Prep Baseball Report

Top Prospect Games: Catchers Analysis



Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

On Sunday, August 9, Prep Baseball Report-Missouri held the Top Prospect Games at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.  Nearly 100 uncommitted players in the 2016 class from Kansas and Missouri attended. 

Player profiles have been update with times, velocities and videos.  Below is a look at the catchers from the event.  In the days to come, we will break down the outfielders, middle infielders, corner infiedlers and pitchers. The catchers are listed in alphabetical order.  Players rankings will be updated in weeks to come.

CLICK HERE, to see the Instant Analysis from the Top Prospect Games
CLICK HERE, to see the PDF spreadsheet for the Top Prospect Games
CLICK HERE, to see game footage from the Top Prospect Games

Catchers

Noah Aziere, C, Smith Cotton, 2016
Aziere is a 5-foot-10 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2016 class.  He ran a 7.10 60 and had an 82 mph exit velo.  At the plate, smooth rhythm and load, toe tap, level path, line drive approach to middle/pull side, quick bat speed.  Defensively, has pop times between 2.09 and 2.37, positional velocity of 79 mph, clean transfer to over-the-top release, fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws.   

Robbie Collier, C, Kearney, 2016
Collier is a 5-foot-11 205-pound right-handed catcher in the 2016 class.  He ran a 7.68 60 and had an exit velo of 87 mph, one of the top exit velos of the event.  Athletic set-up at the plate, slightly open, controlled leg lift, short path to contact, power to pull side, line drive approach.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.00 ad 2.13, top pop time of the event, 74 mph positional velo, high-three quarters release, mostly accurate throws.

Brian Hawkins, C, Sante Fe Trail (KS), 2016
Hawkins is a 5-foot-11 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2016 class.  Ran a 7.46 60 and had an exit velo of 82 mph.  Wide stance at the plate, small stride picking up foot and setting it down, smooth load into back leg, level swing, line drive approach.  Behind the plate, posted pop times between 2.25 and 2.47, short over-the-top release, 67 mph positional velo, clean exchange, mostly accurate throws.

Tanner Holen, C, Manhattan (KS), 2016
Holen is a 5-foot-10 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2016 class, recently committed to Iowa Western.  Holen ran an 8.06 60 and had an exit velo of 85 mph.  Loads with lower half and hands in an athletic stance, used the whole field during batting practice, line drives gap-to-gap, solid consistent contact.  During defensive evaluations, 2.12 to 2.19 pop times, 73 mph positional velo, quick exchange and release, loose over-the-top arm action, mostly accurate throws, throwing momentum towards second base.

Caleb Jonas, C, Fort Osage, 2016
Jonas is a 5-foot-9 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2016 class.  He ran a 7.63 60 and has a 76 mph exit velo.  Balanced set-up at the place, controlled load with lower half, maintains barrel, uses middle of field.  Behind the plate, has pop times in the 2.09 to 2.15 range, 70 mph positional velo, over-the-top release, quick exchange, fluid footwork, throws are around bag at second. 

Luke Kahle, C, Francis Howell, 2016
Kahle is a 5-foot-10 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2016 class. Kahle ran a 7.59 60 and had an exit velo of 85 mph.  At the plate, starts with a smooth load and a leg kick, loose hands, accelerated level bat path, stayed in middle of field during batting practice.  Defensively, had pop times between 2.00 and 2.13, top pop time of the event, 75 mph positional velo, aggressive and quick in exchange and throw, over-the-top release, accurate throws to the first base side of second. 

Grant Latham, C, Bismark, 2017
Latham is a 6-foot-2 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2017 class. Latham runs a 7.90 60 and has an exit velo of 68 mph.  Controlled load with early toe touch, short stride, swing path creates consistent line drives to middle/pull side of field.  During defensive evaluations, posted pop times between 2.12 and 2.19 with a 68 mph positional velo, short over-the-top release, clean transfer, somewhat accurate throws. 

Tanner Lowrey, Oak Grove, 2016
Lowrey is a 5-foot-11 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2016 class.  Lowrey runs a 7.97 60 and has an exit velo of  87 mph, one of the top exit velos of the event.  Lowrey showed power to the pull side during batting practice, smooth rhythm loading into back leg, maintains barrel, level bat path.  Behind the plate, has pop times in the 2.19 to 2.2 range, 73 mph positional velo, quick feet, clean exchange, over-the-top release, mostly accurate throws.

Ben Miller, C, Sumner Academy (KS), 2016
Miller is a 5-foot-9 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2016 class.  He has a 60 time of 7.32 and an exit velo of 71 mph.  At the plate, starts slightly open, toe tap, smooth hand load, gap-to-gap approach, level bat path.   Behind the plate, has pop times between 2.10 and 2.25, 71 mph positional velo, over-the-top release, clean exchange, momentum towards second base after throw, accurate throws.  

Martin Schildt, C, Milford (NE), 2016
Schildt is a 6-foot 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher from Nebraska in the 2016 class.  Schildt ran a 7.85 60 and had a 77 mph exit velo. Strong build, pre-swing rhythm in hands, short stride, hit mostly line drives to pull side during batting practice.  Defensively, has pop times between 2.22 and 2.28, 74 mph positional velo, quick feet, long over the top release, plays through the catch, throws were on the bag at second.

Matt Westphal, C, Lutheran St. Charles, 2016
Westphal is a 6-foot-3 198-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2016 class.  Westphal runs a 7.52 60 and has a 75 exit velo. At the plate, physical hitter, simple load, minimal stride, aggressive hands, quick bat speed, level to extension, consistent solid contact using both gaps during batting practice. Behind the plate, pop times in the 2.06 to 2.28 range, one of the top pop times for the event, 74 mph positional velo, short, high three quarters release, quick transfer, fluid footwork, somewhat accurate throws.

Brady Wildschuetz, C, Francis Howell, 2016
Wildschuetz is a 6-foot-3 230-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2016 class.  Wildschuetz ran a 7.46 60 and has an exit velo of 85 mph. Physical player, controlled load, soft/short stride, hands work inside ball, line drives gap-to-gap, solid consistent contact during batting practice.  During defensive evaluations, 2.12 to 2.28 pop times, 75 mph positional velo, fluid exchange and footwork, high three-quarters release, throws mostly accurate to first base side of second.

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