Prep Baseball Report

Top Prospect Showcase: Catching Analysis



By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

The Top Prospect Showcase once again brought some of the best talent from Illinois and Wisconsin to showcase their skills in front of over 90 colleges from across the country. The catching prospects were strong as every prospect in the bunch could project at some level of college baseball. We take a look at our top picks followed by the best of the rest in alphabetical order.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Bryce Gray, C, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2016
Solid frame with strength, typical catcher’s body composition, 6-foot, 200-pounds. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, minimal loading action, strong balance at contact. Showed bat speed, good approach, line drive gap to gap type hitter, occasionally lunges. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed natural actions behind the dish. Arm action is short and over the top, efficient, arm showed carry, 80 mph out of the crouch, quick release. Pop times ranged 1.96-2.01.

2. Christian Barczi, C, Naperville North, 2016
Projectable frame, 6-foot-1, 185-pound catcher, lean athletic shape, proportioned well. Athletic defender behind the dish, quick release, short over the top arm action, arm carries well. 77 mph out of the crouch, showed flashes of accuracy. Exchange is high efficient, short and quick, athletic feet. Ability to block, agile. Pop times ranged 1.97-2.04. Ran a 7.22 in the 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, leg kick stride, good balance through contact. Loose athletic hands, path is short to the baseball, advanced bat speed. 93 mph exit velocity from the tee.

3. Jack Kinzer, C, Port Washington, 2016
Recently committed to Iowa. 6-foot-1, 190-pound catcher, solid sturdy build, wears the gear well. Arm plays well defensively, carries well and highly accurate, plays much better than the velocity recorded (75 mph), short over the top stroke. Exchange is clean and works directly to target, release could get quicker. Has all the catchers actions with a presence behind the dish. Pop times ranged 2.00-2.11. 7.36 runner. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride, good lower half, maintains balance. Simple setup and compact swing, hands worked well, hard contact shows pop in bat advanced bat speed and strength. 94 mph exit velocity from the tee.

4. Sam Nozicka, C, Grayslake Central, 2016
5-foot-11, 180-pound catcher, average solid build, compact, solid lower half. Good catch and throw prospect, short over the top arm action, accurate arm, on the bag, 77 mph out of the crouch. Showed soft hands, quick clean exchange. Pop times ranged 1.93-2.07. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short to even stride. Line drive type hitter, mid to opposite field approach. Fast bat, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.

5. Cam Post, C, Lincoln-Way Central, 2017
Solid, mature build, 6-foot-2, 185-pound catcher, advanced physically for age. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg lift trigger, good balance through contact. Strong swing with bat speed, gap to gap approach, showed the ability to spray the baseball. Flashed easy pop, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Good athlete, ran a 7.16 in the 60, fluid runner. Defensively played with a short arm action out of the crouch, showed arm strength (77mph), feet work lightly and directionally. Pop times ranged 2.04-2.19.

6. Zach Frey, C/RHP, Normal University, 2016
5-foot-10, 160-pound two-way player, average lean build. On the mound works from a drop and drive style delivery with some effort, slide step from stretch, slight recoil finish to first base side. Arm action is loose and quick, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 85-86 mph, touching 87-88 mph, showed feel for the zone. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 71-72 mph, ability to throw strikes. Changeup has fading action, near fastball arm speed, controls the zone, 75-77 mph. Defensively showed a big arm out of the crouch, short high ¾ slot, carried well to the bag, 81 mph arm strength. Strong pop times at 1.92-2.01. Good athlete, 7.01 runner. Hits from a slightly open stance, short stride loads hands back. Spray hitter, line drive approach. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.

7. Brett Whelton, C, St. Francis, 2016
Recently committed to McNeese State. 6-foot, 195-pound left-handed hitting catcher, solid build with strength. Hits from an open setup, short stride gets him back to even, good balance. Good bat speed, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Slight uphill path with pull side approach, sweeping left handed swing with lifting power. Defensively uses a short arm action, over the top slot, arm is accurate and carries, 78 mph out of the crouch. Exchange is clean, stands up out of the chute, can stay lower and use footwork more, 2.00-2.07 pop times.

8. Brady West, C, Rockford Lutheran, 2016
5-foot-11, 192-pound catcher, solid stocky shape. Well above average defender, soft hands, receives well. Arm action is short and over the top, accurate to second base, showed some carry, 76 mph out of the chute. 2.00-2.12 pop times, clean exchange. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, loads hands back and down, slight arm bar. Bat speed present, long path, pull side approach. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.64 runner in the 60.

