Best of 2025: Catcher Arms
January 29, 2026

Best of 2025: North Carolina Leaders
The Best of 2025 series serves as a comprehensive look back at the top performers across the Prep Baseball landscape in North Carolina throughout the 2025 calendar year. This collection pulls from every Prep Baseball event held in the state, along with national and regional events that featured Team North Carolina, creating a data-driven snapshot of the players who consistently stood out across the year.
2025 was a banner year for the state on the national stage. Team NC delivered strong performances at the Future Games, Jr. Future Games, Sr. Future Games, and the Super Sophomore Games, continuing to establish North Carolina as a reliable producer of high-end talent. The state was also represented by four players at the Super60, while two North Carolina prospects earned selections to the Prep Baseball All-American Game, highlighted by 2027 LHP Connor Salerno, who took home Most Valuable Pitcher honors.
That momentum carried over to the professional level, as North Carolina was well represented in the 2025 MLB Draft. With recent updates to the state rankings for the 2026 through 2029 classes, it’s clear that MLB scouts and college recruiters alike will continue to track the state closely in the years ahead.
The Best of 2025 leaderboards are built from the event analytics that power the Prep Baseball platform. Each event provides players with verified data, updated video, and measurable benchmarks that allow for direct comparison by position, class, and within the state. With over 1,000 college coaches and professional scouts subscribed, the platform serves as a vital tool for player evaluation, development tracking, and exposure—connecting North Carolina’s top performers with opportunities at the next level.
Best of Catcher Arms | Best of 2025
The Best of Catcher Arms leaderboards highlight backstops who separated with arm strength and efficiency during 2025 Prep Baseball events. Arm velocity was recorded on throws to second base from the crouch, simulating a live stolen-base attempt, while pop times were captured simultaneously to provide full context.
By pairing raw arm velocity with pop time, this leaderboard offers a more complete look at a catcher’s ability to control the running game, accounting for transfer, footwork, release, and accuracy—not just radar-gun readings. Broken down by overall leaders and class-by-class standouts, this data identifies catchers who consistently showed game-ready arm traits throughout the 2025 event cycle.
CATCHER ARM VELOCITY - FROM THE CROUCH
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Matthew Ulicny | NC | Phillips Academy | 2026 | C | 85 |
| ^ | Wyatt Lytle | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2026 | C | 85 |
| 2 | Tyce Thompson | NC | South Central | 2027 | C | 83 |
| 3 | Henry Tutera | NC | Christ School | 2028 | C | 82 |
| ^ | Giovanni Luisa | NC | Weddington | 2027 | C | 82 |
| ^ | Jack McKellar | NC | Rocky Mount | 2026 | C | 82 |
| ^ | Leyton Guhl | NC | Metrolina Christian Academy | 2027 | C | 82 |
| 4 | Ryker Butcher | NC | DH Conley | 2025 | C | 81 |
| ^ | Brady Maxwell | NC | Pro 5 | 2027 | C | 81 |
| ^ | Cameron Massey | NC | Heritage | 2028 | C | 81 |
| ^ | Ben Cannaday | NC | Willow Spring | 2026 | C | 81 |
| 5 | Hudson Tuttle | NC | Reagan | 2027 | C | 80 |
| ^ | Lawson Tyndall | NC | Eastern Carolina Academy | 2029 | C | 80 |
| ^ | Lincoln Lawson | NC | Randleman | 2028 | C | 80 |
| ^ | Banks Woody | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2027 | C | 80 |
2026 GRADS
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Matthew Ulicny | NC | Phillips Academy | 2026 | C | 85 |
| ^ | Wyatt Lytle | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2026 | C | 85 |
| 2 | Jack McKellar | NC | Rocky Mount | 2026 | C | 82 |
| 3 | Ben Cannaday | NC | Willow Spring | 2026 | C | 81 |
| 4 | Darrow Holder | NC | Hickory | 2026 | C | 78 |
| ^ | Will Holden | NC | West Forsyth | 2026 | C | 78 |
| ^ | Evan Hodges | NC | Richmond Senior | 2026 | C | 78 |
| ^ | Paul Greeley | NC | Charlotte Catholic | 2026 | C | 78 |
| ^ | Jonathan Piner | NC | East Carteret | 2026 | C | 78 |
| 5 | Nate Mizelle | NC | Garner | 2026 | C | 77 |
| ^ | Tommy Shaw | NC | Charlotte Stampede | 2026 | C | 77 |
