Summer Kickoff ID - Prospect Analysis - Catchers

June 12, 2019
Eddie Tisdale
Scouting Director - South Carolina

Kendrick Corbin C / RHP / Dreher, SC / 2020

5-11, 175lb broad shoulders and moderately strong lower half. Frame suggest he hasn't reached his maximum physical potential. Balanced stance with the weight slightly shifted to the back side and the hands set just off the back shoulder. The load is triggered with a short leg kick that pushes the hands down and back. Muscled the barrel on a lofted path through contact. Higher set up behind the plate with limited bend in the hips. Longer transfer with a hitch in the exchange caused longer pop times. Short rocker step with a balance point at the belt, slightly rotational at the top with some weight leaking forward. Full arm action on the back side to a OTT release point and good extension down the mound. Developing feel for offspeed.

Calder Garris C / RHP / Wando, SC / 2022

Strong profile with broad sloped shoulders and thick lower half. Prototypical catchers build. Relxed stance and hand set prepitch. Loads the hands up with a medium/short leg kick timing mechanism. Loose hands and lofted path attack the ball with bat speed. Generates some elasticity in the torso and produces some whip through contact. Good bend in the hips behind the plate and strong hands receiving the baseball. Falls to the 3rd base side on the way out, but consistent with carry and accuracy of throws. Athletic drop/block for his build. Medium rocker step and balance point just above the belt. Deep stabbing action on the back side with a slight scap load. Landed slightly open of his line, working the FB in the lower half of the zone and flashing a sharp 10/4 slider.

Michael Gilyard C / 3B / Orangeburg Wilkinson, SC / 2021

Athletic build with length in the limbs and a slender upper body and mildly stronger lower half. Wide stance with higher handset. Short knee to knee load lands a medium stride with moderate length. Soft front side prevented maximum torque into contact. Slight uphill bat path and rigid tendencies muscle the barrel through the hitting zone. Flex in the hips and confident receiving the ball out front consistently. Good exchanges with a long arm action and hitch at the bottom limited pop times. Avg. block & recover is aided by overall athletic ability.

Hunter Latham C / 1B / York Comprehensive, SC / 2022

Square shoulders and slender frame with room for additional development. Relaxed set up with hands slightly higher than the back shoulder. Short stride and simple hand load gathers the weight over the back foot. Feel for the barrel with low line drive tendencies. Added strength will add to the bat speed and could trend the power potential up. Quality defensive tool with some bend in the hips. Receives the ball under control with quiet hands. Quick exchanges and release could see pop times drop with added arm strength.

Gavin Phillips C / 3B / Andrew Jackson, SC / 2021

5-8, 200lb Catchers build with thick torso and lower half and broad shoulders. Low stride with moderate length load the hands down and back. Bat path is uphill through contact with some juice (84 mph EV). Athletic set up behind the plate for his size. Good bend in the hips and strong wrist when handling balls at the edges of the zone. Soft hands inside the shoulders and quick transfers. Longer arm action and developing arm strength.

Shane Thomas C / OF / Richland Northeast, SC / 2021

Athletic 6-0 175lb frame with lean strength, sloped shoulders, and strength in the lower half. 6.48 sixty time paired with an 86 mph exit velo. Timed up well in BP with a solid round of on barrel line drives through the middle of the field. Short toe tap load and slight barrel turn at the top. Flatter bat path through the zone with loose whippy tempo. Serviceable defender behind the plate, block and recover is aided by his athletic ability. Catch and throw is inconsistent, lacking carry through the bag. Secondary OF should good serious consideration out there moving forward.

Wyatt Wilson C / 1B / Catawba Ridge, SC / 2022

Wiry frame with slender limbs. Good hand size and long legs suggest future development potential. Stance just outside the shoulders with a high hand set just off the back shoulder. Toe tap loads the hands back over the back foot. Steep attack angle produced a mixture of line drives and ground balls during his BP rounds. Was able to catch a few balls cleanly with moderate carry. Stiff at times behind the plate with a longer arm action on throws to second. Handled pitches inside the shoulders well, will need additional work receiving balls at the edges of the zone.