Best Prep Ballplayers to come out of NC in the past 20 years...

As a coach...

My region faced him in the 98-99 State games! One of the best HS schoolers "pitchers" I ever saw but like all of them beatable! He threw in the low 90's at that tiime with a Ron Guidry type slider, completely sick and nasty. I could see how he could be completely dominate at the HS level especially as a Lefty I believe?

 

He was a 6-4/6-5 lefty that pitched in the low 90's with nasty stuff, but he was beatable definitely. Catchers couldn't catch him on the HS level.

But the guy is a natural in the OF. He has one of the nicest swings I have ever seen. He'll be in the show soon.

 

Agreed...

on Both ALL of your points Jm I really felt sooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrry for the catcher the couple of times we competed aginst him! On the other hand he makes for the BEST learning tool for a young catcher learning THAT position!

 

I got to see hamilton play a couple of years ago ( he was with the river dogs maybe? im not really sure). I remember he had only been on the team for like two weeks and he already lead them in home runs. He had two the night i saw him. But wasnt there a problem with him handling everything that went with being a professional. I always heard everyone say that he'd be in the show in no time if he ever got his head straight.

 

more from the eastern side that were left out

Some of the players from the eastern part of the state that were left out druing the '90s:

Chris West- Wayne Co. Louisburg College, NSCU and the minors-best pure hitter I ever saw from the left side

Chris Bryant- Southern Nash, NC Wesleyan, minors for the Orioles- corner spot, lots of power

Jason Head- Greene Central, ECU- long ball hitter-lefty

Jason Roach- N. Lenoir, NC Wilmington, currently with the Senators- mid '90s

Mitch Jones-JH Rose, ss UNC

Josh Potter- JH Rose, righty UNC

Scott Tharrington- SW Edgecombe, lefty UNC- tore rotator cuff and ligaments in his elbow while at UNC

Jay Kuykendall- DH Conley, lefty UNCG- threw gas

Barry Chiles- E. Wake, righty, played in the minors

Just to add a few

 

Jason Roach

Jason Roach will be the starting pitcher for the Durham Bulls on Monday...

 

Scouting Report

2004 Season
Chad Tracy was the last player cut in spring training, since Donnie Sadler's versatility was deemed more useful. But Tracy was called up April 21 after Roberto Alomar suffered a broken hand, and the rookie was inserted at third base to give the offense a boost. Tracy kept the job all year, as Shea Hillenbrand moved to first base after Richie Sexson's injury. After needing time to adjust to big league pitching, Tracy batted .293 with a .351 on-base percentage from July 1 through the end of the season.


Hitting
A .335 hitter in four minor league seasons, Tracy has a flat swing and keeps his hands inside the ball well, often going to left field. He stays balanced and has a quick stroke, allowing him to be a good contact hitter. He recognizes pitches well, drawing a decent number of walks, but does not generate much home-run power with his swing. The longball wasn't part of his minor league repertoire either, though he powered 70 doubles in the high minors in 2002 and 2003.


Baserunning & Defense
A first baseman until his last year in college, Tracy lacks range at third base. His reactions are slow and his footwork clumsy at times. He goes through periods where he struggles with his throws, often because of poor footwork. But Tracy has a strong work ethic and should improve defensively.


2005 Outlook
Arizona is committed to playing Tracy, considering he will be inexpensive as a second-year player. The only thing that has changed since the end of last season is where Tracy will play. With the signing of third baseman Troy Glaus, the Diamondbacks are planning to try Tracy at first base in 2005. He made steady progress and reached Triple-A Tucson over just three minor league seasons prior to 2004, so he could take another step forward in the new year. If his defense improves or he develops power, he could become a solid everyday player.



That's Chad Tracy for you...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/scouting?statsId=7047

I was looking at it and had to put that in here...

 

I thought I had put Josh down, but if I left him off, Woe is me!! I ahd the privilege of watching Josh play serveral times at Athens and in the State Games... It is a shame that he has had the troubles he has had, though he brought them on himself. One of the most gifted players I have seen. I scouted Riverside when it was a Neighborgall - Hamilton matchup, I'll bet there were at least 20 guns there that da, a cold day when both were bringing heaters at 90+!!

Thanks for bringing him up to our attention, Jere!!

 

Was a good player. He went to UNCC and was not getting any playing time and then transferred to Coker Colege(in SC on the way to the Beach).

Another good one from West Meck was Trevor Smith???. He was a pitcher in the later 80's early 90's. He was 15-0 like 1.83 ERA with about 100+ SO in his senior season. He was draft in the 33rd round by Houston and went to Louisburg JC and never went to the minors after that I beleive.

 

Allen "Bo" Davis '89 Grad of Lee Co. Made it up to AA with the Orioles then got in a fight with a teammate and was rightly dropped

Mark Osbourne '96 Grad of Lee Co. Formerly with the Diamondbacks Org. as a catcher, now is a batting instructor

Danny Borrell Lee Co./Wake Forest Grad LHP Had a sweet swing, drafted by the AL Yankees, made the 40 man roster, now rehabbing his shoulder in Tampa

I agree Ray Durham is great. I play a little travel ball with his brother Ronald and he also has some flat out talent.