9. Anthony Rios, C, St. Laurence, 2016
5-foot-10, 190-pound catcher, thick build, solid catchers body composition. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, minimal loading action, solid balance through contact. Fast bat, strong hands, path is short and level, gap to gap type with occasional pop. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short, over the top arm action, arm plays online with accuracy. 78 mph out of the crouch. Hands play softly, quick clean exchange, 1.94-2.01 pop times behind the plate. 7.72 runner in the 60.

10. Robby McGaha, C, Stevenson, 2016
Athletic frame, lean with strength, 6-foot-1, 180-pounds, strong hands, advanced frame, body projects well. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride back to even, lower half can get more involved, average balance. Timing slightly late early in round, path has some length, occasional hard contact, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Good athlete, 6.99 runner in the 60. Big strong hands receiving the baseball, long arm action, over the top slot, average arm strength, 75 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.11-2.22.

10. Trenton Bauer, C, Green Bay East/West, 2016
Slight build, 6-foot-2, 165-pound left handed hitting catcher, can add strength, long limbed. Offensive first type catcher, hits from a wide setup, slightly open, leg kick stride, good lower half, maintains good balance through contact. Loose hands, creates whip through the zone, good hand speed and bat path, added strength will see harder contact with the bat. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee, good upside offensively. 7.54 runner, long athletic stride. Defensively release is slightly longer, arm played over the top, 73 mph out of the crouch, lacked carry. Showed soft hands. Pop times ranged 2.19-2.26. Bat will play well at the next level.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Cody Cline, C, Fall Creek, 2016
5-foot-8, 175-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Hits from a balanced stance, stride slightly dives, good balance. Compact swing, short path with slight pull side approach, occasional lift. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses a short over the top arm action, 70 mph out of the crouch. Hands work, average footwork, 2.15-2.26 pop times. Ran a 7.62 in the 60.

Gannon Goldensoph, C, Oak Creek, 2016
Athletically built, 5-foot-11, 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Hits from an open stance, short to even stride, uses lower half, maintains balance. Shows bat speed, hands work, short path, erratic contact. 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses a short arm action, average arm strength, 74 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.09-2.18 to second. 7.54 runner in the 60, laser timed.

Trevor Hogenson, C, St. Mary Central, 2016
5-foot-8, 175-pound catcher, compact build with some strength. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride gets back to even, good balance through contact. Showed bat speed, good approach with confidence in the box, line drive spray type hitter. Made middle of the field contact, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively wears the gear well and uses it, showed ability to block. Hands work, some length in release, over the top slot, arm played at 74 mph, pop times ranged 2.05, 2.12. Fluid runner, 7.57 in the 60.

Jake McClellan, C, Rockford Christian, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher, average frame and build. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride back to even, smooth loading action. Two piece swing, slightly uphill path with some effort. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm showed some accuracy, slightly rotational out of the crouch, arm plays at 74 mph, 2.01-2.15 pop times. Ran a 7.40 60 yard dash.

Will McKenna, C/INF, Nazareth Academy, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher/infielder, average athletic shape. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, good balance. Solid bat speed, mechanically sound approach, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.15 runner in the 60. Defensively arm shows the ability to work athletically, showed arm strength, 80 mph out of the crouch, 82 mph across the diamond. Pop times ranged 2.05-2.18.

Carson Youngquist, C, Hamilton Sussex, 2016
Projectable frame, long lean build, 6-foot-4, 205-pound catcher. Ran a 7.3 60, better than average for his position. Defensively uses a short over the top arm action out of the crouch, arm played at 75 mph, showed some carry but typically missed target up. Stands up quick out of the crouch, keeping a lower base can keep throws on line better. Pop times ranged 2.03-2.25. Showed an ability to block in bullpens. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg kick trigger. Shows effort to start swing, 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Ben Zordani, C, Lincoln-Way West, 2016
6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher, lean frame, projects for added strength. Defensively uses a short over the top arm action, average arm strength for his age, 74 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.04-2.12 with occasional accuracy, misses were to arm side up the line. Offensively hits from an open setup with hands set high above head, similar to Julio Franco. Gets hands loaded well into good hitting position and on time. Rigid swing with bat speed, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.46 runner in the 60.

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