OK Fall Top Prospect Games: Catcher Analysis

Hayden Barnes C / OF / Collinsville, OK / 2021

A stalky and lean 5-foot, 140-pound frame. Offensively, the left-handed hitter bats from a slightly wide, open, and athletic set-up with slight rhythm in his hands. Uses a slightly knee-knock and arm bar load before pulling his hands on a flat path with excellent extension. In BP,  shows an all fields and flat approach finding almost all barrels, staying inside the ball very well, 81 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.35 60. Defensively, shows good flexibility in the crouch, giving a low target and receiving using quiet hands with strength. Throws down with short and quick footwork, clean exchanges, and a near over the top slot with showcased pop times of 2.14-2.21 seconds with some accuracy at 72 mph. 

Russell Beard C / 3B / Dickson, OK / 2020

Jordan Coffey C / 1B / Deer Creek, OK / 2019

A durable 6-foot, 220-pound frame with impressive strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from an open, front foot heavy, and quiet set-up. Uses a smooth load and moderate hanging leg kick before launching his hands on a short and slightly uphill path to contact with bat speed and barrel strength. In BP, showed a gap-to-gap approach with some lift and carry, mostly barrels, 96 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.31 60. Defensively, shows flexibility in the crouch despite his big frame with soft and strong hands and well above average blocking. On throw-downs, shows short, deliberate, and clean footwork, along with clean exchanges and a short arm stroke that comes through a high-¾ slot with advanced arm strength and accuracy for showcase pop times of 1.96-2.03 seconds at 76 mph. In the game, was 1-for-2 with a double over the left-fielders head, and another nearly left the yard on a fly out to left. 

Elijah Collum C / Holland Hall, OK / 2020

A developing 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame with lots of room to add size and strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from an even set-up with some bend in his knees. Uses a rocking load and slight leg lift before dropping his hands and pulling them through a flat path through extension. In BP, shows a middle of the field approach with occasional lift, found a few barrels, 72 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.31 60. Defensively, shows advanced, quiet hands while receiving. Throws down with quick feet and quick exchanges and a moderate arm stroke coming through a ¾ slot for showcase pop times of 2.07-2.18 seconds at 72 mph. 

Tanner Graves C / 3B / Silo, OK / 2021

A lean and projectable 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame with plenty of room to add size and strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from an open, upright, and slightly front foot heavy set-up with rhythm throughout. Uses a rocking load and multiple types of strides before launching his hands on a slightly uphill path with a high finish and some length. In BP, shows a middle to pull and flat/ground approach, some barrels, 79 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.77 60. Defensively, shows advanced hands and some sway when receiving. Shows advanced blocking skills as well, keeping the ball short and in front of himself constantly. On throws down, uses an off-set stance, quick hands, and covers a lot of ground towards second base as he comes out of his crouch. Arm stroke is short and comes through an over the top slot. Posted showcase pop times of 2.06-2.16 seconds at 71 mph with some accuracy.

Braden Harper C / SS / Noble, OK / 2022

A developing 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame with plenty of room to add size and strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a slightly closed, front foot heavy, and quiet set-up with his hands set at his belly button. Uses a smooth and moderate leg kick and big hand load before pulling his hands through a slightly uphill path with some length. In BP, shows an all fields and flat approach, finds some barrels, 78 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.71 60. Defensively, shows advanced receiving and average blocking. Throws down with clean footwork and exchanges, stands straight up quickly, arm stroke is short coming through a high-¾ slot, produced showcase pop times of 2.33-2.50 seconds at 66 mph with above average accuracy. 

Wes Hicks C / OF / Edmond Memorial, OK / 2021

A durable 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a balanced, even, and athletic set-up with rhythm in his hands. Uses smooth load and short stride with a late heel plant before launching his hands on a flat path to contact with a high finish, hitting from his front foot. In BP, shows a middle of the field and flat approach with the ability to pull when needed, almost all barrels, 81 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.79 60. Defensively, shows above average receiving with a quiet set-up and some strength in his hands. Throws down with clean and deliberate actions, arm stroke is short in the back coming through an over the top slot with accuracy and showcase pop times of 2.19-2.26 seconds at 71 mph. In the game, was on time twice going 2-for-2 with a double and a single, both line drives. 

