Tobacco Road State Games: EVENT PREVIEW

August 12, 2026
Sean Smith
Mid-Atlantic Operations Manager

CHARLOTTE, NC -- This is the week of the Tobacco Road State Games, taking place August 15-16 at Stick Williams Dream Fields, featuring players from the grad classes of 2027 through 2029. Over 100 players are headed to Stick Williams Dream Fields this weekend, with more than 84 currently ranked in their home state's Prep Baseball rankings.

Inside this article, we're previewing the talent making its way to Stick Williams Dream Fields by analyzing Prep Baseball showcase data since the start of 2025 to find the most impressive statistical outliers and under-the-radar athletes on this weekend's rosters.

Find more information by visiting tournaments.prepbaseballreport.com or from the pages linked below:

Top Position Players to Watch

These players stood out across multiple measurables at Prep Baseball showcases and are among the most intriguing athletes in the field this weekend.

Emery Young

1B/OF • Class of 2028 • #38 NC

6-3/195 • Charlotte Baseball Academy (Orioles Scout ) • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
105.2	95.2	74.8	6.87

Highest max EV among all players this weekend; Highest avg. EV in the field.

Ryder Sheffield

SS/RHP • Class of 2029 • #12 NC

5-8/155 • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
95.3	90.5	71.8	6.58

1st-fastest 60-yd. dash this weekend; Top-ranked avg. bat speed among all uncommitted '29s.

Austin Baxter

2B/3B • Class of 2028 • #34 NC

5-9/167 • Left/Right • South Charlotte Panthers Marucci • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
101.3	93.5	69.0	7.26

No. 3 avg. EV among all players in the field; No. 7 overall in max EV in the field.

Kannon Huffman

OF/C • Class of 2027 • #61 NC

6-1/200 • South Charlotte Panthers • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
102.1	90.7	76.2	6.64

No. 3-ranked max EV among all players this weekend; No. 1-ranked avg. bat speed among all players this weekend.

Paxton Ladner

1B/RHP • Class of 2028 • #33 NC

6-5/222.5 • SBA Bolts National • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	60-Yd.
101.8	83.2	7.20

Top-5 max EV among 101 hitters this weekend; 2nd-highest max EV among 2028s.

Cooper Long

SS/RHP • Class of 2029 • #159 National • #8 NC

6-1/175 • Dirtbags National • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
95.7	89.2	69.2	7.17

2nd-highest max EV among 2029s; 2nd-ranked max EV among uncommitted '29s.

Grayson Broadway

LHP/OF • Class of 2028 • #254 National • #13 NC

6-2/199.7 • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
96.0	81.2	72.0	6.98

Brax Thompson

RHP/SS • Class of 2028 • #261 National • #15 NC

6-0/167.3 • SBA Bolts National • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
97.5	89.9	65.1	6.91

Stat Leaders: Position Players

All metrics from official Prep Baseball showcases attended since the start of 2025 (minimum thresholds applied).

Exit Velocity Leaders 🔴

Top-15 Overall, Sorted by Highest Max EVs

#	Player	Pos.	Class	Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS
1	Emery Young (#38 NC) Charlotte Baseball Academy (Orioles Scout )	1B	2028	105.2	95.2	74.8
2	Andrew Caracio (#83 NC) Canes American	LHP	2027	102.6	88.4	70.0
3	Kannon Huffman (#61 NC) South Charlotte Panthers	OF	2027	102.1	90.7	76.2
4	Paxton Ladner (#33 NC) SBA Bolts National	1B	2028	101.8	83.2	—
5	Breison Piwonski (#40 NC) Beast	OF	2029	101.5	87.5	68.8
6	Pierce Miller (#119 NC) South Charlotte Panthers National	RHP	2028	101.5	91.0	61.0
7	Austin Baxter (#34 NC) South Charlotte Panthers Marucci	2B	2028	101.3	93.5	69.0
8	Ashton Bowes (#258 NC) Atlanta Braves Scout Team	3B	2027	101.2	83.2	73.8
9	Antonio Parrino (#55 NC) SBA Coastal National	OF	2027	101.1	94.2	73.7
10	Beckett Rinkus (#273 NC) Athletes Lab	OF	2027	100.4	90.1	72.9
11	Luke Douglas (#60 NC) CBA Orioles Scout	OF	2028	100.0	84.9	73.9
12	Caden Browning (#293 NC) NLB North Carolina	3B	2027	99.9	87.7	69.9
13	Hayden Willoughby (#103 NC) Canes American	C	2027	99.9	86.8	72.5
14	Lucas Barga (#87 NC) SBA Tucci National	C	2028	99.8	89.6	75.8
15	Dru Gaddy (#44 NC) CAROLINA GHOST	LHP	2027	99.6	83.8	—

