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By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

The Top Prospects Games were on Monday, June 1^st and Tuesday, June 2^nd at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale Ar. The event had 84 players in it, here is a look at the top catcher from each of the four teams.

Austin Powell, 2016, C Star City HS
Powell is a 6-foot 180-pound catcher with a medium frame and a physical build. He is a good athlete running a 7.19 in the 60. Powell threw a 1.81-1.96 pop time during the pro-style works. He receives with soft hands and maintains proper arm angles. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance, and maintains good balance throughout his swing. He attacks the baseball with an uphill bat path and fast bat speed, producing exit velocities up to 92 mph. Overall Powell is an advanced catch and throw catcher with enough offensive aptitude to handle the catching duties early on at the collegiate level.

J. Paul Fullerton, 2016, C, Harding Academy HS
Fullerton is a 6-foot-1 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher with a large frame and an average build. Fullerton threw a 1.93-2.01 during the pro-style work out. He has a strong accurate arm with carry, he would benefit from staying online through the plate instead of working around the plate, but overall a solid defender. Offensively he starts from an open stance diving back into the plate, he does get back on line, and works through the ball with a downhill bat path. His swing mechanically is sound, I would like to see him take a bug guys approach and let the bat go a little more. Right now his approach is to be consistent singles hitter. Overall Fullerton is an advanced catch and throw guy with good instincts and leadership capabilities. He is short offensively to be considered a college ready hitter.

Dakatoh Stafford, 2016, C Central HS
Stafford is a 6-foot-1 180-pound catcher with a medium frame and an athletic build. He possess a strong arm accurate arm throwing a 1.94-2.03 pop times during our pro-style work out He maintains an athletic stance and receives with soft hands. Offensively he shows the ability to hit the ball to all field with a short compact line drive swing. Stafford carries himself well and exudes confidence, he seems to bring energy to his teams. Overall Stafford is a solid catcher that is a good catch and throw guy, with gaining strength he will be a solid collegiate catcher.

Kieandre Purifoy, 2016, C Smackover HS
Purifoy is a 5-foot-10 190-pound catcher with a medium frame and a jacked build. A physically gifted player with raw skills. He threw a 2.00-2.21 pop times during the pro-style work out. He has an elongated exchange if he could clean that up his pop times would be sub 2.0. Offensively he is raw but attacks the baseball aggressive, he tends to spin off balls being overly aggressive. He produces 88 mph exit velocities and drove the ball well to the pull side gap during batting practice. Overall Purifoy has huge upside with an unrefined skill set, as he continues to learn and develop he could turn into a very good collegiate player.

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