Kansas Underclass Games: Catchers Analysis

Prep Baseball Report Kansas held the Kansas Underclass Games on June 4 at the in Wichita, Kansas.  Over 70 players from the region attended in the 2022 and 2021 class.

Player profiles have been updated with running times and velocities along with a video of their performance. 

Players can now updated their profiles with a ProspectPlus subscription, while scouts and recruiters can add players on ScoutPlus.

Here is a closer look at the catchers from the event, listed in alphabetical order.

Catchers

Matt Adams C / 1B / Shawnee Mission West, KS / 2021 Adams is a big bodied and strong 6-foot-2, 225-pound, left-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2021 class. At the event he ran a 7.51 second 60 and posted an exit velocity of 87 mph. During hitting evaluations, Adams starts in an upright stance, quiet load, in line stride, high finish with hands, showed primarily hard pull side contact during round with quick hands at times. Behind the plate, balanced set up, clean transfers, high three-quarter release, positional velo of 67 mph, accurate throws.

Steven Azzaro C / RHP / St James Academy, KS / 2021 Azzaro is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound, right-handed hitting catcher and right-handed pitcher in Kansas’ 2021 class. At the event he ran a 7.61 second 60 and posted an exit velocity of 79 mph. During hitting evaluations, Azzaro has a balanced stance, simple weight shift load, uphill swing, remains balanced throughout, showed primarily pull contact during round. Behind the plate, athletic set up, clean footwork, high three quarter release, positional velo of 70 mph, pop times between 2.26 and 2.40 seconds, mostly accurate throws.

William Brant C / 2B / Shawnee Mission East, KS / 2021 Brant has a stocky build at 5-foot-9, 165-pounds and is a right-handed hitting catcher and middle infielder in Kansas’ 2021 class. At the event he ran a 7.60 second 60 and posted an exit velocity of 84 mph. During batting practice, Brant shows a athletic and balanced swing, quiet load, in line stride, flat bat path, showed hard pull contact with lift during round. Behind the plate, athletic set up, quick transfer to throw, fluid footwork, over the top release, positional velo of 73 mph, accurate throws, pop time between 1.89 and 2.02 seconds.

Mitchael Casement C / RHP / Maize, KS / 2021 Casement is a 5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher and right-handed pitcher in Kansas’2021 class. During batting practice, minimal load, in line stride, high finish with hands, showed primarily pull side contact during round, exit velocity of 78 mph. Behind the plate, Casement has a balanced set up, fluid footwork, over the top release, positional velo of 71 mph, mostly accurate throws, pop times between 2.08 and 2.15 seconds.

Hayden Dyer 3B / C / Gardner Edgerton, KS / 2021 Dyer has stocky build at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds and is a right-handed hitting catcher and infield prospect in Kansas’ 2021 class. He ran a 7.27 second 60 and posted an exit velocity of 90 mph. During batting practice, Dyer starts in an athletic stance, leg lift into load, in line stride, quick bat, level bat path, show pop to the middle of the field during round. Behind the plate, starts in a narrow stance, clean transfers, clean arm action, over the top release, positional velo of 74 mph, mostly accurate throws, pop times between 1.91 and 2.06 seconds.

Will Finke C / 3B / West Platte, MO / 2021 Finke is a 5-foot-11 190-pund right-handed hitting catcher Missouri's 2021 class. He ran a 8.26 60 and 4.86 home to first. He had an 81 mph exit velocity.  At the plate, balanced set up, slight weight shift to back side, quiet hands, middle to pull line drives during hitting evals.  Behind the plate, over the top arm slot, clean exchange and throw, pop times between 2.14 and 2.32-seconds, accurate throws.

Cal Kilgore C / SS / Blue Valley Southwest, KS / 2021 Kilgore is a 6-foot, 165-pound, right-handed hitting catcher and middle infielder in Kansas’ 2021 class. He ran a 7.05 60 and posted an exit velocity of 82 mph. During hitting evaluations, Kilgore starts with an athletic stance, leg lift into his load, in line stride, quick hands, flat bat path, remains balanced throughout, showed pull side pop during his round. Behind the plate, Kilgore shows good actions, quick transfer to throw, over the top slot, clean arm action, soft hands, positional velo of 80 mph with carry, pop times between 1.88 and 1.96 seconds which as the fastest recorded at the event, mostly accurate throws.

Joseph Lopez C / OF / Bishop Miege, KS / 2021 Lopez has a slender build at 5-foot-11, 165 pounds. He is a left-handed hitting catcher and outfielder in Kansas’ 2021 class. At the event he ran a 7.22 second 60 and posted an exit velocity of 78 mph. During hitting evaluations, simple load, in line stride, minimal head movement, flat bat path, gap-to-gap approach during round. Behind the plate, Lopez has a balanced set up, clean transfers, longer arm action, over the top release, positional velo of 69 mph (at the event), mostly accurate throws, pop times between 2.13 and 2.40 seconds (at the event). In the outfield, Lopez attacks the baseball, shows clean transfers, high three-quarter release, positional velo of 74 mph, mostly accurate throws.

Kevin Mannell C / RHP / Jefferson West , KS / 2021 Mannell has a projectable frame at 6-foot-1, 170 pounds and is a right-handed hitting catcher, infielder and right-handed pitcher in Kansas’ 2021 class. He ran a 7.93 second 60 and posted an exit velocity of 79 mph. During batting practice, Mannell starts slightly open, reverse toe tap into load, in line stride, some rhythm with hands, showed some pop to left center field during round. Behind the plate, narrow set up, quick transfer to release, three-quarter release, positional velo of 76 mph, pop times between 2.00 to 2.13 seconds, mostly accurate throws.

Joe Patton C / 3B / St. Thomas Aquinas, KS / 2021 Patton shows a slender frame with long limbs at 6-foot, 150 pounds. He is a left-handed hitting catcher and outfielder in Kansas’ 2021 class. At the plate, Patton leverages up his front side, reverse toe tap into load, in line stride, loose hands, flat bath, exit velocity of 84 mph. Behind the plate, balance set up, quick footwork, high three quarter release, positional velo of 71 mph, mostly accurate throws, pop times between 2.08 and 2.26 seconds. In the outfield, attacks the baseball, fluid footwork, momentum towards target, clean arm action, positional velo of 82 mph, mostly accurate throws.

Lucas Pringle C / 3B / Mill Valley , KS / 2021 Pringle has an athletic build and slender frame at 6-foot-1, 167 pounds. He is a left-handed hitting catching prospect in Kansas’2021 class. At the event, he ran a 7.55 second 60 and posted an exit velocity of 82 mph. During hitting evaluations, simple load, loose hands, flat bat path, leverages up front side, minimal head movement, gap-to-gap approach during round. Behind the plate, athletic set up, fluid foot work, clean arm action, over the top release, positional velocity of 74 mph, mostly accurate throws, pop times between 2.01 and 2.22 seconds.

Nick Senecal C / 3B / Olathe West, KS / 2021 Senecal is a 6-foot, 193-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2021 class. He ran a 8.10 60 and posted an exit velocity of 86 mph. During hitting evaluations, Senecal uses a simple weight shift into his load, some rhythm with hands, in line stride, compact swing, showed hard contact during round. Behind the plate, athletic set up, clean transfers, fluid footwork, momentum towards target, over the top slot, positional velo of 68 mph, some carry to his throws, mostly accurate throws.

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