PBR Border Battle- Catching Evaluations

September 13, 2016

By Brian Feekin
Prep Baseball Report Nebraska

Prep Baseball Report's Border Battle Games event took place on Sunday, August 14, 2016. The event was held at Doc Ross Field, on the campus of Iowa Western CC, in Council Bluffs, IA. The event featured prospects from Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, South & North Dakota from the 2017-2019 classes who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff and multiple colleges in attendance. Thank you to the players, parents, my staff for such a great event.

There were a number of great individual performances this year at the PBR Border Battle Games; we have broken down the individual statistics below.

As we drill down into the statistics:

+ 20 players ran sub-7.1 60's.
+ 28 players recorded 85+ mph exit velocities
+ 13 players recorded 78+ mph infield throws
+ 17 players recorded 78+ mph outfield throws
+ 14 catchers recorded 70+ mph throws to second base
+ 13 catchers recorded sub-2.1 pop times
+ 20 pitchers were 80+ mph on the mound

CLICK HERE to view Complete Statistics in PDF Format.

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Below we have highlighted the prospects at their respective positions with evaluations; listed alphabetically.

catcher evaluations

Andrew Duhamell, C, Warrensburg, 2019
5-foot-9, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher ran a 7.82 60 yard sprint. At the plate, open crouched stance, uphill swing path, line drive/ground ball contact. Posted an exit velocity of 81 mph off a tee. Advanced pop times for his age in the 1.97-2.03 range. Quick transfer and release, stays online to 2nd. Good stocky frame, durable, will continue to develop as a receiver.

Carl Matthew Glockel, C, East Mills (IA), 2017
6-foot-1, 210-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Strong build. 7.28 runner. Pre-set load, low hand slot, choppy rhythm in swing, slight uphill plane, pull approach, 84 mph exit velocity. Length to exchange on throws, works around the plate with feet, limited use of lower half, avg. receiver and blocker. 2.30-2.5 pop times with 66 mph arm strength.

Traice Hartter, C, Topeka Seaman, 2017
5-foot-9, 165-pound shortstop and #72 ranked player in the state of Kansas ran a 7.1 60 yard sprint. Compact stocky build. At the plate, open stance, stays tall, compact, uphill swing path, solid contact to all fields. Posted an exit velocity of 87 mph off a tee. Behind the plate threw in the 1.87-2.02 range to 2nd base. In the infield, has active feet and plays through the ball. Exit glove tap at transfer, topped out at 86 mph across the infield.

Brett Miller, C/RHP, Omaha Skutt, 2017
6-foot-2, 185-pound two-way player ran a 7.58 60 yard sprint. Tall open stance at the plate, stride closes himself off and triggers long barrel path through the zone. Pull side approach. Posted an exit velocity of 86 mph off a tee. Behind the plate had to top pop times to second in the 1.87-197 range. Quiet set-up, ability to present pitches, fundamentally sound blocker. Worked a scoreless inning on the mound. 77-79 mph fastball is flat on a downhill plane, 72-74 mph slider has good depth and tight spin through the strike zone. Mechanically, repeats delivery well. Catcher arm action with a short draw on the backside and long follow through out front. Stays online to home plate.

Cameron Quick, C, Wahoo, 2018
6-foot-3, 185-pound catcher/outfielder ran a 7.66 60 yard sprint. Athletic frame with room to develop strength. Posted an 82 mph exit velocity off a tee. Wide tall stance. Toe tap generates line drive swing plane. Ground Ball/line drive contact. Threw in 1.97-2.13 range to 2nd base. Wide base works through the ball, tendency to leak into right-handed batter’s box. Athletic actions in the outfield with a strong 85 mph arm from a high ¾ arm slot.

Jake Reeves, C/RHP, Seward, 2017
6-foot-3, 180-pound two-way player ran a 7.38 60 yard sprint. Posted an exit velocity of 87 mph off a tee. Slight open stance, stride triggers line drive swing. All fields approach. Line drive/ ground ball contact. In the outfield, reads the ball well, cautious routes, quick transfer and release to a high ¾ arm action. Threw accurately to home topping out at 81 mph. Posted pop times behind the plate in the 2.03-2.18 range. On the mound topped out at 81 mph with his fastball. Sat in the 77-79 mph range. Repeats mechanics well. Tendency to drift towards home. Short ¾ arm action on the backside with a long follow through out front.

