Prep Baseball Report

Unsigned Senior Games: Catching Analysis



By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

The Unsigned Senior Games brought over 100 uncommitted prospects to showcase their stuff to more than 30 colleges in attendance over the two day event. Over the next week we will unveil our analysis of the top players at their respective positions.

Leading off with the catchers, Jeff Hightower (Mascoutah) took the top spot and committed to St. Joseph’s College shortly after the event. Hightower has a long lean projectable frame and showed off the strongest arm at the event with the best pop times.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Jeff Hightower, C, Mascoutah, 2015
6-foot-3, 185-pound lanky and athletic right-handed hitting catcher currently ranked No. 68 in Illinois’ 2015 class.  Committed to St. Joseph’s College.  High level, projectable athlete behind the plate with a professional frame.  Hits from a balanced, slightly open setup, short stride, hands load back smoothly, producing short, level bat path with barrel awareness and extension.  Hit several line drives from gap-to-gap with fluid rhythm and 88 mph exit velocity off the tee.  Advanced catch and throw skills behind the plate, with pop times ranging from 1.93-2.04 at 80 mph from the crouch.  Short, loose, over the top arm action with carry.  Showcased soft hands receiving, quick footwork, and quick, clean exchanges on the transfer.  Ran a 7.79 60, 4.96 seconds from home to first.

2. Brett Johnson, C, Dundee Crown, 2015
6-foot-1, 190-pound athletically built left-handed hitting catcher currently ranked No. 136 in Illinois’ 2015 class.  Hits from an open stance, short stride, hands held high loading back smoothly, barrel whips through the zone, producing slightly uphill bat path with 87 mph exit velocity.  Went 2-for-3 in game one with a ground rule double crushed to right center field, and a barreled single.  Defensively, threw 74 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging from 2.04-2.10 from short, over the top arm slot with accuracy.  Ran a 7.05 60, and 4.26 seconds to first on a fielder’s choice groundout.  Johnson is extremely athletic for a catcher, and based on his speed could quite possibly play an outfield corner as well.  He impressed as one of the top overall hitters during batting practice and gameplay at this year’s Unsigned Senior Games.

3. Bailey Magruder, C/OF, Lincoln-Way West, 2015
5-foot-11, 180-pound athletic right-handed hitting catcher/outfielder currently ranked No.  229 in Illinois’ 2015 class.  Hits from a slightly open setup, simple approach, hands held high, barrel starts it ready position, minimal hand movement in load, short stride, producing short, level bat path with 81 mph exit velocity.  Line drive type hitter, showed pull tendencies during batting practice.  Defensively, threw 75 mph from the crouch from short, over the top arm slot with accuracy.  Pop times ranged between 2.05-2.18 to second.  Showcased soft hands, quick feet, clean exchanges from glove to hand throwing.  Ran a 7.33 60, 4.65 from home to first.

4. Matt Musielak, C, Batavia, 2015
Excellent frame, long and lean, room for projection, 6-foot-3, 170-pounds. Right handed hitter, athletic setup, slightly open stance, smooth load, minimal stride, heel lift, good balance through contact. Gap to gap approach, above average bat speed, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses typical catchers arm action, short over the top slot, 72 mph out of the crouch. Athletic defender, mechanically sound blocking, agile out of the crouch. 2.05-2.10 pop times. Translated well to the game, throwing out two runners in game action.

5. Tyler Teele, C, Schaumburg, 2015
6-foot-1, 210-pound catcher, sturdy build. Defensively uses a short high ¾ arm action, quick exchange. Posted pop times at 1.98-2.07 in workout, arm played at 76 mph out of the crouch. Right handed hitter, open stance, leg kick trigger. Aggressive swing, showed the ability to back spin the baseball, pull side approach, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Justin Blasinski, C, Lakes, 2015
5-foot-11, 185-pound left handed hitting catcher. Offensively hits from balanced stance, slight leg kick stride. Pull side approach, above average bat speed, 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.58 runner down the line, 7.35 runner in the 60. Defensively posted pop times at 2.12-2.27, arm played at 73 mph out of the crouch.

