Prep Baseball Report

OK Winter Open: Catcher Analysis


Andy Urban
Oklahoma Scouting Director

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The OK Winter Showcase was held at the World Baseball Outreach facility in Tulsa, OK on Sunday, December 16th.  This one day event featured over 60 prospects in the 2019-2022 from around the state showcasing their skills in front of PBR staff and college coaches. 

This talented event saw impressive numbers in every category, including seven sub seven second 60s, seven 90+ exit velos, seven arms that were 80+ across the infield (top 92), five arms that were 85+ from the outfield (top 97), and four pitchers that were 86+ (top 92)

Today, we take an in-depth look at the 13 catchers from the event. Although a few of them are solid two-way players, they will be covered here only as position players, with pitching analysis already on their profiles. 

Complete Roster: Click Here

Pitcher Stats: Click Here

Position Stats: Click Here

Gabe Brown C / OF / Stillwater , OK / 2022

A physically advanced and impressive 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame with strength throughout. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a balanced and athletic set-up with some rhythm throughout. Uses a moderate leg kick and slight arm bar load before launching his hands on a long and slightly uphill path through extension. In BP, shows an all fields and flat approach with occasional lift, some barrels, flashed big pop, 89 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.17 60. Defensively, receives from a balanced and quiet base, shows developing receiving and average blocking. Shows deliberate footwork, coming out of the crouch early at times clearing out wide to the left. Throws using a short arm stroke through an over the top slot with developing accuracy at 74 mph for showcase pop times of 2.14-2.24. 


Elijah Collum C / Holland Hall, OK / 2020

A developing 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a back leg heavy and open stance with a crouch and some rhythm in his hands set high and back. Uses a short leg lift before dropping his hands and pulling them through a flat path through contact. Shows a spray approach, best when in the pull gap, some barrels, 81 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.28 60. Defensively, receives from a quiet and balanced stance with above average hands and developing blocking. Throws down with consistent footwork showing some quickness, uses a moderate arm stroke coming through a high-¾ slot, developing accuracy at 72 mph for showcase pop times of 2.07-2.18. 


Christian 'Duke' Crossley C / 1B / Mcloud, OK / 2019

A strong and durable 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame. Offensively, the switch-hitter bats from a similar back leg heavy and open set-up with some rhythm in his hands from both sides. Uses a moderate knee-knock stride and barrel tip load before launching his hands on a flat path to contact and a high finish. In BP, shows a middle to pull approach with some lift, and some barrels with pop from both sides, 92 mph exit velo. Defensively, shows advanced receiving and blocking that really stood out during bullpens. Uses clean and deliberate footwork on throws down with a very short arm action coming through an over the top slot with some accuracy, long hopping most throws to the bag at 75 mph for showcase pop times of 2.01-2.19.  


Cody Floyd C / 3B / Yukon, OK / 2019

A lean 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame with room to add size and strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a wide, balanced, and slightly open set-up with rhythm in his hands. Use a big and smooth reverse toe-tap stride and hand load before launching them on a slightly uphill path through extension. In BP, shows a middle of the field and flat approach, some barrels early and mostly barrels late, 85 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.20 60. Defensively, sits deep in his legs with flexibility, receives with a soft hand that bounces some, and is an above average blocker. Throws with clean footwork and exchanges, uses a short arm stroke through a high-¾ slot with some accuracy at 75 mph for showcase pop times of 2.00-2.19.


Dempsey Gillman C / 3B / Collinsville, OK / 2022

A durable 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame with advanced strength. Offensively, the right-hander bats from an upright, open, and relaxed set-up with some rhythm in his hands. Uses a big load and leg kick before launching his hands on a slightly uphill path with advanced bat speed. In BP, shows a gap-to-gap approach with occasional lift, bat speed, almost all barrels, and hard contact, 87 mph exit velo. Receives from a narrow base with flexibility in his hips and advanced soft and quiet hands. Throws with deliberate and clean actions, uses a short arm stroke through an over the top slot to deliver throws with some accuracy at 71 mph for showcase pop times of 2.16-2.30. 

Jack Jones RHP / C / Bishop Kelley, OK / 2020

A very lean 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame with lots of room to add size and strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a balanced, even, and athletic set-up with some rhythm in his hands. Uses a moderate leg kick and stride with a hand load before launching them on a flat path through extension. In BP, shows a middle of the field and flat approach with occasional lift, some barrels early and mostly barrels late, 78 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.50 60. Defensively,  sits deep in the crouch with flexibility and shows slightly above average receiving and blocking. Throws with quick and short footwork and clean exchanges, uses a short arm stroke coming through an over the top slot with well above average accuracy at 73 mph for showcase pop times of 2.02-2.15. 


