PeeDee Regional - Corner INF & Catcher Analysis

PEEDEE REGIONAL - CORNER INF ANALYSIS

On Saturday, November 10th over 40 players descended onto American Legion Field in Florence, SC. American Legion Field is home to the 6 time state champion Florence Post 1 organization. With over 40 players in attendance, PBR ran a full pro-style workout, gathering information on each player in attendance.

Position players were up first, going through a full offensive evaluation that included a 60 time and exit velocity tested off a tee. Following these tests each player took two rounds of BP live on the playing field and recorded a home to first time off the bat.  When the offensive evaluation was concluded the defensive evaluation began with catcher pop times and fielding. When the catcher's were finished the corner infielders, middle infielders, and outfielders were given their turns to show their defensive ability. Each player had video recored of their offensive and defensive workout to be hosted in their profile.

The pitchers were the last to perform in front of the scouts in attendance. Each pitcher was given an individual bullpen session in which their velocity was measured and scouts dialed in on their arm action, mechanics, command, and pitchability.

For a full statistical breakdown of the event CLICK HERE

PBR scouts in attendance were able to take stats on each player in attendance, while compiling evaluations on players that will lead to potential invites to the Preseason All-State, Top Prospect Games, the Future Games, and the Super 60.

Here we take our first look at the Corner INF's and the Catchers from the event...

Harrison Bigham (1B, Wilson, 2019)

5 foot 11 first basemen with a strong lower half and and large frame. Sure hands on ground balls, choppy footwork, allowed several balls to get into his body.  Exchange is clean and has a good presence around the bag receiving throws and balls in the dirt. LHH with slightly open stance balanced just outside the shoulders. Hands set just off the back shoulder with the barrel turned slightly behind the head. Strides to a closed position. Lofted bat path, did not consistently keep the barrel in the hitting zone during his BP rounds. Occasional gap to gap power.

Zach Saxton (3B/C, Waccamaw, 2020)

5 foot 9, 150 lb proportional frame, thick lower half with room for additional development in the upper body. Fielded ground balls at 3rd with confident hands and smooth actions. Ball was quick in, quick out of the glove and carried accurately to first base from a high ¾ arm slot at 76 mph. Also worked as a catcher receiving the ball with strong hands controlling the velocity and location. Best POP time of 1.98. Open stance and a toe tap timing mechanism work the barrel into the hitting zone on a steep attack angle. Swing showed line drive tendency.

McKenny Goodale (3B, Cheraw, 2020)

6 foot, 187 lbs with medium athletic frame and strength present throughout. Broad shoulders support a strong upper half, slim torso, and thick lower half. Stayed down on ground balls with longer actions on throws across the infield. Fielding rhythm was broken at times. Balanced stance just outside the shoulders with very little hand load, muscles the barrel onto plane and through the zone. Positive attack angle produced gap to gap line drives to all fields. Power potential with future development. Athlete, could sustain a move to a corner OF position if necessary.

Collin Hamilton (1B/OF, Dillon Christian, 2020)

6 foot 1 slender frame with long arms, frame will support additional mass with player development. Stayed down on ground balls with a segmented transfer into his throws. Short arm action on throws at 61 mph in tht INF. OF velo of 66 with a similar short arm action. Wide stance at the plate with little hand load. Negative attack angle puts the barrel into and out of the zone quickly. Swing trended towards low line drives and groundballs.

PEEDEE REGIONAL ID - CATCHER ANALYSIS

Cole Gasque (C, Latta, 2021)

Compact 5 foot 8 140 lb frame. Narrow stance at the plate, slightly closed. Short timing mechanism and barrel load. Barrel falls onto plane and stays through the zone. Consistently hit line drives through the middle of the field during his BP round. Low, athletic set up behind the plate. Inconsistent transfers and a rushed exchange. Footwork pulled him off line to the 3rd base side. 2.09 best pop time.

Caleb Lutz (C, The King’s Acadmey, 2019)

5 foot 8 frame with an athletic base. Tall stance at the plate with balance present. High hand set above the back shoulder. Toe tap load to a closed position loading the hands down. Bat path produced a low line drive/ground ball round of BP. Exit velo recorded at 77. High crouch behind the plate with narrow feet. Deliberate transfer and vertical posture on throws to 2nd. Best POP time of 2.37.

Caleb Oakley (C, Pee Dee Acadmey, 2021)

5 foot 10 160 lb medium frame with long legs and square shoulders. Athletic actions. Balanced stance outside the shoulders with a short stride timing mechanism. Barrel angle is set behind the head with the knob to the catcher. Aggressive swings trended toward the long side. 75 mph exit velocity. Low set up behind the plate, controlled the velocity and location when receiving. Quick exchange and short arm release carried throws to 2nd base with a 2.03 best pop time. Footwork is quick and works in line to the target.

