MOKAN Top Prospects: Catchers Edition

Positional Profile: C

Body: 6-foot, 165-pound lean and developing frame with room for added strength and size in the future.

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with an open stance and athletic posture.  Leg swings back into a neutral position with strong weight shift into the backside.   High back elbow with a rotational upper body path.  Short weight shift linearly through the zone into a firm front leg.  Plays the ball out in front of the plate with good extension and shows the ability to work the ball from gap to gap.  Does a good job of matching plane with the pitch and works a line drive approach.

Power: 85 mph exit velocity off the tee and 87 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  C-74 MPH.  Pop Times: 2.08-2.15.  

Defense: Behind the plate receives the ball with one knee in the dirt and strong wrists at the catch.  Feet and shoulders work quickly out of the crouch into an upright throwing position.  Clean transfers out of the glove with throws working towards the first base side of the bag.  Gets into good blocking posture with the upper body with the head down.

Run: 7.20 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C/3B

Body: 6-foot, 220-pound mature and stocky frame with present strength.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with a neutral stance and athletic posture.  Two tap stride with with good weight transfer into a firm front leg.  Gets good push off the back leg and can manipulate the lower half to get underneath pitches at the bottom of the zone to match plane.  Slight uphill bat path with linear direction with the hands. Gets good extension and shows a strong line drive approach.  Has present strength at contact and projects for future power potential.  Quick hands with very good overall bat speed.

Power: 91 mph exit velocity off the tee and 97 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  INF-82 MPH.  C-72 MPH.  Pop Times: 1.95-2.19. ¾ arm slot with a short arm action and strong recoil release.

Defense: In the infield attacks the ball with aggressive rhythm and a feel for working around the ball.  Shows the ability to field the ball on the run under control.  Quiet hands and good fielding position.  Behind the plate receives the ball with one knee down and leg out away from the body.  Quick transfers out of the glove with the feet working into the third base side.  Throws had good accuracy and carry to the bag.  Strong blocking techniques with good posture and hip flexibility. 

Run: 7.38 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C

Body: 5-foot-9, 170-pound lean and developing frame with some present strength in the lower half..

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with an open stance and crouched posture with a wrapped bat angle.  Simple stride back to neutral with a rocker style load into the lower half.  Lower half works short and linear through the zone into a firm front leg.  Rhythmic swing with barrel staying in the zone for a long time.  Slight uphill bat path with a line drive approach.  Gets good extension especially on the pull side and maintains balance throughout the swing. 

Power: 88 mph exit velocity off the tee and 91 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  C-72 MPH.  Pop Times: 2.00-2.16. High ¾ arm slot with hand working near the ear and a clean release.

Defense: Behind the plate prefers to receive the ball with one knee in the dirt technique.  Works the glove underneath the ball well.  Feet and shoulders turn quickly and in sync on throws down to second base.  Throws showed mostly accurate to the bag with developing carry.  Showed some flexibility in the hips on blocking technique with good upper body posture.

Run: 7.51 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C/1B

Body: 5-foot-11, 195-pound physical frame with present strength especially in the lower half.

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with a slightly open stance and upright posture.  Rocking load into the lower half with hands working back to just below shoulder height with a high back elbow.  Slow leg kick stride with foot hovering over the ground as the weight shifts linearly through the zone to a firm front leg.  Uphill bat path and tries to work the ball up in the air especially to the pull side.  Will go after the lower pitch by sinking deeper into the lower half.  Has some current strength at contact.

Power: 94 mph exit velocity off the tee and 93 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  INF-70 MPH.  C-70 MPH.  Pop Times: 2.14-2.31.  High ¾ arm slot with a short arm action and release.

Defense: Behind the plate shows solid receiving skills with strong wrists and minimal body movement.  Works straight up out of the crouch with hips and shoulders getting turned to second base in sync.  Throws were mostly accurate to the bag with developing carry.  Solid blocking technique with good posture.  In the infield shows good footwork around the bag with a good strong fielding position.  Hips and feet work in sync when turning to make the throws to second.  Fields with a sure glove.

Run: 7.71 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C/OF

Body: 6-foot-3, 165-pound long and lean build with good projection and room for added strength and size to the frame.

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with a neutral stance and athletic posture.  Long two tap stride with full weight stack onto the back leg.  Heavy linear direction with the swing.  Rhythmic swing working to a firm front leg with weight shifted onto the front side at contact.  Long levered swing and shows the ability to get extended.  Some strength at contact with good leverage.  Whippy bat path with quick hands and good overall bat speed.  Uphill bat path and looks to work the ball up in the air. 

Power: 93 mph exit velocity off the tee and 95 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  OF-84 MPH.  C-74 MPH.  Pop Times: 1.91-2.01.  OF-High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and good hand speed.  Behind the plate a high ¾ arm slot with hand working straight back out of the glove.  

Defense: In the outfield attacks the ball with shorter and choppy steps.  Works behind the ball well on flyballs.  Fields the ball out in front of the glove side leg with a firm glove.  Shuffle style crow hop technique.  Behind the plate receives the ball with one knee in the dirt and works the glove underneath the ball well.  Works quick out of the crouch with clean exchanges and throws had good carry to the bag.  Blocks with an upright posture in the upper body and stiffer hips.

Run: 6.88 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C

Body: 6-foot, 190-pound well-built frame with present strength.

