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By: Andy Partin
It was a lot of fun to be back on the field Sunday hosting our first IMPACT ID Camp of the 2020 season. Big thank you to Coach Jamie Athas at Burlington Williams high school for allowing us to use his beautiful field. And a thank you to all the players and parents for attending.
In this article I’m going to break down my opinion of the Top 5 Prospects based off of what I saw at the ID Camp. This is not based off of what I may have seen in the past, strictly what I saw at camp. Also, you’ll find results and more opinions based on several other categories below.
*If you are a talented middle school or high school baseball player, we’d love to see you at our next ID Camp! [Click here for more information]
*College Coaches/Professional Scouts: If you have any questions or need any information on any of these players, please contact us!
Top 5 Prospects
1. Brooks Brannon, C, R/R, Randleman HS – 2022 Grad
Has the complete “catcher package” – big arm, good defensive skills, lots of hard contact at the plate, gap-to-gap power, but maybe more impressive was how Brannon showed high energy and was vocal when catching bullpens at camp, which was refreshing to see. He was 91 mph off the bat in BP and flashed a consistent 2.01-2.03 pop time. He’s built strong and sturdy like a brahma bull, high skill set and excellent make-up. This kid is fun to watch!
2. Tyler Green, OF, L/R, Middle School – 2024 Grad
Green may end up being the best hitter down the road from this very talented group of players at camp and passes any “eye-test.” Sweet swing from the left-side and continued to find the barrel time after time. He’s got a set of coat-hanger shoulders and is going to be scary good in a couple years as he continues to add strength and size. He ran a 7.65 sixty and he’s got a very good 8th grade throwing arm. There’s a lot to like about Tyler Green!
3. Trace Simmons, C, R/R, Middle School – 2024 Grad
Remember this name: Trace Simmons. Another top-shelf 2024 graduate at camp. Got things started by running an effortless 7.07 sixty (which is hard to imagine for a 2024 grad). From behind the plate was where you get really excited about Simmons. Very athletic kid. Excellent arm and will see his pop times increase even more with a little quicker glove to hand transfer. Displayed very good receiving skills catching pens. Open stance from the right-side and sprayed balls around the field. Can’t miss prospect.
4. Dalen Thompson, INF, R/R, Triton HS – 2021 Grad (Campbell)
Ran a fluid, eye-opening 6.71 sixty on a slow, wet track. High-level athlete with a bag full of tools. Good infield actions and the arm plays fine on the left-side. Showcased 85 mph arm from across the infield. Lots of hard contact in BP as well with a flat barrel that stays in the zone. You better believe Campbell University landed an excellent baseball player in Dalen Thompson.
5. Drew Siegner, RHP, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2022 Grad
Showed the best pitch-ability out of the 11 guys that threw. Athletic righty sat 82-85 mph in the pen and dotted a gnat’s rear-end with it. His heater showed some heaviness to it as well. Siegner spun a 73-77 mph slider that showed a small, tight shape to it. Showed great feel for a bugs-bunny type change-up. To me, this is his knock-out pitch. 73-75 mph with deception. This guy is an ATECH. I imagine he’s fun to play defense behind.
(Tie) 5. Isaac Williams, OF/LHP, R/L, Wake Forest HS – 2021 Grad
I just couldn’t leave off Williams from this Top 5 group. He was impressive at camp. Strong, athletic frame. Ran a 7.18 sixty and flashed the second best outfield throwing arm (the best was 2022 Ethan Gravely). In BP he was hitting missiles with a wood bat and flashed some obvious power potential. In the pen from the left-side sat 81-83 mph with command. Worked slightly across his body and mixed in a very workable breakingball at 72 mph. Williams in a 2021 graduate that is going to make some college coach very happy. He runs, he hits, he throws strikes from the left-side and he’s got make-up.
“Just Missed” Top 5
Jacob Ray, RHP/INF, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2021 Grad
I really liked Ray on the mound; showed lots of upside. Long and loose! Fastball velocity is going to spike in the next couple years with added strength. Good feel for the zone with three pitches. Athletic defender in the infield and ran a 7.06 sixty.
Joe Specht, INF, L/R, SW Guilford HS – 2022 Grad
Hitter-ish – future Division-I player. Ran a 7.06 sixty and showed one of the best bat tools at camp. Athletic player with potential to really hit at the next level.
