Prep Baseball Report

Quick Hitters: Preseason All State Central - Upperclass Position Players


Matt Payne
Director of Scouting, PBR of NC

On Saturday February 11th, PBR of North Carolina hosted its final Preseason All State Event of 2023 at the spacious Diamond Xtreme Facility in Kernersville, NC.  The Preseason All State Events have become the premier winter event in NC featuring some of the top talent from across the state. The events feature players from the 2023-2026 grad classes.

The event began with catchers going through a defensive evaluation followed by pitchers throwing a controlled bullpen with Trackman collecting advanced data. Once the pitchers were done the position players ran a laser timed 30. After the running outfielders and infielders went through a defensive evaluation. The night concluded with players taking batting practice in the open cage with Trackman gathering ball flight analytics. 

 Below we begin our breakdown of the players in attendance. Look for more information to follow in the coming days. 

Click Here for full roster and stats. 

Quick Hitters

Samuel Bevin, SS/2B, 2023

Athleticism present in a 5-foot-9, 175-pound frame. Ran a 3.90 laser timed 30, vertical jump at 35.8in. Hands are quick with bat speed through the zone. Worked mostly to the left center gap in BP. Top exit velocity at 92.7 mph, average EV at 87.4 mph. Athletic on the infield, arm reached 89 mph to first base. 

Joshua Herbert, OF, 2023

5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. Continues to show well in PBR workouts. Ran a 3.75 laser timed 30. Relaxed in the box, balanced swing with a short path to the ball, barrel works level through the zone. Hit several balls off the barrel working to the left center gap. Top exit velocity at 95.7 mph, average EV at 89.6 mph. Arm topped at 85 mph from the outfield. 

Angelo Herrera, 2B/SS, 2023

5-foot-8, 185-pound frame. Worked through the middle of the field in BP. Hands are loose with a flat swing path. Ball off his bat reached 90.5 mph, average EV at 85 mph. Relaxed hands on the infield. 

Will Koehler, OF/SS, 2023

5-foot-10, 170-pound frame. Loose, compact swing turning through the ball. Hands are quick with a short path to the ball. Lined balls gap to gap in BP. Peak exit velocity at 93.1 mph, average EV at 87.1 mph. 

Davin Whitaker, 3B/OF, 2023

ECU commit. Athletic, projectable frame at 6-foot-4, 195-pounds. Left hand hitter. Squared balls up working to the right center gap. Top exit velocity at 95.1 mph, average EV at 88.7 mph. Hits with a wide base, barrel stays through the ball getting extension out front. Arm reached 94 mph from the outfield. 

Dominic Azzarello, 2B, 2024

5-foot-10, 170-pound frame. Worked gap to gap in BP. Hands have quickness with slight lift to the barrel path. Peak exit velocity at 84.2 mph, average EV at 76.5 mph. 

Brittyn Barnes, OF, 2024

6-foot, 175-pound build. Left hand hitter. Hands are quick with an uphill barrel path. Worked to both gaps in BP with his highest exit velocity at 81.8 mph, average EV at 74.3 mph. Ran a 3.90 laser timed 30. 

Craig Belden, 2B/SS, 2024

5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. Balanced swing, direct path with his barrel working level through the zone. Lined several balls to the left center gap. Top exit velocity at 91.5 mph, average EV at 85.9 mph. Plays below the ball on the infield with relaxed hands. 

Tanner Brewer, OF, 2024

5-foot-9, 160-pound frame. Worked through the middle of the field during BP. Direct path with his barrel staying through the ball getting to a two-hand finish. Hands have quickness, Peak exit velocity at 89 mph, average EV at 82.7 mph. Ran a 3.89 laser timed 30. 

Nathan Bunch, 1B, 2024

Large frame at 6-foot-3, 220-pounds. Worked through the middle and to the opposite field during his BP rounds. Hands have strength and quickness, short to the ball with his barrel working flat through the zone. Top exit velocity at 91.9 mph, average EV at 84.4 mph. 

Dylan Davis, OF, 2024

6-foot, 185-pound frame. Hands are loose with quickness. Stays balanced with his barrel working down through the ball. Ball off his bat reached 87.9 mph, average EV at 78.8 mph. Ran a 3.95 laser timed 30. 

Keir Fulcher, C, 2024

5-foot-9, 185-pound build. Left hand hitter. Direct path to the ball with strength in his hands. Balanced approach with the ball off his bat reaching 89.5 mph, average EV at 82.9 mph. Accurate arm to second base that topped at 73 mph. 

