On Saturday October 19^th, Prep Baseball Report was at Scotland County HS to run a PBR Scout Day for the TriState Arsenal South organization out of North Carolina.  The day included a full pro-style workout for position players and controlled bullpens for the pitchers on hand.  With close to thirty players on hand, PBR scouts were able to gather a lot of information.

The position players ran a laser timed 60, worked through several offensive stations, including multiple rounds of live BP, and a defensive workout at their primary position.  PBR Scouts collected information in each evaluation that will lead to a full player evaluation on each player in attendance, along with video that will be added to each player profile page.  The pitchers threw controlled bullpens with PBR scouts evaluating stuff, delivery, arm action, and command. 

We finish our look at the Arsenal players with an in-depth look at the primary infielders from the event.  Players grad years ranged from 2022 - 2024.  This is an athletic group with several players featuring a high ceiling.  Several dual prospects could come out of this group as well, with two underclass players posting intriguing spin rates.  CLICK HERE for the full roster and statistics from the Scout Days.

 

Tri State Arsenal Scout Day- Infielder Analysis

MIDDLE INFIEDLERS

Pierce Bouwman SS / 2B / Southern Lee, NC / 2023   5 foot 10, 151-pound average build.  Hits from the right side with a relaxed setup.  Smooth load with an average stride.  Hands cock during the load creating bat angle above his head.  Loose hands getting extension through the front of the zone.  Drives the ball through the middle of the field with above average bat speed and barrel feel.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph.  Works to the ball on the infield with active feet.  Catches the ball out front with softness to his hands.  Clean transfers with an accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 82 mph.  Recorded a 7.56 in the 60. On the mound the fastball attacks the zone with just occasional run at 80-82.  Advanced spin rate for his age with the fastball ranging 2156 – 2302.    Good feel and action on his secondary stuff.  Mature breaking ball with late 11/5 action at 67-69.  Breaking ball spin rate peaked at 2463 rpm.  Good hand speed and landed the pitch consistently.  Change-up has arm side run and fade at 71-73 at 1663 rpm.  Good rhythm, repeating the delivery.  Works level, landing about a half foot across his line, landing on a square front foot.  Long, loose arm swing to a high-3/4 release.  Quick hand speed.  Lots of room left for Bouwman to hit his ceiling.  Very projectable.

Brandon Crabtree SS / RHP / Grace Christian, NC / 2023   Athletic frame at 6 foot, 165-pounds.  Left hand hitter sets up with a slightly open, narrow base.  Smooth load with his hands working back and his weight loading against his back leg.  Loose hands and keeps his barrel in the zone.  Fluid swing working gap to gap with strength to his pull side.  Better than average bat speed and barrel awareness.  Exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.  Works to the ball on the infield and is balanced at the catch position.  Better than average hands with clean exchanges.  Accurate arm to first base that topped at 80 mph.  Recorded a 7.42 in the 60. Strike thrower on the mound.  Works with some rhythm, staying level and tall with easy effort.  On-line, lands with a closed front foot.  Repeats the delivery.  Medium arm swing to a high-3/4 slot.  Fastball bumped 82, sitting 79-81 with a spin rate ranging 2087 - 2132.  Heavy at times with arm side run.  Change-up has arm side action as well at 73 and 1641 rpm.  Good deception with solid hand speed and lands the change-up consistently.  Breaking ball works with gradual 11/5 tilt at 64-67.  Breaking ball’s spin rate peaked at 2254 rpm.

Garrett Hayes 2B / RHP / Franklinton, NC / 2024   Young frame with room for growth ahead at 5 foot 10, 135-pounds.  Hits from the left side, starting with more weight on his back leg and his hands starting back, below his shoulder.  Loads knee to knee in his lower half with quiet hands.  Flat swing working mostly middle to the opposite field.  Exit velocity recorded at 68 mph and will improve as the body matures.  Active feet on the infield working to the ball.  Catches the ball with a narrow base and his hands out front.  Clean exchanges with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy to his throws to first base that topped at 64 mph.  Recorded a 7.20 in the 60. On the mound the fastball worked 67-70, occasionally cutting out of the hand.  Breaking ball fights for action at 54-56.  Level and tall through balance, Hayes coils, closing his line.  Front side is early, bailing toward 1B.  There is some effort in a long, loose arm swing, working to a high-3/4 slot.

Camden Hunt SS / 2B / Purnell Swett, NC / 2024   Young frame at 5 foot 4, 114-pounds.  Hits from the right side with his weight stacked on his back leg.  Loads against his back leg with an average stride.  Hands cock during the load creating some bat angle.  Short barrel path to the ball.  Stays inside the ball working middle to the opposite field with some feel for his barrel.  Exit velocity recorded at 66 mph and will improve as the body matures.  Active feet on the infield working around the ball.  Catches the ball out front with average hands, funneling to the belt after catch.  Some accuracy across the diamond with his arm topping at 70 mph.  Recorded an 8.59 in the 60.

