Prep Baseball Report

Ultimate Performance / Queen City Open Evaluations: 2022 & 2023 Prospects


Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
North Carolina Director of Scouting & PBR Assoc Scout

The final open event of the winter schedule for PBR North Carolina was held at Ultimate Performance in Matthews, NC on Monday February 4th.  A dual event, PBR was able to run 50 players through a pro-style workout with players attending the open event as well as players from Ultimate Performance club teams going through their scout day. 

Twelve players from the 2022 and 2023 class went through the workout with 7 working out as position players and pitchers, 2 as pitcher only's, and 3 as position players.  For such a young group there were several players who put up tremendous numbers that should only improve in the coming years. 

Below are links to the full statistics from the event as well as the statistical leaders in several key categories.  We will continue our coverage of this event in the coming weeks as we release the player evaluations.

By the Numbers:

  • 42 players ran the 30 yard dash on the laser timer
  • 4.16 was the median time in the 30
  • 9 players ran a sub-4.00
  • 25 infielders worked out defensively
  • Positional velocity for the infielders topped at 89 with a median of 77 mph across the infield
  • 16 outfielders worked out defensively
  • 94 mph was the top positional velocity of Outfielders with a median of 82 mph
  • 4 catchers threw pop times and recorded a positional velocity
  • All 4 catchers recorded at least one pop time under 2.06
  • Median exit velocity of 85 mph from the 42 hitters
  • 13 hitters broke the 90 mph threshold on exit velocity with 7 at 95 mph or higher
  • 24 pitchers threw bullpens on the night with a median max fastball of 80 mph
  • 6 arms worked at 84 mph or higher

CLICK HERE to see the sortable table of statistics from the Queen City Preseason Open and player links

CLICK HERE to see the sortable table of statistics from the Ultimate Performance Preseason Scout Day and player links

CLICK HERE to see the laser timed 30 yard dash times and the 5-10-5 agility test times of all players

 

Ultimate Performance / Queen City Preseason Scout Day Evaluations: 2022 and 2023 Prospects

 

 

Jaxon Cogdill C / RHP / East Gaston, NC / 2022

 

5 foot 11, 180-pound strong build.  Tall setup from the right side of the plate.  Uses a leg kick during his load.  Looks to stay inside the ball with a gap to gap approach.  Swing path gets long when he is late with his leg kick. Gets extension, staying through the ball.  Average bat speed.  Exit velocity recoded at 87 mph.  Positional velocity peaked at 73 mph from a crouch position.   Fluid feet with a medium arm stroke, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Some feel for the bag with pop times ranging from 2.03-2.21.  Recorded a 4.21 in the 30-yard dash and 4.63 in the 5-10-5.
Side step with a head shift before lifting to balance on the 1st base side of the rubber.  Average leg kick.  Slow tempo to foot strike.  Lands on-line and square.  Over-the-top slot fights for some looseness through release.  Arm strength over arm speed.  Fastball at 78-81.  Breaking ball with gradual 12/6 tilt, rolling up out of the hand at 64-67.  Stiff release on the change-up at 68.  Erratic through the bullpen but seemed to dial in all three pitches as the bullpen progressed.

 

 

Michael Forret RHP / Metrolina Christian, NC / 2022

 

6 foot 2, 160-pound lanky build. Quick arm with a heavy fastball up to 84.  Stuff will continue to grow as he adds maturity to the frame.  Starts from the windup with a small step to the side, going into leg lift with his knee working to the bottom of the chest.  Lower-half works slightly to the third base side with a closed toe landing.  Long, loose, lightning quick arm, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Fastball sat at 82-84 mph with plenty more to come.  Fastball has hard run and sink when he stays behind it.  Showed some feel for his 12/6 curveball, with gradual break at 66-68 mph.  Changeup works in the zone with arm side run at 73-74 mph. Overall, projectable right hander who should have big jumps ahead with his loose, quick arm. 

