More +
Wed February 5, 2020
On Sunday February 2nd, sixty of the top players in the state of North Carolina converged at the Next Level Training Center in Greenville, NC. The Preseason All-State showcase event is the top winter event in North Carolina year after year and with the increased demand, there are now two sessions, an east and a west. Below we take our first look at some player notes from the Preseason All-State East. You can continue to follow the action from the Preseason All-State West HERE.
The day consisted of a full pro-style workout with pitchers throwing controlled bullpens, followed by defensive workouts for the position players. Hitters were able to go through multiple cages to get loose prior to moving through two exit velocity stations. Live BP was taken in a large cage, allowing scouts and coaches to see the ball fly off the bat.
Throughout the workout, PBR scouts were taking metrics on players while evaluating their complete skill set. Today we take a look at each category as well as the leaders in those categories. As we continue to dive into all of the information gathered, players will receive a full evaluation and the PBR staff will put together top prospect lists from the event.
CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Preseason All-State East
Preseason All-State West – By the Numbers:
Statistical Leaders: Preseason All-State East
THE 30 YARD DASH
With the event being held indoors and a February date, PBR's staff decided to run a laser timed 30 yard dash instead of a sixty. The high school season is right around the corner and the 30 provides a slightly safer alternative as players are just getting back into form. At Next Level Sports Center there is plenty of room to run a full thirty on the laser timer, giving coaches and scouts another metric to measure players against.
Fifty players ran the 30 with fifteen running sub 4.00. 4.14 was the median run time of the players at the event. Below are the top times from the Preseason All-State East.
(Note: The chart lists this category as Home to First, however this was a straight 30 yard dash from a steal break.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
H-1st
1
Michael Allen
NC
JH Rose
2022
OF
3.61
2
Bryan Arendt
NC
Holly Springs
2021
C
3.78
3
Joey Ferrari
NC
Sanderson
2020
SS
3.82
^
Ethan Clinkscales
NC
Panther Creek
2022
OF
3.82
4
Ethan Velazquez
NC
Wakefield
2021
OF
3.83
5
Matthew Beisecker
NC
Heritage
2021
SS
3.86
6
Danny Staley
NC
Walkertown
2022
1B
3.91
7
Alec DeMartino
NC
Millbrook
2021
OF
3.92
^
Kayden Crawford
NC
Hoggard
2021
OF
3.92
8
Carson Kelly
NC
Lee County
2021
RHP
3.97
9
Oliver Zohn
NC
South Garner
2021
SS
3.98
^
Korbin Pettigrew
NC
John T Hoggard
2022
SS
3.98
10
Mac Gillespie
NC
Pro5 Academy
2022
OF
3.99
^
Tate Mickey
NC
Corinth Holders
2021
2B
3.99
^
Cal Tyndall
NC
Midway
2020
SS
3.99
EXIT VELOCITY
Fifty-one offensive players went through multiple rounds off of a tee to gauge their exit velocity. Players were afforded the opportunity to use their bat and bats supplied by Mizuno. Fourteen players posted an exit velocity of 90 mph or higher with the top bolt getting to 97 mph. The median exit velocity posted came in at 85 mph.
The comparison of the player bat vs. the Mizuno bat was intriguing. The median exit velocity for each bat came in at 85 mph. Twenty-five hitters posted their high exit velocity using the Mizuno bat.
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Exit Velo |
1 | Alec DeMartino | NC | Millbrook | 2021 | OF | 97 |
2 | Cole Schiff | NC | Heritage | 2021 | LHP | 94 |
^ | Rhett James | NC | Fuquary-Varina | 2021 | RHP | 94 |
^ | Ethan Velazquez | NC | Wakefield | 2021 | OF | 94 |
3 | Carson Kelly | NC | Lee County | 2021 | RHP | 93 |
^ | Luke Adams | IL | Hinsdale Central | 2022 | 3B | 93 |
^ | Jonathan Villa | NC | Lumberton | 2020 | C | 93 |
4 | Bryan Arendt | NC | Holly Springs | 2021 | C | 92 |
^ | Danny Staley | NC | Walkertown | 2022 | 1B | 92 |
^ | Jordan Overton | NC | Rolesville | 2022 | C | 92 |
5 | Dallas Ellis | NC | Heritage | 2021 | OF | 91 |
^ | Michael Allen | NC | JH Rose | 2022 | OF | 91 |
^ | Peter Maldonado | NC | Heritage | 2021 | C | 91 |
6 | Brendan Burke | NC | Panther Creek | 2021 | C | 90 |
7 | Michael Groves | NC | Holly Springs | 2020 | C | 89 |
^ | Matthew Beisecker | NC | Heritage | 2021 | SS | 89 |
8 | Alex Levesque | NC | Corinth Holders | 2022 | C | 88 |
^ | William Sword | NC | Thales Academy | 2022 | RHP | 88 |
^ | Kaden Swaim | NC | Oak Grove | 2021 | C | 88 |
^ | Ryan Bellamy | NC | Croatan | 2021 | OF | 88 |
9 | Ty Torti | NC | Pro5 Baseball Academy | 2022 | SS | 87 |
10 | Joey Ferrari | NC | Sanderson | 2020 | SS | 86 |
^ | Ethan Clinkscales | NC | Panther Creek | 2022 | OF | 86 |
POSITIONAL VELOCITY – INFIELDERS
With the indoor setup at Next Level, infielders were able to simulate a full length ground ball, working through an exchange and make a throw of approximately 140 feet to a target. PBR scouts were able to watch the catch, footwork, hands, exchange, and release while gathering information off of a radar gun to give us a feel for arm strength. Scouts were also able to see carry and accuracy on throws. Thirty-one infielders worked out for scouts present. The median reading for the group checked in at 81 mph across the diamond. Below are the top positional velocities for infielders from the Preseason All-State East.
