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It was a busy summer this year at PBR Virginia, with multiple events across the commonwealth ranging from Liberty University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Sports Complex, and Virginia Tech University. This series will take a look at top performers of the summer regardless of the class. Take a look and enjoy. Today we take a look at 16 catchers that stood out with their performances over the summer.

 

Summer Top Performers: Catchers

 

Peter Benavides C / OF / Battlefield, VA / 2020 Top Prospect Games II 8/8/18 Benavides is 5-11 with an athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a wider balanced athletic stance, short stride on line, smooth load back with a wrap, hips rotate with some violence and he maintains good balance during his swing, has some rhythm. Short to ball with some extension through it, worked middle of the field primarily, slightly uphill line drive swing with potential to add power as he gets stronger, exit velocity was 82. Behind the plate, quick clean exchange. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, position velocity was 68, pop times were 2.08-2.18, some accuracy to his throws.

 

 

Sam Beard C / RHP / Brentsville District , VA / 2019 Unsigned Senior Games 8/7/18 Beard is 6-0 with an athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He hits from the right side from an open athletic stance, leg kick stride on line, short smooth load back, hips rotate completely with some explosion and he maintains balance during his swing. Level line drive swing, gets uphill a bit to pull side, has some batspeed and showed gap power, exit velocity was 84. Behind the plate, quick clean exchange. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, position velocity was 76 and pop times were 2.02-2.07, showed accuracy on his throws. Ran a 7.48 60 yard dash.

 

 

JT Carter C / OF / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2021 PBR Future Games 8/4/18 Solid frame with strong lower half at 6-foot, 195-pounds. Ran a 7.66 60-yard dash. Hits from an athletic set up with hands at shoulder level. Has a smooth rock-back load with leg kick to hitting position and arm bar. Longer swing path through the zone with quick hands and strong barrel. Barrelled well during BP, working the left center gap and showing a middle approach. Power potential down the road. Exit velocity of 91 mph. Presents good target for pitchers to work with. Sound receiver with soft hands and stiicks ball well. Nice hip control and works hard on dirt ball to work hips around. Clean footwork behind the plate with quick exchange to release and a short arm action. Pop time as low as 2.00 on the day with a velo of 79 mph.

 

 

Nathan Cmeyla C / 2B / Briar Woods, VA / 2020 PBR Future Games 8/1/18 Athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 175-pounds. Hits from an athletic set up at the plate with high hands. Smooth load back with medium leg kick to hitting position. Short swing with fast bat speed and accelerates through extension. Long through contact with gap to gap ability. Like the rhythm and balance at the plate. Exit velocity of 93 mph. Athletic behind the dish. Handles velo well and sticks the ball. Sound receiving skills. quick exchange with short arm action. one of the top pop times of the event getting as low as 1.93 with velo of 81 mph. Athletic enough to play multiple positions with his speed (6.91 60-yard dash) and hands, but more than handles his own behind the plate. A stock riser from this event.

 

 

Jonathan Compton C / OF / Gate City, VA / 2020 PBR Future Games 8/1/18 Strong athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds. High end speed from the catching position with a 6.57 60-yard dash. Displays quick twitch with explosiveness. Hits from a balanced set up with hands back above shoulder level. Level swing path with fast bat speed and strength in swing. Power is present to pull side. 98 mph exit velocity. Has quick feet from behind the plate with clean exchange and short arm action to release. Pop as low as 2.16 during the workout with velocity of 76 mph. During games showed off the rare combination of speed and strength. Plays at his speed out of the box on the offensive end. legged out a high chopper through the middle with ease. One-handed a ball just short of the fence to left field in game that turned into a triple. Hits second triple of event on last day with well driven ball to right center. Still some rawness to his game that should only improve his game. Future may end up in the outfield because of his top tier speed.

 

 

Tyler Cotten C / 3B / Grafton , VA / 2020 Top Prospect Games II 8/8/18 Cotten is 5-11 with an athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance, short stride on line, smooth load back, hips rotate with some violence and he maintains some balance during his swing, has some rhythm. Short to ball with good extension through it, strength at contact, showed good approach using middle of field, level line drive swing with potential to add power as he gets stronger, exit velocity was 86. Behind the plate, quick clean exchange. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, position velocity was 80, pop times were 1.95-2.01, some accuracy to his throws

 

 

Christian Ficca C / 1B / Gonzaga College, VA / 2020 PBR Future Games 8/1/18 Lanky and projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 190-pounds. Ran a 7.55 60-yard dash. Hits from a taller open set up with hands at shoulder level. Squares up with low leg lift to his hitting position with slight arm bar. Free hands at the plate with level path and bat speed. Shows pop to the pull side and that was present during his BP session. Nice rhythm in swing. Exit velocity of 93 mph. Nice feel for barrel at the plate and is only going to get better as he fills out his frame. Solid base behind the plate. Sound receiving ability, like to see quiet down a little more in game with body movement. Quick and clean exchange behind the dish with short arm action with a pop time as low as 2.12. Velo of 75 mph. Still rawness left to the game with higher ceiling. Showed ability to keep barrel in zone. knocked a double to left field on tough pitch in game in his one appearance before having to leave early. Like offensive potential of the prospect, and probably will be C/1B combo at the next level once frame is filled out and he looks like a linebacker.

