New York Insider: Top Five 2016 Uncommitted Catchers
October 28, 2015
Dan Cevette
Director, New York
In New York, the 2015 amateur baseball season has started to wind down as more consistent, colder weather blankets the state. For the 2016 graduating class, November 11-18 dates the early signing period where many prospects across the state will ink their NLI (National Letter of Intent). With that said, many college programs are still hard on the 2016 recruiting trail - uncommitted seniors, worry not.
It's all about the Seniors
We are dedicating the next few weeks to the uncommitted 2016 class here in NY. Today we are taking an in-depth look at the top five catchers still available, seen by our staff at top-flight events in 2015. We also discuss a few guys you don't want to sleep on, plus the top measurable stats recorded by each weeks position. ** The Top Five Are In No Specific Order
1. Benjamin Closson (Lancaster HS, 2016)
New York Games (July 2015) Athletic body standing at 6-foot-1-inch, 165-pounds. Great hands behind the plate, receives clean and soft, fast footwork and excellent transfer into throwing motion, arm action is loose with arm strength. At the plate begins with a slightly open stance, smooth back load and long stride to the ball, great bat speed through the hitting zone and bat plane stays level through contact, ends with an athletic and balanced finish. Great hitting potential and has solid projection.
Our Take
If your looking for an athletic catcher (6.97 60-runner), with projectable size, Benjamin Closson from the greater Buffalo area might be your guy. Closson has the size (6-foot-1) with the frame to add an easy 15-pounds of muscle. Already an above average defender with an arm that can control the run-game, there's not a lot about his game that isn't sound. Being critical, he needs to continue to develop the bat and become more aggressive.
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