TOMBALL, TX - On Saturday, January 6th, Prep Baseball Report hosted the Houston Preseason I.D. at Premier Baseball in Tomball, TX. The event was open to all 2018-2021 classes. Players were run through a full pro-style workout, including 60-yard dash, batting practice and defensive skill workout. Here is the catching analysis from that event.

CATCHING ANALYSIS

Jared Alvarez-Lopez, C, Cypress Ranch HS, 2019
The uncommitted junior threw 77 mph from the crouch and posted pop times of 1.97-2.08. He has a loose arm stroke from behind the plate and a strong, sturdy frame at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. A right-handed hitter, Lopez showed fluid rhythm and a smooth load during batting practice. Quick hands through the zone, short path, loose finish with good pop as ball jumps off his bat with an exit velocity of 85 mph off the tee. Catches one of the best pitching staffs in Texas at Cypress Ranch. Ranked No. 81 in Texas 2019 Class.

Ben Dukes, C/OF, Memorial HS, 2020
Dukes spent his fall on the gridiron for the Mustangs, but the sophomore hasn’t missed a beat. Smooth swing from the left side with current gap power and more to come. Laced balls through the middle of the field during batting practice (exit velocity 82 mph). Behind the plate he receives the low pitch with soft hands and has a natural athleticism when blocking balls in the dirt. Threw 75 mph from the crouch, posting pop times of 2.01-2.08. Good rhythm through the ball in the outfield, throws with carry and accuracy at 83 mph. Currently ranked No. 28 in the Texas 2020 Class, 165 Overall, Dukes is already getting a lot of attention from Division 1 schools.

Christopher Wattinger, C, Bridgeland HS, 2020 
At 5-foot-11, 175-pounds, Wattinger has added strength since the last time we saw him. Behind the plate, he has good hip mobility, and is light on his feet with quick footwork. Accurate arm with carry to second base at 74 mph and pop times of 2.09-2.14. Quick arm from back to front. Soft hands during live bullpens, stays in his legs on the low strike, good mobility to block. The right-handed hitter starts from a narrow stance with flex in his lower half. Pushes back with a reverse leg lift as he triggers his hands back, then strides forward, landing balanced. Loose-quick hands, short, flat path through the zone. Aggressive hack, generates leverage with lower half transfer, hard contact on the barrel with a gap-to-gap approach and an exit velocity of 81 mph.

Jonas Holloway, C/2B, Kingwood Park HS, 2021
5-foot-9, 165-pounds. The left-handed hitter starts from a tall stance with relaxed hands. Loads with a controlled leg kick then strides forward, walking away from his hands, creating separation as he lands balanced. Natural left-handed swing with lift and leverage. Elevated the ball to the pull side with an exit velocity of 75 mph, and a high, loose finish. Behind the plate, Holloway has quick footwork, quick-clean exchange, clean arm stroke with carry on throws to second base. Threw 69 mph from the crouch with pop times of 2.04-2.13. Solid blocking and receiving skills during live bullpens.

Rudy Gonzalez, C/SS, Magnolia HS, 2018
5-foot-10, 198-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a balanced, neutral stance. