Prep Baseball Report

MOKAN Preseason All-State Showcase: Catchers Analysis


Andy Urban & Diego Solares
Kansas and Missouri Staff

On Saturday, February 29, Prep Baseball Report - Missouri/Kansas held the MOKAN Preseason All State Showcase event at the Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City. Roughly 60 of some of the top prospects in the state were in attendance, representing the 2021-to-2022 classes. 

Shortly after the event’s conclusion we published an instant analysis story, highlighting the top statistical performers from the event. Today we’ll kick off our position-by-position breakdown and roll it out throughout the week, starting with the day’s catchers. 

Headlining this group of backstops are Ivan Witt (2021; Fort Scott) and Cody Moore (2022; Mill Valley). 

A Creighton commit, Witt is a top-ranked player in his class and was easily one of the event's top performers. His ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball is special and Witt is just starting to scratch the surface of what he could potentially be as he prepares for his senior season. 

Moore cemented himself as the top sophomore backstop in the state on our updated class of 2022 rankings that came out a few days ago. His performance at this event was impressive, swinging a quick bat with twitchy pop and showcasing advanced actions behind the dish. Still uncommitted, Moore is a high-follow in his class. 

Read on for all reports on the catchers from this event. 

Listed Alphabetically

Cole Arndorfer, Grain Valley (MO), 2021 
Positional Profile:
Body: 5-foot-11, 175-pounds. Some strength, well-proportioned build. 
Defense: 2.14-2.26 pop times. Clean transfer leading to quick release, showed accuracy around the bag on throws to second base, adept blocker. 
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph.   Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, athletic setup, slight leg lift trigger, short stride, hands stay back in strong hitting position, stays balanced through contact.  Loose, simple swing, bat travels in a short, level path to the baseball, elevates the baseball, confident in himself at the plate. 
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Run: 7.84 runner in the 60.

Zach Ericsson, Liberty North (MO), 2022 
Positional Profile:
Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Strong, athletic build. 
Defense: 2.28-2.40 pop times. Clean transfer, works in line with his target, showed a strong blocking ability. 
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph.   Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Hit: RHH. Stands tall in the box, wide base, slight leg lift trigger, short stride.  Some bat speed created by quick hands, bat travels in a short, uphill path to contact. 
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60. 

Will Finke, West Platte (MO), 2021
Positional Profile:
Body: 5-foot-11, 200-pounds. Durable build. 
Defense:  2.00-2.16pop times. Clean transfer leading to quick release, works in line with his target, square blocks, some accuracy on throws. 
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph.  Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slight bend in knees, arm-bar load, quick leg lift trigger, short stride.  Bat travels in a long, uphill path through the zone. 
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Run: 8.12 runner in the 60.

Dillon Houk, Liberty North (MO), 2022 
Positional Profile:
Body: 6-foot-2, 200-pounds. Durable frame.
Defense: 2.03-2.34 pop times. Clean exchange, occasional quick release, works on line with target. 
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph.   Short arm action, over-the-top slot; quick arm. 
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, weight starts slightly shifted onto back leg, minimal load, slight leg lift trigger, short stride. Short, level path through the zone, consistently line drive contact, steady ability to find the barrel. 
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Run: 7.79 runner in the 60. 

Joseph Lopez, Bishop Miege (KS), 2021 
Positional Profile: C Left-handed hitting catcher with a smooth, line drive oriented swing. 
Body: 6-foot-0, 170-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned build. 
Defense: 2.08-2.19 pop times. Clean exchange, works in line with target, adept blocker, quiet receiver, some accuracy on throws. 
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph.   Short arm action, over-the-top slot. 
Hit: LHH. Athletic setup, wide base, simple load, slight leg lift trigger, short stride, drives lower half, maintains balance through contact.  Loose swing, quick hands, level path through the zone, line drive approach at the plate, confident at the plate. 
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60. 

Cody Moore, Mill Valley (KS), 2022 
Positional Profile: C One of the top overall sophomore players in the state. 
Body: 5-foot-10, 185-pounds. Strong, durable build; broad shoulders. 
Defense: 1.92-1.96 pop times. Comes out quick from the crouch, quick to release, works in line with target, quiet receiver. 
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph.   Short, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Hit: RHH. Narrow, balanced setup, slight leg lift, short stride to even, fluid rhythm throughout, stays balanced after contact.  Bat speed generated by twitchy hands, level path to the baseball, showed a middle-away approach at the plate. 
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Run: 7.24 runner in the 60. 

