2026 NORTH CAROLINA SCOUT BLOG

As the 2026 spring season gets underway, Prep Baseball North Carolina remains committed to delivering comprehensive scouting coverage from high school diamonds across the state. Our scouting staff will be on the ground throughout the spring, evaluating top prospects, identifying emerging talent, and providing detailed analysis on the players shaping this season.

North Carolina continues to establish itself as one of the premier talent-producing states in the country, consistently sending players to collegiate programs at every level and into professional baseball. Through consistent in-person evaluations, advanced metrics, and video coverage, our goal is to spotlight the next wave of impact prospects while delivering trusted insight for coaches, recruiters, professional scouts, and fans alike.

Each week, the NC High School Scout Blog will feature in-depth reports from recent looks, breaking down tools, performance trends, and projection. Follow along throughout the spring as we provide inside access to the state’s top talent and the players poised to make noise in 2026.

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COVERAGE - FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 1

Laney, Topsail, and New Bern Scrimmage

Prep Baseball was on hand on Saturday February 21st as Laney, New Bern, and Topsail played in a round-robin style scrimmage. The day allowed the coaches to get their teams on the field against outside competition, in preparation for the upcoming season. Below are some notes from the day from our scouting staff.

R.J. Browning, RHP, Topsail HS, 2027
Pounding the strike zone effectively with his fastball at 82-86 mph. Worked quickly and challenged hitters, allowing only one hit in a short outing. Slider flashed at 70-72 mph. Average feel early in the year for the spin pitch.

Fisher Taylor, RHP/MIF, Topsail HS, 2028
The sophomore delivered a very impressive performance, featuring a fastball that sat 83-86 mph with significant arm-side run. Off-speed pitches were highly effective. Sweep/slider at 69-71, kept hitters off balance. Change at 74-76 had sink, creating swing and miss opportunity
Finished the day 2-for-2 with two doubles. 1st double was to RCF followed by getting to a fastball and going over the LF’s head.