Bat Speed Leaders ⚡

Top-15 Overall, Sorted by Highest Avg. Bat Speeds

#	Player	Pos.	Class	Avg. BS	Avg. RA	Max EV
1	Kannon Huffman (#61 NC) South Charlotte Panthers	OF	2027	76.2	20.7	102.1
2	Lucas Barga (#87 NC) SBA Tucci National	C	2028	75.8	10.8	99.8
3	Emery Young (#38 NC) Charlotte Baseball Academy (Orioles Scout )	1B	2028	74.8	14.2	105.2
4	Luke Douglas (#60 NC) CBA Orioles Scout	OF	2028	73.9	12.5	100.0
5	Ashton Bowes (#258 NC) Atlanta Braves Scout Team	3B	2027	73.8	9.7	101.2
6	Antonio Parrino (#55 NC) SBA Coastal National	OF	2027	73.7	14.3	101.1
7	Hudson Stringer (#204 NC) Wow factor American	OF	2027	73.5	26.4	95.7
8	Giovanni Luisa (#108 NC) Wow Factor Carolina Premier	C	2027	73.1	15.9	99.1
9	Maximo Jimenez (#209 NC)	OF	2027	73.0	13.6	98.8
10	Dylan Rodkin (#71 NC) SBA TUCCI	RHP	2027	72.9	18.0	92.9
11	Beckett Rinkus (#273 NC) Athletes Lab	OF	2027	72.9	8.3	100.4
12	Hayden Willoughby (#103 NC) Canes American	C	2027	72.5	22.5	99.9
13	Will Matthews (#93 NC) USA Prime Series One	OF	2028	72.5	14.7	99.6
14	Ian Roseboro (#276 NC) USA prime coastal stars	OF	2027	72.3	28.6	97.5
15	Grayson Broadway (#13 NC)	LHP	2028	72.0	18.7	96.0

Athletic Testing Leaders 💨

Top-15 Overall, Sorted by Fastest 60-Yard Dash Times

#	Player	Pos.	Class	60-Yd.	Pos. Velo
1	Ryder Sheffield (#12 NC)	SS	2029	6.58	83 mph (IF)
2	Kannon Huffman (#61 NC) South Charlotte Panthers	OF	2027	6.64	88 mph (OF)
3	Will Matthews (#93 NC) USA Prime Series One	OF	2028	6.67	81 mph (OF)
4	Luke Douglas (#60 NC) CBA Orioles Scout	OF	2028	6.73	93 mph (OF)
5	Antonio Parrino (#55 NC) SBA Coastal National	OF	2027	6.75	86 mph (OF)
6	Cooper Parrish (#133 NC) Athletes Lab Scout	OF	2027	6.79	90 mph (OF)
7	Pierce Miller (#119 NC) South Charlotte Panthers National	RHP	2028	6.82	84 mph (IF)
8	Gavin Griffin (#115 NC) SBA Coastal	2B	2028	6.87	80 mph (OF)
9	Emery Young (#38 NC) Charlotte Baseball Academy (Orioles Scout )	1B	2028	6.87	83 mph (OF)
10	Connor Kullman (#158 NC) Charlotte Baseball Academy Orioles Scout	OF	2028	6.89	88 mph (OF)
11	RJ Browning (#93 NC) Dirtbags All Blacks	SS	2027	6.89	89 mph (IF)
12	Connor Simpson (#104 NC) CBA Orioles Scout	SS	2028	6.89	85 mph (IF)
13	CJ Nixon (#13 NC) Power Baseball NC	LHP	2029	6.91	92 mph (OF)
14	Brax Thompson (#15 NC) SBA Bolts National	RHP	2028	6.91	89 mph (IF)
15	Brody Michel (#68 NC) Power Baseball NC	OF	2028	6.92	77 mph (OF)

Top Arms to Watch 🔥

These are the pitchers our system has flagged in the lead-up to this week's tournament across multiple categories like velo, spin, movement profiles, etc., based off past Prep Baseball showcase performances.

Brax Thompson

RHP/SS • Class of 2028 • #261 National • #15 NC

6-0/167.3 • SBA Bolts National • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	FB Avg. Spin	FB HM Avg.	CB	CB Avg. Spin
91.3	89-91	2,553	18.0 in.	74-75	2,925

No. 2-ranked FB velo among all arms this weekend; Highest avg. FB spin rate in the field (2,553 rpm).

Ryder Anderson

RHP/1B • Class of 2028 • #41 NC

6-1/200 • Right/Right • Dirtbags National • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	FB Avg. Spin	FB HM Avg.	CB	CB Avg. Spin
91.0	89-91	2,258	15.4 in.	77-78	2,049

No. 3-ranked FB velo among all arms this weekend; 2nd-hardest throwing 2028 arm in the field.