 

 

Andrew Frye C / 2B / Forest Park, VA / 2019 Unsigned Senior Games 8/7/18 Frye is 5-10 with an athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He hits from the right side from an open athletic stance, short leg kick stride on line, short load back into a wrap, hips rotate completely and he maintains some balance during his swing. Short to ball, slightly uphill path with some extension through the ball, showed good approach working middle of the field, line drive swing, exit velocity was 83. Behind the plate, quick clean exchange. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, position velocity was 71 and pop times were 2.07-2.15, very accurate throws.

 

 

David Giorgis C / OF / West Springfield , VA / 2019 Scout Day 7/10/18 Giorgis is 6-1 with an athletic frame that has some projection left to it, he hits from the right side from an athletic stance, no stride, short load, hips rotate completely with explosiveness, good balance to swing. Short swing path with fast hands, worked slightly uphill through the ball with some bat speed and power, showed pull approach, exit velocity was 89. Behind the plate throws from a higher three-quarters arm slot, short quick arm with some strength, quick clean exchange, accuracy on throws, position velocity was 77 and pop times were 2.00-2.05. Has speed for a catcher and athleticism to play other positions, ran a 7.25 60 yard dash.

 

 

Dylan Hatfield C / 3B / William Byrd, VA / 2021 Top Prospect Games II 8/8/18 Hatfield is 5-10 with an athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a balanced athletic stance, short leg kick stride on line, smooth load back, hips rotate completely with violence, and he maintains some balance during his swing. Short to ball, fast whippy bat, showed a pull preference with power potential, slightly uphill line drive swing, strong at contact with extension, exit velocity was 84. Behind the plate, very quick clean exchange. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a short quick arm action, position velocity was 76, pop times were 1.89-1.96 with good accuracy on his throws.

 

 

Lew Rice C / 3B / Collegiate , VA / 2020 PBR Future Games 8.1.18 Solid frame at 6-foot, 175-pounds. Ran a 7.07 60-yard dash. Hits from a slightly open set. Smooth load with leg kick to hitting position. Hands are direct to the ball with fast bat speed and level through contact. Gets some uphill in swing as well. Nice lower half involvement. Shows pop to the pull side, strongest when working the middle of the field. Nice rhythm at the plate. Exit velocity of 90 mph. Versatile defender. Catcher is primary and shows strong receiving skills behind the dish. Quiet receiver with clean exchange and release on pops. Velocity on throws was up to 73 mph with a lowest pop time at 2.08. Showed ability to comfortably play third base as well as corner outfield in game, could handle either as well. Made adjustments throughout the event and leveled a swing that had gotten too uphill in first two games and had his best at bats in game three of the event, showing his potential as an offensive presence.

 

 

Jackson Severt C / 2B / Dinwiddie, VA / 2021 Top Prospect Games II 8/8/18 Severt is 6-0 with a lanky frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance, strides on line, smooth load back, hips rotate completely with violence, and he maintains good balance during his swing. Quick to ball, showed good approach working gap to gap, level line drive swing, some strength at contact with extension, exit velocity was 78. Behind the plate, quick clean exchange. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, position velocity was 77, pop times were 1.94-2.00. Showed versatility taking balls on the infield, position velocity there was 78.

 

 

Sebastian Silva C / 1B / Norfolk Christian, VA / 2020 Top Prospect Games II 8/8/18 Silva is 5-11 with a lankier frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the left side from a balanced athletic stance, short leg kick stride on line, short load back, hips rotate completely with violence, and he maintains good balance during his swing, has some rhythm. Quick to ball, showed good approach working gap to gap, slightly uphill line drive swing, strength at contact with extension through the ball, exit velocity was 85. Behind the plate, quick clean exchange. Throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, position velocity was 77, pop times were 1.98-2.07, showed good accuracy on his throws.

 

 

Jake Wortman C / 3B / Colonial Forge, VA / 2019 Top Prospect Games 6/19/18 Wortman is 6-2 with a lanky frame that still has a lot of projection to it. He is a switch hitter, from the left side balanced athletic stance, short level swing with extension uphill through the ball, line drive pull approach with doubles power. From the right side, open athletic stance with more of a leg kick stride, short level line drive swing showed good approach working gap to gap. Best exit velocity was 89. Behind the plate, clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, pop times were 2.02-2.19 and catcher velocity was 72. Also showcased at third base and arm their was 79.

 

 

Austin Younce C / OF / Greenbrier Christian, VA / 2021 PBR Future Games 8.1.18 Athletic and projectable frame at 6-foot, 175-pounds. An athletic, versatile 2021 catching prospect. Ran a 7.19 60-yard dash. Hits from a balanced, strong set up at the plate. Gets into his lower half well. Short load with quick foot pick up. Simple, repeats well, nice balance and shows some fluidity in swing. Short swing path at the plate with some extension through contact. Gets up hill finish. Shows ability to pull hands inside ball when needed. Shows some strength to the pull side and potential pop to that side down the road. Exit velocity of 90 mph. Receives ball well behind the dish. Presented nice target to pitcher. Clean and quick exchange with sound footwork on throws to second. Throws have carry on them to second up to 78 mph with a pop as low at 2.08. Solid overall prospect that will be a 2021 to follow.

 

 

Gavin Younce C / 3B / Greenbrier Christian, VA / 2019 Top Prospect Games 2/19/18 Younce is 6-0 with an athletic frame. He hits from the right side from a balanced athletic stance, short stride on line, minimal load back, quiet set-up with good rhythm. Explosive lower half with good balance throughout swing. Short to ball, slightly uphill line drive swing with extension through the ball, worked gap to gap, exit velocity was 85. Behind the plate, quick clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, ball has carry to it. Pop times were 1.91-2.14 and catcher velocity was 77. Ran a 4.31 home to first.