Prep Baseball Report

Unsigned Senior Showcase: Catching Analysis



By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

One of the biggest Unsigned Senior Showcases on the PBR circuit is the October event at The MAX in McCook, IL. This year more than 130 prospects came out and showcase in front of 50+ coaches in attendance. This week we roll out our event analysis breaking down each position and ranking our top guys. Here’s a look at the top catching prospects at the event.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Robby McGaha, C, Stevenson, 2016
6-foot-1, 180-pound catcher, lean athletic build, advanced shape, projectable body. Hits from the right side, open stance, short stride back to even, balanced through contact. Flashed hard contact, strong hands, showed the ability to handle the bat with ease. Line drive gap to gap type hitter. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. 2.12-2.19 pop times out of the crouch, soft hands, receives the ball deep, fluid feet and efficient transfer. Arm plays over the top, slightly longer draw, 75 mph arm strength, showed carry. 7.00 runner. High upside catcher, like his projection across all tools, strong follow.

2. Josh Figueroa, C/INF, De La Salle, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher/infielder, solid average build. Arm showed good carry both from the infield and behind the dish, loose over the top action, easy arm, 75 mph out of the crouch, 80 mph across the diamond. Demonstrated soft hands all over the field, footwork is fluid, slightly heavy, best suited at third base on the infield. Stands up out of the crouch, could stay lower through transfer, good exchanges, 1.95-2.09 pop times. Right-handed hitter, athletic setup, smooth loading action with short stride. Loose handed swing, good barrel awareness, quiet approach with repeatable contact. Path is level through contact, short to it, gap to gap type approach. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.54 runner in the 60.

3. Collin Bedell, C, Bradley-Bourbonnais, 2016
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher, average solid frame. Defensively showed above average catch and throw skills for his age. Arm action is short and over the top, produced some carry to target and proved to be accurate out of the crouch, topped at 75 mph. Pop times ranged from 2.01-2.07 with accuracy. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride, maintains balance in setup. Flashed strong hands with a simple approach, line drive type hitter, occasionally rolls over the baseball, path is typically level. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.22 runner in the 60.

4. Joe McGuire, C, Lockport, 2016
5-foot-9, 200-pound right-handed hitting catcher, solid strong build. Well above average runner for his position and age, 6.98 in the 60, laser timed. Open stance, occasional bat wrap load. Demonstrates bat strength, aggressive violent swinger, attacks the baseball with a longer path. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively pop times ranged from 2.07-2.11 from the crouch. Arm played from an over the top slot at 76 mph.

5. Bryce Brogni, C, South Milwaukee (WI), 2016
5-foot-11, 160-pound catcher, lean athletic frame, advanced physical make-up, body looks to project well. Flashed fast action athleticism, 7.06 runner in the 60, laser timed. Defensively arm plays from a high ¾ slot, 74 mph out of the crouch, average strength to target. Pop times ranged 2.01-2.07. Right-handed hitter, open setup, loads hands, strides back to even. Flashed bat speed, good approach, flat path with length on level plane, occasionally late trigger. 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.

5. Tyler McHolland, C, Evanston, 2016
5-foot-10, 190-pound catcher, solid frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, slightly crouched, short toe tap stride. Some bat strength, path is slightly loopy on uphill plane, lifting pull contact, power potential. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 73 mph, short over the top slot, average strength. Pop times ranged 2.05-2.19 out of the chute. Ran the 60 at 7.81, laser timed.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Kyle Brindac, C, Downers Grove South, 2016
5-foot-10, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher, solid stocky build. Defensively played with a short over the top arm slot, 70 mph out of the crouch. Average hands, posted pop times at 2.19-2.32. Offensively sets up in a balanced position, minimal loading action, slight dive across the plate. Path works slightly uphill. 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.58 runner in the 60.

Alex Carrillo, C, Grayslake North, 2016
5-foot-7, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher, compact build, solid lower half. Hits from a balanced stance, loads hands back, showed use of lower half. Flashed some strength in BP, sprayed contact to all fields, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short and over the top, 73 mph out of the crouch. Showed softer hands and an ability to block the baseball. Pop times ranged 2.14-2.22. Ran a 7.22 in the 60.