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

A developing 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame with plenty of room to add size and strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a slightly back leg heavy and slightly open set-up with rhythm in his hands. Uses a slow reverse toe-tap at times and a small hanging leg kick others, both with a moderate stride before launching his hands on a flat path through extension. In BP, shows a middle to pull and flat/ground approach, some barrels, 78 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.50 60. Defensively, shows average receiving and blocking. Throws down with quick actions, arm stroke is short and comes through a high-¾ slot with some arm speed and developing accuracy for showcase pop times of 2.02-2.15 seconds at 73 mph. 

Ryan Lowery C / 1B / Edmond Santa Fe, OK / 2019

A 6-foot, 205-pound frame with strength throughout. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from an even, balanced, and upright stance with rhythm in his hands. Uses a slight leg lift before launching his hands on a flat and efficient path to contact with barrel strength and a high finish. In BP, shows a gap-to-gap and flat approach and flashes some pop, almost all barrels, 90 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.56 60. Defensively, sits low in the crouch with good flexibility and shows strong and quiet hands, handling the pitch down in the zone well. Throws down with clean and deliberate actions using a very short arm stroke coming through an over the top slot with some accuracy at 70 mph and showcase pop times of 2.01-2.10. In the game, was 1-for-3 with a line drive double in the left-center field gap.

Peyton Roberson C / 1B / Duncan, OK / 2022

A physically advanced 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame with strength throughout. Offensively, the left-handed hitter bats from a wide and slightly open set-up with some rhythm in his hands. Uses a small leg lift and stride before launching his hands on a slightly uphill path through extension with barrel strength and some bat speed. In BP, shows a pull approach with consistent pop and some lift, some barrels, 88 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.52 60. Defensively, is very quiet when receiving and shows strong hands. Throws down with a clean action and some quickness, arm stroke is short in the back coming through an over the top slot with arm strength and accuracy and showcase pop times of 1.99-2.15 seconds at 75 mph.

Logan Rutledge C / SS / Kingfisher, OK / 2019

The recent NOC Enid commit has a proportional 6-foot-1, 178-pound frame with wiry strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from an upright, open, and relaxed set-up with some rhythm throughout. Uses a smooth and moderate knee-knock leg kick with a hand pump load before launching his barrel on a flat path through extension with bat speed and some length. In BP, shows an all fields approach flashing pop with some lift, found some barrels, 92 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.29 60. Defensively, shows elite receiving, beating the ball to the spot with quick, strong, and quiet hands, also shows excellent blocking abilities. Throws down with polished, efficient, and quick actions, exploding out of the crouch and putting most of his throws on the bag for showcase pop times of 1.85-1.96 seconds at 77 mph. 

Conner Thompson C / OF / Sharon-Mutual, OK / 2021

A 5-foot-11, 170-pound proportional frame with room to add size and strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from an even, balanced, and athletic set-up with rhythm in his hands. Uses a controlled and deliberate load with a moderate knee-knock leg kick before launching his hands on a flat path to contact with a high finish. In BP, shows a middle to pull and flat approach with the ability to go to the opposite field when pitched that way, mostly barrels, 84 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.59 60. Defensively, sits high in the crouch with knock-kneed base and some sway and shows average hands. Throws down with deliberate actions, coming out of the crouch early at times, arm action is short coming through an over the top slot with some accuracy for showcase pop times of 2.22-2.37 seconds at 70 mph.

Logan Vaughan C / 3B / Coweta, OK / 2021

A lean and projectable 6-foot, 162-pound frame with plenty of room to add size and strength. Offensively, the switch hitter bats from similar set-ups from both sides with a wide and back leg heavy, open stance with rhythm in his hands. Uses a big leg kick before launching his hands on an efficient and slightly uphill path through extension. In BP, shows a pull gap and flat approach from both sides with some barrels from each side, 79 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.37 60. Defensively, shows well above average receiving with a quiet set-up and soft hands. Throws down with quick footwork still developing direction, quick exchanges, and some accuracy for showcase pop times of 1.96-2.09 seconds at 73 mph.

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

A proportional 6-foot, 180-pound frame with some room to add size and strength. Offensively, the switch hitter bats from an athletic, open, and slightly front foot heavy set-ups from both sides of the dish. Uses a smooth load, front side coil and late heel plant from both sides and slightly long stride from the left side. In BP, shows a middle to pull approach from the left side with lots of barrels late in his round. From the right-side, shows an all fields approach with all barrels and some pop, 85 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.53 60. Defensively, shows advanced receiving from a quiet set-up with soft hands.