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with a neutral stance and athletic posture.  Very quick rhythm within the swing using a two-tap stride with heavy linear motion in the lower half.  Works to a firm front leg with weight completely shifted onto the front foot at contact. Hands work close to the body in a rotational path and uphill bat path.   Good overall bat speed with some strength at contact.

Power: 92 mph exit velocity off the tee and 91 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  C-70 MPH.  Pop Times: 2.04-2.13.  ¾ arm slot with hand working striaght back out of the glove and short release.

Defense: Behind the plate receives the ball with one knee in the dirt and other leg laid out flat on the ground.  Feet bounce quickly out of the crouch with the shoulders and hips working in sync right after the feet.  Clean exchanges out of the glove with throws accurate to the bag with developing carry.  Tight blocking posture with flexibility in the hips.

Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: C

Body: 6-foot-2, 215-pound physical and mature frame.

Hit: RHH. At the plate starts with a neutral stance and upright posture.  Slow loads weight into the back side with strong weight stack onto the back leg.  Slow drift to the a firm front leg and maintains upright posture throughout the swing.  Rotational bat path working slightly uphill.  Has some strength at contact.  Hands work quickly through the zone and has very good overall bat speed.  Gets good extension and maintains balance throughout the swing.  

Power: 88 mph exit velocity off the tee and 90 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  C-71 MPH.  Pop Times: 1.99-2.19.  Over the top arm slot with a short arm action.

Defense: Behind the plate receives the ball with one knee in the dirt and strong wrists and feel for framing.  Methodical footwork out of the crouch with hips and shoulders working together in sync.  Throws showed fairly accurate to the bag with developing carry.  Proper blocking technique with good posture. 

Run: 7.62 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C/RHP

Body: 6-foot, 190-pound strong and athletic build.

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with a wide base and crouched posture with a vertical bat angle.  Quick two tap stride with weight shifting into the back leg on the first tap.  Does a good job of driving the lower half into a firm front leg.  Shows the ability to handle the lower pitch by manipulating the lower half to work underneath the ball.  Longer routes to the ball with slight arm bar posture with the lead hand.  Gets good extension with a flat bat path.  Hands work quickly through the zone.

Power: 84 mph exit velocity off the tee and 90 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  C-72 MPH.  Pop Times: 2.03-2.19.  High ¾ arm slot with a longer arm action and short release.

Defense: Behind the plate receives the ball with one knee in the dirt and a firm glove.  Feet work quickly out of the crouch with hips and and shoulders remaining slightly open.  Throws had good carry to the bag.  Shows solid blocking techniques with good lateral range and flexibility in the hips.  

Run: 7.10 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C/1B

Body: 6-foot, 150-pound long and lean frame with room to add strength and size in the future.

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with a neutral stance and crouched posture.  Pre shifts weight into the back side with slight lean into the lower half to go along with a flat bat angle.  Strong weight transfer to a firm front side with good balance throughout the swing.  Hands work quickly through the zone with a slight uphill bat path working the ball up in the air.  Hands work away from the body in a rotational plane.  

Power: 82 mph exit velocity off the tee and 86 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  INF-70 MPH.  C-66 MPH.  Pop Times: 2.17-2.32.  High ¾ arm slot with a short arm action.

Defense: In the infield shows active feet and feel around the bag.  Fields the ball with good glove action and soft hands.  Maintains body control throughout the fielding process.  Behind the plate receives the ball with one knee in the dirt and a crouched posture.  Comes out of the crouch early on throws down to second with developing carry and accuracy.  Shows adequate blocking technique with good bounce on the retrieval.

Run: 7.48 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C

Body: 5-foot-9, 170-pound athletic and stocky build with strength in the lower half.  

Hit: LHH.  At the plate starts with an open stance and athletic posture with a vertical bat angle.  Leg kick stride back to neutral with strong weight shift into a bent back leg.  Back foot is pre-turned inward with a very linear lower half direction.  Weight is largely on the front foot at contact with developing balance.    Linear route to the ball with the hands.  Hands work hard to the inside part of the ball.  Level bat path and line drive approach. 

Power: 85 mph exit velocity off the tee and 86 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  C-74 MPH.  Pop Times: 1.89-2.07.  High ¾ arm slot with a quick arm action and release.

Defense: Behind the plate prefers to receive the ball with one knee down and the other leg stretched out straight.  Pre-turns the feet into a throwing position on throws to second with feet and hips working quickly out of the crouch.  Very quick transfers out of the glove with developing carry on the throws.  Shows a solid blocking technique with flexibility in the hips.

Run: 7.48 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C

Body: 5-foot-11, 180-pound physical frame with present strength.

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with a slightly open stance and athletic posture.  Rocks weight quickly into the lower half and has short linear direction into a firm front side.  Vertical bat angle with hands working hard to the inside part of the ball.  Short and compact stroke with the hands with good routes to the ball.  Shows current strength at contact.  Maintains balance throughout the swing.  Level bat path with a line drive approach.  Has good overall bat speed.

Power: 95 mph exit velocity off the tee and 90 mph exit velocity in BP.

Arm: RH.  C-69 MPH.  Pop Times: 2.02-2.06.  High ¾ arm slot with a short and quick arm action and release.

Defense: Behind the plate receives the ball with one knee in the dirt and the other leg stretched out.  Does a good job of working underneath the ball with a feel for pitch framing.  Body starts to turn before the catch on throws to second.  Shoulders stay slightly closed with throws showing average accuracy.  Strong blocking technique with flexibility in the hips and good posture.

Run: 7.32 runner in the 60.