By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director 

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On Sunday, October 18th, we hosted the 2017 Underclass Preview Showcase at Grand Park in Westfield, IN.  

Below we analyze the catchers that participated in the event. 

CLICK HERE to view the statistical performances from the event.  

In Alphabetical Order

Braydon Augustinovicz, C, Mt. Vernon HS, 2017: 6-foot, 170 pounder was 2.44-2.51 with his pop times and 70 from the crouch.  Needs to quicken his feet and transfer behind the plate.  Pops straight up out of the shoot.  At the plate this from a narrow, slightly open stance.  Bars during the load.  Average bat speed from a short, level path.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 81 mph off the tee. 

Jimmy Chitwood, C, Evansville Central HS, 2017: 5-foot-11, 170 pound Junior was 2.20-2.29 with his pop times and 71 from the crouch.  Behind the dish shows quick feet and a quick transfer.  Arm action is quick , just lacks premium arm strength.  At the plate hits from both sides of the plate.  From the left side hits from a balanced setup with a leg kick.  Minimal load, long stride.  Short, level path to the baseball.  From the right side hits from a slightly open setup, load is smooth.  Average use of the lower half.  Bat speed is average with a long path.  Tendency to come around the baseball.  Line drive type hitter.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 82 mph of the tee. 

Logan Conklin, C, Monroe Central HS, 2017: 5-foot-11, 175 pound receiver possesses good footwork behind the plate.  Average transfer.  Loses the lower half on his throws to 2B.  Pop times were 2.25-2.30 and was 71 from the crouch.  At the plate hits from a slightly open setup, loads back.  Stride is short.  Good use of the lower half.  Possesses some hand speed offensively, with a short, uphill path to the baseball.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 80 mph off the tee.  Ran a 7.25-60. 

Landen Davis, C, Greenfield Central HS, 2017: 5-foot-11, 165 pounder was 2.32-2.44 with his pop times and 68 from the crouch.  Possesses solid footwork behind the dish.  Lacks premium arm strength.  Transfer gets long.  At the plate hits from an open setup and loads back.  Shows good balance throughout the swing.  Bat tends to drag through the zone.  Opposite field type hitter.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 74 mph off the tee.   

JC Hanley, C, Carmel HS, 2017: Strong , physical frame at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds.  Pop times were between 1.99-2.15 and was 76 from the crouch.  Shows a quick, clean transfer with quick, clean footwork behind the plate.  Arm action is a little long, but shows good arm strength.  Offensively, loads back and uses a short stride.  Shows good balance in his swing.  Bat speed is quick with a good approach to the ball.  Possesses gap-to-gap power.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 85 off the tee.  

Desmond Ingram, C, Marquette HS (MO), 2017: 5-foot-11, 185 pounder possesses athleticism with quick hands behind the dish.  Foot work is above average.  Tends to lose momentum on his throws to 2B.  Pop times were 2.20-2.25 and was 75 from the crouch.  At the plate hits from an open setup.  Stride is long.  Possesses above average bat speed with a level path.  Line drive hitter barreled up most balls during BP.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 85 mph. 

Christopher Kinnick, C, Daleville HS, 2017: 5-foot-10, 160 pound receiver was 2.36-2.44 with his pop times and 68 from the crouch.  Transfer is high.  Needs to quicken up his arm speed and feet.  Offensively, hits from a crouch setup and loads back.  Stride is short with average balance in the swing.  Bat speed is average with a short, level path.  Line drive type hitter.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 80 mph off the tee.  Runs a 7.15-60.

Will Klein, C, Bloomington North HS, 2017: Strong, physical frame at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds.  Recorded pop times of 2.15-2.25 and was 80 from the crouch.  Possesses a quick arm action once he gets to his arm slot.  Transfer is long with a tendency to pop straight up out of the shoot.  At the plate hits from a tall, open setup.  Bars the front arm during the load.  Lower half collapses at times.  Possesses above average bat speed with a level path to the baseball.  Pull-side type hitter with some pop.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 88 mph off the tee. 

Corbin Landrum, C, Huntington North HS, 2017: Athletic frame at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds.  Pop times were 2.10-2.18 and was 77 from the crouch.  Possesses quick feet and a quick arm behind the plate.  Tendency to fall too far forward out of the shoot.  At the plate this from a balanced setup.  Hands tend to drop during the load.  Slight leg kick.  Above average bat speed with an uphill path.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 84 off the tee. 

Dakota Muth, C, Heritage Christian HS, 2017: 5-foot-7, 145 pound receiver possesses a quick transfer behind the dish.  Needs to speed up his footwork and arm.  Falls off on his throws to 2B.  Pop times were 2.47-2.62 and was 65 from the crouch.  At the plate hits from a tall set up and uses a leg kick.  Average balance in the swing with partial use of the lower half.  Short, level path to the baseball.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 76 off the tee.  

Alec Saulman, C, Corydon Central HS, 2017: 5-foot-11, 195 pounder has a physical frame and was 2.10-2.19 with his pop times and 77 from the crouch.  Possesses arm strength from a long arm action.  Feet are quick.  Offensively hits from an open, crouch type setup.  Drops hands during the load.  Long stride.  Lower half collapses at times.  Possesses above average bat speed with a level path to the ball.  Gap-to-gap type power.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 87 mph.  

Jacob Smith, C, New Palestine HS, 2017: 5-foot-11, 178 pounder was 2.15-2.26 with his pop times and 73 from the crouch.  Arm action is short with a quick transfer.  Lacks foot speed behind the dish.  At the plate hits from a slight crouch setup with a small load back.  Stride is short.  Bat speed is average with an overall good approach to the baseball.  Short path with some pull-side pop.  Line drive type hitter.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 82 mph off the tee.  

Luke Smoot, C, Mt. Vernon HS, 2017: 6-foot, 160 pound receiver was 2.40-2.55 with his pop times and 70 from the crouch.  Arm action is long.  Needs to quicken up his footwork and clean up the transfer.  At the plate hits from a balanced, crouch type setup and loads back.  Stride is long from a toe-tap.  Show  a bat waggle.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 71 mph.   

Anthony Willis, C, Bloomington North HS, 2017: 5-foot-10, 205 pound catcher was 2.23-2.44 with his pop times and 71 from the crouch.  Arm speed and footwork need to quicken up behind the dish.  Tendency to pop straight up.  At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a small load back.  Leg kick, tendency to dive during the stride.  Bat path is short to the baseball.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 84 mph off the tee.