Seth Jackson SS / 2B / Cape Fear, NC / 2022   Strong, athletic build at 6 foot, 170-pounds.  Balanced setup from the right side with high hands.  Small leg kick during his load with his hands working down and back.  Some quickness to his hands with a gap to gap approach. Has some lift in the swing. Left the yard to his pull side during batting practice.  Better than average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 89 mph.  Athletic movements on the infield with quick feet.  Reads hops with better than average hands funneling to the belt after catch.  Short arm action, with an accurate arm that topped at 80 mph to first base.  Recorded a 7.18 in the 60.

Dylan Morgan 2B / Pinecrest , NC / 2023   Thin frame at 5 foot 9, 130-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a balanced setup.  Hands work down and back during his load with a longer stride.  Uses a gap to gap approach during batting practice.  Can get jumpy at times causing his swing path to get long.  Exit velocity recorded at 73 mph and should improve with added strength.  Works to the ball on the infield, catching the ball in the center of his body.  Clean transfers with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm that topped at 69 mph to first base.  Recorded an 8.20 in the 60. A short strider on the mound, works out of balance with some uphill leverage in the shoulders.  Lands on-line and square as the arm works with a long path to an over-the-top slot.  Fastball is straight at 66-69.   Decent hand speed on the change-up with fade out of the hand at 58-60.  Breaking ball rolls out of the hand with gradual 11/5 tilt, ranging 56-60.

Joseph Taylor 2B / RHP / Apex Friendship, NC / 2022   5 foot 10, 160-pound average build.  Balanced setup from the right side with some barrel waggle.  Smooth load using a toe tap with his barrel working to an upright position.  Works through the middle of the field with an uphill swing path. Exit velocity recorded at 77 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Accurate arm with some carry that topped at 80 mph.  Active feet on the infield working around the ball.  Average hands that funnel to the belt after catch.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 74 mph.  Recorded a 7.62 in the 60. Works level with regular effort through balance.  Long, loose arm swing and average arm speed gets to a high-3/4 slot.  Lands slightly across his line with a square foot strike.  Fastball sits 78-81 with a spin rate up to 2113 rpm.  Drops down on his two seam to a low-3/4 slot sitting 71-73.  Curveball ranged 64-66 with erratic tilt from 11/5 to a sweepy gradual break.  Curveball spin rate ranged 1823 – 1894 rpm.   Occasionally hooks the ball out of his glove on the breaking ball.  Flashed a slider at 65 from the low-3/4 slot.

Michael Venditti SS / RHP / Middle Creek, NC / 2022   5 foot 8, 160-pound build.  Hits from the right side, starting with a narrow base with his hands above his back shoulder.  Average stride creating some momentum into the ball.  Relaxed approach during batting practice using the whole field.  Barrel gets extension through the zone.  Average bat speed and barrel awareness with his exit velocity recorded at 83 mph.  Plays relaxed and athletic on the dirt.  Has softness to his hands that funnel to the belt after catch.  Accurate arm with some carry across the diamond that topped at 77 mph.  Recorded a 7.35 in the 60.

 

CORNER INFIELDERS

Jeremiah McLemore 3B / 1B / Cape Fear, NC / 2022   6 foot, 215-pound build.  Slightly open setup from the right side with his hands starting below his back shoulder.  Hands work down in his load while using a toe tap with a short stride.  Looks to lift the ball with quick hands working mostly to his pull side.  Some strength in the swing with better than average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 91 mph.  Average hands on the infield with clean transfers and feel for different arm angles.  Some accuracy across the diamond with his arm topping at 75 mph.  Recorded an 8.75 in the 60.

Braeden Murray 1B / 3B / DH Conley, NC / 2022   6 foot 2, 205-pound build with strength present.  Tall, relaxed setup from the right side.  Smooth load with his hands and weight working back with a short stride.  Loose hands with a short swing.  Drives the ball gap to gap with some barrel whip through the zone.  Made consistent hard contact during batting practice.  Exit velocity recorded at 88 mph.  Plays through the ball on the infield with relaxed hands.  Funnels to the midsection after catch.  Accurate arm with some carry across the diamond that topped at 73 mph.  Recorded a 7.65 in the 60.

Jake Overton 3B / OF / Middle Creek, NC / 2022   Athletic build at 6 foot 1, 180-pounds.  Hits from the left side with a relaxed setup and his bat resting on his back shoulder.  Uses a toe tap during his load with his hands working back with the barrel going to a more upright position.  Uses the whole field with strength in his swing.  Has feel for his barrel with above average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 84 mph.  Average hands in the outfield, getting momentum into his throws from a ¾ slot.  Some carry and accuracy with his arm topping at 81 mph.  Quick, active feet on the infield with average hands.  Accurate arm with some carry across the diamond that topped at 83 mph.  Recorded a 7.42 in the 60. Works with some ease on the mound.  Simple delivery, staying level and on-line, landing on-line and square with the front foot.  Short arm swing works to a high-3/4 slot with quickness through release.  Fastball sat 81-84 with a spin rate of 2259 – 2473 rpm.  Average extension, the ball works out of his sleeve through release.  Occasionally drops down on the fastball, ranging 74-77.  Breaking ball sat 65-66 with early action out of the hand and sharp 11/5 tilt.  Erratic, but around the zone, the breaking ball spun at 2313 rpm.