2025 Summer Rewind: Player Data & Analytics

The summer of 2025 provided players across North Carolina with valuable opportunities to continue their on-field development through practices, workouts, events, games, and tournaments. While the summer schedule can be demanding, most players approach it with a clear plan—testing their abilities, gaining exposure, and identifying areas for growth.

Throughout the season, Prep Baseball scouts worked diligently to evaluate as many players as possible. Tournament play offered game-based assessments, while Prep Baseball events provided controlled settings to capture verified metrics, statistics, analytics, and video. As a result, more than 600 players from North Carolina were added to the rankings database this summer, each earning a player grade based on their measurable tools and performance.

With that information compiled, the updated class rankings offer a clearer picture of how players across the state are progressing. The Summer Rewind series takes a closer look at these evaluations, highlighting standout performances from Prep Baseball events. These range from Team Carolina IDs and Organizational Scout Days—focused on data collection—to premier events such as the NC/SC Border Battle, Top Prospect Games, and the Future Games, where top players measure themselves against elite competition in North Carolina and across the country.

In this series, we will also spotlight leaders in ball flight data, swing metrics collected through BLAST Motion, and athletic testing powered by VALD Performance. These tools, integrated into Prep Baseball events, ensure that players are evaluated with precision, making Prep Baseball the most trusted name in amateur baseball scouting.

CLICK HERE to catch up on all the stats and analytics from the Summer of 2025

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BLAST MOTION DEEP DIVE - SUMMER REWIND

BLAST’S CORE METRICS

Before we assess individual performers, it’s critical to understand the value and application of each metric and average and top numbers at each level.

BAT SPEED

Definition: The velocity of the bat barrel at contact, measured in miles per hour (mph).

Why It Matters: Higher bat speed increases exit velocity potential and improves a hitter’s ability to drive the ball with authority. It is the foundational predictor of raw power.

Benchmarks for top recruits:

• Elite: 73-plus mph
• Above-Average: 69-72 mph
• Developmental: Below 65 mph (depending on age/class)

ROTATIONAL ACCELERATION

Definition: Measures how quickly (forcefully) a hitter’s bat accelerates into the swing (measured in Gs).

Why It Matters: High RA allows hitters to delay their swing decisions and still generate a high level of power—a crucial skill against velocity and pitch sequencing. It brings down time to contact and is a player’s power ceiling.

Benchmarks:

• Elite: 17g or higher
• Competitive: 12-16.9g
• Work on it: Below 12g

On-Plane Efficiency% (OPE)

Definition: The percentage of the swing in which the bat barrel is on the same plane. Paired with a positive attack angle, it will keep the bat “on the ball” for a longer period of time.

Why It Matters: High OPE indicates an efficient swing and usually more opportunity for contact. It improves barrel control and raises both batting average and contact quality.

Benchmarks:

• Elite: 80% or higher
• Very Good: 70-79%
• Needs Improvement: Below 60%

Peak Hand Speed

Definition: Maximum speed of the hands during the swing.

Why It Matters: High hand speed allows for better reaction time, quicker barrel path initiation, and effective swing adjustments, especially against advanced pitching.

Benchmarks:

• Elite: 23-plus mph
• Strong: 20-22.9 mph
• Developing: <18 mph

For a complete list of Blast Motion metrics and averages by age/level of play, click here.

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BAT SPEED LEADERBOARDS

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Rotational Acceleration Leaderboards

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On-Plane Efficiency% Leaderboards

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Peak Hand Speed Leaderboards

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