The Preseason All-State events in North Carolina have quickly become the top winter events for the top players in the state to attend.  This year there are 3 Preseason All-State events with the East and West happening on February 3rd and 4th.  The Preseason All-State Central is scheduled for February 10th. These three events will see over 250 of North Carolina's top players, as they are ready to post numbers and go through a workout in preparation for the spring season.  Prep Baseball scouts were on hand to run the event verify stats, and evaluate the players involved.

The Preseason All-State has made Diamond Xtreme in Kernersville, NC its home for the Central event for 5 years.  Diamond Xtreme is a tremendous facility that offers a spacious workout facility, featuring a 3/4 size infield setting that allows for full catcher pop times and for infielders to field true ground balls.  During BP, Prep Baseball splits the big cage in half, allowing hitters to see the ball fly, while working through the BP session in a very efficient fashion. 

The Preseason All-State Central featured over 70 of North Carolina's top talent.  Players came from the beach, the Triangle, the Triad, and the Charlotte area.  Below we take a data dive into the results of the workout.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and statistical out put from the Preseason All-State Central.

By The Numbers
+ 2 Players posted exit velocities in BP of 100mph or greater
+ 30 hitters recorded an exit velocity of 90mph or higher
+ 34 hitters had a BLAST bat speed of 70mph of higher
+ 21 players ran a 4.00 or faster 30yd
+ 7 players hit 18mph while being tested
+ 22 players had a vertical jump test at 28in or higher
+ 9 pitchers had a fastball at 88mph or higher
+ 17 arms touched 84 or better with their fastball
+ 6 pitchers had their fastball spin recorded higher than 2400rpm
+ 8 pitchers had their breaking ball spin at 2400rpm or higher
+ 9 catchers recorded a pop time of 2.05 or better
+ 6 outfielders had arm strength at 85mph or better
+ 9 infielders tested with arm strength across the infield at 84mph or higher

PRESEASON ALL-STATE CENTRAL: QUICK HITTERS (UNDERCLASS HITTERS)

2027 GRADS

Giovanni Buccino, 1B, West Forsyth HS

RHH with some pop in the bat, 96.3mph max exit velo, average arm from the infield - 77mph

Gabe Diebler, SS, Ronald W Reagan HS

Above average first step at 1.51 10yd gate, 86.6mph max exit velo from the right side, strong arm across the diamond - 84mph

Judson Friese, C/3B, John M Morehead HS

2.12 best pop time and 81.8mph max exit velo from the left side, average arm behind the plate at 72mph

John Grove, C/OF, Cedar Ridge HS

LHH catcher, 87.2mph max exit velo, 76mph arm from behind the dish with a 2.09 pop time best.

Jackson Hilton, 1B, Oak Grove HS

Average arm from the infield, 75mph, good frame at 6'1" 215lbs, strong swing - 87.7mph max exit velo

Harrison Mears, SS/C, South Brunswick HS

5'10" 165lb strong compact player, 2.12 best pop time, 84mph infield, 83mph outfield, and 78mph catcher velo. 91.8mph max exit velo

Nathan Rice, SS/2B, Willow Springs HS

Switch hitting MIF with average size, 77mph arm strength across the diamond, a max exit velo hitting of 84.8mph

Christian Xavier Romine, 3B, Union Pines HS

Big frame 3B at 6'3" 205lbs and uses the body to produce max exit velos up to 91.0mph and above average hand speed at 23.3mph, moves well with a 1.47 10yd split. 

Corbin Spilliards, SS/3B, Christ School HS

Quick hands and a strong arm from the switch hitting SS, 23.8mph on hand speed and 84mph from SS. Powerful swing producing 91mph top exit velos but averages 85.5mph

Luke Talley, 1B, Green Level HS

86.8mph max exit velo from the LHH 1B with a strong arm from 1st at 81mph and average hand speed of 22.4mph

Hudson Tuttle, C/SS, Ronald W Reagan HS

1.92 best pop time and 80mph arm down to second, 89.7mph max exit velo from the right side, Vertical jump of 30.2in

Jaylen Witherspoon, OF, West Forsyth HS

Fast hands at the plate, 23.5mph hand speed that produces exit velos up to 89.3mph from the right side. 76mph arm from the outfield

2026 GRADS

Cooper Braxton, OF, Northern Guilford HS

Above average first step - 1.50 - 10yd split, 76mph arm from the outfield, max exit velo of 85.1mph from the right side.

Jacob Cesarz, SS/2B, Cary Christian HS

Strong arm -82mph- from the average size SS, Athletic mover that produces 88.4mph max exit velos

Owen Cirasole, OF, Apex Friendship HS

93.8mph max exit velo from the right side and above average arm from the outfield -85mph-, with a quick first step of 1.53 -10yd split

Christian Gentrup, 2B/SS, Northwest Guilford HS

Average size 5'7", 165lbs but produces pop with exit velos up to 90.0mph from the right side, and a 80mph arm across the infield

Colton Haire, OF, Pro 5 Baseball Academy

Switch hitting OF with the second highest exit velo of the event at 100.2mph, a strong arm from OF -88mph- and the first step need to play outfield, 1.52 10yard split. 

Cooper Hines, 3B, John M Morehead HS

Quick first step in the outfield with an average arm at 77mph, swings from the left side with a max exit velo of 88.4mph

Alex Hoffman, C, Charlotte Catholic HS

Sub 2 pop time at 1.98 and 83mph arm strength to second, Strong swing from the RHH producing his best exit velo of 97.4mph

Jack Kerley McGrath, C/1B, Charlotte Christian HS

2.03 throw down to second with an average arm of 71mph, Powerful swing from the right side giving exit velos up to 96.7mph

Chase Kiker, 3B, Metrolina Christian Academy

92mph bolt from the infield and exit velos that consistenly stay in the 90's maxing out at 98.3mph

Landry Ohmstead, C, Crest HS

83.8mph max exit velo from the right side, 2.05 pop time down to second with a 76mph arm on the throw.

Andrew Pegram, 1B/OF, South Rowan HS

Smooth lefty swing with exit velos in the upper 80's maxing out at 88.3mph, average arm from the outfield and infield at 76mph

Brady Robbins, SS, South Caldwell HS

RHH middle infielder, 76mph arm from the infield with an average first step of 1.63 on the 10yd split, max exit velo was 79.1mph

Landen Smith, C, Harnett Central HS

74mph arm from behind the plate with a 2.16 best pop time, Max exit velo of 92.8mph from the right side

Cooper Summerlin, OF, Gaston Christian HS

Fast twitch athlete, 1.48 first step, 23.3mph above average hand speed, 83mph arm from the outfield and a max exit velo of 85.5mph from the left side.

Maximus Wearing, 1B/OF, Palisades HS

Big Body athlete with powerful swing from the left side with a max exit velo of 97.3mph and averages nearly 90mph at 89.9mph. Good arm from the infield at 82mph