Top 5 60 Yard Dash Times (Ran on a slow, wet track)
1. 6.71 – Dalen Thompson, INF, R/R, Triton HS – 2021 Grad
2. 7.06 – Jacob Ray, RHP/INF, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2021 Grad
(Tie) 7.06 – Joe Specht, INF, L/R, SW Guilford HS – 2022 Grad
4. 7.07 – Trace Simmons, C, R/R, Middle School – 2024 Grad
5. 7.18 – Isaac Williams, OF/LHP, R/L, Wake Forest HS – 2021 Grad
Top 5 Catcher POP Times/Velocities
1. 2.01 – Brooks Brannon, C, R/R, Randleman HS – 2022 Grad (75 mph)
2. 2.06 – Pete Maldonado, C, L/R, Heritage HS – 2021 Grad (78 mph)
3. 2.19 – Landen Baker, C, R/R, Southern Nash HS – 2023 Grad (73 mph)
4. 2.21 – Trace Simmons, C, R/R, Middle School – 2024 Grad (74 mph)
5. 2.22 – Hayden Friese, C/OF, L/R, Morehead HS – 2022 Grad (72 mph)
Top 5 Infielders/1B Defense
1. Dalen Thompson, INF, R/R, Triton HS – 2021 Grad (Campbell)
2. Jacob Ray, RHP/INF, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2021 Grad
3. Joe Specht, INF, L/R, SW Guilford HS – 2022 Grad
4. Tyler Parks, INF, R/R, SW Randolph HS – 2023 Grad
5. Garrett Schmieder, INF, L/R, Williams HS – 2021 Grad
Top 5 Infielder Arms/1B Velocity
1. 85 mph – Dalen Thompson, INF, R/R, Triton HS – 2021 Grad (Campbell)
2. 84 mph – Tyler Parks, INF, R/R, SW Randolph HS – 2023 Grad
(Tie) 84 mph – Drew Siegner, RHP, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2022 Grad
4. 82 mph – Pete Maldonado, C, L/R, Heritage HS – 2021 Grad
(Tie) 82 mph – Jacob Ray, RHP/INF, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2021 Grad
(Tie) 82 mph – Joe Specht, INF, L/R, SW Guilford HS – 2022 Grad
Top 5 Outfielder Arms Velocity
1. 85 mph – Ethan Gravely, RHP/OF, R/R, SW Randolph HS – 2022 Grad
(Tie) 85 mph – Isaac Williams, OF/LHP, R/L, Wake Forest HS – 2021 Grad
3. 83 mph – Colby Vanhook, RHP/OF, R/R, JM Robinson HS – 2023 Grad
4. 79 mph – Tyler Green, OF, L/R, Middle School – 2024 Grad
(Tie) 79 mph – Jake McGillvary, OF, L/L, Porter Ridge HS – 2022 Grad
Top 5 Hitters (Based on BP – No Live At-Bats)
1. Brooks Brannon, C, R/R, Randleman HS – 2022 Grad
2. Tyler Green, OF, L/R, Middle School – 2024 Grad
3. Joe Specht, INF, L/R, SW Guilford HS – 2022 Grad
4. Isaac Williams, OF/LHP, R/L, Wake Forest HS – 2021 Grad
5. Dalen Thompson, INF, R/R, Triton HS – 2021 Grad (Campbell)
Top 5 Power Hitters (Based on BP – No Live At-Bats)
1. Brooks Brannon, C, R/R, Randleman HS – 2022 Grad
2. Isaac Williams, OF/LHP, R/L, Wake Forest HS – 2021 Grad
3. Pete Maldonado, C, L/R, Heritage HS – 2021 Grad
4. Jake McGillvary, OF, L/L, Porter Ridge HS – 2022 Grad
5. Hayden Friese, C/OF, L/R, Morehead HS – 2022 Grad
Top 5 Hitting Exit Velocity
1. 91 mph – Brooks Brannon, C, R/R, Randleman HS – 2022 Grad
2. 89 mph – Dalen Thompson, INF, R/R, Triton HS – 2021 Grad (Campbell)
3. 85 mph – Jake McGillvary, OF, L/L, Porter Ridge HS – 2022 Grad
(Tie) 85 mph – Drew Siegner, RHP, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2022 Grad
5. 84 mph – Isaac Williams, OF/LHP, R/L, Wake Forest HS – 2021 Grad
Top 5 Pitching Prospects
1. Drew Siegner, RHP, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2022 Grad
2. Jacob Ray, RHP/INF, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2021 Grad
3. Ethan Gravely, RHP/OF, R/R, SW Randolph HS – 2022 Grad
4. Jacob Kirby, RHP, R/R, Reagan HS – 2023 Grad
5. Maddox Smith, RHP, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2021 Grad
(Tie) 5. Isaac Williams, OF/LHP, R/L, Wake Forest HS – 2021 Grad
Top 5 Fastball Velocity
1. 85 mph – Drew Siegner, RHP, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2022 Grad
2. 83 mph – Jacob Ray, RHP/INF, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2021 Grad
(Tie) 83 mph – Isaac Williams, OF/LHP, R/L, Wake Forest HS – 2021 Grad
4. 82 mph – Ethan Gravely, RHP/OF, R/R, SW Randolph HS – 2022 Grad
(Tie) Maddox Smith, RHP, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2021 Grad
Top 5 Breakingballs
1. Ethan Gravely, RHP/OF, R/R, SW Randolph HS – 2022 Grad
2. Jacob Kirby, RHP, R/R, Reagan HS – 2023 Grad
3. Drew Siegner, RHP, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2022 Grad
4. Maddox Smith, RHP, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2021 Grad
5. Isaac Williams, OF/LHP, R/L, Wake Forest HS – 2021 Grad
Noteable Awards
Best “Staff Batting Practice” – Hunter Ridge, 1B, L/R, SW Randolph HS – 2009 Grad (UNC-Wilmington)
Showed warning track power, but a glimpse of what ‘was’ a pure left-handed stroke!
Ironman Award – Logan Koch, C, S/R, South Mecklenburg HS – 2013 Grad (USC/FMU)
Threw all BP at camp without breaking a sweat. Atta baby!
Underappreciated Award – Brent Haynes, RHP, R/R, Southern Alamance HS – 2006 Grad (YHC/MOC)
Quietly showcased one of the purest fungos in the game today!
Steven Spielberg Award – Trey Daly, OF, R/R, New Bern HS – 2002 Grad
Took more cell phone video footage than the latest Jurassic Park film!
Best Hair Award – Jamie Athas, INF, L/R, Holyoke HS – 1999 Grad (WFU)
I have given this award to Athas as a college coach too back in the day! Always killing the hair game!
Full Camp Breakdown:
Click here to view the full camp breakdown
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