Owen Richter, C, Creighton Prep, 2018
6-foot, 170-pound catcher ran a 7.2 60 yard dash. Athletic build, wide shoulders, should continue to get stronger. At the plate, square stance, short stride, compact swing, pop to pull side, hands stay inside the ball. Posted an exit velocity of 88 mph off a tee. The top defensive catcher in 2018 class for Nebraska, threw in the 1.9-2.0 range. Above average receiver and blocker with ability to present pitches at a high level.

Jacob Schneider, C, St. John Vianney, 2017
6-foot-1, 175-pound catcher ran a 7.33 60 yard sprint. At the plate, tall open stance, leg kick triggers uphill swing path. Long barrel path through the zone. Posted an exit velocity of 82 mph. Threw to 2nd in the 1.88-2.02 range. Quick catch and release, throws through the right-handed batter’s box. In game action, presents well, wide setup, soft hands, + blocker.

Jack Simonsen, C, Sioux Falls Roosevelt (SD), 2017
6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.38 runner. Drops hands in load, strides slightly across body, front heel turn trigger, some stiffness to bat path, hard pull contact, 83 mph exit velocity. Good direction with feet, accuracy to bag, clean exchanges with quick release. Shows ability to receive and block. Active behind plate with energy. 1.95-2.07 pop times with 75 mph arm strength.

Tyler Stoltze, C, Sergeant Bluff-Luton (IA), 2017
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.69 runner. Pre-set hands, slight shoulder load, strides square, minimal rhythm, avg. contact with gap to gap approach, 85 mph exit velocity. Good direction with feet, clean exchanges, stands up to throw, avg. accuracy to bag, 2.03-2.15 pop times with 78 mph arm strength. Solid actions behind plate, comfortable at position, shows ability to block and receive.

Nate Stolze, C, Urbandale (IA), 2017
5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Strong compact frame. Quick twitch actions. 7.26 runner. Pre-set hands, body load, leg kick trigger, clean path to contact, line drive approach, shows pop in bat when staying on and through contact, 90 mph exit velocity. Above avg. catch and throw skills, flexible with good rhythm, crisp exchange, on bag with carry- 81 mph arm strength with 1.83-1.91 pop times. Vocal leader behind plate, controls game, shows ability to block and receive. Polished defender. Will be riser in IA 2017 rankings.

James Valdivia, SS/C, Elkhorn South, 2019
6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitting shortstop ran a 7.15 60 yard sprint. Athletic build. Posted an exit velocity of 90 mph off a tee. Slightly open stance at the plate. Stays tall with rhythm in swing. Barrel is long through the strike zone on an uphill swing path. Had a line drive up the middle during game action. Has the ability to elevate the ball to all fields. Behind the plate threw to 2nd in the 1.88-2.01 range. In the field, has active feet and playable hands. Works through the ball and threw accurately from a mid ¾ arm slot.

Kade Wallace, 2B/C, Clay Center, 2017
The #71 ranked player in the state of Kansas. 5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed hitter ran a 7.37 60 yard sprint. At the plate, tall stance, small toe tap trigger, line drive swing plane. Posted an exit velocity of 81 mph off a tee. Behind the plate threw in the 2.02-2.1 range. Quick catch and release online to 2nd. In the infield, works through the ball with an extra hop at release, high ¾ arm action. Topped out at 80 mph accurately across the infield.

Josh Zellak, C, Liberty, 2018
5-foot-11, 190-pound catcher ran a 7.57 60 yard sprint. Compact stocky build. Slightly open stance at the plate, strides to a slight arm bar with a long downhill swing plane. Line drive and ground ball contact, all fields approach. Posted an exit velocity of 80 mph off a tee. Behind the plate, threw in the 2.10-2.22 range. Wide set up, hands and body have a tendency to get beat to the spot. Fundamentally sound blocking technique.

PBR Border Battle- Catching Evaluations

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