Prep Baseball Report

St. Louis Open Catcher Analysis Story


Kevin Moulder
Missouri Scouting Director

 

The St. Louis Open was held on October 25th at the state of the art Sports Barn indoor facility. The event was the most talented St. Louis Open of all time and arguably one of the most talented open events this year of any across the country with eye popping numbers put up in every category. Leading a strong group of catchers was 2021 Bryant Byrd (Eldorado) with fast and consistent pop times of 1.94-1.96 and Alex Wittenaur who had a strong day and showed a pop in the mid 1.9's. Check out the complete list of catchers below.

Cole Adams OF / C / Normal Community, IL / 2021

Body: 5-foot-11, 175-pounds. Athletic build.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, quick hand load and stride with some rawness in lower half, finishing on his front leg. Short and level swing path, hard-line drives up the middle.

Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Quick hands (avg. 23.05 mph) and bat speed (avg. 72.01 mph).

Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Quick over-the-top arm action, with some accuracy. C - 78 mph.

Defense: Active, choppy footwork to field with average hands. Plays through the ball. C - quick exchanges and footwork, pop times ranging from 2.07-2.11 seconds.

Run: Above-average 6.77 runner in the 60.

 

Dominic Anselmo C / 3B / Marquette, MO / 2024

Body: 6-foot, 165-pound developing frame.

Hit: RHH. Balanced, open stance. Leg-lift load with big stride into slightly downhill swing path. Generates some backspin with line-drives to his mid/pull side. Occasionally finishes on front side.

Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Quick hands.

Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, high-¾ release.

Defense: Quiet set up behind the plate, adequate receiving and blocking ability. Clean exchanges and fluid footwork.

Run: 7.34 runner in the 60.

 

Bryant Byrd C / RHP / Eldorado, IL / 2021

Body: 6-foot, 205-pounds. Physical, strong frame.

Hit: RHH. Open, wide stance. Leg lift load with hip coil and stride. Looks to elevate the ball with an uphill swing path and gap-to-gap approach. Consistent hard contact. 

Power: 88 mph exit velocity off the tee. Flashes strength with some bat speed.

Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. C - 79 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top release slot. Shows solid carry and accuracy on throw downs.

Defense:  Narrow setup behind the plate. Quick exchange and release with reliable hands. Pop times consistently between 1.94-1.96.

Run: 7.10 runner in the 60.

 

Coby Crafton C / RHP / Lutheran School Association, IL / 2021

Body: 6-foot-4, 230-pounds. Athletic build with present strength.

Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced stance. Toe tap load into level bat path, landing slightly closed. Line-drive contact to all fields.

Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Quick hands (avg. 23.58 mph), fast bat (avg. 72.58 mph).

Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short, quick arm action from an over-the-top arm slot.

Defense: 2.00-2.19 pop times. Clean footwork and exchanges. Good flexibility for his size. Receives and blocks well. 

Run: 7.43 runner in the 60.

 

Jaxson Elder C / OF / Francis Howell, MO / 2021

Body: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Strong frame with present athleticism.

Hit: RHH. Crouched, open stance with some rhythm in his hands. Small step and hand load into a quick level swing through the zone. Feel for the barrel, showing the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. Consistently hard line-drive contact.

Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short arm action, high-¾ release. Arm played accurate on throws down to second.

Defense: 2.01-2.26 pop times. Quiet receiver with good blocking ability. Flexible, clean exchanges and in-line footwork. Long release at times.

Run: 7.78 runner in the 60.

 

Ethan Ferguson C / RHP / Vianney , MO / 2023

Body: 5-foot-8, 150-pounds. Lean, developing frame.

Hit: RHH. Open stance with high handset. Leg kick and hand load down to square, occasionally landing open. Flat swing path, middle approach, line-drive contact.

Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top release slot.

Defense: 2.19-2.36 pop times. Athletic base with blocking ability. Quick footwork, developing exchange and release.

Run: 7.89 runner in the 60.



Cayden Gibson C / OF / Lutheran St. Charles , MO / 2024

Body: 5-foot-5, 135-pounds. Lean, developing frame.

Hit: LHH. Tall, closed stance. Quick knee-to-knee toe tap load with short stride. Uphill swing, finishing on back leg. Line-drive and fly-ball contact to the middle of the field. 

Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. OF - 72 mph. C - 66 mph. Long arm action, ¾ release.

Defense: 2.19-2.28 pop times. Short, choppy footwork with clean glove, playing through the ball well.. Behind the plate, quiet actions with quick feet, developing exchanges and release.

Run: 7.81 runner in the 60.

 

Connor House 1B / C / Roxana , IL / 2022

Body: 6-foot, 220-pounds. Physical frame, strong lower half.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance with some rhythm in hands. Hand load and short stride into quick, level swing through zone. Flashes pull-side power, gap-to-gap approach.

Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Strength in barrel.

Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. C - 72 mph. Long arm circle into short over-the-top release. Shows accuracy behind throws.