Koalton Keller C / Mcloud, OK / 2019

A lean 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame with room to add size and strength. Offensively, the left-handed hitter bats from a slightly open and upright set-up with some rhythm in his high set hands. Uses a short and quick knee-knock leg kick with a hand pump load before launching them on a slightly uphill path with a high finish. In BP, shows a middle to pull and flat approach with mostly barrels, 85 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.27 60. Defensively, is an advanced and quiet receiver with flexibility in the crouch. Throws from a higher stance coming out of the crouch a bit early at times showing deliberate and clean footwork cleaning out wide to the left, uses a short arm stroke coming through an over the top slot with accuracy at 76 mph for showcase pop times of 1.99-2.07. 


Thomas Ligon C / OF / Norman, OK / 2019

A proportional 5-foot-8, 165-pound frame. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from an open, narrow, and slightly back leg heavy set-up with some rhythm in his hands. Uses a big leg kick, moderate stride and slight hand load before launching them on a slightly uphill path. In BP, shows a middle to opposite field and flat approach with occasional lift, some barrels, 73 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.76 60. Defensively, shows above average blocking and receiving from a narrow and flexible base with little extra movement. Throws with clean footwork and exchanges, uses a short arm stroke through a high-¾ slot with developing accuracy at 68 mph for showcase pop times of 2.30-2.36.


Kadin Repass C / Wister, OK / 2020

A lean 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame with plenty of room to add size and strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a wide and slightly knock-kneed set-up with some rhythm in his hands. Uses a short stride and hand load before pulling them through a flat path through extension. In BP, shows a middle of the field and flat approach, some barrels, 86 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.65 60. Defensively, is an above average receiver with some bounce in his hands with sway in his body. Throws with deliberate and clean footwork and exchanges, uses a short arm stroke coming through a high-¾ slot with excellent accuracy at 70 mph for showcase pop times of 2.01-2.15.


Cole Resetar C / 1B / Bishop McGuinness, OK / 2020

A durable 6-foot, 195-pound frame. Offensively, the left-handed hitter bats from an open and back leg leg heavy set-up with rhythm in his back set hands. Uses a moderate knee-knock leg kick before launching his hands on a flat and efficient path to contact with a high finish. In BP, shows a middle to opposite field approach with consistent lift, mostly barrels, 83 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.62 60. Defensively, is a slightly above average quiet receiver with his left knee turned in. Throws with consistently clean exchanges and some quickness in his footwork, uses a short arm stroke coming through a high-¾ slot at 69 mph with developing accuracy for showcase pop times of 2.28-2.39. 


Noah Shepherd C / 3B / Bixby, OK / 2021

A durable 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a very back leg heavy and slightly open set-up with rhythm throughout. Uses a short stride before launching his hands on a slightly uphill path with a high finish and big extension. In BP, shows an all fields and flat approach with almost all barrels, hard contact, and more pop than his 84 mph exit velo would suggest. Runs a 7.99 60. Defensively, receives from a slightly narrow set-up with his left knee turned slightly in with some sway and strong hands. Throws with deliberate and clean footwork and exchanges, uses a short arm stroke coming through an over the top slot with developing accuracy at 71 mph for showcase pop times of 2.19-2.27. 


Jared Sleeper C / Jones, OK / 2021

A proportional 6-foot, 175-pound frame with some room to add size and strength. Offensively, the left-handed hitter bats from a wide, open, and upright set-up with some rhythm throughout. Uses a short reverse toe-tap stride and hand load before launching them on a flat path to contact with a high finish and some bat speed. In BP, shows a pull approach with consistent lift, some pop, and mostly barrels, 84 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.26 60. Defensively, receives from a sturdy, flexible and quiet set-up with above average hands. Throws with deliberate, consistent, and clean footwork and exchanges, uses a short arm stroke coming through an over the top slot with developing accuracy at 73 mph for showcase pop times of 2.12-2.19.


Jackson Young C / 3B / Stillwater, OK / 2021

A proportional 6-foot, 185-pound frame with room to add size and strength. Offensively, the switch hitter batted only from the right-side at this event with a balanced, even, and athletic set-up with slight rhythm in his hands. Uses a short and slightly closed stride with a late heel plant before launching his hands on a flat and efficient path through extension with some bat speed. In BP, shows a middle of the field and flat approach with almost all barrels, 85 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.38 60. Defensively, shows advanced receiving with a quiet set-up and strong hands with very little extra movement. Throws with clean and consistent footwork gaining ground towards second base, using a short arm stroke coming through an over the top slot with accuracy at 79 mph for showcase pop times of 2.02-2.07.