Underclass Trials: Catcher Analysis

July 7, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Underclass Trials kicks off our summer season and is one of our favorite events because it always brings the most unseen talent to the forefront. This year was no different as several prospects put their names on our big board and over the next week we will break down the top prospects at each position. Today we roll-out the top catchers from the event. 2018 catchers dominated the Top 5 but there are a few 2019's to keep an eye on moving forward.

Ethan Darley from Joliet Central flashed advanced arm strength for his age as did Danny Machaj from Lyons Township. Elias Flowers from Marmion is a switch hitter who ran a 7.17 and Gibson City product Nathan Garard is a physical backstop with a strong bat.

Here’s a look at the top guys at Underclass Trials.

Top Prospects

1. Will Pudik, C, Peoria Notre Dame, 2018
6-foot, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher with a strong frame. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with a short stride, hands start low and raise up on load. Good balance at the plate. Pull, power hitter with a fast bat and fluid rhythm. Showed strength thru contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.54. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Accurate throws with carry. Quick, clean transfer with fluid footwork. Strong hands receiving in pens. Popped 2.04-2.12 and threw 76 mph from the crouch.

2. Mason Crews, C/3B, Manteno, 2018
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting C/3B with an athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup, short hand load with a heel lift stride. Gap to gap hitter with a long, uphill swing path. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.76. Defensively took drills behind the plate and in the infield. Behind the plate has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Quick footwork and transfer. Blocked well in bullpens Popped 2.04-2.11 and threw 75 mph from the crouch. In the infield showed soft hands with good body control. Threw 80 mph across the infield with carry.

3. Jake Kapers, C/2B, Mount Carmel, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting C/2B. Offensively hits from a balanced, slightly open stance with a short stride and good balance. Gap to gap hitter with a short, level swing path and fluid rhythm. Back spinned balls in batting practice. 76 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.42. Defensively took drills behind the plate and in the infield. Short arm action from an over the top slot. Quick exchange behind the plate. Popped 2.09-2.19 and threw 73 mph from the crouch. Soft hands in the infield with fluid footwork and athletic actions. Threw 82 mph across the infield.

4. Cam Redding, C, New Trier, 2018
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher with a strong, athletic frame. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with a short stride. Short swing path with loose hands and a good approach. Gap to gap hitter with fluid rhythm. Showed strength thru contact with 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.84. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Accurate throws with carry. Athletic actions with quick, fluid footwork and a clean exchange. Popped 2.12-2.19 and threw 71 mph from the crouch.

5. Logan Anderson, 3B/C/RHP, Providence Catholic, 2018
6-foot, 205-pound right-handed utility player with a strong frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup. Short arm bar load with a short stride and good balance. Pull power hitter with fluid rhythm and a fast bat. Showed strength thru contact with 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.14. Defensively has a loose arm action from an over the top slot. Throws showed carry across the infield at 77 mph. Solid footwork with soft hands. Behind the plate has a short arm action. Accurate throws with carry. Popped 2.26-2.37 and threw 74 mph from the crouch. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall delivery with regular effort. Works in line with home plate. Fastball was straight at 76-77 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape with loose rotation at 59-62 mph. Maintained fastball arm speed on changeup that showed cutting action at 66-69 mph.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Ben Chapman, C/RHP, Rochester, 2018
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting C/RHP with a strong frame. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with a short leg lift stride and good balance. Gap to gap hitter with a short swing path and a fast bat. Showed strength thru contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.79. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Throws showed carry with a long exchange. Popped 2.26-2.36 and threw 76 mph from the crouch. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a short, loose, quick arm action. Tall and fall, online delivery with smooth rhythm and an upright finish. Showed feel for three pitches with control of all three. Fastball has downhill tilt at 80-81 topping out at 83 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape with tight rotation and late breaking action at 68-70 mph. Maintained arm speed on changeup with slight running action at 69-71 mph.

Ethan Darley, C, Joliet Central, 2019
5-foot-9, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively showed plus raw arm strength behind the plate. Has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Accurate throws with carry. Showed good blocking ability in bullpens. Popped 2.18-2.26 and threw 75 mph from the crouch. At the plate hits from a closed, balanced setup with a short leg kick stride. Average balance with a short, uphill swing path. 67 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.88.

Riley Driscoll, C, Peoria, 2018
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively hits from a wide base with a short stride. Pull hitter with a short, uphill swing path and stiff rhythm. 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.11. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Stand and throw with a long exchange. Popped 2.33-2.47 and threw 70 mph from the crouch.

Elias Flowers, OF/C, Marmion Academy, 2019
5-foot-6, 135-pound ambidextrous thrower and switch hitter. Small, athletic frame. Plays the outfield left-handed and catches right-handed. Defensively in the outfield showed some actions, a clean exchange and loose arm action. Threw 75 mph from the outfield. Behind the plate has a long arm action from a low ¾ slot. Popped 2.18-2.32 and threw 68 mph form the crouch. From the right side hits from a balanced setup with a high hand set. Short, uphill swing path. Form the left side hits from a tall setup with a leg kick stride. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path. 76 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.17.