Grayson Broadway

LHP/OF • Class of 2028 • #254 National • #13 NC

6-2/199.7 • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	CB	SL	CH
89.0	86-88	73-76	70-72	83-84

No. 2-ranked left-handed arm in the field; No. 8 FB velo among all arms in the field.

Cooper Long

SS/RHP • Class of 2029 • #159 National • #8 NC

6-1/175 • Dirtbags National • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	CB	CH
85.4	82-84	69-70	75-77

2nd-hardest throwing 2029 arm in the field; 2nd-ranked FB velo among uncommitted '29s.

CJ Nixon

LHP/OF • Class of 2029 • #13 NC

6-1/141 • Left/Left • Power Baseball NC • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	FB IVB Avg.	CB	SL	SL Avg. Spin
84.0	82-83	17.4 in.	72-77	74-76	1,869

Donovan Locklear

RHP/OF • Class of 2027 • NC

6-4/158.2 • USA Prime Coastal Premier • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	FB IVB Avg.	CB	CB Avg. Spin	SL
93.0	90-92	16.8 in.	68-72	2,404	75-80

Hardest-throwing arm this weekend; Hardest-throwing 2027 arm in the field.

Andrew Caracio

LHP/1B • Class of 2027 • #83 NC

6-1/222.5 • Left/Left • Canes American • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	FB IVB Avg.	CB	SL	SL Avg. Spin
91.0	88-90	16.2 in.	74-75	69-72	2,083

No. 3-ranked FB velo among all arms this weekend; 2nd-hardest throwing 2027 arm in the field.

Dylan Rodkin

RHP/2B • Class of 2027 • #71 NC

6-0/174.1 • Right/Right • SBA TUCCI • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	FB Avg. Spin	FB IVB Avg.	CB	CB Avg. Spin
90.0	89-90	2,176	18.3 in.	69-73	2,072

Top-5 FB velo in the field; Elite FB induced vertical break (18.3 in. avg.) paired with 90 mph velo.

Stat Leaders: Pitchers

All metrics from official Prep Baseball showcases attended since the start of 2025.

Fastball Velocity Leaders 🔥

Top-15 Overall, Sorted by Max Fastball Velocity

#	Player	Pos.	Class	Max FB	FB Range	FB Avg. Spin	FB Avg. IVB	FB Avg. HM
1	Donovan Locklear USA Prime Coastal Premier	RHP	2027	93.0	90-92	2,159	16.8	9.8
2	Brax Thompson (#15 NC) SBA Bolts National	RHP	2028	91.3	89-91	2,553	12.9	18.0
3	Ryder Anderson (#41 NC) Dirtbags National	RHP	2028	91.0	89-91	2,258	14.3	15.4
4	Andrew Caracio (#83 NC) Canes American	LHP	2027	91.0	88-90	1,830	16.2	-11.4
5	Dylan Rodkin (#71 NC) SBA TUCCI	RHP	2027	90.0	89-90	2,176	18.3	9.2
6	Luke Douglas (#60 NC) CBA Orioles Scout	OF	2028	90.0	83-88	1,670	12.6	11.9
7	Paxton Ladner (#33 NC) SBA Bolts National	1B	2028	89.2	88-89	2,125	11.2	6.5
8	Grayson Broadway (#13 NC)	LHP	2028	89.0	86-88	2,159	14.3	-6.1
9	Evan Meyer TPA Scout	OF	2028	88.6	87-88	2,016	13.7	5.2
10	Dru Gaddy (#44 NC) CAROLINA GHOST	LHP	2027	88.2	87-88	2,010	12.9	-12.8
11	Jack Cunningham (#75 NC) Dirtbags National	RHP	2028	88.0	85-88	2,045	13.8	15.7
12	Odin Ginader (#136 NC) SBA	RHP	2027	87.7	86-87	2,023	13.5	17.1
13	Zach White (#126 NC) Performance Carolina National/C35	C	2027	87.0	83-87	2,202	18.5	8.3
14	Ashton Bowes (#258 NC) Atlanta Braves Scout Team	3B	2027	87.0	82-86	—	—	—
15	Connor Morrisey TPA Nationals Scout	RHP	2027	86.2	84-86	1,764	7.9	3.9

Breaking Ball Spin Leaders 🌀

Top-15 Overall, Sorted by Highest Avg. Breaking Ball Spin Rate (CB/SL)