Defense: Reliable hands around bag at first, shows some lateral range with clean footwork. 2.07-2.19 pop times. Adequate receiver with quick footwork and exchanges behind the plate.

Run: 7.74 runner in the 60.

 

Mason Jeffers C / Liberty, MO / 2025

Body: 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Athletic, developing frame with room to add size and strength.

Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced stance with a high handset. Controlled leg kick load with arm-bar into uphill swing path. Consistent line-drive contact to mid/pull side.

Power: 73 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top release slot. Shows accuracy and developing arm strength.

Defense: 2.19-2.34 pop times. Quick footwork and exchanges behind the plate. Flexible with solid blocking and receiving ability for his age.

Run: 8.17 runner in the 60.

 

Carson McCaleb C / 3B / Timberland, MO / 2023

Body: 5-foot-9, 165-pounds. Athletic, developing frame.

Hit: SH. Balanced stance, smooth load with rhythm in hands, maintains balance with some feel for the barrel. Line-drive hitter, up the middle approach, flashed some pull side power from the left side.

Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Quick hands.

Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top release slot with accuracy on throw downs.

Defense: 2.08-2.12 pop times. Strong receiver and blocker. Quiet actions behind plate, clean footwork and exchanges.

Run: 7.27 runner in the 60.

 

Christian Moore C / SS / Eureka , MO / 2023

Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Lean, developing frame.

Hit: RHH. Balanced, open stance, active hands. Knee-to-knee load with short stride. Uphill swing path, quick through zone. Looks to elevate the ball, up the middle approach.

Power: 73 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short arm action, high-¾ release.

Defense: 2.15-2.21 pop times. Quick exchanges and footwork, sits low with flexibility, developing release.

Run: 7.56 runner in the 60.

 

Jake Radosevich C / 3B / Triad, IL / 2022

Body: 6-foot, 177-pounds. Well-proportioned build.

Hit: RHH. Balanced, quiet stance. Small leg kick load and stride. Aggressive level swing, looking to elevate, hard line-drives to mid/pull side. Occasionally dives into swing, drifting onto front foot.

Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Quick hands.

Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top release slot.

Defense: 2.01 pop times. Quick footwork and exchanges. Good receiver and blocker with strong glove and flexibility behind the plate.

Run: 7.35 runner in the 60.

 

Ayden Rogers C / 3B / Francis Howell, MO / 2023

Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Proportional build with strong lower half.

Hit: RHH. Open, wide stance. Full body load and quick stride. Aggressive, slightly uphill swing through zone, balanced through finish. Shows ability to drive the ball to all fields, line-drive contact.

Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm action, high-¾ slot. Accurate throws down to 2B.

Defense: 2.00-2.16 pop times. Quick feet and exchanges, athletic set up with good blocking and receiving ability.

Run: 8.01 runner in the 60.

 

Daniel Saucedo C / OF / Fenton, IL / 2021

Body: 6-foot, 165-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame.

Hit: RHH. Wide, open stance. Quick leg lift load, flat bat path through zone. Consistent line-drive contact to mid/pull side. 

Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. 

Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. C - 77 mph. Long arm action, high-¾ release. On-line throws that show some carry.

Defense: 1.97-2.06 pop times. C - Athletic setup, limited sway, quick feet and transfers. OF - Quick exchanges, fields out in front of his body, developing footwork.

Run: 7.25 runner in the 60.

 

Cannon Stuckey C / RHP / Lafayette, MO / 2023

Body: 6-foot, 201-pounds. Physical frame, strong lower half.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, toe tap and arm bar load back. Explosive through zone, level bat path with loud line-drive contact up the middle. Feel for his hands, able to drive the ball to the opposite field.

Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Quick hands (26.10 mph hand speed), fast bat (avg. 74.37 mph).

Arm: RH. C - 81 mph. Long, whippy arm action, high-¾ release with carry and accuracy.

Defense: 2.00-2.22 pop times. Good receiving and blocking skills. Quick feet and exchanges. 

Run: 7.67 runner in the 60.

 

Alex Wittenauer C / 3B / Westminster Christian, MO / 2022

Body: 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Well-proportioned, athletic build.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance with fluid rhythm, hand load and stride into an uphill swing plane with good extension, gap-to-gap approach with loud contact showing pull-side power. 

Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Solid hand speed (26.60 g).

Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. C - 78 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot with carry.

Defense: 1.95-2.05 pop times. Clean footwork and glove, quick exchange, staying low through throws. Behind the plate, quiet setup with blocking and receiving ability. Quick footwork and accurate throws to second.

Run: 7.50 runner in the 60.

 

Christian Witzel C / Centralia, IL / 2022

Body: 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. Lean frame,

Hit: RHH. Balanced, narrow stance, quick stride into level swing. Hard line-drives and pull-side power, back foot finish.

Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat speed (73.20 mph).

Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top release slot.

Defense: 2.06-2.11 pop times. Quick feet and exchanges, lateral range to block.

Run: 7.14 runner in the 60.

 

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