Prep Baseball Report

2015 Underclass Games: Catcher Analysis



Shon Plack and Jeff Viles
Prep Baseball Report-Missouri

Prep Baseball Report Missouri held the 2015 Underclass Games at the University of Missouri on June 16 and June 17.  Nearly 90 of the top players in the 2017 and 2018 class attended.  The group was divided into three sessions, with two session on June 16 and one session on June 17.  Profiles have be updated with times, velos and videos.  The games portion of the event can still be viewed on STL Sports Productions. The June 17 games were rained out.

Today we will start with with the Catchers Analysis from both groups.  The catchers are listed in alphabetical order. In the days to come we will break down Middle Infielders, Corner Infielders, Outfielders and Pitchers. Overall rankings will be updated shortly after the analysis of each position.

CLICK HERE, to see a complete spreadsheet of times and velos in PDF format. 
CLICK HERE, to see the Instant Analysis from the 2015 Underclass Games

2015 Underclass Games: Corner Infield Analysis
2015 Underclass Games: Middle Infield Analysis
2015 Underclass Games: Outfield Analysis

Catchers

Beau Broyles, C, CBC, 2017
Broyles is a solid 6-foot 200-pound right handed hitting catcher in the 2017 class from CBC in St. Louis. He had an 86 mph exit velo and a 7.25 60.  During hitting evaluations, started from open stance, lands square on front foot, level path to extension, middle to pull gap during batting practice. Behind the plate, 76 mph positional velo, 2.16 to 2.45 pop times, accurate throws, over-the-top release, clean exchange, fluid footwork. 

River Croft, C, Belton, 2018
Croft is a 5-foot-5, 135-pound right hand-hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 60 time of 8.21. Over-the-top arm slot, fluid footwork, retreats on throw, pop-times between 2.25-2.35, position velo of 65 mph.  At the plate, Croft has an balanced setup with a back load. Swing produces line drives, stays inside the ball. Exit velo at 81 mph.

Coltyn Kessler, C, Rockwood Summit, 2017
Kessler is a physical 6-foot-2 215-pound left-handed hitting catcher.  At the late, Kessler has an advanced approach with quick bat speed. He has no wasted movement in his load, starts open with a small stride,making solid consistent contact during batting practice.  He has an 84 mph exit velo and showed power to the pull gap, ran a 7.96 60.  Behind the plate, Kessler has quick actions in both feet and hands with a clean transfer from glove to hand.  He has momentum towards second base as the throws, with mostly accurate throws.  He posted a 73 mph positional velo with pop times between 2.03 and 2.12, some of the best times for the event.

Nick Hagedorn, C, Smith-Cotton, 2017
Hagedorn is a 5-foot-10, 167-pound left-hand hitting catcher. He ran a 60 time of 7.09. Nick throws from an over-the-top arm slot and has short arm action. He has very quick actions and a clean exchange. His position velo was 69 mph from behind the plate. Hagedorn had a pop-time range of 2.00 to 2.19. At the plate, Hagedorn has an athletic slightly open setup with a smooth load. He has quick hands, short path to the ball, and maintains a level bat path. Nick’s swing produces gap-to-gap line drives and. He had an exit velo of 86 MPH.

Nick Herrenbruck, C, CBC, 2017

Herrenbruck is a 5-foot-7 160-pound right-handed hitting catcer in the 2017 class.  Herrenbruck has a 79 mph exit velo and runs 7.16 60.  At the plate, open stance, long stride, minimal hand movement, level bat path, balance throughout swing, line drive approach, gap-to-gap.  Behind the plate, 2.18 to 2.38 pop times, 68 mph positional velo, clean exchange, over-the-top release, fluid footwork, accurate throws. 

Caleb Marquez, C, Blue Springs, 2018
06/16/15 – Marquez is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound right hand-hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 60 time of 7.29. Over-the-top arm slot, strong arm, fluid footwork, quick/clean exchange, big frame, pop times-between 2.19 and 2.31, position velo of 74 mph.  At the plate, Marquez has an athletic setup with some swagger and a smooth load, power potential to all fields,  fast bat speed. Exit velo at 86 mph.

Connor Martin, C, Rockwood Summit, 2018
06/16/15 – Martin is a 5-foot-8, 165-pound right hand-hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 60 time of 7.40. Over-the-top arm slot, quick/clean exchange, pop-time between 2.12 and 2.34, position velo of 70 mph from catcher, 72 mph from the infield, and 74 mph from the outfield.  At the plate, Martin has an athletic setup with a bask load. Swing produces line drives. Exit velo of 74 mph.

