MO Preseason All-State Player Analysis: Catchers

March 24, 2021
Kevin Moulder
Missouri Scouting Director

The MO Preseason All-State event was held on February 6th at the Sports Barn in Wentzville, MO. The 90+ player invite only event featured many of the top 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024's from across the state of Missouri. Today we are taking an in depth look at the catchers from the event.

Eddie Ahearn C / Parkway South, MO / 2024

Body: 6-foot-2, 194-pound large projectable frame with thick lower body.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with a slightly open stance with weight pre-loaded onto the back side. Uses a short two tap stride with weight staying on the back foot. Creates a ton of body lean and shoulder tilt with an uphill bat path. Rotational bat path with limited weight transfer to the front leg. Likes to get the ball up in the air.

Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-76 mph. High ¾ arm slot with short arm and release.

Defense: Behind the plate shows a pre-turned set up in the stance and a feel for pitch framing. Feet and upper body work well in sync with accurate throws down to second for pop times ranging between 2.10-2.20. Throws had good trajectory and carry.

Run: 7.89 runner in the 60.

Austin Almany C / 1B / St. Pius X, MO / 2022

Body: 6-foot-1, 200-pound stout and well-built frame.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with a neutral stance and upright posture in the upper body. Weight starts evenly distributed between both feet with hands set at shoulder height. Very horizontal bat angle at the start of the swing. Simple stride to slightly closed and scissor-kick action with the lower half at contact. Works off the front foot at contact with good extension. Has well above average bat speed with reaching up to 80 mph on the Blast sensor and works a line drive approach.

Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-76 mph. Over the top arm slot with short arm action and good hand speed.

Defense: Behind the plate prefers to receive balls with one knee in the ground. Shows a feel for soft hands and pitch framing. Comes out of the stance very quickly on throws down to second with hips and shoulders working in sync. Very clean exchanges and quick feet on accurate throws down to second with pop times ranging from a quick 1.93-2.00.

Run: 7.69 runner in the 60.

Max Eastman C / 1B / Ladue, MO / 2023

Body: 6-foot, 250-pound large and thick frame.

Hit: SWITCH. At the plate shows a very similar set up and swing from both sides of the plate. Quick rhythm with the hands shooting back into load position on a quick neutral stride. Leans weight on the outside of the back leg and gets body tilt to incorporate an uphill bath path. Explosive bat speed and very quick hands. Has current strength at contact with exit speeds reaching up to 96 mph in the BP session.

Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-67 mph. Over the top arm slot with a short arm action and long release.

Defense: Behind the plate sits up in the hips when receiving. Shoulders and hips turn in sync on accurate throws down to second with pop times ranging between 2.18-2.30. Gets into good blocking position on balls in the dirt.

Run: 7.82 runner in the 60.

Kaeden Kennedy C / SS / Dexter , MO / 2023

Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pound lean frame with room to add additional strength and size in the future.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with a balanced set up and athletic posture. Simple rhythm with hands working back on short stride that gets back to neutral. Maintains good balance throughout the swing. Plays the ball deeper into the strike zone and uses the whole field well. Bat speed and hand strength are developing skills.

Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-69 mph. High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and release.

Defense: Behind the plate starts with a pre-turned posture with the shoulders. On throws down to second starts with the lead foot stepping out into the first base batters box. Pop times ranged from 2.08-2.15 with clean exchanges out of the glove.

Run: 7.43 runner in the 60.

Tyler Lang C / 3B / Parkway West, MO / 2023

Body: 5-foot-7, 194-pound stocky build with thick lower half.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with a narrow stance and upright posture. Floating style rhythm with leg hovering just off the ground and gaining distance with the hands separating back. Lands at even weight distribution with the feet at contact point. Matches plane with the pitch well and had consistent hard contact throughout the BP session. Has current strength at contact.

Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-73 mph. High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and release.