#	Player	Pos.	Class	Type	Avg. Spin	Velo Range	Avg. IVB	Avg. HM
1	Brax Thompson (#15 NC) SBA Bolts National	RHP	2028	CB	2,925	74-75	-1.5	-17.8
2	Paxton Ladner (#33 NC) SBA Bolts National	1B	2028	SL	2,611	75-77	-12.9	-14.1
3	Brayden Carter Usa prime coastal	RHP	2027	CB	2,607	74-76	-3.1	-5.9
4	Landon Scott (#240 NC) SBA Coastal National	2B	2027	CB	2,545	72-73	-10.0	-11.0
5	Aydan Smith Canes Central Scout	3B	2027	CB	2,536	71-73	-1.9	-10.1
6	Luke Douglas (#60 NC) CBA Orioles Scout	OF	2028	CB	2,529	68-73	-10.3	-16.5
7	Gunnar Johnson (#43 NC) South Charlotte Panthers	SS	2028	CB	2,489	66-66	-12.0	-17.3
8	Odin Ginader (#136 NC) SBA	RHP	2027	SL	2,429	76-77	-5.5	-18.0
9	Brooks Keeler (#150 NC) Dirtbags	RHP	2028	CB	2,415	72-73	-6.3	-6.6
10	Donovan Locklear USA Prime Coastal Premier	RHP	2027	CB	2,404	68-72	-5.6	-14.1
11	Tyler Thompson Wow Factor Carolina Premier	RHP	2028	SL	2,382	65-67	4.1	-20.9
12	Kaiwi Sharp (#27 NC) Five Star National	SS	2029	CB	2,368	69-72	-2.1	-14.5
13	Tyler Eason (#272 NC) DPC Ghost	SS	2027	CB	2,365	69-70	-5.4	-16.7
14	Grayson Broadway (#13 NC)	LHP	2028	CB	2,338	73-76	-7.4	5.2
15	Reece Kuhns DPC Ghost National Southeast	RHP	2027	SL	2,337	74-76	4.7	-0.7

Top Uncommitted Prospects 🎯

These are the top-ranked uncommitted players on rosters headed to our tournament this week.

State Rank	Player	Pos.	Class	Ht/Wt
#13	Grayson Broadway (NC)	LHP/OF	2028	6-2 / 199.7 lbs.
#15	Brax Thompson (NC) SBA Bolts National	RHP/SS	2028	6-0 / 167.3 lbs.
#33	Paxton Ladner (NC) SBA Bolts National	1B/RHP	2028	6-5 / 222.5 lbs.
#34	Austin Baxter (NC) South Charlotte Panthers Marucci	2B/3B	2028	5-9 / 167 lbs.
#35	Cole Harris (NC) Dirtbags Baseball	1B/3B	2028	6-2 / 220 lbs.
#38	Emery Young (NC) Charlotte Baseball Academy (Orioles Scout )	1B/OF	2028	6-3 / 195 lbs.
#39	Hunter Hedgecoe (NC) Dirtbags National	C/3B	2028	5-10 / 181 lbs.
#41	Ryder Anderson (NC) Dirtbags National	RHP/1B	2028	6-1 / 200 lbs.
#42	Easton Booser (NC) Diamond Life Athletics	SS/2B	2028	5-8 / 155 lbs.
#43	Gunnar Johnson (NC) South Charlotte Panthers	SS/RHP	2028	5-10 / 175 lbs.
#44	Dru Gaddy (NC) CAROLINA GHOST	LHP/1B	2027	6-2 / 187 lbs.
#48	Brendan Blankenship (NC) SBA Bolts National	SS/RHP	2028	6-1 / 185 lbs.
#51	Miles Hamm (NC) Dirtbags All Blacks	3B/OF	2028	5-10 / 200 lbs.
#55	Antonio Parrino (NC) SBA Coastal National	OF/RHP	2027	5-11 / 181.9 lbs.
#58	Mikey Katz (NC) Dirtbags National	C/OF	2028	5-9 / 195 lbs.
#59	Carter Rowe (NC) CBA Scout	2B/SS	2027	5-10 / 180 lbs.
#60	Luke Douglas (NC) CBA Orioles Scout	OF/RHP	2028	5-11 / 160.1 lbs.
#61	Kannon Huffman (NC) South Charlotte Panthers	OF/C	2027	6-1 / 200 lbs.
#62	Harris Eimer (NC) Dirtbags All Blacks	3B/OF	2028	6-2 / 186 lbs.
#66	Landon Lewis (NC) Riptide Scout	SS/3B	2028	5-11 / 165 lbs.

All showcase metrics from Prep Baseball events attended since the start of 2025. Leaderboards compiled from officially submitted tournament rosters. Players who have not attended a recent Prep Baseball showcase will not appear. Find an upcoming showcase near you.