 

 

Drew Lanzo LHP / OF / Hickory Grove Christian, NC / 2022

 

Projectable build at 6 foot, 165-pounds.  Young and still maturing but there is feel and a quick arm on the mound.  Strike thrower attacked the zone with each pitch.  Repeats a delivery with an average leg kick, loading the hips, with a stable head.  Medium arm swing loads the scapular.  Arm works out of his sleeve from a 3/4 slot.  Lands slightly across his line, falling to the 3B side on his finish.  Average extension.  Fastball at 76-78.  Big action on the breaking ball at 60-61.  Occasionally pulls off the pitch creating early tilt, but this could be a swing and miss pitch in the making.  Change-up at 68.
Hits from the left side with a balanced setup, using a small leg kick during his load with a short stride.  Ok feel for the barrel, working mostly middle to the opposite field.  Some stiffness in the swing, with his barrel working level through the zone, getting extension.  Exit velocity recorded at 83 mph.  Played with confidence defensively.  Athletically plays through the ball with fluid feet and soft hands.  Long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot, with some accuracy to his throws.  Positional velocity topped at 82 mph.  Recorded a 4.19 in the 30-yard dash and 4.61 in the 5-10-5.

 

 

Jackson Lisk 2B / RHP / Hickory Grove Christian, NC / 2022

 

6 foot, 155-pound build with some length.  Hits from the right side using a balanced, athletic setup.  Uses a leg kick during his load with a medium length stride.  Works mostly middle to his pull side with some feel for the barrel.  Some stiffness in the hands with the barrel working quickly uphill after contact.  Exit velocity recorded at 79 mph.  Average hands on the infield.  Waits on the ball some.  Clean exchanges, with a long arm action, throwing form a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 74 mph.  Recorded a 4.19 in the 30-yard dash and 4.55 in the 5-10-5. 
Starts his delivery on the mound with a short step to the side, compact leg lift, with his knee working to his chest.  In line to the plate with a long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Some head tilt to the first base side as the arm comes through.  Fastball has down angle, with some sink at 68-72 mph.  Changeup has fade and sink at 65-67 mph.  Works in the zone with both the fastball and changeup.

 

 

Payton Martin SS / 2B / Walkertown , NC / 2022

 

Young frame at 5 foot 8, 135-pounds.  Right hand hitter with a slightly open setup.  Medium length stride with his hands working down and back during the load.  Works mostly middle to his pull side with some feel for the barrel.  Level bat path through the zone.  Exit velocity recorded at 74 mph.  Athletic on the infield with looseness in the body. Feet and hands work in synch.  Quick feet with average hands.  Funnels to the midsection after catch.  Clean exchanges, with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm that peaked at 81 mph.  Recorded a 4.41 in the 30-yard dash and 4.73 in the 5-10-5.

 

 

Bryce Meachem 1B / RHP / Charlotte Catholic, NC / 2022


6 foot 1, 187-pound build. Hits from the left side using a tall setup.  Smooth load with a medium length stride.  Hands work through the swing with feel for the barrel.  Drove the ball to his opposite field during his front toss rounds.  Line drive approach with his barrel working level through the zone.  Above average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 84 mph. Rhythm to the feet and hands on the infield, plaything through the ball.  Average hands funneling to the midsection after catch.  Long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity topped at 72 mph.  Recorded a 4.45 in the 30-yard dash

 

 

Mason Murdock RHP / 1B / Northwest Cabarrus, NC / 2022

 

Strong build at 6 foot 3, 185-pounds.  Worked only from the stretch, coming set with his hands at his chin.  Leg lifts to the bottom of the chest, working in line to the plate, landing square.  Long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot, with some bail to the first base side and some effort to the delivery.  Fastball worked in the zone at 78-80 mph.  Curveball as 12/6 tilt, with gradual break at 68-71 mph.  Has feel for the curveball and can throw it for strikes.  Overall, tall right hander who can work in the zone with both his fastball and curveball.

 

 

William Price III RHP / SS / Walkertown, NC / 2022

 

Strong, athletic build at 6 foot, 180-pounds.  Athletic over the rubber with looseness in the hips and arm.  Rhythmic delivery using a large rocker, straight back, and a hand pump over the head.  Lifts to just below the chest as the hips begin to slide forward.   Long arm action works with quickness to an over-the-top release.  Arm speed projects the fastball forward with maturity.  Fastball at 78-81.  Attacked the zone with the fastball.  Some angle but straight for the most part.  Change-up has late boring action at 73-75, using good hand sped to provide deception.  Breaking ball at 67-69 with gradual 12/6 tilt.  Tends to pull off breaking ball creating a soft speed.  Stuff will jump with added strength in the coming years.
Switch hitter.  Sets up slightly open from the left side.  Hands work back during the load, with a small leg kick and short stride.  Works gap to gap with an uphill bat path.  From the right side sets up with more weight on his back leg.  Short stride during the load.  Barrel works uphill with a gap to gap approach.  Better than average bat speed for his age from both sides.  Exit velocity recorded at 90 mph.  Plays through the ball on the infield with active feet.  Some stiffness through catch.  Long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity topped at 81 mph.  Recorded a 4.86 in the 30-yard dash. 