Chase Gora, C, 2024

5-foot-9, 160-pound build. Accurate arm to second base that topped at 74 mph. Quick hands with his barrel working down through the ball. Worked to both sides of the field in BP, peak exit velocity at 88.3 mph, average EV at 79.8 mph. 

Hueston Gorham, 3B/C, 2024

6-foot-4, 185-pound frame with projection ahead. Switch hitter. Relaxed and balanced from both sides with feel for the barrel. Hands are quick, stays short to the ball. Top exit velocity at 90.2 mph, average EV at 79 mph. Accurate arm to second base, relaxed hands on the infield. 

Jack Heron, 2B/SS, 2024

5-foot-9, 155-pounds. Lined balls to his pull side. Hands are quick, short to the ball and keeps his barrel through the zone. Peak exit velocity at 89 mph, average EV at 84 mph. Athletic actions on the infield. 

Ryan Honeycutt, C/3B, 2024

Large frame at 6-foot-6, 205-pounds with room to hold added weight. Worked to both gaps in BP. Has bat speed through the zone, slight lift to the swing path getting extension out front. Top exit velocity at 95 mph, average EV at 82.1 mph. Arm reached 79 mph from behind the plate with his best pop time at 1.90.

Blaize Johnson, C, 2024

5-foot-11, 220-pound frame. Left hand hitter. Hit several balls off the barrel in BP. Hands have strength, short to the ball and keeps his barrel through the zone. Peak exit velocity at 98.6 mph, average EV at 94.5 mph. Arm topped at 75 mph, best pop time at 2.01.

Bryant Kimbrell, 3B, 2024

Strength in a 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame. Posted the top exit velocity of the night at 102.9 mph, average EV at 93 mph. Balanced, compact swing, stays short to the ball with bat speed through the zone. Has gotten more athletic on the infield, has bend to his hips with softness to his hands. Arm up to 87 mph across the diamond. 

Caden Lasley, C, 2024

5-foot-8, 160-pound frame. Left hand hitter. Fluid swing, keeps his barrel inside and through the ball. Lined balls through the middle and to the opposite field gap, peak exit velocity at 86.7 mph, average EV at 82.3 mph. Accurate arm to second base. 

Evan Lecnar, SS/2B, 2024

5-foot-8, 140-pound build. Switch hitter. Short and simple stroke from both sides with feel for the barrel. Middle of the field approach with the ball off his bat reaching 85 mph, average EV at 77.2 mph. 

Jabari Lee, C/OF, 2024

6-foot, 170-pound build with strength present. Has arm strength with his arm topping at 79 mph from behind the plate and 85 mph from the outfield. Ran a 3.91 laser timed 30. Hands are fast, short path staying inside and through the ball. Top exit velocity at 92.1 mph, average EV at 80.1 mph. 

Aaron Main, OF, 2024

5-foot-10, 150-pound frame. Lined balls through the middle of the field during his BP rounds. Controlled in box, barrel works flat through the zone with quickness to his hands. Peak exit velocity at 90.3 mph, average EV at 83.9 mph. 

Jack McGeehan, OF, 2024

6-foot, 170-pound frame. Left hand hitter. Fluid stroke, barrel works flat through the zone, gets extension through the middle of the field. Hands have quickness, lined balls to both gaps in BP. Top exit velocity at 88.8 mph, average EV at 83.5 mph. 

John McKillop, 1B, 2024

Large frame at 6-foot-2, 205-pounds. Left hand hitter that continues to make hard contact in front of PBR scouts. Top exit velocity at 100.4 mph, average EV at 93 mph. Controlled load, short to the ball with bat speed through the zone. Has feel for the barrel and will use both sides of the field. 

Mason Middleton, 1B, 2024

App State commit. 6-foot-1, 220-pound build with strength present. Worked gap to gap in BP. Hands have strength and quickness with a mostly flat swing path. Top exit velocity at 94.1 mph, average EV at 89.2 mph.

Austin Mooring, C/3B, 2024

Lanky frame at 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. Arm up to 80 mph from behind the plate with carry to the second base bag. Showed the ability to handle quality arms with ease. Flat swing path with quickness in his hands. Peak exit velocity at 86.1 mph, average EV at 73.8 mph. 

Landon Mowery, SS, 2024

5-foot-9, 184-pound build. Left hand hitter. Worked through the middle of the field during BP. Peak exit velocity at 92.1 mph, average EV at 87.5 mph. Quick hands with his barrel working mostly level through the zone. Solid actions on the infield. 

Will Newton, OF, 2024

Has added size and strength to his 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. Arm topped at 89 mph from the outfield. Balanced swing lining balls to both sides of the field. Hands are quick, barrel stays through the ball. Peak exit velocity at 91.2 mph, average EV at 83 mph. 

