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St. Louis Invitational: Catchers Analysis

March 25, 2017

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director


Prep Baseball Report-Missouri held the St. Louis Invitational on February 20 at All-Star Performance in St. Louis. Nearly 80 players in the 2020 to 2018 class from around the St. Louis area participated.

In the days to come, we will break down the event position-by-position.  Today we will take a look at the catchers. Twenty-two catchers took part in the defensive evaluations, nine catchers has pop times at 2.0 or below, with eight of them with a 74 mph or better positional velo. Eight catchers are in the 2018 class, twelve catchers were in the 2019 class, and two catchers were in the 2020 class. Players are listed in alphabetical order.

Player's profiles have been updated with profile pictures, videos and stats from the event. Coaches will have new profiles to add their dashboard on ScoutPlus and players will be able to update information on their profile with ProspectPlus.

CLICK HERE, for the Instant Analysis

Catchers

Cody Boatwright, C, Francis Howell Central (MO), 2019
Boatwright is a 5-foot-5 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He has ran a 4.77 home to first and has an 82 mph exit velo. At the plate, swing produced line drives to the pull side gap, starts balanced and lands square, controlled leg lift, level path through contact. Behind the plate, pop times between 2.03 and 2.14-seconds, 73 mph positional velo, high three quarters arm slot, sit low, feet work with hands for a fluid exchange, somewhat accurate throws.

Kurtis Byrne, C, CBC (MO), 2019
Bryne is a 6-foot 205-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class and is committed to Indiana. Bryne ran a 4.90 home to first and has an exit velocity of 96 mph.  At the plate, showed mostly pull side power, quick hands and bat speed, aggressive, starts balanced, leg kick, minimal hand movement, consistent hard contact.  Behind the plate, pop times between 1.88 and 1.97-seconds, 82 mph positional velo, stays low, momentum through the catch, short thigh three quarters release, quick catch and throw, accurate throws to the bag.

Jack Darwin, C, Whitfield (MO), 2018
Darwin is a 5-foot-11 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 208 class. Darwin ran a 4.39 home to first and has an 86 mph exit velo. At the the plate, startts in a balance stance, some hand load, short in line stride, compact swing, flashing pull side power. Behind the plate, pop times at 2.19 to 2.27-seconds, 66 mph positional velo, thin set up in feet, high three quarters release, fluid transfer, mostly accurate throws to the bag at second base.

Brayden Eftink, C, Notre Dame (MO), 2020
Eftnik is a 6-foot 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2020 class. He ran a 5.02 home to first and has a 75 mph exit velo. At the plate, starts open, lands square, some load in hands, hands control the bat, level path, swing produced mostly hard pull side line drives.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.12 and 2.40-seconds, 74 mph positional velo, high three quarters release, thin set up in feet, fluid glove to hand exchange, soft hands, somewhat accurate throws.

Austin Fennewald, C, Helias (MO), 2018
Fennewald is a 5-foot-11 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2020 class.  He ran a 4.81 home to first and has an 82 mph exit velo. At the plate, open stance, short in line stride, quick and loose hands, level path, stays on ball after contact, power potential, solid consistent line drives to pull gap.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.07 and 2.14 - seconds,  70 mph positional velo, sits with a staggered base, moves well to block, over the top release, feet and hands in sync, fluid exchange with momentum, accurate throws, some with carry, strong build.

Owen Forck, C, Liberty-Wentzville (MO), 2018
Forck is a 6-toot-1 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.81 home to first and has an 83 mph exit velo. At the plate, balanced set up, up-tempo rhythm, aggressive swing, hands manage the bat, some feel for barrell, gap-to-gap approach, quick bat speed.  Behind the plate, pop times between 1.96 and 2.02-seconds, 72 mph positional velo, sit low with thin set up, quick catch and throw, transfer works on time with feet, over the top release, somewhat accurate throws, some with carry.

Hunter Hiett, C, Cape Girardeau Central (MO), 2020
Heitt is a 5-foot-10 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2020 class.  He ran a 4.14 home to first and has an 84 mph exit velo. At the plate, starts open, short and controlled leg lift, slightly closed stride, quick bat speed, swing produced solid contact and line drives to pull gap.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.08 and 2.34-seconds, 74 mph positional velo, over the top release, quick transfer, feet create momentum, soft hands, somewhat accurate throws, some with carry, physical player in 2020 class. 


Vincent Hilboldt, C, De Smet (MO), 2018
Hilboldt is a 6-foot-1 197-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.69 home to first and has a 92 mph exit velo. At the plate, balanced set up, smooth pre-swing rhythm, strong lower half with loose hands, quick bat speed, gap-to-gap approach, power potential.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.00 and 2.08-seconds, 76 mph positional veto, over the top release, fluid exchange on time with feet, soft hands, clean arm action, throws have carry and mostly accurate.

Andrew Keck, C, Vianney (MO), 2018
Keck is an athletic 6-foot-3 200-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.22 home to first and has an exit velo of 86 mph. At the plate, wide set up in base, minimal stride, no wasted movement, explosive hands, hard consistent contact during batting practice, stays on ball, power potential, feel for the barrell, gap-to-gap.  Behind the plate, 1.89 and 2.02-seconds, 80 mph positional velo, over the top release, quick catch and throw, feet are quick and create momentum, mostly accurate throws to the bag, some with carry.

Michael Long, C, MICDS (MO), 2019
Long is a 6-foot 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.84 home to first and has an exit velocity of 90 mph. At the plate, takes an aggressive swing, open with short stride, slightly close, gap-to-gap approach, power to middle and pull side, hard consistent contact.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.00 and 2.07-seconds, over the top arm slot, momentum through the catch on exchange, fluid glove to hand transfer, mostly accurate throws. 



