Prep Baseball Report

Maryland Preseason ID: Catcher Analysis



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By Jerry Shank
Maryland Scouting Director

The Maryland Preseason ID took place on Sunday, February 21. Over 80 players from across Maryland and Delaware were in attendance showcasing their talent in front of the PBR Maryland staff.

CLICK HERE to read the results article and statistics.
CLICK HERE to read the Early Thoughts article.

Over the course of the next week we will be releasing the positional analysis articles with detailed scouting reports on each player in attendance. We shall also identify top performers in each positional category along with a younger talent (2018 and younger) as a Future Watch if applicable.

Today we take a look at the catchers that participated in the event. This was a very talented group of individuals, all of whom could have easily been named a top performer.

TOP PERFORMERS

Cameron Blankenship C North East 2018
Athletic projectable frame at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Ran a 7.57 60-yard dash. Hits from a slightly open set up with short load and stride to hitting position. Level path to the ball with some extension. Pull style hitter with potential for more gap-to-gap. Gets on back foot slightly through finish. Exit velocity of 77 mph. Receives with close feet set up. Sticks ball well. Higher back end in throwing stance. Sound footwork and quick change to throwing position. Short arm action throwing from almost over-the-top angle. Throws have nice carry on them at 78 mph.  Accurate throws on pops. Pop time got as low at 1.87.

Hunter Spalt C Loyola-Blakefield 2017
Athletic frame with some length at 6-foot-1, 180-pounds. Ran a 7.64 60-yard dash. Hits from an athletic set up with good base. Smooth load and leg kick to hitting position. Level bat path with quick hands and some extension. Gap-to-gap type hitter. Exit velocity of 84 mph. Athletic, low setup behind the plate. Soft hands receiving. Quick exchange and feet on throws to second. Nice hip control and quick actions behind plate. Short arm action throwing from almost over-the-top arm slot. Throws had some carry on them at 74 mph and pop time got as low as 1.96.

Nick Vermillion C Archbishop Spalding 2017
Solid frame at 5-10, 235-pounds. Ran a 7.80 60-yard dash. Hits from an athletic set up. Smooth load to hitting position. Small leg kick. Short path to the baseball with some bat speed. Nice rhythm throughout swing. Gets some lower half involvement. Gap-to-gap type hitter with power potential to pull side. Nice job getting barrel on baseball. Receives from an athletic, low set up.  Soft hands behind the plate. Quick exchange and sound footwork behind dish. Short arm action from over-the-top arm angle. Gets rid of quickly. Good hip control and athletic behind plate. Catcher velocity of 74 mph with a pop time as low as 2.02.  Plays linebacker for football team and strong instincts along with first step quickness. Has soft hands in the infield at third base short arm action from high ¾ arm angle. Lets ball get close to body at times. Infield velocity of 75 mph.

Jack Glock C Loyola-Blakefield 2017
Athletic frame at 6-foot, 210-pounds. Ran a 7.20 60-yard dash. Hits from an athletic wide base.  Smooth load with level bat path and stays inside of ball. Gets some extension through contact.  Strong lower half. Exit velocity of 78 mph. Receive from a low athletic base. Soft hands and sticks well. Sound footwork with clean exchange. Could lower pop time as smoothens out exchange.  Throws have some carry on them at 73 mph for a pop time as low as 2.01.  Interesting skill set and athletic for a catcher makes for an intriguing prospect.

FUTURE WATCH

Dylan Jaeger C Northwest 2018
Athletic frame with room to grow at 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Ran a 7.09 60-yard dash. Hits from an athletic base slightly stacked. Short load and stride to hitting position. Quick hands with a level, direct path to the ball.  Little slap style in swing and hands drift down at times to hitting position. Good foundation on the offensive end. Receives from an athletic base. Quick exchange and footwork to release. Rushed himself a bit. Short arm action throwing from a high ¾ arm slot. Could get a bit more rotated to create some torque on throws and generate some more arm strength. Throws were at 69 mph with a pop time as low as 2.21.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Mason Blethen C Rising Sun 2018
Projectable athletic frame at 6-foot-2, 197-pounds. Ran a 8.51 60-yard dash. Hits from square set up with back foot slightly open. Short load to hitting position. Level swing path with average bat speed. Stronger swing and gets on backfoot at time throughout swing. Exit velocity of 78 mph. Receives from square set up behind the plate. Sticks ball at the plate. Wide set up with runners on and athletic. Clean and quick exchange from behind the plate to throwing position with sound footwork. Short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Throws show some carry at 71 mph.  Pop time got as low at 2.10.

Ben Burgan C Boonsboro 2018
Solid frame at 5-foot-11, 175-pounds. Hits from square, slightly stacked set up.  Short load and small stride to hitting position. Level path to the ball with average bat speed. Nice balance at finish and uses some of lower half. Gets slightly uphill at times on swing with exit velocity of 75 mph. Receives from low athletic position. Little stiff as tracks ball and sticks ball well. Similar position from throwing stance. Clean exchange and proper footwork behind plate. Short arm action throwing from high ¾ arm angle. Throws had some carry on them at 72 mph. Pop time got as low as 2.12.

