Prep Baseball Report

Louisiana Top Prospect Games - Catcher Analysis


Alex Armand
Louisiana Scouting Director

Our summer schedule kicked off Wednesday June, 2, 2021 at M.L. Tigue Moore Field, home of the Ragin Cajuns of the University of Louisiana.  Over 60 of the state's top prospects from the 2022-2024 classes came together for what turned out to be an incredible day of baseball.  The event started out with players running the 60 yard dash, then batting practice, to defensive work, and ending with two separate games.  Familiar faces continued to show off their talent and skills, while there were also some new names who made big splashes.  Below, we take a look at every catcher in attendance.

 

Catcher Analysis

 

Jaxon Adams C / 3B / Denham Springs, LA / 2023

Positional Profile: C
Body: Athletic and physical 5’11” 170 lbs. frame.
Hit: Begins in a balanced and athletic stance with some weight pre-loaded in the back leg.  Uses a simple “knee to knee” load and stride.  Present pull-side power using explosive lower half to turn the barrel.
Power: Max exit velocity of 90 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 74 mph.
Arm (OF): Short, quick arm action. ¾ arm slot.  OF velocity of 84 mph.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, quick and clean transfer. 
Defense (OF): Good first step with athletic footwork moving through the baseball.
Run: Posted a 7.18 in the 60.

 

Slay Coleman C / OF / Elizabeth , LA / 2023

Positional Profile: C
Body: Athletic and physical 6’1” 190 lbs. frame.
Hit: Upright, balanced, and squared off stance with hands held at shoulder height.  Simple load and stride.  Flashed quick hands to the point of contact with level extension through the baseball.  Present pull side power.
Power: Max exit velocity of 88 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 72 mph. Pop times of 2.00-2.09.
Arm (OF): Short, quick arm action. ¾ arm slot.  OF velocity of 74 mph.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, quick transfer.   
Defense (OF): Good first step with athletic footwork moving aggressively through the baseball.
Run: Posted a 7.10 in the 60.

 

Hunter Azemar C / 3B / Southside, LA / 2023

Positional Profile: C
Body: Athletic and physical 5’11” 175 lbs. frame.
Hit: Begins in an upright balanced and athletic stance.  Uses a knee to knee load and stride.  Flat path to contact with slightly uphill extension with good balance throughout the swing.   Showed gap to gap power.
Power: Max exit velocity of 93 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 75 mph.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, clean transfer.  Fell off to 3B side at times.
Run: Posted a 7.47 in the 60.

 

Jake LaRocca C / 3B / St. Louis, LA / 2023

Positional Profile: C
Body: Athletic and physical 6’0” 190 lbs. frame.
Hit: Begins in an upright balanced and athletic stance.  Uses a simple load and stride to get to center.  Did a good job of using his back hip to create power and force into the ground.  Stayed behind the ball with a flat bat path and slightly uphill extension with present gap to gap power.
Power: Max exit velocity of 91 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 76 mph.   Pop times of 1.93-2.01.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, clean transfer.  Received the ball well during the gameplay portion of the day, showing a strong glove hand.
Run: Posted a 7.29 in the 60.

 

Cooper Winchester C / OF / St. Pauls, LA / 2024


Positional Profile: C
Body: Athletic and physical 5’11” 165 lbs. frame with room to add strength.
Hit: Switch hitter.  From the left side, starts in a taller, athletic, and balanced stance.  Hands are held above shoulder height.  Delivers the bat head straight to the ball with slightly uphill extension.  Showed gap to gap power.  From the right side, very similar to the left side with a little more rhythm in his hands.  Direct path with slightly uphill extension.  Winchester barreled a ball during gameplay that went over the LF fence for a HR from the right side.
Power: Max exit velocity of 87 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 73 mph.   Pop times of 1.95-2.01.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, clean transfer.  Received the ball well during the gameplay portion of the day and worked to block every ball.  Vocal leader on the field.
Run: Posted a 7.38 in the 60.

 

Gavin Jacobs C / OF / Benton, LA / 2023


Positional Profile: C
Body: Physical and mature 6’0” 195  lbs. frame.
Hit: Starts in a balanced and athletic stance.  Hands held just above shoulder height.  Showed present pull side power.  Drops the bat head directly to contact with slightly uphill extension working to the pull side.
Power: Max exit velocity of 92 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 75 mph.   Pop times of 2.00-2.12.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, clean transfer.  Fell off to the 3B side at times.
Run: Posted a 7.50 in the 60.