Defense: Behind the plate shows a good set up with strong wrists and feel for pitch framing. Clean exchanges out of the glove and clean footwork brought pop times ranging from 1.97-2.01 on throws to second. Throws were mostly accurate with carry. Showed good hip flexibility and blocking techniques.

Run: 7.71 runner in the 60.

Jonathan Lee C / OF / Westminster Christian, MO / 2023

Body: 5-foot-8, 150-pound lean and developing frame with room for added strength and size in the future.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with a narrow stance and athletic posture with the weight pre-loaded into the back leg. Hands set at shoulder height with a high back elbow. Uses a leg kick stride that gets back to neutral. Short and rotational bat path. Gets shoulder lean and body tilt to incorporate a slight uphill bat path. Bat speed and hand strength are developing tools.

Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. OF-82 mph, C-75 mph. High ¾ arm slot with clean arm action and good hand speed.

Defense: In the outfield attacks the ball with good rhythm and fielding the ball outside the glove side leg. Utilizes a shuffle style crow hop with good momentum towards the target. Behind the plate shows clean footwork on the throws down to second with pop times ranging between 2.02-2.08. Exchanges were clean and quick. Shows good hip flexibility and good blocking technique.

Run: 7.60 runner in the 60.

Cole Lemons C / RHP / Notre Dame, MO / 2023

Body: 6-foot-1, 177-pound athletic and projectable frame with room for added strength and size.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with a slightly open stance and athletic posture with weight evenly distributed two both feet. Hands are set just below shoulder height and tucked into the body. Uses a knee knock leg lift stride with good rhythm and hand separation. Rotational bat path and upper body. Good weight transfer through the lower half. Matches plane well for a line drive approach and shows some strength at contact. Gets good extension with the hands. Very strong hand speed and rotational acceleration metrics on the Blast Motion.

Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-78 mph. High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and good hand speed.

Defense: Behind the plate showed strong hands and smooth glove action when receiving. Works quickly out of the stance on throws to second with hips and shoulders turning simultaneously and had pop times ranging from 1.95-2.03. When rhythm is aligned between lower half and arm action the throws are very good. Good blocking technique and showed hip flexibility.

Run: 7.57 runner in the 60.

Xander Schmitt C / OF / Lafayette, MO / 2024

Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pound lean and developing frame with room for added strength and size in the future.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with an open stance and upright posture in the upper body. Hands get set just below shoulder height with slight arm-bar positioning and set back away from the body. Simple rhythm with linear drive out of the lower half and rotational upper body. Good hand speed and bat speed for his class and made lots of hard contact in the BP session with exit speeds reaching up to 91 mph off of the Trackman.

Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-75 mph. High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and hand working across the body at release.

Defense: Behind the plate prefers a one knee down approach when receiving. Feet work quickly out of the stance on throws to second with pop times ranging between 2.01-2.15. Shows good hip flexibility and ability to get into a good blocking position.

Run: 6.94 runner in the 60.

Ayalew Sisay C / SS / Timberland, MO / 2022

Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pound athletic frame with room for more strength and size.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with an open stance and upright posture. Hands get set at shoulder height with slight arm-bar position. Uses a short leg lift stride with hands getting separated back with good sync. Vertical bat angle at the start of the swing and drops into lower half with linear direction working towards the front foot. Has current strength at contact with exit speeds reaching up to 94 mph in the BP session off of the Trackman.

Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-74 mph. High ¾ arm slot with short/choppy arm action and long release.

Defense: Behind the plate prefers to receive the ball with one knee down. Works quickly out of the crouch with good momentum towards second and pop times ranging between 2.01-2.04. Hips work quickly down in blocking technique and shows a good ability to recover.

Run: 7.68 runner in the 60.

