Preseason All-State: Catchers Analysis
March 3, 2015
By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director
Follow @PBRIndiana
The 5th Annual Preseason All-State Showcase took place on Saturday, February 21st, at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, IN with a total of 81 players in Indiana's 2016 class in attendance. Below we analyze the 14 catchers that attended the event.
Top 5
1. Duncan Hewitt, C, Lawrence North HS, 2016: Projectable 6-foot-2, 180 pound catcher possesses a strong, accurate arm behind the dish at 80 mph. Showcased an athletic stance behind the dish with good blocking ability. Needs to improve on squaring up the ball. Possesses athletic feet with a good transfer. Pop times were 2.00-2.16. Offensively, hits from a balanced setup. Loads back. Uses a slight leg kick, short stride with average us of his lower half. Overall good balance throughout the swing. Shows good bat speed with quick hands and a level path to the baseball. Possesses pull-side pop. Tendency to spin on balls. Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph.
2. William Smithey, C, Center Grove HS, 2016: A 6-foot, 170 pound receiver showcased soft hands behind the plate with above average defensive actions. Displayed a clean, quick transfer with good footwork. Very solid behind the plate. Recorded pop times between 1.99-2.15 and was 76 mph from the crouch. At the plate starts tall with a smooth load back. Stride is short with average use of the lower half. Overall good balance. Possesses above average bat speed. Good approach to the ball. Line drive hitter with fluid rhythm. Recorded a high exit velocity of 90 mph. Also ran a 7.01-60.
3. Leo Watson, C, Brebeuf HS, 2016: A 5-foot-11, 185 pound catcher possesses a strong, athletic frame. Behind the dish displays good footwork with the ability to block the ball well. Pop times were 1.94-2.06 and was 75 mph from the crouch. Shows a clean transfer with quick feet. Offensively, the LHH hits from an athletic setup with wide feet. Smooth load back with a short stride. Gets good use of his lower half with good balance throughout. Showcased good bat speed with a long, level path to the ball. Line drive hitter with occasional pull-side power. Registered an exit velo of 86 mph.
4. Josh Wooten, C, North Central HS, 2016: The 6-foot, 187 pound catcher showcased a good stance behind the plate with soft hands. Squares up pitches well. Very athletic with quick feet. From the crouch was 76 mph and recorded pop times of 2.02-2.09. At the plate hits from an athletic setup, loads back. Stride is short. Shows average bat speed with an uphill path to the baseball. Rhythm is fluid. Likes to pull the ball. Recorded a high exit velo of 81 mph.
5. Mark Mazure, C, Crown Point HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 205 pound receiver was 75 mph from the crouch and recorded pop times of 2.05-2.16. Possesses average footwork with some athleticism. Tendency to show target late and stab at the ball. On his throws to 2B comes around the plate and stands up. Needs to quicken up his transfer. Once he does these things, should improve his pop times. Offensively, starts open with high hands and loads back. Partial use of his lower half. Possesses above average bat speed with a good approach. Level path to the ball, pull-side power. Rhythm is fluid. Recorded a high exit velo of 91 mph.
Best of the Rest (Alphabetical Order)
Drew Bertram, C, Zionsville HS, 2016: A 6-foot-2, 190 pound receiver with athleticism. Showcased a good stance with quick, quiet hands behind the dish. Good reactions. Accurate arm from the crouch at 75 mph. Recorded pop times of 2.04-2.17. Offensively, hits from a slight crouch setup. Loads back and uses a leg kick. Good use of his lower half. Bat waggle. Possesses good bat speed with a level path to the baseball. Overall good approach to the ball. Line drive hitter with fluid rhythm. Consistently barrels up the baseball. Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph. Ran a 7.18-60.
Charlie Brewer, C, Brownsburg HS, 2016: 5-foot-10, 190 pound receiver was 73 mph from the crouch and recorded pop times between 2.11-2.24. Stays back when throwing instead of coming through. Arm is extended out front when receiving making it hard to stick pitches. At the plate the LHH hits from a crouch setup with a smooth load. Hands start high. Little to no stride. Simple approach. Level path to the ball. Line drive type hitter, barreled up most pitches. Recorded a high exit velo of 81 mph.
Stephen Damm, C, Zionsville HS, 2016: A 6-foot, 170 pound catcher possesses quick feet behind the dish. Tendency to stab at the ball with late reactions. Accurate arm at 73 mph. Recorded pop times of 2.03-2.16. Needs to come through the ball more on his throws. At the plate starts open and loads back. Front arm bar during the load. Over rotates with lower half. Long path to the ball with average bat speed. Needs to add strength. Recorded a high exit velo of 82 mph.
Noah Davis, C, Andrean HS, 2016: A 6-foot-1, 220 pound receiver sits low in stance behind the plate. Average blocker. Hands are slow. Needs to quicken up his feet. Arms get long during the transfer. From the crouch was 75 mph. Recorded pop times of 2.22-2.32. At the plate starts open and loads back. Stride is short. Tendency to fly open. Long, uphill path to the baseball. Pull-side hitter. Recorded a high exit velocity of 89 mph.
Jason Hall-Manley, C, New Palestine HS, 2016: Athletic, strong 6-foot, 190 pounder displayed quiet actions behind the dish with firm hands. A little raw defensively. Was 74 mph from the crouch and recorded pop times of 2.06-2.15. Struggles a little with his transfer but shows good feet. At the plate starts from an athletic setup with a smooth load. Long stride. Over rotates with his lower half. Good balance throughout the swing. Possesses quick hands and bat speed with slightly uphill path. Possesses pull-side power. Recorded a high exit velo of 94 mph. Ran a 7.14-60.
Tyler Holloway, C, Bloomington South HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 180 pound receiver showcased a good stance behind the dish with soft hands. High activity when receiving. Blocks well. Comes around the baseball on his throws to 2B. 71 mph from the crouch and recorded pop times of 2.06-2.18. At the plate hits from an athletic setup and loads back. Stride is short with a slight leg kick. Overall good balance. Average bat speed with a long path to the baseball. Ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. Recorded a high exit velo of 83 mph.
Mitch Howie, C, Hamilton Heights HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 195 pound catcher showcased an athletic stance behind the dish with soft hands and good blocking ability. From the crouch was 71 mph. Recorded pop times of 2.12-2.25. Tendency to pop up too soon on his throws to 2B, needs to stay down. Good transfer. Offensively, hits from an open stance and loads back, slight arm bar. Partial use of his lower half with good balance throughout the swing. Possesses some bat speed and good rhythm throughout the swing. Gets to extension. Recorded a high exit velo of 89 mph.
Alex Mis, C, Munster HS, 2016: The 5-foot-7, 190 pound catcher showcased an athletic stance behind the plate. Glove is firm. From the crouch was 74 mph and recorded pop times between 2.09-2.18. Showcased an average transfer and comes around the plate, losing some momentum. At the plate starts open from a slight crouch setup. Loads back and uses a short stride. Over rotates with the lower half at times. Possesses above average bat speed with a level path to the baseball. Line drive type hitter. Choppy rhythm. Recorded an exit velo of 93 mph.
Matthew Owens, C, FW Carroll HS, 2016: 5-foot-7, 165 pound catcher shows an open stance when receiving. Sticks the ball very well. Athletic actions behind the dish. Accurate arm with a quick release at 71 mph. Recorded pop times of 2.08-2.20. Offensively, starts open and loads back. Short stride with average use of his lower half. Good balance throughout. Average bat speed with a level path to the ball. High contact hitter. Recorded a high exit velo of 76 mph.
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