Hunter Frost, C, Romeoville, 2019
5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and good balance. Line drive hitter with fluid rhythm and an uphill swing path. Simple approach with good feel for the barrel. Showed strength thru contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.56. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot, stand and throw. Popped 2.26-2.50 and threw 64 mph from the crouch.

Nathan Garard, C, Gibson City, 2019
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher with a strong frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short, toe tap stride and good explosion in the hips. Uphill swing path with a fast bat. Showed consistent hard contact in batting practice. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.52. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Popped 2.17-2.29 and threw 65 mph from the crouch.

Jared Holt, C, Dunlap, 2018
5-foot-8, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Accurate throws with carry. Raw arm strength out of the crouch throwing 76 mph. Popped 2.10-2.22. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with a short hand load and short stride. Gap to gap hitter with an uphill swing path. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.17.

Kaden Hubly, C/2B, Herscher, 2018
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate hits from a narrow, balanced setup, slight bar on load with a short leg lift stride. Long, level swing path. 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.17. Defensively took drills behind the plate and in the infield. Behind the plate has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Popped 2.18-2.29 and threw 66 mph from the crouch. Threw 68 mph across the infield.

Evan Jewson, C, Crystal Lake South, 2019
6-foot-1, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate hits from a wide base with balanced setup. Short toe tap stride with average balance. Uphill swing path. 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.54. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Slow exchange. Popped 2.25-2.37 and threw 71 mph from the crouch.

Danny Machaj, C/OF, Lyons Township, 2019
5-foot-9, 150-pound right-handed hitting C/OF. Defensively in the outfield showed easy arm strength throwing 81 mph with fluid footwork and solid actions. Behind the plate shows a short arm action from a high 3/4 arm slot. Popped 2.13-2.25 and threw 73 mph from the crouch. Offensively hits from a closed setup, sinks into load. Pull hitter with a long, uphill swing path and stiff rhythm. 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.15.

Freddie March, C/1B, Lake Park, 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher with a lanky frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a low hand set. Long, leg kick stride with looseness in the hands. Gap to gap line drive hitter with fluid rhythm. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.05. Defensively took drills behind the plate and in the infield. Behind the plate has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Accurate throws with slower footwork. Popped 2.36-2.43 and threw 67 mph from the crouch. At first base showed average hands throwing 67 mph across the infield.

Simon Marinelli, C/2B, Addison Trail, 2018
5-foot-8, 145-pound right-handed hitting C/2B. Defensively took drills behind the plate and in the infield. Behind the plate has a short, loose arm action. Gains ground towards second base on throws, quick releases. Showed flexibility in the lower half receiving. Popped 2.07-2.18 and threw 72 mph from the crouch. Threw 72 mph across the infield. At the plate hits from a wide base with a balanced setup, short stride with good balance. Line drive hitter with a long swing path. 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.32.

Gabe McCall, C, Maine South, 2019
5-foot-8, 140-pound right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate hits from a narrow open stance with a low hand set. Deep load to backside with a toe tap stride. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path. 70 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.36. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Slower footwork behind the plate, showed softness in the hands receiving behind the plate. Popped 2.29-2.43 and threw 67 mph from the crouch.

Luke Muller, C, Plainfield North, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Behind the plate has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Open setup receiving, gains ground towards second on throws, throws showed carry. Popped 2.08-2.14 and threw 74 mph from the crouch. Offensively hits from a crouched, open setup. Short stride back to even with average balance. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.52.

Nico Piaskowy, C, St. Charles East, 2018
5-foot-7, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Slower footwork with a quick exchange. Popped. 2.16-2.28 and threw 64 mph from the crouch. Blocked well in bullpens. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with a smooth load and short leg lift stride. Line drive, pull hitter with a long swing path. 67 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.90.

Patrick Radecky, C, Lincoln-Way North, 2018
5-foot-9, 150-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, slight wrap on load with average balance. Line drive hitter with a short, uphill swing path and fluid rhythm. 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.90. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Slight hitch before release, gains ground towards second on throws. Popped 2.29-2.43 and threw 69 mph from the crouch.

Austin Robinson, C, Mendota, 2019
5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively has short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Quick footwork and exchange behind the plate, with accurate throws. Popped 2.11-2.18 and threw 69 mph from the crouch. At the plate hits from a tall, slightly open stance with a toe tap stride. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path. 77 mph exit velocity from a tee.

Thomas Ross, C/2B, Lake Park, 2018
5-foot-6, 150-pound right-handed hitting C/2B with a small, compact frame. Defensively behind the plate has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Stand and throw with a quick release. Popped 2.18-2.27 and threw 69 mph from the crouched. Also took drills on the infield where he showed solid actions with slower footwork and soft hands. Threw 75 mph across the infield. At the plate hits from balanced, slightly open stance with a short stride and average balance. Short, uphill swing path. 73 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.98.

Anthony Ruggles, C, Mercer, 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a high hand set and average balance. Short, uphill swing path with a slight collapse on the backside. 73 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.02. Defensively has a short arm action from a ¾ arm slot. Accurate throws with a quick, clean exchange. Raises up early receiving in drills. Popped 2.08-2.13 and threw 70 mph from the crouch.