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | INF Velo |
1 | Bryan Arendt | NC | Holly Springs | 2021 | C | 94 |
2 | Carson Kelly | NC | Lee County | 2021 | RHP | 88 |
3 | Michael Groves | NC | Holly Springs | 2020 | C | 86 |
4 | Jaxon Masterson | NC | Sanderson | 2021 | SS | 85 |
^ | Luke Adams | IL | Hinsdale Central | 2022 | 3B | 85 |
5 | Cole Schiff | NC | Heritage | 2021 | LHP | 84 |
POSITIONAL VELOCITY – OUTFIELDERS
Outfielders were able to take a full ground ball off of a fungo, playing through the ball and working to a throw that was approximately 140 feet in distance, at a target. With the space Next Level provided, scouts in attendance were able to see outfielders work through the ball, transition the baseball into a throw. Carry and accuracy were paired with a gun reading to give feedback on the arm strength of each outfielder. Below are the top outfielder positional throws. The median throw was measured at 84 mph from the seventeen outfielders participating.
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | OF Velo |
1 | Alec DeMartino | NC | Millbrook | 2021 | OF | 93 |
2 | Elijah Jordan | NC | Heritage | 2022 | C | 88 |
^ | Mac Gillespie | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2022 | OF | 88 |
3 | Matthew Beisecker | NC | Heritage | 2021 | SS | 85 |
^ | Peyton Wilkins | NC | Wayne School of Engineering | 2021 | C | 85 |
4 | Dawson Wiggins | NC | Midway | 2021 | RHP | 84 |
^ | Luke Adams | IL | Hinsdale Central | 2022 | 3B | 84 |
^ | Kayden Crawford | NC | Hoggard | 2021 | OF | 84 |
^ | Michael Allen | NC | JH Rose | 2022 | OF | 84 |
5 | Yates Sikes | NC | Home School | 2023 | OF | 82 |
^ | Ethan Velazquez | NC | Wakefield | 2021 | OF | 82 |
CATCHER POP TIMES & POSITIONAL VELOCITY
In the pro-style workout, catchers workout from behind home plate, making multiple throws to 2B, simulating a stolen base attempt. Scouts again are looking for a quick, clean transition to the release as well as carry and accuracy on the throw. For catchers, evaluators will put a stopwatch on the “pop time” or the time the ball hits their glove to the time the ball hits the MIF’s glove at 2B. Coaches can also time the transition from when the ball hits the catchers glove to when he is able to release his throw. PBR scouts add the radar gun to put a number on the arm strength out of the crouched position. The top pop time in the workout was a 1.90, with a median time from the group of 14 catchers of 2.02. The top positional velocity checked in at 85 mph out of the hand, while the median for the group clocked in at 77 mph.
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Pop Time |
1 | Bryan Arendt | NC | Holly Springs | 2021 | C | 1.90-2.01 |
2 | Michael Groves | NC | Holly Springs | 2020 | C | 1.90-2.11 |
3 | Elijah Jordan | NC | Heritage | 2022 | C | 1.94-2.04 |
4 | Will Harris | NC | Rosewood | 2021 | SS | 1.97-2.09 |
5 | Dylan Kelly | NC | Lee County | 2023 | C | 2.00-2.16 |
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
1 | Bryan Arendt | NC | Holly Springs | 2021 | C | 85 |
2 | Michael Groves | NC | Holly Springs | 2020 | C | 81 |
3 | Peyton Wilkins | NC | Wayne School of Engineering | 2021 | C | 78 |
^ | Alex Levesque | NC | Corinth Holders | 2022 | C | 78 |
^ | Will Harris | NC | Rosewood | 2021 | SS | 78 |
4 | Kaden Swaim | NC | Oak Grove | 2021 | C | 77 |
^ | Brendan Burke | NC | Panther Creek | 2021 | C | 77 |
5 | Peter Maldonado | NC | Heritage | 2021 | C | 76 |
^ | Elijah Jordan | NC | Heritage | 2022 | C | 76 |
MAX FASTBALL
Pitchers threw a controlled bullpen for scouts at Next Level as part of the Preseason All-State East. In total, twenty-four arms threw on the day. While it is still February, and most arms may not peak until closer to the mid-season, there were several players to spotlight as they flashed advanced stuff and a feel for pitching. The top fastball came from 2021 RHP Carson Kelly, a NC State commit who also flashed depth with his breaking stuff. From the 24 arms, 8 worked at 83 or higher with Clark reaching 89. The median top fastball for the day came in at 82 mph.
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Max FB |
1 | Carson Kelly | NC | Lee County | 2021 | RHP | 89 mph |
2 | Rhett James | NC | Fuquary-Varina | 2021 | RHP | 88 mph |
3 | Jackson Humphries | NC | Fuquay-Varina | 2022 | LHP | 84 mph |
^ | Cole Schiff | NC | Heritage | 2021 | LHP | 84 mph |
^ | Will Harris | NC | Rosewood | 2021 | SS | 84 mph |
4 | Dawson Wiggins | NC | Midway | 2021 | RHP | 83 mph |
^ | Aubrey Smith | NC | South Brunswick | 2022 | RHP | 83 mph |
^ | Lance Phillips | NC | Green Hope | 2023 | RHP | 83 mph |
^ | Jacob Dilley | NC | Watauga | 2023 | C | 83 mph |
5 | Luke Adams | IL | Hinsdale Central | 2022 | 3B | 82 mph |
^ | Jacob Coffin | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2022 | LHP | 82 mph |
^ | Andrew Poon | NC | Northwest Guilford | 2022 | RHP | 82 mph |