Landon Brown (C, South Florence, 2021)

5 foot 11, catcher with a medium frame and enough length in the limbs to support future physical development. 2021 prospect who has youth to his advantage. Clean transfers showed quick hands on his throws. Will need to become more consistent moving forward to decrease pop times and shorten pop range. Positional velo of 69 should improve with increase in arm strength. Simple set up behind the plate, staggered slightly to the arm side. Inconsistent with his strike presentation when receiving the ball, should improve as he gets stronger. Open stance, balanced at shoulder width with a hand set slightly above the back shoulder. Uses a knee to knee load and long stride to create separation. Showed a low line drive bat path with occasional ability to lag the barrel. Consistent hard ground ball line drive contact in the middle of the field during two BP rounds.

Noah Carter (C, Dillon, 2021)

Athletic 5 foot 11 frame with a mix of strength and length that will allow for position changes in the future, if necessary. College of Charleston recruit. Worked out as a catcher at the event, possesses the ability to play in the INF at 3B or 2B as well as in the OF. Event best 92 mph exit velo. LHH with an open stance and simple stride back to parallel. Hand set just off the back shoulder loads simply into a small barrel turn. Loose rhythm to the swing and whippy barrel release through contact. Lofted bat path produce gap to gap power. 1.98 best POP time from an athletic catching set-up. Confident glovework with a quick transfer and short arm stroke carried the ball to the target. Smooth footwork in line with the target and aggressive to the 2nd base bag.

Cross Herbert (C/1B, West Florence, 2020)

Physical frame at 5 foot 11, 165 lbs. Gives off the impression of playing bigger than those numbers. Stance is slightly wider than the shoulders and open at set-up. Shorter knee to knee stride brings the foot to a closed position and pushes the hands over the back foot. Steep bat path gets the barrel into the zone and then out. BP round was ground ball heavy. 83 mph exit velo. Higher crouch behind the plate, showed good lateral movement behind the plate when handling balls to his left and right. Confident to the ball with the glove hand, delay in the transfer. 2.16 best POP time.

Jameson Purvis (C, South Florence, 2019)

5 foot 11, 200 lbs with strength in the lower half. Torso and upper body have enough length to carry additional weight through development. 80 mph exit velo. Tall stance at the plate, slightly open with a forward hand set. Simple stride loads the hands down and back. Showed the ability to lag the barrel. Flat bat path consistently produced low line drives and several balls to the gaps. Low, athletic set-up behind the plate. Strong to the point of catch. 2.00 best POP time 68 mph positional velo carried throws to the bag.

Coby Buck (C, Westwood, 2020)

6 foot proportional frame. Frame has upside if he can develop the upper body. Stance is outside the shoulders with most of the weight on the backside. Back elbow is held at the same level as the back shoulder and the barrel is set behind the head. Load pushes the barrel further behind the head and the stride is closed. Pull side heavy rounds of BP. Exit velo 64. Low set-up in the crouch with confident hands and transfer with a quick release. Vertical posture on the throw. Worked as a C only at the event but could also play 2B or 3B in the future.

Dylan Johnson (C/RHP, White Knoll, 2021)

Young player with upside in a 6 foot, 155 lb frame. Proportional length throughout and good hand size suggest he will continue to develop physically. Loose rhythm to the swing and released the barrel through contact. Stance is slightly open and balanced outside the shoulders with the hands slightly above and behind the back shoulder. Simple stride and barrel turn load mechanism. BP round of line drives and lofted balls into the gaps. Swing and frame suggest up tick in power may come down the line. Received the ball out front with confidence from a higher stance. Transfers were clean and consistent with online footwork carrying throws to 2nd base with a 2.07 best POP time.

Peyton Britt (C/3B, Marion, 2019)

Large frame at 6 foot 1, 230 lbs with length in the torso. Balanced stance with hand set just off the shoulder. Toe tap load lands the stride foot slightly open. Steeper attack angle produced line drives in the middle of the field and misses to the opposite field in the air. Recorded exit velo of 85 mph. High set up in the crouch, deliberate through the point of catch. Vertical movement through the throwing motion, inconsistent carry to the bag. Best POP time of 2.31. Worked out as a C at the event but also has the ability to play one of the corners in the INF.

Justin Lehman (C/1B, Nation Ford, 2021)

6 foot 1, 180 lb C/1B presents as a strong athletic frame with tons of upside. LHH with a forward hand set that is loaded up and back with a high stride timing mechanism.  Showed an aggressive BP approach at the event landing parallel and lofting balls into the gaps with some power present. 85 mph exit velo. Consistently on time and driving line drives to all fields, with good bat to ball skills. Athletic set-up at the plate with the ability to work side to side and handle offerings in the dirt. Skillful with the glove and quick consistent transfers. 2.06 best POP time and 73 mph positional velo. Ability to play 1B as well.

Brandon Tuthill (C, Topsail (NC), 2020)