Prep Baseball Report

Elite Prospect Showcase Analysis: Catchers



By Greg Williams
WV Director of Scouting

The 2014 Elite Prospect Showcase took place Saturday, November 1st at Keystone State Baseball Academy in Manheim, PA with 56 prospects from three states displaying their skills. The following is a look at the seven catchers in attendance.

Catchers (In Alphabetical Order)


Adam Celidonia
, C/3B, Montour HS, PA (2016)

Celidonia turned in an impressive round of batting practice from the left side of the plate, showcasing the ability to drive the baseball to both gaps. The junior starts from a slight crouch and uses loose hands to barrel the baseball to all fields while consistently staying inside the ball. Celidonia registered one of the top bat exit velocities of the event at 90 mph. The 6-foot, 185-pounder displayed pop times of 2.06-2.19 on throws of 75 mph from the crouch.

Connor Hood, 3B/C, Susquehannock HS, PA (2016)

Showcasing behind the plate for the first time, Hood posted 1.96-2.10 pop times with a 77-mph arm out of the crouch. The right-handed hitter's swing is a bit uphill, but he gets the barrel to the ball and has the ability to drive a gap (86-mph exit velocity). Read more on Hood's complete performance in our recap of the day's top performances.

James McConnon, C, The Haverford School, PA (2016)

McConnon showcased his athleticism by running a 7.04 60-yard dash. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior displayed above average receiving skills and flashed pop times of 2.15-2.19 on throws of 71 mph from the crouch. McConnon starts from a slight crouch with a high hands load from the right side of the plate offensively. He uses a heel raise trigger with no stride and consistently squared the baseball during batting practice with a bat exit velocity of 79 mph.

Hunter McGarvey, C, La Salle HS, PA (2018) 

McGarvey is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound freshman that ran a 7.62 60-yard dash. He displayed promise defensively with pop times of 2.19-2.22 on throws of 68 mph from the crouch. McGarvey hits from a slightly open stance with a short swing path. The right-handed hitter consistently barreled the baseball during batting practice while showing the ability to use all fields.

Jake Pae, C, Susquehanna Township HS, PA (2017)

Pae is a lanky 6-foot-2, 165-pound sophomore backstop that ran a 7.24 60-yard dash. He flashed an accurate 76 mph arm from the crouch with pop times of 2.10-2.25. Pae hist from a slightly open stance and strides closed. The right-handed hitter showcased a bat exit velocity of 78 mph while squaring the baseball consistently with a flat bat path through the hitting zone.

Tyler Peters, C, Lancaster Catholic HS, PA (2017)

Peters was impressive during his round of batting practice driving the baseball repeatedly to all fields from a square stance with a lift and replace stride. The right-handed hitter squared the baseball routinely to all fields and stays behind the baseball well with a bat exit velocity of 75 mph. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound sophomore registered pop times of 2.28-2.41 on throws of 75 mph from the crouch.

Anthony Rota, C, Boyertown HS, PA (2017)

Rota ran a 7.30 60-yard dash an displayed an accurate 72 mph arm from the crouch with pop times of 2.22-2.34. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitter registered an 80 mph bat exit velocity from an open stance. Rota squared the baseball frequently during batting practice while displaying the ability to hit the baseball to all fields.

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