Trevor Daugherty C Calvert Hall 2017
Solid frame at 5-foot-9, 195-pounds. Ran a 8.53 60-yard dash. Hits from tall athletic set up. Smooth load with medium leg kick to hitting position. Short path to the ball with quick hands and some bat speed. Gets uphill slightly at times. Could get some more lower half involvement in swing and has pull side power potential. Exit velocity of 81 mph. Receives from a low athletic set up. Soft hands receiving and sticks ball well. Wide base from throwing stance and nice positioning.  Sound footwork and clean exchange to throwing position. Quick release with short arm action throwing from a high ¾ arm angle.  Throws had some carry on them at 71 mph. Pop time got as low as 2.01.

Andrew Decker C Towson 2018
Athletic frame at 5-foot-10, 180-pounds. Ran a 7.83 60-yard dash. Hits from an athletic set up. Smooth load to hitting position. Level swing path and stays inside of baseball. Shows some extension through contact. Gets some lower half involvement. Gets on front foot at time out of balance through swing but shows overall balance in swing. Exit velo of 78 mph.  Slightly open set up receiving.  Good sway and hip control moving on the ball. Soft hands receiving and sticks ball well. Clean exchange and sound footwork to throwing position. Short arm action throwing from a high ¾ arm angle. Throws had some carry at 71 mph. Pop time as low as 2.1.

John Deems C Leonardtown 2018
Athletic and projectable frame at 6-foot-2, 175-pounds. Ran a 7.70 60-yard dash. Hits from a solid base athletic set up. Deeper load with stride to hitting position. Short swing that slightly gets up hill with quick bat speed. Gets a bit stacked on backside through swing and gets nice lower half involvement with some extension. Gets off balance occasionally, but shows nice balance throughout swing. Pull side power potential. Exit velocity of 78 mph.  Sticks ball receiving. Higher base in throwing stance. Quick feet and sound footwork and feet get ahead of him at times. Quick exchange to medium arm action behind the dish. Catcher velocity of 65 mph. Pop time at 2.37. Interesting skill set and one to keep an eye on as he develops.

Johnny Kampes C Rising Sun 2018
Athletic frame with room to grow at 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. Ran a 7.09 60-yard dash. Athletic low base behind the plate. Good flexibility. Soft hands receiving and sticks ball well. Fast exchange and footwork throwing to second. Gets rid of the ball quickly. Short arm action throwing from an almost over the top arm slot. Throws have carry on them at 75 mph. Pop time got as low as 1.84. Has shown much improvement behnd the plate and is a interesting catching prospect in the 2018 class (Kampes did not hit due to injury).

Brooks Keller C  Boonsboro 2017
Solid frame with room to fill out at 5-foot-8, 165-pounds. Ran a 7.39 60-yard dash. Hits from a tall, open setup. Short load and stride to hitting position.  Level swing path to the ball and gets uphill at times. Quick hands through zone. Gets off balance at times through swing. Low base behind the plate. Soft hands receiving. Sound footwork and exchange on throws. Quick arm speed with short arm action. Could lower pop as he cleans and quickens exchange.  Throws have some carry on them at 74 mph and pop time got as low as 2.12.

Austin Moser C Smithsburg 2017
Strong frame at 5-foot-11, 195-pounds. Ran a 7.62 60-yard dash. Hits from a shoulder width with square set up. Short load and stride to hitting position. Uphill swing path with some extension. Does get some lower half involvement and could get more. Exit velocity of 72 mph. Receives from athletic base, slightly open. Sticks ball well. Sound footwork and exchange on throws to second. Could get pop lower as quickens exchange. Short arm action throwing from an almost over the top arm slot. Throws have some life on them at 79 mph. Pop time as low as 2.18.

Colin Parks C Central York 2017
Solid frame at 5-foot-9, 205-pounds. Ran a 8.60 60-yard dash. Hits from a slightly open setup.  Smooth load to hitting position. Short path to baseball and stays inside ball with average bat speed. Shows potential power. Exit velocity of 79 mph. Receives from an athletic low setup. Soft hands and sticks ball well. Sound footwork and exchange on throws. Throws have some carry at 74 mph. Pop time got as low as 2.07.

RJ Price C John Carroll 2017
Athletic and projectable frame at 6-foot, 171-pounds. Ran a 7.1 60-yard dash. Athletic low base receiving. Soft hands and stick ball well. Clean exchange and quick feet on throws to second. Falls slightly off toward glove side on throws. Throws had some carry at 72 mph. Pop time got as low as 2.02 (Did not hit).

Tyler Shockley C James M. Bennet 2018
Lanky frame with room to fill out at 5-foot-8, 145-pounds. Ran a 7.58 60-yard dash. Hits from an open setup. Short load to hitting position.  Nice rhythm throughout swing. Level swing path with quick hands and some bat speed.  Gets some extension through contact. Gets lower half usage and shows balance. Exit velocity of 78 mph. Receives from an athletic low base, slightly open. Clean footwork and exchange on throws to second. Short arm action throwing from a high ¾ arm slot. Active feet. Throws have some carry on them at 74 mph. Pop time as low as 2.06.

Tyler Taitano C Leonardtown 2018
Frame with room to grow at 5-foot-7, 155-pounds. Ran a 7.77 60-yard dash. Hits from balanced setup. Early load to hitting position. Level swing path with average bat speed. Could get lower half more involved to create some more pop in swing.  Shows some balance through the swing. Gets barrel on ball consistently. Exit velocity of 76 mph. Receives from an athletic low set up.  Clean footwork and exchange to throwing position. Short arm action throwing from high ¾ arm slot. Good fundamentals behind plate, should be able to lower pop time with continued effort to quicken footwork and exchange. Catcher velocity of 75 mph and a pop time as low as 2.13.

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