MN Top Prospect Games- Catching Evaluations

July 18, 2016

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

Prep Baseball Report's MN Top Prospect Games event took place on June 20 and 21, 2016. The event was held at Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. The event featured prospects from the 2017 class from Minnesota and North Dakota who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff and 50+ coaches in attendance. Thank you to the players, parents, my staff and Minnetonka Head Coach Paul Twenge for such a great event.

There were a number of great individual performances this year at the MN Top Prospect Games.

As we drill down into the statistics:

+ 36 players ran sub-7.2 60's.
+ 54 players recorded 85+ mph exit velocities
+ 20 players recorded 80+ mph infield throws
+ 23 players recorded 80+ mph outfield throws
+ 20 catchers recorded 70+ mph throws to second base
+ 5 catchers recorded sub-2.1 pop times
+ 47 pitchers were 80+ mph on the mound

CLICK HERE to view Complete Statistics in PDF Format.

Below are the catching evaluations from the MN Top Prospect Games event with prospects listed alphabetically. At the end of the week; we will release the event's Top Overall Prospects.

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catching Prospects

Derek Beers, C, Totino-Grace, 2017
6-foot, 200-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Solid build with strong lower half. Simple repeatable swing. Gap to gap approach with consistent solid contact. Shows ability to go with pitch to oppo gap. 7.82 runner with 83 mph exit velocity. Shows ability to receive working low to high with good glove. Narrow stance. Has solid lateral movement. Long release on throws with average feet, accuracy and carry to bag. 72 mph arm strength with 2.37-2.47 pop times.

Alex Bledsoe, C, Albert Lea, 2017
5-foot-9, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Strong compact build. Wide stance with short stride. Rotational tendencies, pull pop in bat, out and around at contact, flat swing plane through zone. 7.78 runner with 79 mph exit velocity. Quiet behind the plate, has mobility, needs to improve receiving- extra movement with glove. Length to exchange, solid direction with feet, shows solid accuracy and carry to bag. 2.28-2.4 pop times with 73 mph arm strength.

Brock Boltmann, C, Edina, 2017
6-foot-1, 192-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Athletic catcher with strong frame. 6.9 runner. Above avg. arm strength at 81 mph to second base. 2.04-2.09 pop times. Long release on throws, good blocker, plays with energy, quick twitch actions, raw receiver- will improve with reps. Leg kick trigger, above avg. bat speed, lift in swing plane, mid/pull approach, solid contact. 93 mph exit velocity.

Aaron Brush, C, Minnetonka, 2017
6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Strong durable build. Relaxed comfortable receiver. Good hands, sticks pitches, strong pitch caller in game action. Light on feet behind plate. Good direction, above avg. carry, solid accuracy, stiff exchange, 76 mph arm strength, 2.22-2.28 pop times. 7.32 runner. 91 mph exit velocity. Leg kick trigger, long stride, battled timing, lift in swing plane, mid/pull approach at plate.

Dawson Degnan, 3B/C/RHP, Cretin-Derham Hall, 2017
6-foot-1, 175-pound left-handed hitting utility player. 7.34 runner with 95 mph exit velocity. Good timing in box, clean swing, consistent hard contact, uses whole field. Athletic actions behind plate, quick release, solid carry and accuracy to bag, 2.07-2.12 pop times with 74 mph arm strength.

Owen Granger, C, Eastview, 2017
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.31 runner. Solid bat speed with mid/pull approach. Knee to knee trigger with good balance in swing. Shows ability to stay on and through contact. 85 mph exit velocity. 74 mph arm strength with pop times in 2.18-2.22 range. Stiff lower half, length in release, average accuracy and carry to bag, needs to improve overall receiving.

Connor Hogan, C, Elk River, 2017
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Solid build. Controlled load, stiff lower half in swing, shows quick hands to contact, solid contact to pull side of field. 7.28 runner with 82 mph exit velocity. Easy actions behind plate, flexible, plays with energy, solid receiver, solid accuracy and carry to bag with 75 mph arm strength and 2.16-2.25 pop times.

Kaylan Legred, C/RHP, Blue Earth, 2017
5-foot-8, 145-pound switch-hitting utility player. Aggressive actions- plays extremely hard. 7.07 runner. Solid contact from left-side of plate with mid/pull approach. Tends to pull off at contact. Right-handed uses whole field with solid contact. Quiet movements behind plate. Quick twitch athlete. Above average blocker. Needs to improve receiving. Shows good footwork on throws. Quick release on throws with average carry. Throws consistently around bag with 2.00-2.13 pops and 73 mph arm strength.

Nathan Lindberg, C, Bloomington Jefferson, 2017
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Strong projectable build. 7.37 runner with 94 mph exit velocity off tee. Simple swing with pull approach. Flashes power to pull side. Rotational lower half through contact. Solid exchanges, stands up on release, good setup behind plate, shows flexibility behind plate, can be loud with movements, solid receiver. 2.18-2.25 pop times with 75 mph arm strength with throws mostly around bag.

