Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2026 NC HS Scout Blog: Week of February 26 - March 1

February 23, 2026
Prep Baseball
North Carolina

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.

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.

Gibson Todd, SS/RHP, Topsail HS, 2026
Aggressive leadoff hitter. Looks the part. Has quickness running a 4.20 down the line a pull side ground ball. May have leaked a little bit as he was out front. Good feet and easy carry on the left side of the field.

Luke Byers, RHP, New Bern HS, 2027
A crafty right-handed pitcher, he primarily relied on his off-speed pitches. Breaking ball was tight and landed it consistently at 67-69. Change up ranged 70-72. Fastball peaked at 79.

Paxton Reagan, LHP, New Bern HS, 2026
The senior left-handed featured a three-pitch mix. Fastball at 83-84. Change-up at 71-73. Slider at 70-72. ¾ slot working slightly across his body at foot-strike. Repeated the slotting, allowing the off-speed to work out of the same window as the fastball. Moved the baseball around the zone. Created some discomfort for hitters.

Trent Sparks, RHP, New Bern HS, 2028
Compact delivery that hides the ball well. FB has serious ride and plays faster than the gun showed. Tight spin on the CB that dives hard. Slider was a good speed change.

Carston Wedemeyer, CF, Laney HS, 2027
Strong athletic build. Plays with pace. Lockdown defender in the OF. Showed advanced range. Right handed hitter. Simple setup and load. Works direct. Has hand strength. Smooth, easy swing with good bat speed. Looks to be aggressive when on base.

Jackson Brooks, 3B, Laney HS 2027
Physical presence. Right handed hitter. Wide base with very little head movement. Simple load and launch. Real strength in the swing. Good feel for the barrel.

Jason Sproull, RHP, Laney HS, 2026
ECU Commit. Generated serious buzz with an elite arm. Fastball sat 90-91 and topped out at 94. Athletic mover with a clean arm. Body suggests he will continue to add strength and weight in the coming years. Change up has sink. Flashed solid to advanced feel for the slider, landing it and expanding it throughout the outing. Fastball played with some ease.

Cedar Ridge Scrimmage Jamboree

Cedar Ridge hosted several teams from across the Triangle area on Saturday February 21st. Prep Baseball’s staff was able to swing by for a couple of games of coverage. Below are some notes from the scrimmage action.

John Grove, Catcher, Cedar Ridge HS, 2027
Strength present. Left handed hitter. Impacted the baseball to all parts of the field. Wide setup. Short stride. Rocks into his load. Some power upside. 3-4 at the plate with 2 extra base hits. Behind the plate showed good actions with a quick exchange.



Ian McGuffey, RHP/INF, Cedar Ridge HS, 2026
William Peace Commit. 5’10’ frame with a very quick arm and good tempo. Attacked hitters with a cut-ride fastball and paired it well with a big, 11/5 curveball. High 3/4 arm slot. Solid mover down the mound. Fastball sat 82-85. Curveball at 71-73

Grant McGuffey, INF, Cedar Ridge HS, 2026
William Peace Commit. High waisted RHH with a tall set up and short compact swing. Attacked fastballs early in the count with 3 hits on the day. All 3 in the first 2 pitches of the at bat. Feel for the barrel was evident as he used the entire field at the plate. Showed good actions in the field. Good athlete.

Riley D’Angelo, LHP/OF, Northwood HS, 2028
Potential two way follow. On the mound it was a 3/4 arm slot with 3 pitches. The fastball command was hit or miss early but settled in during the second inning Sat 82-85. The change up showed the ability to be an advanced pitch. Solid arm speed at 70mph. Slider ranged 70-71 with decent shape and will be a pitch to monitor as Riley develops. The tempo was good and it was a low effort delivery. The arm path was a short compact throw.

At the plate it was a tall set up with a bigger leg kick. On time. Going 4-4 in the game with a double off the wall and a backside home run.

Finn Sullivan, RHP, Northwood HS, 2027
Physical arm with the ability to throw 3 pitches for strikes. The delivery has some effort with a shorter stride but maintained velocity throughout the outing. The fastball showed solid ride and carry at the top of the zone generating some swing and miss at 86-88. Slider was a bit inconsistent but showed solid shape when it landed, sitting 74-77. Change-up has potential at 76-78 with solid fade.

Graham Virag, OF/INF, Cardinal Gibbons HS 2028
Progressed physically since the fall. Athletic at 6-foot-2, 189 pounds. Right handed hitter with a balanced approach and advanced bat speed. The load is quiet and very simple. Gap to gap approach with the ability to drive the ball to both gaps. Defensively the arm carries from anywhere on the field. Athletic exchange and release. Good mover.
Performer against good competition last summer.

Jakub Mudd, OF, Cardinal Gibbons HS, 2026
NC A&T Commit. Physical presence. Muscular build. Feet outside the shoulders from the right side. Top tap loads the weight back. Strength through contact. Willing to use the opposite fields. Let the ball work deep. Showed zone feel in his at-bats. Profiles with an ability to stay in the middle of the field as he progresses. Fluid mover with an ability to cover ground in CF. Good energy.

North Carolina HS News