Toby Bicknell
Texas Scouting Director

Twitter: @PBR_Texas
IG: @pbr_texas

PLANO, TX - On Saturday, October 7, some of the top talent from the 2018 and 2019 classes met at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, TX. Here is the catching analysis from that event.

Catchers

+ Dylan Strater, C/3B, Liberty HS, 2018  
Strater is a versatile, gritty player at 5-foot-8, 170-pounds, and would be a great addition to a college recruiting class. The uncommitted senior has solid defensive skills behind the plate and commands the field with his presence. He has a quick arm stroke from back to front with a clean release and quick footwork. Threw 76 mph from the crouch with accurate pop times ranging from 2.08-2.19. Blocked and received well during the game, showed solid hip mobility and soft hands. Made a great play when he gunned down a runner after blocking a dirtball. The right-handed hitter showed good power during batting practice with easy leverage and lift, launching balls deep to the outfield, including a homerun. Strater has a stacked, relaxed setup with quiet rhythm, short stride as his hands load back, lands balanced. Hands get slotted early getting the barrel on plane with a fluid path and loose finish. On the infield, Strater has fundamental footwork and plays through the ball with soft hands. Strong arm across the diamond at 86 mph with accurate throws.

+ Josh Trahan, C, College Park HS, 2018 
Trahan has a lean-strong frame at 6-foot, 185-pounds. The uncommitted senior showcased a strong arm behind the plate, with a 79 mph velocity from the crouch, accurate throws with pop times of 1.94, 1.87, 2.01, 2.07, and 2.11. During the game, he gunned down two runners at second base with strong, accurate throws and pop times of 2.09 and 2.18, including throwing a 1.93 between innings. At the plate, the right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance, loads back smooth with early rhythm, hands trigger back as he lands balanced with a short stride. Slots hands early with a flat path through the zone and an exit velocity of 89 mph. Hit line drives through the middle of the field during batting practice with a handful of deep fly balls mixed in.

+ Ben Kittay, C/OF, John Paul II HS, 2018
Regis University (CO) commit. Kittay has a strong, projectable frame at 6-foot-2, 205-pounds, with broad shoulders. The right-handed hitter showed outstanding pop during batting practice, driving balls deep to - and over the wall to left, and left-centerfield. He starts from an open stance, loads back early, setting his hands back with a slight arm bar. Kittay uses his long arms and strong frame to generate solid bat speed (91), creating lift through contact with a slightly uphill path and strength at contact. Behind the plate, he throws with elbow dominant arm action and directional footwork. He posted pop times of 2.01-2.18 with a velocity from the crouch of 74 mph.

+ Garrett Glasscock, C, Canyon HS, 2019
Glasscock has a strong, well-defined muscular frame at 6-foot, 190-pounds. The right-handed hitter pounded the ball during batting practice, showing high end bat speed (93 mph) and driving the ball deep to the outfield and leaving the yard to left. Using workman gloves (not batting gloves), Glasscock starts from a tall, slightly open stance. Simple load as he triggers his hands down, pointing the knob back to the catcher. Front foot stays low as his knees pinch together with an athletic leg kick. Strides out toward the pitcher and uses his overall strength to transfer through contact with quick hips. Slots the bat into the zone early, quick bat through the zone on an upward plane with pull side power. Has the ability to pull his hands inside and drive the ball deep. Projectable hitter with pull side power. During the game, he went 1-for-2 with a double down the left field line, ran a 5.0 on the turn at first base, and did a nice job of blocking balls in the dirt. Behind the plate, Glasscock has directional footwork into a short arm stroke from a high slot. He posted pop times of 2.01-2.08 with a velocity from the crouch of 75 mph.

+ Jayden Drake, C/OF, Centennial HS, 2018  
Drake is a switch-hitting, catcher-outfielder with a lean-muscular frame at 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. From the left side of the plate, Drake has loose-quick rhythm with good energy in his lower half. Starts from an open stance and rolls inward as he loads his hands down and back. Quick hips as rotates to transfer his back knee to contact, slightly uphill path with good extension through contact. Right-handed, he starts from a quiet, wider stance, but still slightly open. Smooth load with a short stride as his hands load back, lands balanced. Quick hands through the zone with good barrel awareness. During the game, Drake ran a 4.5 on a ground ball to second base, and had an infield single. In the outfield he plays through the ball with quick footwork, and an accurate arm at 84 mph from a short, high-¾ slot. Behind the plate, Drake threw 76 mph from the crouch with pop times of 2.14-2.3.

+ Jared Chittom, C/RHP, Parkway HS (LA), 2018
Chittom has a strong frame with broad shoulders at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds. The right-handed hitter has good rhythm in his hands, starting from a tall, slightly open stance. Short stride as he triggers his hands from a high position over his back shoulder, landing in a balanced launch position. Flat path through contact with an exit velocity of 78 mph. Behind the plate, Chittom has good lower half mobility and directional footwork. He threw 71 mph from the crouch and posted pop times of 2.18-2.32.

+ Zachary Frost, C/3B, Rockwall HS, 2018
6-foot, 150-pound frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, open stance. Smooth load back as he triggers his hands down and back with tilted shoulders. Knee-to-knee, hover foot leg lift as he strides out toward the pitcher. Lands balanced, front arm bar, rotates hips to contact with a flat path. Line drive power with an exit velocity of 86 mph. Behind the plate, Frost posted pop times of 2.19-2.26 with a 71 mph velocity from the crouch. Worth noting, Frost also played solid defense at third base during the game.  

 

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