By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director

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On Sunday, February 21st, we hosted the annual Preseason Underclass Preview at Lawrence North HS in Indianapolis.  The event consisted of 66 players from Indiana in the 2018-2020 classes.

Below we take a look at the catchers that participated in the event. 

CLICK HERE to view all of the statistical results.

Top Catchers 

Zyon Avery, C, Ben Davis HS, 2018: 6-foot-1, 205 pounder registered pop times of 1.93,  1.94 and 2.04; 74 from the crouch.  Possesses a very quick arm action.  Quick, clean transfer.  Feet tend to fall left, but shows some quickness.  Balanced setup, good receiver with soft hands.  Physical right-handed hitter hits form a balanced setup.  Smooth load, leg kick.  Fast bat speed.  Uphill swing plane.  Gap to gap type hitter.  Fluid rhythm.  Possesses power potential.  High exit velocity of 98.  

Stephen Karis, C, Zionsville HS, 2018: 5-foot-9, 155 pounder was 1.97, 2.00 and 2.04 with his pop times; 78 from the crouch.  Quick transfer with quick, short feet.  Arm gets long at times, but is quick.  Open set up in his primary.  Receives well with soft hands.  Good athleticism.  At the plate hits from an athletic, crouch setup.  Short stride, average use of the lower half.  Minimal load.  Quick bat speed.  Good approach to the baseball.  Showed the ability to get to extension.  Line drive type hitter with fluid rhythm.  High exit velocity of 88 mph.  

T.J. Bass, C, Greenwood HS, 2018: 6-foot-2, 210 pounder was 2.02, 2.05 and 2.10 with his pop times; 76 from the crouch.  Quick feet with a quick arm action.  Needs to quicken up the transfer.  Good setup behind the dish with soft hands.  Receives it well.  At the plate hits from a wide ,crouch setup.  Loads back, no stride.  Strong lower half.  Above average bat speed.  Good approach.  Fluid rhythm.  Gap to gap type power.  High exit velocity of 85 mph.  

Colten Panaranto, C, Terre Haute North HS, 2018: 6-foot, 185 pounder was 2.01, 2.05 and 2.08 with his pop times; 78 from the crouch.  Possesses quick footwork, with a short/quick arm action.  Average transfer.  Athletic receiver with soft hands.  Balanced setup.  At the plate hits from an athletic setup, loads back.  Stride is short.  Good use of his lower half.  Good balance.  Fast bat speed, with a good approach.  Short path.  Barreled up the baseball with good power.  High exit velocity of 91 mph. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically) 

Isaac Bair, C, Homestead HS, 2018: 5-foot-11, 215 pounder was 2.04, 2.05 and 2.07 with his pop times; 75 from the crouch. Displayed quick feet with a quick transfer.  Average arm strength.  Good balance in his setup.  Average receiver.  At times gets a little stiff.  Offensively, hits out of a wide stance.  Leg kick, average use of his lower half.  Good balance.  Above average bat speed, fair approach to the baseball.  Uphill swing plane, short path.  Pull side hitter with power potential.  High exit velocity of 89 mph.  

Caleb Burton, C, Columbus East HS, 2018: 5-foot-8, 160 pound receiver was 2.12, 2.15 and 2.18 with his pop times; 74 from the crouch.  Quick arm with a clean transfer.  Quick footwork.  Shows firm hands while receiving.  Balanced stance.  Good athleticism behind the dish.  At the plate hits from a tall, narrow setup.  Smooth load, short stride.  Average bat speed. Over rotates with the lower half.  Hard contact to his pull-side, uphill path.  High exit velocity of 79 mph. 

Derrick Dawson, C, Mishawaka HS, 2020: 6-foot, 173 poudner was 2.25, 2.29 and 2.30 with his pop times; 66 from the crouch.  Loopy transfer.  Needs to quicken up the arm action.  Comes around the ball.  At the plate hits from a crouch setup, smooth load.  Short stride.  Average bat speed.  Bat tends to get flat through the zone.  High exit velocity of 81 mph.  

Mason Diaz, C, Wheeler HS, 2019: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds.  Recorded pop times of 2.15, 2.20 and 2.22; 75 from the crouch.  Needs to clean up the transfer.  Lacks elite arm speed.  Gets low in his stance.  Showcased soft hands.  Offensively, hits from a slightly open setup, short stride, closes himself off.  Minimal load.  Average bat speed, short path.  Pull side hitter.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 80 mph. 