Dylan Pasternak, 2B/SS, 2024

5-foot-11, 165-pound frame with room to add strength. Loose swing with quickness in his hands. Barrel stays inside and through the ball. Has feel for the barrel posting a top exit velocity of 92.3 mph, average EV at 87.8 mph. Shows comfort on the infield with fluid actions. 

Jake Pereira, SS/2B, 2024

5-foot-9, 170-pound frame. Hit several line drives in BP with the ability to use both sides of the field. Hands are quick, compact swing with his barrel staying through the zone. Top exit velocity at 94.8 mph, average EV at 88.7 mph. Athletic on the infield with softness to his hands. 

Colin Pritt, 3B/1B, 2024

5-foot-11, 195-pound build. Fluid load, stays short to the ball with his barrel staying through the zone. Hit balls off the barrel to both sides of the field. Hands have strength and quickness. Peak exit velocity at 92.6 mph, average EV 85 mph. 

Cameron Richey, OF, 2024

6-foot-1, 175-pound build. Squared balls up to both gaps in BP. Loose hands with quickness, keeps his barrel through the zone. Top exit velocity at 94.4 mph, average EV at 86.9 mph. Arm up to 85 mph from the outfield. 

Landon Roberts, 1B/C, 2024

6-foot, 215-pound build. Worked through the middle of the field in BP. Hands have strength, some lift to the swing path. Ball off his bat reached 91.8 mph, average EV at 84.7 mph. 

Nathaniel Roller, C, 2024

6-foot-2, 190-pound build. Hit several balls off the barrel during his BP rounds. Starts upright, loads into his legs, uphill swing path with quickness in his hands. Top exit velocity at 88.6 mph, average EV at 85.3 mph. Best pop time recorded at 2.00.

Henry Russin, 1B, 2024

Thin Lanky frame at 6-foot-3, 175-pounds. Worked to both gaps in BP, hands have quickness. Some lift to the swing path, peak exit velocity at 86.5 mph, average EV at 81.9 mph. 

Seth Sharpe, OF, 2024

5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Lined some balls to the left center gap in BP. Hands have quickness, flat swing path, gets extension out front. Peak exit velocity at 86.2 mph, average EV at 79.5 mph. Arm topped at 85 mph from the outfield. 

Braden Shive, OF, 2024

6-foot-1, 165-pound frame. Posted the fastest 30 time of the event at 3.71. Worked gap to gap in BP, ball off his bat reached 85.6 mph, average EV at 82.1 mph. Loose hands, uphill swing path. Arm topped at 84 mph from the outfield. 

RJ Smith, OF, 2024

5-foot-8, 140-pound build. Direct to the ball, mostly level path through the zone. Lined some balls to his pull side. Peak exit velocity at 83.4 mph, average EV at 79.3 mph. 

Dylan Stallings, 2B/SS, 2024

5-foot-10, 165-pound frame. Worked to both gaps in BP. Back leg drives through the swing, some quickness to the hands. Mostly level barrel path through the zone getting to two-hand finish. Peak exit velocity at 81.5 mph, average EV at 75.8 mph. 

Kyle Thomas, OF/2B, 2024

5-foot-7, 155-pound build. Balanced swing, short to the ball, flat barrel path through the zone. Worked mostly to the left center gap in BP, top exit velocity at 83 mph, average EV at 78.6 mph. Ran a 3.91 laser timed 30. 

Gavin Turner, SS, 2024

6-foot-2, 185-pound  athletic frame. Lined balls through the middle during his BP rounds. Hands are quick, stays short to the ball and keeps his barrel through the zone. Top exit velocity at 94.7 mph, average EV at 88.8 mph. Hands have softness on the infield. 

Austin Wagner, 1B/3B, 2024

6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. Strong hands with quickness. Flat swing path working through the middle in BP. Top exit velocity at 91.5 mph, average EV at 77.1 mph. 

Braylon Whitaker, OF, 2024

5-foot-9, 155-pound frame. The left hand hitter squared up several balls throughout his rounds. Fluid swing with quick hands, has feel for the barrel keeping it through the zone. Peak exit velocity at 89 mph, average EV at 81.8 mph. Arm topped at 86 mph from the outfield. 

Lucas Witt, OF, 2024

5-foot-11, 150-pound frame. Balanced swing with quick hands. Hit balls off the barrel working mostly to his pull side. Top exit velocity at 89.5 mph, average EV at 81.5 mph. Arm reached 86 mph from the outfield, ran a 3.97 laser timed 30.