Underclass Trials: Catching Analysis

June 25, 2015

By PBR Scouting Staff

The Prep Baseball Report Underclass Trials took place on Thursday, June 11^th indoors at the MAX in McCook, IL. This event featured 2017 and 2018 graduates, and acts as an identifier for this summer’s prestigious PBR Future Games powered by Under Armour..

89 underclass prospects came together to show off their skills in front of the PBR Scouting Staff.

CLICK HERE for complete statistics from the event in PDF Format.

Today we’ll take a look at the top catching prospects from the event, led by Mount Zion’s Merrik Eddington and Geneseo’s Keaton Rice. Both Eddington and Rice were two of the most impressive prospects at the event, regardless of position.

Eddington is built like a tank at 5-foot-11, 215-pounds, and looked noticeably stronger from last summer. He possesses explosive bat speed, and regularly left the yard even last summer as a freshman to his pull side. He posted 91 mph exit velocity, and also improved his pop time. Eddington is currently ranked No. 25 in Illinois’ 2017 class and is quickly rising.

Keaton Rice, ranked No. 80 in Illinois’ 2017 class is a lanky and athletic 6-foot-1, 175-pound left-handed hitting catcher with plenty of projection remaining. Rice has continued to get better each time the PBR staff has seen him, showed explosive bat speed (91 mph exit velocity) and advanced catch-and-throw skills with pop times ranging from 1.94-2.01.

2018 prospect Cam Redding impressed with his all-around athleticism, and fluid swing at the plate, producing 84 mph exit velocity. Redding has quality infield actions, but also showcased those same soft hands behind the plate when receiving bullpens.

Let’s take a look at the Top Catching Prospects from this year’s Underclass Trials.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Merrik Eddington, C, Mount Zion, 2017
5-foot-11, 215-pound, strong build, catchers body, right-handed hitter. Hits from a tall, open stance, smooth load, short stride. Explosive bat speed, gets extension, pull side approach, 91 mph exit velocity off a tee. Behind the plate displayed soft hands, good feel for the position, short arm action, over-the-top slot, with carry, pop timed ranged from 1.94-2.00, 78 mph from the crouch. Ran a 8.06 60-time.

2. Keaton Rice, C, Geneseo, 2017
6-foot-1, 175-pound, lanky, athletic build, projectable body, left-handed hitter. Hits from an open stance, smooth load, loose wrists, short stride. Above-average bat speed, short bat path with extension, fluid rhythm, 86 mph exit velocity, drove the baseball from gap-to-gap. Behind the plate showed soft hands, short arm action, high ¾ slot, with carry, 81 mph from the crouch, pop times ranged from 1.94-2.01. Ran a 7.45 60-time.

3. Cam Redding, C/2B, New Trier, 2018
5-foot-11, 165-pound athletic catcher. Offensively hits from a balanced and athletic setup, smooth load, short stride, and decent lower half. Showed quick bat speed, level and extension path, gap-to-gap type hitter, fluid rhythm. Has solid approach, aggressive, and hits line drives up the middle. Exit velocity off the tee was 84 mph. Defensively showed a short and loose arm action from high ¾ slot. Soft hands, fluid footwork, quick exchange, and athletic. Pop times ranged from 2.19-2.26. Threw 71 across the infield and 69 from behind the plate. Ran 8.03 60.

3. Michael Wojcik C/2B, Richmond Burton, 2017
5-foot-10, 175-pound catcher/second baseman. Defensively is a solid catcher with short arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate, good arm strength. Pop times ranged from 2.12-2.22. Threw 79 mph across the infield and 73 from behind the plate. Showed decent hands with clean and sometimes long exchange, plays through the baseball. Offensively hits from right side with open setup, long load, short stride, and decent balance. Showed some bat speed, took short path, and is a gap-to-gap type hitter. Ran a 7.82 60.

Best of the Rest (In No Particular Order)

Dan Cryan, C, Andrew, 2017
6-foot-1, 185-pound, strong build, right-handed hitter. Hit from a balanced set-up, drops hand on load, short stride, balanced throughout. Average bat speed, uphill bat path, 80 mph exit velocity. Behind the plate showed average hands, short arm action, over-the-top slot, with some carry, pop times ranged from 2.18-2.27, 77 mph from the crouch. Ran a 7.54 60-time.

Quentin Wallace, C/SS, Hinsdale Central, 2018
5-foot-9, 160-pound athletic looking catcher. Defensively throws from high ¾ slot with short, quick arm action, average strength, threw 73 mph across the infield and 70 from behind the plate. Showed decent hands and fluid footwork. Pop times ranged from 2.18-2.26. Offensively hit from the right side, open stance, short stride, showed good balance. Flashed quick bat speed, took short path to ball, fluid rhythm and is a gap-to-gap hitter, exit velocity off tee was 77 mph. Ran a 7.64 60. Wallace is a player to follow in the 2018 class.

