About Us

About Us:
Prospects is a brand new hitting and pitching academy in Holly Springs, N.C., featuring the necessary instruction and tools to help both baseball and softball players of all ages achieve their goals.

Facility:

Prospects Academy features a fully-turfed facility with nine different workstations, including three batting cages and three tee work areas. We have an Iron Mike remote-activated pitching machine, which holds up to 600 baseballs, dual Jugs softball machines, and a Jugs baseball machine.

In addition to our cages, we also feature two portable, turfed pitching mounds that can be moved into any cage or moved into our own pitching area (from youth league distance of 48 feet up to regulation 60 feet distance).

Prospects is perfect for team workouts, clubs, small and large groups, or one-on-one instruction.

Coaching Philosophy:
We believe that every player is unique. We seek to develop each player’s own talent and abilities. We teach proper technique and drills according to age and skill level. We encourage players to learn new skills that will enhance their development. We teach players to be professional in all they do - on and off the field. Our goal is to take existing talent to the next level through challenging and fun instruction.

Instruction:

Director of Instruction: Jeff Bock

Jeff Bock played at Cary High School, where he was named the Wake County Player of the Year in 1989, as well as being named to the All-State Team.

A two-time All-Conference pitcher at Barton College, Bock also received several other accolades, including being invited to the 1992 Team USA tryouts, being named a NAIA All-American, and the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference Player of the Year in 1993.

In 1993, Bock signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves, and spent five seasons as a professional player, including the 1994 and 1995 seasons with the Durham Bulls, and 1996 with the Greenville Braves.

From there, Bock became the Pitching Coach at Campbell University in 1997. In 2001, he was named the Camels Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, a position he held through 2004.

Instructor: Clay Council

Council is no stranger to the game of baseball. Below are some highlights and awards he has received:

Accomplishments
- Three (3) years of professional baseball (San Francisco Giants organization)
- Two (2) years with U.S. Army baseball champs in Korea (was awarded MVP)
- Mentored three Major League draft choices: Paul Wilder, Josh Hamilton (Texas Rangers), and Landon Powell (Oakland A's)
- 28 years served as volunteer coach at Cary High School
- 10 years served as volunteer coach with Cary Recreation
- Pitched for Josh Hamiliton at 2008 MLB All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium
- Attended Texas Rangers' Alumni Conference as invited guest speaker; along with MLB greats: Gaylord Perry, Nolan Ryan, Rusty Greer, and Jim Sunberg
- Played in Texas Rangers Alumni Game - August 15, 2008
- Threw out first pitch at Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays game
- Participated in Durham City Post Office induction of the 2008 commemorative baseball stamp
- Recognized and threw out first pitch at Carolina Mudcats vs. Cincinnati Reds game
- Participated in ESPN's "Homecoming" television special with Josh Hamiliton

Awards
- 1998 Inductee into the Cary High School Hall of Fame
- 2008 Trot Nixon award recipient presented by World Series Champion coach Jack McKeon
- 2009 George Whitfield Baseball Clinic award recipient
- 2009 Greater Raleigh Sports Council Volunteer of the Year award recipient
- 2010 North Carolina American Legion Hall of Fame inductee