Prep Baseball Report

Quick Hitters: Underclass Games - Position Players


Matt Payne
Director of Scouting, PBR of NC

On Saturday November 5th PBR of North Carolina hosted its Underclass Games at War Memorial Stadium in Greensboro, NC. The invite only event featured some of the top players from across North Carolina in the 2024-2026 grad classes. 

The day began with position players running a laser timed 10yd and 60 yd sprint. After running position players took batting practice on the field with Trackman collecting ball flight data and Blast collecting swing information. Following batting practice position players went through a defensive evaluation. After the pro-style workout position players were split into two teams and played two controlled scrimmage games facing live arms. During the games Trackman was used to gather data on each pitcher. 

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

Click Here to see full roster and stats

Quick Hitters

Ayden Wall, C, 2025

Athletic frame with projection ahead at 6-foot-2, 165-pounds. Lined balls to center and right center during BP. Drove a ball to right center with 2-strikes in game action for a double. Aggressive approach with his barrel staying inside and through the ball. Top exit velocity at 90.6 mph, average EV at 83 mph. Arm reached 75 mph from behind the plate. 

Hayden Ashby, C/1B, 2024

Strength present in a 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. Worked through the middle of the field during BP. Hands have strength and quickness. with his barrel staying through the ball getting extension out front. Top exit velocity at 84.6 mph, average EV at 78.8 mph while using wood. Quick transfers behind the plate with accuracy to his throws. 

Cade Gardner, SS/3B, 2024

5-foot-11, 175-pound frame. Short path to the ball, some lift to the swing path with his barrel getting length through the middle of the field, hands have quickness. Has feel for the barrel, top exit velocity at 91.1 mph, average EV at 85.2 mph. Hit two balls off the barrel to center in game play. Solid actions on the infield. 

CJ Whitaker, C/1B, 2025

Long, lanky frame at 6-foot-4, 185-pounds with room to fill out in the coming years. Worked through the middle of the field during his BP rounds. Top exit velocity at 86.8 mph, average EV at 80.1 mph. Hands are quick with a mostly flat swing path. Hit a ball off the barrel to right in game action. Quick transitions behind the plate with accuracy to his throws. 

Cameron Brown, 2B, 2024

5-foot-11, 175-pound frame. Left hand hitter. Fluid swing, short path, gets his barrel in the zone early and stays through the ball. Top exit velocity at 92.5 mph, average EV at 84.9 mph. Hit a ball hard through the 6-hole and stayed through an off speed pitch for a single to center in game action. Arm reached 84 mph across the infield. 

Grayson Hudgins, 1B/3B, 2024

6-foot-1, 175-pound frame with room to fill out. Balanced swing with his barrel working flat through the zone. Hands are quick with a direct path. Worked through the middle of the field during his BP rounds with a line drive approach. Top exit velocity at 86.9 mph, average EV at 75.9 mph. 

Jadden Rodriguez, OF, 2024

Athletic build at 5-foot-11, 182-pounds. Left hand hitter. Fluid swing with quick hands, barrel works from inside the ball with some lift to the swing path. Worked gap to gap in BP, top exit velocity at 85.7 mph, average EV at 80.2 mph. Made hard contact lining a ball to deep right in game play. Also, lined a ball to center and had a base hit through the 4-hole. Arm topped at 87 mph from the outfield. 

Jake Dunlap, OF, 2024

6-foot-2, 160-pound frame with projection ahead. Left hand hitter. Fluid swing with feel for the barrel working gap to gap in BP. Top exit velocity at 91 mph, average EV at 87.2 mph. Short path with quick hands, barrel stays through the ball with slight lift to the swing path. Impressed in game play squaring up two balls to the left center gap, one for a double. Aggressive on the base paths. Showed ability to turn his hips and track balls over his head while playing center field. Arm topped at 88 mph from the outfield. 

Matt McKnight, SS/3B, 2025

6-foot-2, 175-pound frame. Consistently hit balls off the barrel in BP lining balls to both sides of the field. Fluid, compact swing, hips turn through the ball with his barrel staying through the zone. Top exit velocity at 88.2 mph, average EV at 80.5 mph. Competes pitch to pitch during his at bats, stayed in the middle of the field to score a run from third base with less than 2-outs in one of his at bats. Solid actions while playing with trust in his hands on the infield. 

Ayden Broughton, 3B, 2026

6-foot, 140-pound frame with room for maturation in the coming years. Lined balls through the middle of the field during his BP rounds. Balanced swing, hands have looseness, direct path with his barrel working level through the zone. Peak exit velocity at 77.2 mph, average EV at 71.6 mph. 

Brady Williams, SS/OF, 2024

5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. Left hand hitter with the versatility to play multiple positions and high baseball IQ. Simple balanced swing with feel for the barrel. Short path with his barrel staying inside and through the ball. Peak exit velocity at 83.9 mph, average EV at 74.9 mph. Plus at bat in a left on left situation, lined a ball to left for a base hit after fouling off multiple pitches to extend the at bat. Solid action on the infield with an accurate arm.