Blake Prewitt, Raytown South (MO), 2023 
Positional Profile:
Body: 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Well-proportioned build. 
Defense: 2.26-2.41 pop times. In the field, steady two-hand gather, some accuracy on throws. Behind the dish, clean transfer leading to quick release, works in line with target, strong blocker. 
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. INF - 67 mph.  Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Hit: RHH. Slightly open, balanced setup, quick high leg kick trigger, short stride.  Short, level path to the baseball, showed an opposite field approach. 
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Run: 8.07 runner in the 60. 

Ayalew Sisay, Timberland (MO), 2022 
Positional Profile:
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Wirey, athletic build. 
Defense: 2.08-2.18 pop times. Infield: quick feet, steady two-hand gather, rangey defender, clean funnels, capable defender on the move, quick to release. Outfield: Athletic actions, aggressive to the ball, gets around the baseball, fluid footwork. Catcher: Athletic behind the plate, jumps out the crouch, clean transfer leads to quick release, works on line with target, adept blocker, some accuracy on throws. 
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. INF - 81 mph. OF - 85 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, some pre-pitch movement in hands, slight leg lift trigger, short stride, weight finishes out in front.  Level path through the zone, primarily a middle-away approach at the plate, occasional line drive contact. 
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Run: 7.96 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Feet start balanced towards middle of rubber, tall/fall type delivery, athletic leg kick, slight hitch, works in line with target, falls towards first base side, athletic finish. 
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
FB: T81, 77-80 mph. Primarily plays straight, showed some arm-side run; occasional strikes. 
CB: 55-61 mph. Thrown with decelerated arm action, 12/6 shape, early break. 

Grant Smith, Lee's Summit (MO), 2021
Positional Profile:
Body: 6-foot-0, 203-pounds. Strong, mature build. 
Defense: 1.93-2.10 pop times. Quick out of the crouch, clean exchange, quick transfer, works in line with his target, adept blocker. 
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph.   Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Hit: LHH. Quiet, tall setup, fluid load, slight leg lift trigger, short stride to even, twitchy lower half, stays balanced through contact Present bat speed, short, uphill path to contact, consistently hard contact, gap-to-gap approach, simple swing, doesn't try and do too much. 
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ball jumps off his bat. 
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60. 

Tyler Stine, Hickman (MO), 2022 
Positional Profile: C The top-ranked catching prospect in his class. 
Body: 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Athletic build, strength in lower half. 
Defense: 2.13-2.20 pop times. Steady exchange, occasionally quick to release, slightly works on line with target, square blocks. 
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph.   Short arm action, over-the-top slot;  quick arm. 
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, some pre-pitch movement in hands, simple load, leg lift trigger to short stride.  Short, uphill path to the baseball, some rhythm throughout. 
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Run: 7.80 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Feet start balanced towards middle of rubber, slight drop/drive type delivery, slightly elevated front side, lands slightly closed to his target, upright finish. 
Arm Action: RH. Short draw, high 3/4 slot. 
FB: T80, 78-79 mph. Straight movement, some strikes. 
CB: 65-67 mph. 11/5 shape, breaks early. 
CH: 71-71 mph. Works down in the zone. 

Auggie Viles, Rockhurst (MO), 2021
Positional Profile:
Body: 6-foot-0, 200-pounds. Strong, wide-shouldered build. 
Defense: 2.01-2.16 pop times. Quick out the crouch, clean transfer, works in line with target, chests up the baseball when blocking, some accuracy on throws. 
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph.   Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Hit: SH. Balanced, slightly crouched setup, slight leg lift trigger, short stride to even, simple, quiet load. Present bat speed, short, level path to the baseball, knack for finding the barrel, gap-to-gap approach. 
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Run: 8.20 runner in the 60. 

Ivan Witt, Fort Scott (KS), 2021 Creighton Commit 
Positional Profile: C The second ranked catching prospect in his class, a high follow and name to know. 
Body: 6-foot-0, 200-pounds. Strong, muscular build. Defined lower half. 
Defense: 1.83-1.90 pop times. Explodes out of the crouch, clean transfer leading to quick release, works in line with his target, advanced blocker, athletic actions behind the plate.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Short draw, quick arm, high 3/4 slot; advanced arm strength for age. Developing accuracy. 
Hit: RHH. Athletic, balanced setup, slight leg lift trigger leading to short stride, stays balanced through contact, silky smooth load. Bat speed created by twitch in hands, short, uphill path to the baseball, consistently elevates the baseball, clear feel for finding the barrel, fluid rhythm throughout. 
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Clear pull-side power. 
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60.

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