Justin Mitchell, C, Platte County, 2017
Mitchell Is a 5-foot-11 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2017 class.  Mitchell is combination of strength and athleticism.  He runs a 6.78 60 and posted a 91 mph exit velo, both among the top for the event.  He had the events best pop time at 1.90 and registered an 80 mph throw from the crouch, best among catchers.  At the plate, starts with a wide stance, uses a toe touch to load, minimal movements in hands.  Level path to extension, fast bat speed, ability to hit to both gaps.  During catching evaluations, quick movements in glove-to-hand exchange and feet, over-the-top release, aggressive momentum towards second base, pop times between 1.90 and 2.00.

Connor Morehouse, C, Park Hill, 2017
Morehouse is a 5-foot-11 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2017 class from Park Hill HS.  Morehouse runs a 7.75 60 and has a 77 mph exit velo.  Offensively, starts in balanced set up, separates to load, stays in line with stride, level bath to extension, gap-to-gap approach.  Defensively, has pop times between 2.15 and 2.24, 76 mph positional velo, quick exchange, fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws to the fist base side, over-the-top release.

Tristen O’Neal, C, Rolla, 2018
O’Neal is a 6-foot-1 205-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2018 class.  He ran a 7.75 60 with an 89 mph exit velo.  During batting practice, O’Neal showed a simple and repeatable swing.  Small load with early to touch, quick/loose hands, level through contact, middle to pull side.  Behind the plate, has a 71 mph positional velo, pop times between 2.16 and 2.37, mostly accurate throws, clean exchange, over-the-top release, momentum through the catch.

Gage Patton, C, Timberland, 2018
Patton is a strong 5-foot-11, 150-pound right hand-hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 60 time of 7.85. He throws from an over-the-top arm slot. Gage posted a POP range of 2.28-2.41. His position velo was 72 mph. At the plate, Patton has a balanced setup with a smooth load. Gage’s swing produces line drives. His exit velo was 78 mph.

J.P. Schneider, C, Rock Bridge, 2017
Schneider is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound right-hand hitting catcher. He ran a 60 time of 8.18. JP throws from an over-the-top arm slot and has long arm action, throws were accurate and had some life. His position velo was 75 mph from behind the plate. Schneider had a pop-time range of 2.16 and 2.29. At the plate, Schneider has an athletic setup with a smooth load. He keeps his hands inside the ball and maintains a level bat path. JP produces line drives and has a middle/oppo approach. He had an exit velo of 82 MPH.

Nate Thompson, C, Park Hill, 2017
Thompson is a 5-foot-8, 175-pound right hand-hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. He ran a 60 time of 7.71. Over-the-top arm slot, strong arm, fluid footwork, quick/clean exchange, pop time between 2.19 and 2.31. Position velo of 77 mph.  At the plate, Thompson has an open setup with a smooth load, swing produces gap-to-gap line drives, stays inside the ball, fast bat speed. Exit velo at 78 mph.

Colten Weber, C, Jackson, 2017
Weber is a 6-foot-2, 170-pound right hand-hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. He ran a 60 time of 7.40. Over-the-top arm slot, very strong arm, fluid footwork, quick/clean exchange, pop times between 1.97 and 2.03, position velo at 80 mph.  At the plate, Weber has an athletic setup with a smooth load, swing produces gap-to-gap line drives, middle approach, stays inside the ball, long legs, fast bat speed. Exit velo at 87 mph.

Tyler West, C, Lindbergh, 2018
West is a 6-foot-0, 170-pound right hand-hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 60 time of 7.27. Over-the-top arm slot, strong arm, fluid footwork, quick/clean exchange, pop time between 2.19 and 2.30, position velo at 72 mph from catcher and 77 mph from the outfield.  At the plate, West has an athletic setup with a smooth load, swing produces gap-to-gap line drives. Exit velo at 81 mph.

Brad Willis, C, Winnetonka, 2017
Willis is a 5-foot-11, 185-pound left hand-hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. He ran a 60 time of 7.23. Over-the-top arm slot, strong arm, fluid footwork, quick/clean exchange, pop time between 2.19 and 2.22, position velo of71 mph.  At the plate, Willis has an open setup with a smooth load, swing produces gap-to-gap line drives, stays inside the ball, fast bat speed, pull power. Exit velo at 88 mph, one of the best for left-handed hitters.

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