2355rpm and peaking at 2436rpm. Solid ride through the zone, playing true out of the hand. Split has excellent arm speed with tumbling action at 75-77, 984rpm. Around the zone with fastball and splitter. Breaking ball is sharp at times with hard 2/8 tilt at 74-76, 2130rpm.
Jack Welsch, LHP, Green Level HS, 2024
Thin frame with maturation still coming. Stands 5-foot-11, 155 pounds. Short arm swing and over-the-top release. Strike thrower with solid direction. Fastball up to 82.8mph, averaging 1775rpm. Sink metrics. Good change-up with exceptional arm speed creating some deception. Change has fade at 1241rpm.
Aidan Cluskey, LHP, Reagan HS, 2023
Strength present at 6-foot, 180 pounds. Effort out of the glove with the elbow eventually working above the shoulder line as he gets to the cocking phase. High-¾ slot. Average to above arm speed. Around the zone with the fastball / curveball combo. Fastball up to 80mph with 14in of horizontal action. Solid feel for the glove side. Sweeping breaking ball at 71-72, spinning up to 2305rpm.
Nick Ham, RHP, Apex Friendship HS, 2024
Physical stature at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds. Raw on the bump, with some effort, working through some coil in the delivery and a rotational finish. Solid arm speed. Long arm action and over-the-top slot. Sink metrics on the fastball, elevated throughout most of the bullpen. Ranged 80-82, 1800rpm. Sharp breaking ball. Erratic feel, but the makings of a pitch that could present issues. Ranged 69-70, spinning up to 2059rpm. 2/8 tilt on the breaking ball when around the zone.
Jacob Smith, RHP, Lincoln Charter, 2024
Strong with broad shoulders. PHysical presence. Stands 6-foot, 190 pounds. Long arm swing with the front side high for some deception but leaving early at times. Fastball at 81-84 with some run out of the hand. Fastball - Change-up only on this day. Solid arm speed and feel for the change up at 74-76, spinning at 1245rpm.
Tucker Payton, RHP, Gaston Christian, 2026
Young but with some strength present and broad shoulders. LIsted at 6-foot, 183 pounds. Some effort in the arm leaving the glove, plunging before getting back to an over-the-top release that was on time throughout the bullpen. Deception exists in the delivery. Fastball peaked at 85mph, 1986rpm. Sink metrics. Solid slider and change-up. Both are still developing.
Thomas Conrad, RHP, Forbush HS, 2024
Thin and lean frame. Works tall over the rubber with a medium arm swing to a over-the-top slot. Athletic arm. Above average arm speed. Pounded the zone with the fastball. Ranged 82-84, 2090rpm. Played true out of the hand with sink metrics. Good feel for the arm side. Big tilt on a top to bottom breaking ball that begins its action out of the hand. Curveball sat 68-70, 2350rpm.