Connor Martin, C, Rockwood Summit (MO), 2018
Martin is a 5-foot-8 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.77 home to first and has an 86 mph exit velo. At the plate, thin and tall stance, in line stride, swing produced consistent middle of the field line drives, slight pre swing rhythm, level path tough the zone, repeatable swing, little wasted movement.  Behind the plate, 2.09 and 2.31 pop times, 67 mph positional velo, Behind the plate, soft hand receives the ball well, quick catch and throw, fluid transfer, momentum through the catch, mostly accurate throws to the bag.

Garrett Martini, C, Francis Howell Central (MO), 2019
Martini is a 5-foot-6 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.95 home to first and has an 83 mph exit velo.  At the plate, athletic stance, short stride, compact swing, short to contact, gap-to-gap approach.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.09 and 2.14-seconds, 68 mph positional velo, thin and staggered set up, high three quarters arm slot, momentum through the catch, fluid exchange, somewhat accurate throws.

Avery Morrow, C, Union (MO), 2018
Morrow is a 6-foot-1 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019.  He ran a 4.75 home to first and has an exit velocity of 84 mph. At the plate, starts in a balanced position, leg kick, loose and aggressive hands, swing produced mostly pull side line drives, body stays under control during swing.  Behind the plate, pop times between 1.99 and 2.09-seconds, 73 mph positional velo, moves well to block, high three quarters arm slot, quick transfer, momentum through the catch, fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws.

Jimmy Obertop, C, Westminster (MO), 2019
Obertop is a physical 6-foot-1 210-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.72 home to first and has an exit velocity of 90 mph. At the plate, power potential, starts slightly open with slight pre swing rhythm, in line stride, quiet hands, stays inside the ball, short to contact, solid contact to the middle and pull side of the field during hitting evaluations.  Behind the plate, pop times between 1.98 and 2.03-seconds, 79 mph positional velo, shows flexibility, sits low, over the top release, arm works, feet and hands work together, quick catch and throw, throws have carry, accurate throws with carry.  

Lucas Payne, C, De Smet, 2019
Payne is a 6-foot-1 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.40 home to first and has an exit velocity of 79 mph. At the plate, swing produced a high percentage of pull side line drives, square set up, fluid pre swing rhythm, in line stride, efficient load, hands control the bat, body stays balanced.  Behind the plate, 2.13 to 2.19 pop times, 75 mph positional velo, clean exchange, over the top release, throws somewhat accurate, flashing carry.

Garrett Payne, C, Francis Howell, 2019
Payne is a 6-foot 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.57 home to first and has an exit velocity of 88 mph. At the plate, starts with a wide base, minimal stride, hands control the bat, gap-to-gap approach.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.07 and 2.27-seconds, 69 mph positional velo, aggressive out of the crouch, over the top release, clean exchange, feet create momentum, somewhat accurate throws.

Ivan Quackenbush, C, Kickapoo (MO), 2018
Quackenbush is a 6-foot 165-pound switch hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class with athletic frame.  He ran a 4.64 home to first and has an exit velocity of 85 mph from the right side and an 89 mph exit velocity from the left side. At the plate from right side, open stance, rhythm in hands, leg kick, in line stride, drove line drives to middle and pull side of the field, loose and quick hands, from the left side, more controlled, leg kick, pull side line drive contact consistently.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.02 and 2.09 seconds, 71 mph positional velo, quick exchange, over the top release, quick feet, soft hands, mostly accurate throws.

Joseph Schmidt, C, St. Francis Borgia (MO), 2019
Schmidt is a strong 6-foot-2 225-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.84 home to first and has an exit velocity of 92 mph. At the plate, open stance, controlled load with minimal hand movement, leg kick, swings with intent to hit the ball hard, above average pull side power, consistently squared up ball during hitting evaluations.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.00 and 2.06-seconds, loose over the top arm slot, quick transfer, explodes to throw with strong base and fluid footwork, transfer in sync with feet, somewhat accurate around the bag, throws flash carry.

Chad Silvey, C, Farmington (MO), C, 2019
Silvey is a 6-foot-1 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 5.22 home to first and has a 79 mph exit velo. At the plate, wide base, short stride, swing produced pull side contact during hitting evaluations.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.08 and 2.20-seconds, 71 mph positional velo, over the top release, fluid transfer, footwork creates momentum though the catch, moves well to block, throws flash carry, somewhat accurate around the bag.

Andrew Snyder, C, CBC (MO), 2019
Snyder is a 6-foot 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 5.08 home to first and has an exit velocity of 83 mph. At the plate, open stance, in line stride, level path through the zone, quiet hands, gap-to-gap approach. Behind the plate, 2.15 to 2.26 pop times, 70 mph positional velo, clean transfer, sits low with flexibility in hips, momentum though the catch, fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws.

Tommy Stevenson, C, Kirkwood (MO), 2019
Stevenson is an athletic and projectable 6-foot-3 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.94 home to first and has an exit velocity of 78 mph. At the plate, open stance, works into back leg to load, hands load with stride, ball jumps off bat, gap-to-gap approach, loose hands create bat whip.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.00 and 2.09-seconds, 77 mph positional velo, three quarters release, staggered feet in set up, blocks well, flexible, exchange and feet work together, accurate thrower to the 1st base side of the bag.  

Brandon Ulm, C, Francis Howell (MO), 2019
Ulm is a 5-foot-9 205-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 5.03 home to first and has an exit velocity of 87 mph. At the plate, short and compact swing, balanced set up, minimal stride and hand movement, gap-to-gap line drives, hands control the bat.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.08 and 2.25-seconds, 71 mph positional velo, over the top release, clean exchange with fluid footwork.

 

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