Prep Baseball Report

Kansas Underclass Games: Catching Analysis



By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

On Wednesday, June 18th Prep Baseball Report hosted the inaugural summer Underclass Prospect Games at Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia, Kansas.  This event included many of the top 2016 and 2017 prospects in the state. 

Today we take a look at the six catchers that participated in this event.   It was a talented group of backstops with promising futures in baseball that impressed all in attendance. 

Top Prospect

C Connor Rule, Hays, Class of 2016
Rule is a physically impressive 6-foot, 195-pound right-hand hitting catcher.  Rule put every throw on or near the bag using quick feet and exchanges throwing with a short over-the-top throwing motion.  He showed good balance and repeated his throws well with consistent pop times to second base in the 1.95 and 1.98 range and a top velocity of 74 mph.  During hitting evaluations he showed a tall, athletic set-up and open stance.  He takes a short inline stride and uses a minimal hand load.  He has loose hands, balance throughout and finishes with extension.  Overall he has a gap-to-gap approach with bat speed – an aggressive swing with some juice.  His top exit velocity was clocked at 85 mph.  He ran 4.66 home-to-1B from the right side.  In the games Rule singled once in four at bats.  He was the top catching prospect at the event.

Best of the Rest (listed alphabetically)

C Josh Compton, Shawnee Mission West, Class of 2016
Compton is an athletic-framed 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-hand hitting catcher.  During defensive evaluations he showed average footwork and an easy, short over-the-top throwing motion.  His pop time to second base ranged from 2.19 to 2.25 with a top velocity of 70 mph.  During batting practice he starts with a wide inline stance and bat laid slightly back.  He uses no hand load and a short, inline stride.  Compton has a simple middle-oppo approach.  He recorded an exit velocity high of 76 mph and ran 4.41 home-to-1B from the right side the best time of the catchers group. 

C Jake Karst, Maize, Class of 2016
Karst is an athletic 6-foot, 175-pound right-hand hitting catcher.  Throwing to second base during defensive evaluations he showed quick feet, clean exchanges and an accurate arm with pop times to second base clocked from 1.96 to 2.07.  His throwing velocity high was 76 mph – the top mark of all catchers at the event.  During hitting evaluations he showed a tall, athletic set-up and inline stance.  He hits with no stride, minimal hand load and showed good balance.  He has a repeatable swing with little wasted movement and a gap-to-gap approach.  His exit velocity high was clocked at 84 mph.  His home-to-1B time from the right side was 4.59.  In the games he singled once in five at bats.  Karst is a solid catching prospect with experience catching upper level high school pitching this past spring for traditional powerhouse Maize HS – a team that finished runner-up at the 6A state tournament.  He will be ranked in the 2016 class when we expand and update this group later this summer.

C Jordan Maxson, Maize South, Class of 2017
Maxson is a very physical 6-foot, 190-pound right-hand hitting catcher.  During defensive evaluations Maxson showed quick feet and a quick over-the-top throwing motion.  His throws to second were timed from 1.95 to 2.08 with his top throw clocked at 74 mph.  His throws were all on or near the bag.  During hitting drills he demonstrated a tall set-up and slightly open stance.  He strides inline and sets his hands with a backward hand load.  His swing is upper half dominant, relying on his strong upper body to drive the ball middle-oppo.  His top exit velocity registered at 85 mph.  He ran a 4.44 home-to-1B from the right side.  In the games Maxson reached base three times in four at bats and threw out a would-be base stealer at second base.  Just entering his sophomore year, Maxson is an impressive catching prospect and will be ranked accordingly when our initial class of 2017 rankings are posted later this summer. 

C Jack Mills, Gardner-Edgerton, Class of 2016
Mills is a strong 6-foot-1, 195-pound right-hand hitting catcher.  During catchers throwing drills he showed average footwork and exchanges throwing with short three-quarters arm action.  His pop times to second base were clocked in the 1.99 to 2.15 range with a throwing velocity high of 71 mph.  At the plate he starts with from a wide base, slight squad with slightly closed feet.  He uses no stride and a smooth hand load. Mills’ swing is upper half dominant relying on his upper body strength – he showed on oppo approach.  His hitting exit velocity high was 80 mph.  He ran a 4.68 home-to-1B from the right side.  In the games he reached base once and stole a base.

C Braedyn Woborny, Manhattan, Class of 2017
Woborny is an athletic-framed 5-foot-9, 160-pound switch-hitting catcher.  During defensive evaluations he showed quick, simple footwork, quick hands and a short over-the-top throwing motion. His throws to second base were timed from 2.00 to 2.15 with his best throw clocked at 70 mph.  At the plate, from both sides he showed an athletic set-up, open stance, smooth hand load and short inline stride.  From the right side he showed a simple middle-oppo approach.  He appears to be a natural left-hand hitter showing loose hands, balance throughout and extension from the left side – an advanced gap-to-gap approach with the potential to be an upper level hitter as he gains size and strength. His hitting exit velocity was clocked as high as 77 mph.  He ran a 4.68 home-to-1B time from the right side.  In the games Woborny went 2-for-4.  They say switch-hitting catchers are worth their weight in gold and watching Woborny hit this might very well be the case with him as he matures.  He will be ranked among the top 2017 prospects when these rankings are posted later this summer.

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