Prep Baseball Report

Quick Hitters: Preseason All State South - Position Players


Matt Payne
Director of Scouting, PBR of NC

On Sunday January 22nd PBR of North Carolina hosted its first of four Preseason All State Events at The Athletic Barn in Waxhaw, NC. The Preseason All State Events have become the premier winter event in North Carolina featuring some of the best talent from across the state. The events feature players from the 2023-2026 grad classes. 

Catchers got the day started going through a defensive evaluation. Pitchers followed by throwing a controlled bullpen of 15-20 pitches. After the pitchers the infielders went through their defensive evaluation. The day concluded with hitters taking BP in the open box cage with Trackman collecting ball flight data. 

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 - Position Players

Brian OConnell III, C, 2023

Strength present in a 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame. Controlled swings in BP with strength and quickness to his hands. Barrel stays inside the ball working through the middle with a line drive approach. Top exit velocity at 92.1 mph, average EV at 85.3 mph. Arm reached 79 mph from behind the plate. 

Jake Klawonn, OF/2B, 2023

5-foot-9, 150-pound build. Direct to the ball with his barrel working through the zone. Hands have quickness. Worked to both sides of the cage with a line drive approach. Peak exit velocity at 93.7 mph, average EV at 80.7 mph. 

Ryan Hawkins, 2B/3B, 2023

5-foot-6, 155-pound frame. Hit several balls off the barrel during BP. Posted the top exit velocity of the day at 95.6 mph, average EV at 88.5 mph. Hands have quickness and strength with a flat barrel path through the zone. Balanced approach working mostly through the middle of the cage. 

Tyler Asbury, C/3B, 2024

Strong build at 6-foot, 190-pounds. Drove balls gap to gap with his barrel taking a short path to the ball. Hands are fast with feel for the barrel. Peak exit velocity at 92.3 mph, average EV at 85.4 mph. Has arm strength from behind the plate with his throws peaking at 80 mph. 

Prince Mairena, OF, 2024

6-foot, 170-pound frame. Left hand hitter. Lined balls through the middle and to the opposite field during BP. Hands are loose with his barrel working inside and through the ball. Posted a peak exit velocity of 90.7 mph, average EV at 82.2 mph. 

Kylan Odean, OF, 2024

Athletic build at 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Short, simple swing with his barrel staying through the zone. Hands are loose and quick. Works gap to gap with a line drive approach. Top exit velocity recorded at 91.5 mph, average EV at 83.2 mph. Arm reached 83 mph from the outfield. 

Michael Craft, SS/2B, 2024

Thin frame with room to add strength at 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Loose, flat swing with feel for the barrel. Stayed through the middle of the cage with a line drive approach. Top exit velocity at 83.3 mph, average EV at 77.2 mph.

Brett Cassell, SS/2B, 2024

6-foot, 180-pound frame. Worked through the middle and to the opposite field during his BP rounds. Hands have quickness with lift to the barrel path. Top exit velocity at 86.9 mph, average EV at 78.3 mph. Arm topped at 81 mph. 

Matthew Sermeno, SS/3B, 2024

Strong build at 6-foot, 180-pounds. Hit several balls off the barrel using a gap to gap approach. Hands have strength, barrel gets length out front. Peak exit velocity at 90 mph, average EV at 83.2 mph. 

Xavier Mccoury, SS/2B, 2025

5-foot-10, 145-pound frame with room for maturation ahead. Left hand hitting infielder who impressed throughout his workout. Loose, compact swing with feel for the barrel. Squared up several balls during BP with the ability to use the whole field. Top exit velocity at 87 mph, average EV at 81.7 mph. Advanced actions on the infield. 

Jake Parham, SS, 2025

5-foot-11, 155-pound frame with room to add strength. Simple, balanced swing with the ability to control the barrel. Relaxed approach working through the middle and to the opposite field. Peak exit velocity recorded at 86.2 mph, average EV at 79.3 mph. Above average hands on the infield with his throws topping at 84 mph. 

Joe Walker, C/OF, 2025

Lanky frame at 6-foot, 160-pounds. Short, balanced swing with his barrel staying inside and through the ball. Lined balls through the middle and to right center. Posted a top exit velocity of 87.9 mph and average EV at 79.3 mph. Arm reached 73 mph from behind the plate. 

Beckett Gurian, 1B/OF, 2025

6-foot, 190-pound frame with strength present. The left hand hitter squared up several balls to his pull side. Hands have strength and quickness with his barrel getting length out front. Top exit velocity at 92.7 mph, average EV at 78.5 mph. 

Caden Davidson, 3B/1B, 2025

Long, lanky frame at 6-foot-3, 195-pounds. Primary right hand hitter who has recently been working on hitting from the left side as well. Impressed during BP driving the ball through the middle of the cage. Compact swing with his barrel staying long through the zone with better than average bat speed. Balanced swing from the left side while showing some bat speed. Top exit velocity at 93.7 mph, average EV at 84.7 mph. 

Bennett Baldassarre, 1B/C, 2025

Physical build at 6-foot-3, 205-pounds. Hit several balls off the barrel during his BP rounds. Hits with a sturdy, wide base generating bat speed through the zone. Hands have strength with some lift to the swing path. Peak exit velocity recorded at 91.8 mph, average EV at 83.1 mph. 

Meridian Leffew, SS/2B, 2026

Has added lean mass to his 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame since last summer. Controlled, balanced swings generating bat speed through the zone with feel for the barrel. Squared balls up to both gaps in BP. Top exit velocity at 93.5 mph, average EV at 77.9 mph. Athletic actions on the infield with his throws reaching 85 mph. 

Owen Green, OF, 2026

5-foot-11, 150-pound frame with room for maturation ahead. Athletic left hand hitter who squared up balls through the middle of the cage. Balanced swing with quickness to his hands, barrel works mostly flat through the zone. Top exit velocity at 88.5 mph, average EV at 75.6 mph. Posted the top outfield arm velocity at 86 mph. 

Preston Smith, SS, 2026

Lanky frame at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds with room to fill out in the coming years. Hands are quick with his barrel staying through the ball and some lift to the swing path. Lined several balls through middle and to left center. Peak exit velocity at 88.5 mph, average EV at 80.7 mph.