Dylan Pasternak, 2B/SS, 2024

5-foot-11, 160-pound frame with room to add strength. Loose, quick hands, barrel works from inside the ball with some lift to the swing path. Hit balls off the barrel working gap to gap in BP. Peak exit velocity at 92.8 mph, average EV at 85.7 mph. Squared a ball up to right for a double and lined a ball to first in game action. Shows athleticism on the infield. 

Caden Reedy, C/3B, 2026

5-foot-7, 140-pounds with room for maturation ahead in the coming years. Worked mostly through the middle and to his pull side in BP. Balanced swing, hands have quickness, mostly flat barrel path through the zone. Peak exit velocity at 73.8 mph, average EV at 66.5 mph. Accurate arm from behind the plate. 

Carter Huffman, SS, 2026

5-foot-11, 161-pound frame with quickness present. Line drive approach working gap to gap in BP. Hands are quick, direct path with his barrel working mostly level through the zone. Top exit velocity at 86.8 mph, average EV at 77.3 mph. Lined a ball to center for a base hit in game action. Ran a 7.05 laser timed 60. 

Jentz Steiner, 3B/OF, 2024

5-foot-7, 149-pound frame. Hit balls off the barrel to both gaps in BP. Top exit velocity at 88.3 mph, average EV at 82 mph. Short to the ball, barrel stays through the ball getting extension out front, hands have quickness. Lined a ball to third during game play. 

Sam Zalinsky, SS/OF, 2025

5-foot-9, 165-pound build. Quick hands with a direct path, barrel gets extension through the middle of the field. LIned balls to both gaps, peak exit velocity at 89 mph, average EV at 77.7 mph. Quick feet on the infield with trust in his hands. 

Tanner Brewer, OF/2B, 2024

5-foot-9, 160-pound frame. Simple, balanced swing. Loose hands with a flat barrel path working through the middle of the field in BP. Top exit velocity at 86.4 mph, average EV at 80.1 mph. Lined a double to left and made solid contact for a base knock to left in another game at bat. Ran a 7.15 laser timed 60. 

Austin Price, SS/OF, 2025

Athletic build at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds. Lined balls through the middle of the field during BP. Hands have quicknes with a mostly flat barrel path through the zone. Top exit velocity at 87 mph, average EV at 80.5 mph. Made solid contact to center in two of his game at bats. Aggressive base runner. 

Bo Nichols, 1B/OF, 2024

Strength in a 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame. Hit several balls off the barrel in BP working gap to gap. Peak exit velocity at 87.8 mph, average EV at 79.6 mph. Hands have strength, barrel stays through the ball, stays balanced. Squared a ball up to left for a line drive base hit during game action. 

Carlos Diaz, C/3B, 2025

Sturdy build at 6-foot-1, 195-pounds. Worked mostly through the middle and to the opposite field during BP. Hands stay close to the body with an inside out approach, some lift to barrel path out front. Top exit velocity at 82.7 mph, average EV at 73.8 mph while using wood. Hit two balls off the barrel to left in game action. Has arm strength from behind the plate. 

Clay Rosser, 3B, 2025

Lanky frame at 6-foot-2, 161-pound with room to fill out. Switch hitter. Quick hands, balanced swing with a middle of the field approach from both sides. Currently more strength from the right side of the plate. Top exit velocity at 89.5 mph, average EV at 80 mph. Ran a 7.15 laser timed 60. 

Jack McKellar, C/3B, 2026

5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. Lined balls to center and to his pull side during BP. Top exit velocity at 86.8 mph, average EV at 82.1 mph. Hands are strong, keeps his barrel through the zone. Squared a ball up for a double to left center, barreled another ball to right in game play. Arm reached 76 mph from behind the plate. 

Jake Hunter, SS, 2026

Long, lanky frame with projection ahead at 6-foot-1, 150-pounds. Loose, quick hands with feel for the barrel. Balanced swing with a flat barrel path through the zone. Peak exit velocity at 80 mph, average EV at 74.5 mph. Squared a ball up to left center in game action for a base hit. Athletic actions on the infield. 

Nico Soul, 3B/OF, 2025

Georgia Tech commit. Athletic build with projection ahead at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Left hand hitter with a loose, fluid swing that generates above average bat speed. Hit several balls off the barrel to his pull side in BP, top exit velocity at 92.3 mph, average EV at 86.4 mph. Lined a double down the right field line and barreled another ball to his pull side in game action. Showed the ability to track balls down with some ease while playing center field. 

Tucker Payton, SS, 2026

6-foot-1, 185-pound frame with strength present. Left hand hitter. Fluid swing with feel for the barrel. Lined balls to both sides of the field during BP. Hands have quickness and strength, barrel stays through the zone. Top exit velocity at 87.6 mph, average EV at 77.5 mph. Barreled a ball to his pull side during game play. 

Michael Woodard, 1B, 2026

Frame has length at 6-foot-3, 180-pounds. Left hand hitter. Hit several balls off the barrel working to both gaps during BP. Top exit velocity at 88.1 mph, average EV at 80.4 mph. Stays inside the ball with a short path, keeps his barrel through the zone, balanced through the swing.