By Brandon Hall
PBR North Carolina Director of Scouting

The second day of the State Games of North Carolina was the first with game play. The day brought several matchups of neighboring regions and our first look at the event’s pitchers. Below we take a brief look at some of the players that took advantage of the pristine USA Baseball facility in Cary, NC…

David Harrison, LHP, Rocky Mount HS, NC (2017)
Listed at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, the North Carolina State commit featured a straight-line build that will continue to add strength. Long limbs and a long arm led to good rhythm between the front side and arm. The fastball sat 83-85 mph and climbed to 88 several times. Secondary offerings should continue to improve and both produced swing and miss. Curveball sat 71-74 and changeup was 76-77. Preset pivot and a simple repeatable delivery produced an easy arm in a high-3/4 slot. Showed an ability to shorten down with runners on base.

Caleb Bishop, LHP, New Hanover HS, NC (2017)
Southpaw that has a feel for pitching, allowing his stuff to play up. Standing 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, his fastball sat 80-81 and touched 82. He showed an ability to locate his fastball to both sides of the plate and locate it after offspeed offerings. Curveball was the best secondary pitch—sitting anywhere from 66-71. He showed an ability to add and subtract on spin. Worked out of the top slot with some glove point from the front side. The elbow got slightly above the shoulder line and there is a small hook in his hand during the arm action but it did not lead to decreased command.

Greg Jones, SS, Cary HS, NC (2017)
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound middle infielder plays at a speed that matched his 6.57-second 60 on Wednesday. Offensively was very productive—highlighted by legging out a hit with a 4.18 home to first on a ground ball to shortstop. Also showed showed an ability to extend at-bats with two strikes. Defensively he flashed his above average arm and athleticism on multiple plays.

Tyler Tuthill, LHP, Clayton HS, NC (2018)
An intriguing 6-foot-2, 195-pound build that has room to add strength. Pitched with a little stiffness in the delivery that improved significantly when utilizing a slide step and quicker tempo. Slight pause in the arm action at the bottom of the circle allowed his body to gather. Fastball 83-85. Curveball was 64-67 and acted as more of an offspeed pitch to get hitters off his fastball. Was able to pitch off his fastball.

Josh Pike, RHP, Northern Guilford HS, NC (2017)
North Carolina State recruit that works with good rhythm throughout his delivery. The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder works from a small side-saddle set-up and half pivot makes for a repeatable delivery. Online with his stride and creates some whip with his arm. Fastball sat 87-88 and touched 89 several times. Curveball 69-72 with some depth as he got into the outing. The changeup is a quality pitch, sitting at 79-80.

J.C. Ouzts, RHP, Northern Guilford HS, NC (2017)
Throwing one inning, the 5-foot-9, 165-pound righty was able to attack the zone with a fastball and curveball. The fastball sat 88 and touched 89. The curveball has depth and late action that allows the fastball to work up in the zone at times. Curveball was spun at 74 as a get-me-over and 78-79 in put-away situations.

Logan Jarosz, RHP, Eastern Alamance HS, NC (2018)
With a premium arm and old-school delivery, this underclassman creates buzz when he takes the mound. Sitting 88-90 and touching 91 from a top slot. The delivery begins with an exaggerated rocker step, hand pump, and a pause. This leads to a Koufax type leg kick and drive. The 6-foot, 165-pound righty has to fight through some uphill tilt in his shoulders that can add to leverage and some command issues with elevated pitches.

Matthew Stevens, OF, Charlotte Catholic HS, NC (2017)
An extremely aggressive approach to the game produced several hits, a couple of extra bases, and a muddy uniform. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed Hitter barreled three balls. Using a load that lays the bat off toward the catcher, Stevens is still able to find the barrel with a direct approach to the ball. Flashed an ability to play slightly faster than his 7.04 60 from Wednesday.

Jake Kuchmaner, LHP, Marvin Ridge HS, NC (2017)
An East Carolina commit, Kuchmaner has a quick tempo and competitive demeanor. At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds he consistently pounded the bottom of the zone, sat 83-85 and touched 86. Showed an ability to pitch in to finish hitters. Changeup sat 71-75. He was a little bit erratic on this day, but consistently down. The curveball 68-72 with some depth a top slot. Above average feel for the run game he flashed a good pick-off move and utilized an occasional slide step. Advanced feel for pitching and game control.

Nick Jodway, RHP/OF, Draughn HS, NC (2017)
A physical 6-foot and 200-pounder that works from the stretch at all times. Hands set below the waist and rise with the high leg kick that begins the arm swing. Arm goes through a scapular load that produces some effort and can lead to some command issues in spurts. Fastball ranged 87-90 and touched 91. Slider was 73-74 with a hard sweeping action. Jodway also impressed with the bat, utilizing an up-hill shoulder set-up, found the barrel with strength several times.

Sam Zayicek, RHP, Lake Norman HS, NC (2018)
Wiry athlete standing 6-foot, 165 pounds. Quick arm from a high-3/4 slot that comes out of a deliberate delivery that speeds up as he leaves balance. Very efficient outing that featured a fastball at 82-83 and jumped on hitters. Curveball 69-70. Changeup flashed at 75.

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• NC Jun 16, 2016
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• NC Jun 16, 2016
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