2026 NC HS Scout Blog: Week of March 16 - 21
March 19, 2026
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.
Games covered this week
Charlotte Catholic 10 Weddington 2
Wednesday March 18, 2026
Alex Hoffman, RHP, Charlotte Catholic HS, 2026
Virginia Tech commit. Physical. Defined muscular strength in the lower half. Thick, sturdy legs. Listed at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. Methodical pace. Controlled delivery over the rubber. Side saddle setup with a small rocker and preset pivot foot. Lift to the belt. Worked level and on-line. Stable head. Clean, strong arm action through a medium path. Lands slightly open to his line with a square foot strike. Allows for the hips to clear early. High-3/4 slot with good arm speed. Arm strength over arm speed. Fastball ranged 90-92, touching 92.7 with the spin hovering just north of 2400rpm. Occasional hard, boring run when located to the arm side. Solid feel for the zone. Control over command. Held stuff and velocity into the 6th. Slider flashed out-pitch potential with late, explosive movement. Inconsistent shape and action throughout. When tight the slider is a wipeout pitch. Ranged 81-84 at 2400rpm. Four pitch mix on the night also include a change-up at 83 with late depth and good arm speed. Curveball has hard downer action at 77-78. Both pitches have big upside. Change-up is positioned to continue to tick up with usage. As hitters mature and handle the raw power of the fastball, the change-up is ready to create a lot of discomfort. Worked 5.1 innings walking 1 and striking out 7, 4 swinging on the slider. Fastball did not get a lot of swing and miss in the zone but tied hitters up when located on the inner half, allowing the slider to create more distance from the fastball plane.
Cooper Gornet, SS, Charlotte Catholic HS, 2026
North Carolina State commit. Average build at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. Has gotten off to a very quick start in 2026 and with the scouting interest around the Cougars arms, Gornet has taken advantage, seeing his stock grow. A very sure handed infielder with excellent rhythm in the hands and feet. Very secure with the routine ball, turned several tough chances on the night into routine plays with his actions and feel. Accurate arm with solid carry across the diamond. Right handed hitter. Balanced. Feet under shoulders with a little bend in the knees. Rocks and bounces for pre-pitch rhythm, loading with the hands pushing back and the bat head working to a vertical, slightly tipped, position. Average stride. Stable head. Quick hands and excellent turn in the body. Worked from the pull side line to the oppo gap with some authority. Four barrels in four at-bats. Good leverage and back spin on three at-bats resulting in a single and double for the night.
John Hucko, OF, Charlotte Catholic HS, 2027
Auburn commit. Strength present. Proportioned build. Athletic build. 6-foot, 195 pounds. Left handed hitter showed an excellent feel for the barrel throughout the night while working to stay on his plan and adjust throughout each at-bat. Slightly open. Feet underneath the shoulders. Quiet and relaxed with a small waggle in the bat head. Bat head works from a flat position, loading to a neutral slot with a leg kick and slight weight shift back. Average stride, back to even. Aggressive intent. Flat through the zone. Lots of room for error with a quick bat. Excellent strength at the point of contact. Showed strength to all fields on the night. In four at-bats, walked and produced three hard barrels. Single through the middle, through the six-hole and a double down the 3B line. Defined two strike approach, relaxing his leg kick and getting to the evaluation point a bit earlier in his process. Still showed strength and quickness with the adjustment. Continues to check a ton of boxes for evaluators as they are watching.
Tyler Cain, 1B/RHP, Weddington HS, 2026
Cleveland CC commit. Long and rangy. Listed at 6-foot-7, 215 pounds. Good athlete with solid feel for his space and movement. Still growing into the frame. Right handed hitter has strength through impact with a chance to develop an advanced power tool. Balanced. Works to be flat. Length in the arms creates some length through the zone. Handled velocity down in the zone, still recognizing spin. Elevated fastballs created some discomfort. Two barrels on pitches at 90mph or higher.
Also worked off the bump. Tall through the delivery. Loads the front hip with a small turn at balance. Lands on-line with a square foot-strike. Long arm action. The elbow can climb a bit in the back of the action. Some effort to clear the hand as he gets to a high-3/4 slot. Average to above arm speed. Athletic, when he finds his rhythm, he shows extended stretches of feel and control. Fastball at 84-86, 2300rpm. Early but sharp action to the breaking ball at 73-74, 2400rpm. Struggled to land the breaking ball in this short outing. Fastball ride through the zone created issues for hitters.
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