Prep Baseball Report

Mississippi Open: Catcher Reports


Matt Miller
State Director

Hattiesburg, MS - The Mississippi Open was held on Wednesday, June 8th at Pete Taylor Park on the campus of The University of Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, MS. This event consisted of some of the top prospects from the 2023-2027 classes. These players went through a pro-style workout and took batting practice using Trackman and Blast Motion to record hitting metrics. Pitchers were able to throw in a bullpen setting and were able to get numbers and metrics off of our Trackman unit, such as pitch velocity, spin rate, horizontal & vertical movement & much more. There were some players who showed up and continued to build off of prior performances, but there were also some new names who jumped onto our radar with a strong showing at the event. 

Today we are starting to release our individual scouting reports on each player present as we take a look at the catchers from the event.

 

Thomas Cross, Jackson Prep (MS), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 185-pounds. Solid, durable frame.
Hit: RHH. Conventional athletic stance, easy controlled load and small toe tap during stride, hands work directly to the ball well and through contact. Sprays the ball to all fields with developing pop.
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 67.6 mph. 271’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short, quick compact arm action from behind the plate.
Defense: 2.12-2.18 pop times. Athletic, wider set up, quick controlled feet, advanced skill set, still developing at catcher position.
Run: 7.67 runner in the 60.

Nelson Whit Davis, Jackson (MS), 2027
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 5-7, 155-pounds. Young, developing frame
Hit: LHH. Tall, slightly open stance, controlled load with very solid level bat path, line drive approach with lots of developing pop.
Power: 72.2 max exit velocity, averaged 63.9 mph. 239’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 54 mph. Solid arm path and developing strength.
Defense: 2.81-2.88 pop times. Solid set up though still developing in all areas, good footwork and movement patterns.
Run: 10.36 runner in the 60.

Ethan Walker, Purvis (MS), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, conventional stance (slightly wide) Controlled load and long stride with knee lift. Attacks out front with aggression. Fairly level swing path with occasional lift. Gap to gap approach, with developing power.
Power: 88.5 max exit velocity, averaged 81.3 mph. 284’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short, quick arm action.
Defense: 2.00-2.09 pop times. Solid foundation in his set up behind the plate, good footwork and direction on throws. Quick actions on blocks and bunts with advanced movements. Still developing but plenty of upside at the position. Strong arm
Run: 7.97 runner in the 60.

Bennett Cloud, Madison Ridgeland Academy (MS), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 180-pounds. Solid, stocky, muscular frame.
Hit: RHH. Conventional, athletic stance, quick load into slight crouch. Stays behind the baseball well at contact with good extension. Works gap to gap with line drive approach.
Power: 87.1 max exit velocity, averaged 82 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Quick, short arm action.
Defense: 1.93-2.02 pop times. Good footwork, slight side direction on throws to 2B. Advanced ability on blocks and bunts.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60.

Brayden Saucier, Stone (MS), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Conventional stance with relaxed hands, small load with easy controlled stride. Hands work well into contact with pull side approach and developing pop.
Power: 72.1 max exit velocity, averaged 66 mph. 250’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. Short, quick arm action.
Defense: 2.28-2.38 pop times. Developing footwork. Good direction on throws to 2B. Good fundamentals on blocks and bunts.
Run: 8.14 runner in the 60.

David Steelman, Central Hinds (MS), 2026
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 5-11, 152-pounds.
Hit: SH. Tall stance with high handset, quick load creating leverage in hands. Conventional stride with flat bat path and line drive approach. Uses all fields.
Power: 82.3 max exit velocity, averaged 71.7 mph. 239’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. INF - 70 mph. OF -  mph. Short arm action (C) Longer arm action on infield
Defense: 2.28-2.34 pop times. Developing footwork. Good direction on throws to 2B. Good fundamentals on blocks and bunts.
Run: 7.86 runner in the 60.

Chase Brown, Northwest Rankin (MS), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced set up with slight preset load, conventional stride with quick hands and attacks out front. Slightly upward bat path and gap to gap approach.
Power: 92.7 max exit velocity, averaged 89.7 mph. 361’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Quick, short arm action.
Defense: 2.06-2.14 pop times. Good footwork, solid direction on throws, advanced ability (great body positioning) on blocks and bunts
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60.