 

 

Danny Staley 1B / LHP / Walkertown, NC / 2022


Lanky build at 6 foot, 150-pounds.  Hits from the right side using a balanced setup.  Works back during his load with a medium length stride.  Drifts forward during his load.  Some feel for the barrel with a level bat path, working gap to gap.  Average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 84 mph.  Plays through balls on the infield with fluid feet and average hands.  Some rhythm to the feet and hands.  Quick transfers, with a short arm action, throwing from a ¾ slot.  Arm topped at 67 mph.  Recorded a 4.07 in the 30-yard dash and 4.54 in the 5-10-5.
Works from 3B side of the rubber.  A little stiff through the leg lift and foot strike creating an early front side.  There is length in his lower half and some hip speed as he turns.  Medium arm swing to a high-3/4 slot, finishing with his hand working across the chest.  Fastball at 70-71.  Breaking ball rolls through a 11/5 tilt at 60-62.

 

 

Ryan Wilson OF / 3B / Butler, NC / 2022

 

5 foot 10, 150-build with room to add strength.  Hits from the right side using a slightly open setup. Works back during his load diving into the plate with his lower half.  Hands work throughout the swing, staying inside the ball.  Worked mostly middle to right center field with a line drive approach during his front toss round.  Barrel works level through the zone, getting extension out front.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph.  Works to the ball on the infield with choppy steps and average hands.  Short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot, with some accuracy to this throws.  Positional velocity topped at 80 mph.  Recorded a 4.08 in the 30-yard dash and 4.65 in the 5-10-5.

 

 

Alexander Woody LHP / OF / Ashbrook, NC / 2022

 

 

6 foot, 165-pound athletic build.  Strike thrower with a good feel for his change-up.  Lots of maturity to be added to the frame in the coming years.  Simple delivery with an average leg kick and stable head over the rubber.  Slight pelvic tilt at balance with the head behind the shoulders.  Lands on-line and square.  Good extension.  Long, loose arm swing to an over-the-top release.  Average hand speed.  Fastball at 74-78.  Change-up ranged 65-68 with sink and feel.  Good deception out of the hand.  Breaking ball at 63.  Good direction throughout and filled the zone up with all three offerings.
Hits from the right side using a balanced, athletic setup.  Fluid, smooth load with a short stride.  Keeps his barrel quiet with a simple approach, working gap to gap.  Centered a lot of balls during his front toss rounds.  Fluid swing, with barrel awareness.  Average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 82 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with fluid feet, catching the ball with two hands.  Long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Positional velocity topped at 79 mph.  Recorded a 4.12 in the 30-yard dash and 4.64 in the 5-10-5.

 

 

Isaac Armstrong SS / RHP / East Lincoln, NC / 2023

 

Young frame at 5 foot 9, 140-pounds.  Balanced setup from the right side.  Short stride with a small hand load.  Some quickness to the hands, with feel for the barrel.  Short bat path, keeping his barrel in the zone.  Looks to line balls out, working gap to gap. Above average bat speed for his age.  Exit velocity recorded at 85 mph.  Works to the ball on the infield with some stiffness in his hands through catch.  Funnels to the midsection, with clean transfers, using a long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Positional velocity topped at 79 mph.  Recorded a 3.94 in the 30-yard dash.
Strike thrower with feel on the bump.  Works from the 1B side of the rubber with an leg kick to the bottom of his chest.  Stable head.  Hips set slightly behind the shoulders.  Weight stays over the rubber as lead leg lands slightly across his line.  Easy arm swing has some length working to an over-the-top release.  Angle to the fastball when down.  Fastball ranged 76-78.  Breaking ball works with a slower hand speed at 62-63, rolling through a gradual 12/6 tilt.  Change-up slot tends to dip to a high-3/4 but it is thrown with some conviction, sitting at 69.