| ^ | Hodge Williams | NC | Holly Springs | 2026 | C | 77 |
| ^ | Gavin Mathis | NC | Cary | 2026 | C | 77 |
| ^ | Spencer Sciotto | NC | South Mecklenburg | 2026 | C | 77 |
2027 GRADS
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Tyce Thompson | NC | South Central | 2027 | C | 83 |
| 2 | Giovanni Luisa | NC | Weddington | 2027 | C | 82 |
| ^ | Leyton Guhl | NC | Metrolina Christian Academy | 2027 | C | 82 |
| 3 | Brady Maxwell | NC | Pro 5 | 2027 | C | 81 |
| 4 | Hudson Tuttle | NC | Reagan | 2027 | C | 80 |
| ^ | Banks Woody | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2027 | C | 80 |
| 5 | Maddox Deans | NC | Southern Nash | 2027 | C | 79 |
| ^ | Hayden Willoughby | NC | DH Conley | 2027 | C | 79 |
| ^ | Harrison Mears | NC | South Brunswick | 2027 | C | 79 |
2028 GRADS
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Henry Tutera | NC | Christ School | 2028 | C | 82 |
| 2 | Cameron Massey | NC | Heritage | 2028 | C | 81 |
| 3 | Lincoln Lawson | NC | Randleman | 2028 | C | 80 |
| 4 | Ellis Reed | NC | Gray's Creek | 2028 | C | 79 |
| ^ | Jack Catron | NC | Kingsmen Baseball Academy | 2028 | C | 79 |
| 5 | Tyson Cameron | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2028 | C | 78 |
2029 GRADS
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
| 1 | Lawson Tyndall | NC | Eastern Carolina Academy | 2029 | C | 80 |
| 2 | Grayson Durrant | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2029 | C | 75 |
| ^ | Clark Johnson | NC | Eastern Carolina Academy | 2029 | C | 75 |
| 3 | Chase Kafes | NC | Heritage | 2029 | C | 74 |
| 4 | Avery Cooney | NC | Carrboro | 2029 | C | 73 |
| 5 | Cole Cavanaugh | NC | Wesleyan Christian Academy | 2029 | C | 72 |
| ^ | Teagan Nickerson | NC | Eastern Carolina Academy | 2029 | C | 72 |
CATCHER POP TIMES
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Pop Time |
| 1 | Matthew Ulicny | NC | Phillips Academy | 2026 | C | 1.82-1.94 |
| 2 | Ryker Butcher | NC | DH Conley | 2025 | C | 1.83-1.91 |
| 3 | Jack McKellar | NC | Rocky Mount | 2026 | C | 1.83-1.93 |
| 4 | Wyatt Lytle | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2026 | C | 1.86-2.04 |
| 5 | Banks Woody | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2027 | C | 1.87-2.01 |
| 6 | Jacob Reynolds | NC | Charlotte Christian | 2028 | 2B | 1.89-2.11 |
| 7 | Cole Bowman | NC | Wesleyan Christian Academy | 2027 | C | 1.90-2.06 |
| 8 | Tyce Thompson | NC | South Central | 2027 | C | 1.90-2.08 |
| 9 | Harrison Mears | NC | South Brunswick | 2027 | C | 1.91-2.00 |
| 10 | Westin Tompkins | NC | Walkertown | 2026 | C | 1.91-2.01 |
2026 GRADS
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Pop Time |
| 1 | Matthew Ulicny | NC | Phillips Academy | 2026 | C | 1.82-1.94 |
| 2 | Jack McKellar | NC | Rocky Mount | 2026 | C | 1.83-1.93 |
| 3 | Wyatt Lytle | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2026 | C | 1.86-2.04 |
| 4 | Westin Tompkins | NC | Walkertown | 2026 | C | 1.91-2.01 |
| 5 | Nate Mizelle | NC | Garner | 2026 | C | 1.94-2.01 |
2027 GRADS
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Pop Time |
| 1 | Banks Woody | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2027 | C | 1.87-2.01 |
| 2 | Cole Bowman | NC | Wesleyan Christian Academy | 2027 | C | 1.90-2.06 |
| 3 | Tyce Thompson | NC | South Central | 2027 | C | 1.90-2.08 |
| 4 | Harrison Mears | NC | South Brunswick | 2027 | C | 1.91-2.00 |
| 5 | Giovanni Luisa | NC | Weddington | 2027 | C | 1.91-2.09 |
2028 GRADS
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Pop Time |
| 1 | Jacob Reynolds | NC | Charlotte Christian | 2028 | 2B | 1.89-2.11 |
| 2 | Lincoln Lawson | NC | Randleman | 2028 | C | 1.93-1.96 |
| 3 | Cameron Massey | NC | Heritage | 2028 | C | 1.93-2.05 |
| 4 | Tyler Colvin | NC | William Amos Hough | 2028 | C | 1.93-2.11 |
| 5 | Jack May | NC | Western Alamance | 2028 | C | 1.93-2.12 |
2029 GRADS
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Pop Time |
| 1 | Lawson Tyndall | NC | Eastern Carolina Academy | 2029 | C | 1.97-2.04 |
| 2 | Grayson Durrant | NC | Pro5 Academy | 2029 | C | 2.01-2.30 |
| 3 | Clark Johnson | NC | Eastern Carolina Academy | 2029 | C | 2.06-2.16 |
| 4 | Tristan Stewart | NC | Hoggard | 2029 | C | 2.07-2.20 |
| 5 | Will Brincefield | NC | Needham Broughton | 2029 | C | 2.08-2.18 |
NORTH CAROLINA NEWS