Jordan Coakley, C, Wheaton Warrenville, 2016
6-foot-3, 180-pound catcher, lanky frame, some projection. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Average bat speed, slight uphill plane, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played with long actions, long release. Arm played at 73 mph, pop times ranged, 2.07-2.19. 7.49 runner in the 60.

Zachary Earls, C, Minooka, 2016
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Hits from a wider setup, short stride, partial use of lower half. Occasional late trigger, middle to opposite field contact. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 70 mph, short over the top slot. Deliberate footwork and exchange, 2.22-2.34 pop time. 7.82 runner in the 60.

Jake Fiorito, C, Woodstock North, 2016
5-foot-11, 165-pound, catcher, lean athletic frame. Tall balanced stance, arm bar loading action with short stride. Two-piece swing, path has some length on slight uphill plane, oppo contact. 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses a long arm action from over the top slot, has arm strength with some accuracy, mostly up, flashed carry, 78 mph, could be a strong catch and throw guy once accuracy is harnessed. Good ability to block, mechanically sound. Transfer can get long at times, 2.11-2.22 pop times. 7.38 runner in the 60.

Jake Husnick, C, Antigo (WI), 2016
6-foot, 180-pound catcher, solid build with strength. Right-handed hitter, wide setup, smooth loading action, short stride, dives to hit. Showed bat speed, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee, uphill path and showed bat strength. Defensively posted pop times at 2.08-2.19, showed some arm strength, 74 mph out of the crouch, loose high ¾ slot, occasionally accurate. Showed an ability to block. 7.50 runner in the 60.

Carl Krumenauer, C, Chippewa Falls (WI), 2016
6-foot, 155-pound switch-hitting catcher, slender build. Good runner, 6.95 in the 60 yard dash. Balanced setup from both sides, short stride. Right-handed swing is clearly stronger, flat level path with some length. 76 mph exit velocity from the left side, 78 mph exit velocity from the right. Defensively Arm action is short, over the top slot, 71 mph arm strength out of the crouch. On the infield arm worked similarly, played at 69 mph across the diamond. Showed the ability to play through the baseball to his target.

Jalen Mapp, C, Morgan Park, 2016
6-foot, 210-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, hits from an open stance, loads hands slightly backwards, could incorporate lower half more in swing. Low sweeping bat path, level plane through contact. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively pop times ranged 2.30-2.45. Arm played from an over the top slot, some accuracy, 65 mph out of the chute. 7.75 runner in the 60.

Collin Mormann, C, Morton, 2016
6-foot-1, 185-pound catcher, solid above average build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, taller setup, short stride. Loose hitter, consistent contact in BP. Showed some bat strength, longer path, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee, level path. Defensively played with a loose ram action, over the top slot, occasionally drops to high ¾, 73 mph out of the chute. Pop times ranged 2.11-2.22. 7.42 runner in the 60, laser timed.

Joshua Mosley, C/OF, Roberto Clemente, 2016
Physically advanced, 6-foot, 210-pound catcher/outfielder, extra strong build. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride. Has bat strength, occasionally late to contact, hits off back side, slight uphill path, flashed power potential. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively behind the plate used short footwork to get out of the crouch, pop times ranged 2.07-2.16. Arm played short and over the top, 72 mph arm strength from the crouch. In the outfield arm topped at 82 mph, similar arm action. Tends to field slightly deeper. 7.49 runner in the 60.

Adam Schuck, C, Dunlap, 2016
5-foot-8, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Slightly wider setup, loads hands down and back, reverse toe tap stride. Hands work back uphill from loaded position, path produces lifted contact. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played from a short over the top slot, 71 mph from the crouch. Heavier footwork out of the chute, pop times ranged 2.18-2.25.

Sergei Swart, C, Bettendorf (IA), 2016
5-foot-11, 170-pound catcher, athletic shape with strength. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg lift stride, uses lower half in linear direction, average balance. Front foot type hitter, occasionally lunges and takes aggressive passes at the baseball. Flashes bat speed, gap to gap type contact, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses a full arm action out of the crouch at 70 mph. Long loose actions out of the chute, pop times ranged, 2.04-2.11. 7.46 runner in the 60.

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