Cannon Stuckey C / RHP / Lafayette, MO / 2023

Body: 6-foot, 205-pound stocky and mature frame.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with a slightly open stance with the front toe closed. Upright stance and hands get set just below shoulder height and tight to the body. Simple rhythm with weight shifting into the backside on traditional stride to neutral. Good hand speed and overall bat speed. Records high rotational acceleration on the Blast sensor. Has some strength at contact and shows power potential. Barrelled up multiple balls with high exit velocities in the BP session. Very projectable with the bat.

Power: 97 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-80 mph. High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and well-above average hand speed.

Defense: Behind the plate shows strong wrists and quality framing techniques. Works very quick out of the stance on throws to second with pop times ranging from 1.95-2.02. Exchanges are very quick and when in rhythm the throws have good trajectory and accuracy. Shows good blocking techniques and hip flexibility.

Run: 7.49 runner in the 60.

Ethan Taylor C / 1B / Ladue, MO / 2022

Body: 6-foot-2, 210-pound large and well-built frame.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with an open stance and athletic posture. Hands get set at shoulder height with a relaxed back elbow. Leg kick stride with weight transferring into the back leg. Drives legs linearly through the swing with good balance. Strong top hand and uphill bat path. Has some strength at contact and likes to get the ball up in the air.

Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-73 mph. High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and recoil release.

Defense: Behind the plate shows clean and methodical footwork on throws down to second. Throws were accurate with good carry and pop times ranging between 1.95-2.02. High posture in blocking technique and shows a good ability to bounce and recover.

Run: 7.78 runner in the 60.

Brenden White C / RHP / Francis Howell Central, MO / 2022

Body: 5-foot-11, 205-pound stocky build.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with an open stance and upright posture. Hands set high above the shoulders with a high back elbow and tucked into the body. Big knee-knock leg kick with lower half driving to the front leg at contact. Pull-side approach with a rotational bat path and strong top hand. Maintains good balance throughout the swing. Works the ball up in the air with quick hands through the zone.

Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-69 mph. Over the top arm slot with whippy arm action.

Defense: Behind the plate shows low hips and good body sway when receiving. Clean exchanges out of the glove and stands up to an upright posture on throws down to second with pop times ranging between 2.07-2.18. Shows good blocking techniques and hip flexibility.

Run: 7.65 runner in the 60.

Logan Winkleman C / 3B / CBC, MO / 2024

Body: 5-foot-11,180-pound stocky frame.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with a slightly open wide stance and athletic posture. Hands set at shoulder height with high back elbow and tucked into the body. Leg kick stride with hands getting separation in rhythm with the lower body. Gets into the lower half well and works legs underneath the ball. Swings the bat hard but does a good job of maintaining balance. Line drive approach and has good strength at contact. Gets good extension with good routes to the ball.

Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. INF-81 mph. C-76 mph. High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and good hand speed.

Defense: Behind the plate shows low hips and god foundation when receiving. Feet work quickly out of the crouch with good sync with the exchange and had pop times ranging from 2.08-2.11. Shows very good blocking technique. In the infield shows a feel for soft hands and funnels the ball back into the body. Works around the ball with short steps and creates angles with body turn. Works well laterally to both glove and backhand sides.

Run: 7.79 runner in the 60.

William Zareh C / Webster Groves, MO / 2023

Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pound lean and developing frame with room for added strength and size in the future.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with an open stance and an upright posture. Hands get set well below shoulder height with slight arm-bar position. Uses a smooth stride to the front toe with good rhythm. Hands work quickly through the zone with good extension and level bat path. Does a good job of maintaining balance throughout the swing. Works the ball up in the air with a line drive approach.

Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C-78 mph. High ¾ arm slot with clean arm action and good hand speed.

Defense: Behind the plate shows a good feel for pitch framing and strong wrists. Exchanges are clean and take place low around the shoulder. Footwork is smooth and gets good momentum towards second on throws with pop times ranging from 1.92-2.01. Throws were accurate on the bag with good trajectory. Shows good blocking techniques and hip flexibility.

Run: 7.23 runner in the 60.