Cade Fitzpatrick, C, Franklin Central HS, 2019: 5-foot-11, 175 pounds.  Recorded pop times of 2.00, 2.08 and 2.15; 74 from the crouch.  Possesses quick feet.  Tendency to fall off to his left when throwing to 2B.  Gets in a low, balanced stance.  Firm hands, tends to reach.  Has some athleticisim.  At the plate hits from an open setup, loads back.  Short stride.  Lower half has some stiffness. Above average bat speed.  Pull –side hitter.  High exit velocity of 85 mph.  

Jacob Hauser, C, Pendleton Heights HS, 2020: 5-foot-8, 154 pounder was 2.35, 2.38 and 2.39 with his pop times; 71 from the crouch.  Possesses a quick arm action.  Needs to quicken up the feet and transfer which will help reduce his pop times.  Offensively, hits from a balanced setup, loads back.  Toe tap. High activity.  Above average bat speed, long uphill swing path.  High exit velocity of 82 mph.  

Damon Lux, C, Shelbyville HS, 2018: 6-foot-1, 180 pounder was 2.12, 2.19 and 2.24 with his pop times; 76 from the crouch.  Average footwork.  Long arm action, but has some quickness.  Needs to clean up the transfer.  Up on his toes in the primary.  Firm hands.  Tendency to stab at the ball while receiving.  Offensively, hits from a balanced setup.  Minimal load.  Short stride.  Good balance.  Above average bat speed, fair approach.  Level path, line drive type hitter.  Late rhythm.  High exit velocity of 86. 

Alec MacLennan, C, Franklin Community HS, 2018: 5-foot-7, 145 pound receiver was 2.13, 2.17 and 2.19 with his pop times; 68 from the crouch.  Quick, short arm action.  Quick feet, clean transfer.  Balanced setup in his primary.  Firm hands, tendency to reach for pitches. Shows some athleticism while blocking.  At the plate hits from a crouch type setup.  Smooth load, short stride.  Short, uphill swing plane.  Showed good barrel control.  Hips tend to get locked.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 78.  

Aidan Minzenberger, C, Floyd Central HS, 2019: 6-foot, 157 pounder was 2.19, 2.25 and 2.26 with his pop times; 71 from the crouch. Needs to quicken up the transfer and footwork.  Decent arm action.  Firm hands while receiving.  Hits from a narrow setup, uses a toe tap.  Average bat speed.  High exit velcocity of 79 mph.  Fair approach to the ball.   

Jordan Siddons, C, Elkhart Memorial HS, 2018: 5-foot-11, 155 pounder recorded pop times of 2.27, 2.29 and 2.30; 65 from the crouch.  Good balance in his primary setup.  Good receiver with soft hands.  Lacks arm strength.  Offensively, this from an open setup, smooth load.  Stride is short.  Average use of his lower half, good balance.  Average bat speed, long/uphill plane.  Early rhythm.  High exit velocity of 79. 

Cameron Spencer, C, Austin HS, 2018: 6-foot-2, 190 pounder was 2.36, 2.38 and 2.41 with his pop times; 66 from the crouch.  Raw actions behind the dish.  Good balance in his setup.  Stabs while receiving.  At the plate hits from a balanced setup.  Loads back, slight arm bar.  Stride is short.  Average bat speed.  Lacks extension.  Short, level path.  High exit velocity of 79 mph. 

Braxton Turner, C, Greenfield Central HS, 2018: 5-foot-10, 175 pounder was 2.23, 2.27 and 2.38 with his pop times; 70 from the crouch.  Transfers out in front of his body, falls off to his left.  Needs to quicken up the arm action and improve footwork.  Balanced setup.  Receives well with soft hands.  At the plate hits from and open setup, loads back.  Long stride.  Average use of his lower half.  Average bat speed, uphill swing plane.  Pull side hitter.  High exit velocity of 83 mph. 

Mason Vaughn, C, Bloomington South HS, 2018: 5-foot-11, 165 pounder was 2.18, 2.20 and 2.29 with his pop times; 71 from the crouch.  Possesses a quick arm action.  Transfers out front.  Firm hands while receiving.  Good balance in his stance.  Shows some twitch at the plate.  Footwork needs cleaned up.  Stride is short.  Average bat speed, short path.  Line drive type hitter.  High exit velocity of 77.