 

Zach White C / SS / Ouachita Christian, LA / 2024

Positional Profile: C/INF
Body: Athletic and physical 6’0” 180 lbs. frame with room to add strength.
Hit: Begins in a balanced and athletic stance.  Uses a simple load and stride to get to center.  Backside drifted at times.  Uses a direct and flat bat path to get to contact with slightly uphill extension.  Showed present gap to gap power with more to come.
Power: Max exit velocity of 90 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  High ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 77 mph.   Pop times of 1.97-2.05.
Arm (INF): Short, quick arm action. High ¾ arm slot.  INF velocity of 83 mph.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, clean transfer.  Stayed down in his crouch, creating a realistic pop time.
Defense (INF): Athletic actions, caught the ball clean out front.
Run: Posted a 7.40 in the 60.

 

Bryce Guidry C / 3B / Lafayette, LA / 2022

Positional Profile: C
Body: Compact and physical 5’10” 170 lbs. frame.
Hit: Begins in an upright balanced and athletic stance.  Uses a leg kick to get back to venter.  Bat path was slightly uphill with uphill extension, primarily working to the pull side.
Power: Max exit velocity of 84 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 72 mph.  Pop times of 2.19-2.29.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, clean transfer while staying down in his crouch.
Run: Posted a 7.69 in the 60. 

 

Kason Alexander C / 3B / Archbishop Rummel , LA / 2023

Positional Profile: C
Body: Athletic and physical 6’0” 195 lbs. frame.
Hit: Starts in balanced, athletic, and squared off stance with hands held at shoulder height.  Uses a leg kick to get back to center.  Present gap to gap power.  Consistently squared up baseballs to the middle of the field using a flat bat path with slightly uphill extension.
Power: Max exit velocity of 89 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  Low ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 71 mph.  Pop times of 2.10-2.26.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, clean transfer. Came out of crouch a little early at times.
Run: Posted a 7.62 in the 60.

 

Zach Schoenborn C / RHP / Parkway , LA / 2023

Positional Profile: C
Body: Physical 6’1” 195 lbs. frame.
Hit: Starts in a tall, balanced, and athletic stance with hands held just above shoulder height.  Simple load and stride to get back to center.  Present pull side power.  Does a good job of creating leverage by dropping the bat head straight to the ball with uphill extension creating natural lift.
Power: Max exit velocity of 92 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 74 mph. Pop times of 1.96-2.03
Defense (C): Moves well back there for a big framed catcher.  Strong receiver with a quick transfer and athletic footwork.
Run: Posted a 7.57 in the 60.

 

Barham White C / 1B / Ouachita Christian , LA / 2022

Positional Profile: C
Body: Athletic and lean 6’1” 185 lbs. frame with room to add more strength.
Hit: Starts slightly open in an upright, balanced stance.  Hands held just above shoulder height.  Front arm bars at times, causing the barrel to drag.  Level path with slightly uphill extension.
Power: Max exit velocity of 89 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 72 mph.
Defense (C): Good hip mobility, athletic footwork, soft hands receiving, and a quick transfer.
Run: Posted a 7.22 in the 60.

 

Sam Eppinette C / 1B / Fontainebleau , LA / 2023

Positional Profile: C
Body: Physical 6’1” 190 lbs. durable frame.
Hit: Begins in an upright balanced and athletic stance.  Uses a modified leg kick to get back to center. Took aggressive swings during BP.  Delivered the bat head straight to the ball with slightly uphill extension primarily working to the pull side.
Power: Max exit velocity of 87 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 72 mph.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, clean transfer.  Received the ball out front.
Run: Posted a 7.88 in the 60.

 

James Reina SS / C / St. Louis Catholic , LA / 2023

Positional Profile: C and 2B
Body: Athletic 5’9” 160 lbs. frame.
Hit: Begins in a balanced and athletic stance with hands held at shoulder height. Simple load and stride to get back to center.  Ball got in on his hands at times.  Bat path was flat with slightly uphill extension.  Took good at-bats during gameplay portion of the day. 
Power: Max exit velocity of 84 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 76 mph.
Arm (INF): Short, quick arm action. ¾ arm slot.  INF velocity of 82 mph.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, quick and clean transfer. Stayed down in the crouch.
Defense (INF): Good first step with athletic footwork moving through the baseball. Caught every ball out front. 
Run: Posted a 7.15 in the 60.

 

Carson Carey C / RHP / Airline, LA / 2022

Positional Profile: C
Body: Physical 6’2” 200 lbs. frame.
Hit: Starts in a balanced and athletic stance, using a “knee to knee” load and stride to get back to center.  Took one of the loudest BP rounds of the day.  Aggressively drops the bat head to the baseball with slightly uphill extension.  Showed present pull-side power.
Power: Max exit velocity of 93 mph.
Arm (C): Short, quick arm action.  High ¾ arm slot.  C velocity of 78 mph.  Pop times of 1.98-2.10.
Defense (C): Athletic footwork, quick and clean transfer.  Strong receiver.
Run: Posted a 7.47 in the 60.

 

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