Ben Livorsi, C, Minnetonka, 2017
6-foot, 210-pound left-handed hitting catcher. St. Louis U. commit. Square stance with rhythm, clean bat path, solid mid/pull contact, longer stride, out front at contact occasionally, 82 mph exit velocity off tee. Leadership qualities behind plate, good feet, works low and through target on throws, solid carry with above avg. accuracy to bag. 1.99-2.06 pop times with 76 mph arm strength. Flashes ability to receive, sticks pitches down in zone, has lower half flexibility.

Alex Logelin, C, Waconia, 2017
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Athletic 6.93 runner. Square stance, easy swing, consistently barreled balls hard to pull side of field. 81 mph exit velocity. Narrow upright stance behind plate, good flexibility, vocal on field, average receiver, clean exchanges with direction to target with feet, solid release and arm action, average carry and accuracy to bag. 72 mph arm strength with 2.13-2.22 pop times.

Ethan Mocchi, C/RHP, Legacy Christian Academy, 2017
5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Short strong compact frame. Shows arm strength. 77 mph to second base. 2.16-2.21 pop times around bag. Plays with energy. Active behind plate. Frames middle/in well. Needs to work on across body pitches. Load complicates timing to swing. Has balance and strength, gap to gap hitter, power should improve with better use of lower half. 7.31 runner with 86 mph exit velocity.

Michael Nezerka, C, Farmington, 2017
5-foot-9, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.44 runner. Solid mobility behind dish. Shows ability to receive with easy actions. Works down to up well in zone. 2.31-2.4 pop times with 70 mph arm strength. Open stance, strides to square, with balance in lower half. Top spin contact with uphill plane and lift to swing. Middle/away approach. 83 mph exit velocity.

Ty Okada, C, East Ridge, 2017
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.32 runner. Line drive swing plane, produced consistent solid contact, gap to gap approach, good extension through contact, 79 mph exit velocity. Quick feet, length to exchange, short release, throws short to bag. 2.02-2.2 pop times with 70 mph arm strength. Blocks baseballs well, active and athletic, average receiver.

Nick Onomiya, C, Cretin-Derham Hall, 2017
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Strong sturdy build. 7.3 runner at this event. 86 mph exit velocity. Leg kick trigger with good balance. Consistently on time during batting practice. Flashes pop in bat to pull side of field. Clean bat path through zone with good extension/separation after contact. Stayed on and through breaking balls away during game showing good approach.

Tyler Rowland, C, Andover, 2017
5-foot-9, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 8.12 runner. Produced consistent solid contact with simple swing mechanics, front heel turn trigger, short to contact, gap to gap approach, and showed good hand/eye coordination. 76 mph exit velocity. Narrow stance behind plate, stands up to throw, lower arm slot, tailing action on throws, average receiver in games. 72 mph arm strength with 2.28-2.47 pop times.

Zach Smith, C/RHP, Rochester John Marshall, 2017
5-foot-11, 190-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Strong sturdy build. 7.78 runner. Balanced stance, short stride, uses lower half well in swing, consistent hard contact, mid/pull approach, quiet head to contact and repeats swing well. 86 mph exit velocity. Quiet receiver with ability to stick pitches in zone. Soft glove and catches with ease. Moves well laterally, needs to improve blocking mechanics, clean exchanges, longer release, works low and through to target on throws, above average carry and accuracy to bag. 78 mph arm strength with 2.15-2.21 pop times.

Ben Thoma, C/RHP, Bagley, 2017
5-foot-11, 205-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.94 runner. Wide stance, good balance, line drive swing plane, compact swing to contact, spray hitter and uses both sides of field. 79 mph exit velocity. Flexible behind plate, plays with energy, Solid receiver middle/in. Aggressive blocker. 76 mph arm strength with above avg. carry. 2.13-2.3 pop times around bag with throws.

Benjamin Weaver, C, Bismarck Century (ND), 2017
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.42 runner at this event. Late load. Stuck on back-side at contact. Middle/away contact. 75 mph exit velocity. Good direction with feet, quick exchange and release, lower slot causes slight tailing action on throws. 73 mph arm strength with 2.16-2.25 pop times. Moves well behind plate, flexible, plays with energy, showed ability to receive and stick pitches.

Trevor Weidt, C, St. Francis, 2017
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.82 runner. Balanced set-up and stride. Slight hitch in load; has loose hands, clean path to contact, and consistently squares baseball with hard contact. Middle/pull approach. 79 mph exit velocity. Good flexibility and mobility behind plate. Shows ability to receive in games. Works across body well. Quick feet with good exchange and easy arm action on throws. 72 mph arm strength with 2.15-2.28 pop times and average accuracy and carry to bag.