James Brucker, C/OF, Willowbrook, 2017
6-foot, 165-pound lanky catcher. Right hander has short arm action with some carry, showed good arm strength. Pop times ranged from 2.19-2.26. Threw 78 mph from the outfield and 75 from behind the plate. In the field he showed decent hands with a long exchange. Offensively, hits from the right side, stands tall, balanced approach. Exit velocity off the tee was 78 mph. Ran a 7.58 60.

Tom Flisk, C/3B, Andrew, 2017
5-foot-10, 170 pound right-handed catcher. Offensively hits from the right side with a narrow and balanced setup, short load and decent balance. Showed quick bat speed, takes short path to ball and has some rhythm. Exit velocity off tee was 78 mph. Defensively, has short arm action from high ¾ slot, some accuracy. Decent hands with a decent exchange, plays through the baseball. Ran a 7.63 60.

Drew Roberts, C/SS, Wheeling, 2018
5-foot-11, 150-pound catcher. Offensively hits from right side with a tall and balanced setup, loads back with short stride, and good balance. Takes short, level path, line drive/gap-to-gap type hitter. Exit velocity off the tee was 78 mph. Defensively throws from right side, long arm action, high ¾ slot, some accuracy, and decent strength. Pop times ranged from 2.26-2.44. Showed decent hands with long exchange. Threw 72 mph across the infield and 70 from behind the plate. Ran a 7.27 60.

Dylan Horvitz, C/3B, New Trier, 2017
6-foot-1, 170-pound lanky catcher. Offensively hits from right side with balanced setup, raises hands during load, leg kick, balanced throughout. Flashed quick bat speed, long path to ball, hit balls the opposite way. Exit velo off tee was 78 mph. Defensively throws from right side, long and loose arm action, high ¾ slot, quick exchange. Pop times ranged from 2.07-2.12. Threw 69 mph from behind the plate and ran a 7.87 60.

Matthew Schwartz, C/RHP, Naperville North, 2017
6-foot-1, 175-pound catcher. Offensively hits from right side with an open setup, decent lower half and average balance. Takes uphill path to ball, opposite field tendencies, average bat speed. Exit velo off tee was 78 mph. Defensively showed short, high ¾ slot, and fluid footwork. Pop times ranged 2.22-2.33. Threw 71 mph from behind the plate. Ran 7.83 60. On the mound throws from right side with fastball sitting at 78 mph and curveball at 65-66 mph.

Ben Chapman, C/SS, Rochester, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced setup, slight leg-kick, good balance. Bat speed slightly above average, level bat path, line-drive approach, with fluid rhythm, 80 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively displayed short, over-the-top arm action, with some accuracy, pop-time ranged from 2.25-2.32, 74 mph out of the crouch. Ran a 7.75 60-time.

Nick Cecchi, C, Oswego, 2018
5-foot-7, 165-pound, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced setup, lifted leg-kick, average balance. Average bat speed, short bat path, 76 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed a short arm action, high ¾ slot, pop time ranged from 2.19-2.34, threw 66 mph form the crouch. Ran a 7.85 60-time.

Garrett Gillund, C, McHenry West, 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced, wide set-up, loads hands back and up, short stride. Average bat speed, long path, opposite field approach, 71 mph exit velocity. Behind the plate showed long arm action, high ¾ slot, with some accuracy, pop time ranged from 2.44-2.53, 66 mph from the crouch. Ran an 8.43 60-time.

Fletcher Brown, C/INF, Evanston, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound, small build, some athleticism. Hits from a balanced set-up, short stride, average balance. Average bat speed, long bat path, 78 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively showed short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, pop time ranged from 2.25-2.29, 67 mph from the crouch. Ran a 7.63 60-time.

Luke Trondson, C, Alleman Catholic, 2018
5-foot-11, 155-pound, right-handed hitter, thin, lanky build. Hits from an upright stance, drops hands on load, average balance. Average bat speed, level path, 77 mph exit velocity. Behind the plate showed long arm action, ¾ slot, pop time ranged from 2.25-2.42, 68 mph from the crouch. Ran a 7.72 60-time.

Jimmy Mack, C/RHP, Glenbard West, 2018
5-foot-11, 158-pound, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced setup, showed a slight leg-kick. Showed a long bat bath, 73 mph exit velocity off the team. Behind the plate showed a ¾ arm slot, short arm action, pop time ranged from 2.25-2.44, throwing 65 mph from the crouch. Ran a 8.2 60-time. On the mound displayed long arm action, tall-and-fall delivery, landing square, in line. Threw fastball for strikes, sat 70-72 mph. Curveball had 11/5 shape, 46-48 mph. Changeup sat 53-55.

Tyler Grashoff, C, Joliet Catholic, 2018
5-foot-11, 174-pound, strong build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced stance, short stride. Slightly above-average bat speed, level path, 86 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed an over-the-top arm action, pop time ranged from 2.26-2.33, 69 mph from the crouch. Ran a 7.75 60-time.