Seth Giamportone, Northpoint Christian (MS), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Conventional, athletic stance, small controlled load into long stride with leverage. Looks to launch with present pull side power.
Power: 90.6 max exit velocity, averaged 82.9 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm action and present arm strength.
Defense: 2.00-2.06 pop times. Wide set up, with decent footwork. Quick movements, developing skill set on blocks and bunts.
Run: 7.70 runner in the 60.

Bryan Travis, Harrison Central (MS), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Conventional, athletic stance, rhythmic load and stride. Slight wrap in load creates rotational swing. Looks to pull though the contact point is deep.
Power: 80.1 max exit velocity, averaged 75 mph. 256’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. Short arm action with developing consistency in length
Defense: 2.18-2.23 pop times. Solid set up in crouch. Gets wide on throws to 2B and slightly off balance because of excessive head tilt. Developing skill set on blocks and bunts.
Run: 8.13 runner in the 60.

Colton Greene, Wayne County (MS), 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-4, 227-pounds. Strong, sturdy frame.
Hit: RHH. Athletic open stance with slight preset load. Conventional stride. Level bat path (slight launch) with some pop. Looking to drive the ball to all fields.
Power: 94.1 max exit velocity, averaged 86.8 mph. 331’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action with current arm strength.
Defense: 2.03-2.06 pop times. (C) Solid set up though could get wider. Gets through release though slightly off balance on throws to 2B. Solid on blocks and bunts.
Run: 7.77 runner in the 60.

Brady Quinn, Taylorsville (MS), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Conventional, athletic stance, slightly open, easy controlled load and stride. Good hand direction and works barrel to all fields. Some aggression at contact. As body matures pop will come.
Power: 83.2 max exit velocity, averaged 75.2 mph. 272’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Short arm action.
Defense: 2.38-2.44 pop times. Developing footwork, as arm strength and quickness grows, times will adjust. Developing skill set both behind the plate and in infield. Understands movement patterns at both positions.
Run: 8.27 runner in the 60.

Alan Hughes, Lafayette (MS), 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-2, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Conventional, athletic stance, slightly open, relaxed hand set, small controlled load into long stride with leverage. Line drive approach while looking pull side.
Power: 87.4 max exit velocity, averaged 76.7 mph. 326’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Quick, short arm action.
Defense: 2.09-2.19 pop times. Good footwork, slight side direction on throws to 2B. Head tilt could cause loss of balance on throws. Advanced skill set on blocks and bunts.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60.

Hayden Amis, Newton County (MS), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds. Strong, durable frame
Hit: LHH. Athletic, slightly open stance, smooth load and stride with very quick hands and plenty of upside. Slight launch to swing with pull side approach. Lots of upside.
Power: 87.9 max exit velocity, averaged 80.3 mph. 327’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short, quick arm action.
Defense: 1.94-2.07 pop times. Quick feet, could cut down space on throws, very advanced feel for position.
Run: 7.87 runner in the 60.

Brody Roberts, Manchester (MS), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 5-9, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic stance with high handset, easy controlled load and short stride. Good hand direction with some aggression at contact. Works barrel to all fields. As the body matures more pop will come.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 78.7 mph. 311’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short, quick arm action.
Defense: 2.23-2.28 pop times. Solid footwork, developing glove work and consistency on throws. Developing skill set behind the plate.
Run: 8.12 runner in the 60.

Jayden Adcox, Forest (MS), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 225-pounds. Solid, sturdy frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open, athletic stance with high handset, controlled load with conventional stride. Hands move directly to the baseball with a fairly level bat path with slight launch. Looks to punish.
Power: 94.4 max exit velocity, averaged 82.8 mph. 363’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Quick, short arm action and present arm strength.
Defense: 1.97-2.07 pop times. Solid foundation behind the plate, Advanced footwork and direction on throws. Quick actions on blocks and bunts. Strong, accurate arm.
Run: 7.86 runner in the 60.

 

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