Christopher Conway, C, Hoffman Estates, 2015
6-foot-1, 195-pound catcher. Offensively hits from an open stance, quick leg kick trigger. Uphill bat path, pull side approach. Defensively uses a short arm action out of the crouch, 70 mph. Posted pop times at 2.23-2.31.

Matt Eike, C, Newark, 2015
5-foot-10, 160-pound catcher. Above average foot speed for catcher, 7.19 runner. Right handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, leg lift trigger. Opposite field approach, short inside out path. 58 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted 2.26-2.43 pop times, uses a long arm action, 62 mph arm strength from the crouch.

Jacob Foy, OF/C, Rockridge, 2015
6-foot-3, 210-pound athletic right-handed hitting outfielder/catcher hits from a tall, open setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, slightly uphill bat path with pull tendencies and 88 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 84 mph from the outfield from short, over the top arm slot with accuracy.  Behind the plate threw 72 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging between 2.18-2.33.  Ran an 8.09 60 and 5.23 seconds from home to first.  Went 2-for-6 with two singles during game play.

Joe Gazzi, C, De La Salle, 2015
6-foot, 195-pound catcher, strong lower half. Right handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Pull side power approach, lifts the baseball, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Three hits in game action including two RBI hard hit single to left. Defensively posted pop times at 2.04-2.11. High ¾ arm slot, 74 mph out of the crouch, some effort. 7.41 runner in the 60.

Michael Jerik, C, Providence, 2015
5-foot-10, 153-pound left handed hitting catcher. Offensively hits from balanced setup, short stride, slight dive, relaxed setup. Line drive opposite field approach, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively used a short over the top arm action, 74 mph out of the crouch. Posted pop times at 2.09-2.18. 7.43 runner in the 60.

Benjamin Kramer, C, Kenosha Bradford (WI), 2015
6-foot, 200-pound catcher. Offensively hits from the right side, tall narrow setup, toe tap stride. Longer path, 70 mph exit velocity from the tee. Had a single through the left side in game action. Defensively recorded pop times at 2.25-2.37, 67 mph arm strength from the crouch, short arm action, high ¾ slot.

Dalton Robinson, C/3B/RHP, Boylan Catholic, 2015
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher/third baseman/right-handed pitcher hits from a tall, open setup, bat wraps during load, short stride, slightly uphill bat path with 84 mph exit velocity.  Defensively at third, threw 76 mph across the diamond from short, loose, high-3/4 arm slot with accuracy.  Hands were average, clean exchanges, plays through the baseball.  Behind the plate threw 74 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging between 2.05-2.12.  Threw out two runners during game play.  Went 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI during game play.  On the mound arm action raises up a slot to over the top, fastball sits 80-82 mph.  Struck out four in two innings, allowing three hits and no runs.  All strikeouts came on 69-72 mph breaking ball with 11/5, late breaking shape.  Also flashed a 72 mph changeup.

Jake Surpenant, C, Riverside-Brookfield, 2015
6-foot, 157-pound catcher, lanky frame. Offensively hits from the right side, open stance, short stride, slight leg lift. Front foot hitter, 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Produced in game play, four hits in six at bats. Defensively recorded pop times at 2.26-2.39, arm played at 72 mph from the crouch. 7.58 runner in the 60.

Cole Thompson, C, Minooka, 2015
5-foot-11, 175-pound athletic right-handed hitting catcher hits from a wide base, slightly open setup, short stride, turns front toe to load hips, hands start high, load back smoothly, producing short, level bat path with extension.  Simple approach led to several line drives from gap-to-gap during batting practice with 72 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 72 mph from the crouch reeling off pop times between 2.05-2.19 from a short, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy.  Ran a 7.76 60 and 4.86 seconds from home to first.  In game one went 2-for-2 with two line drive singles and one RBI.

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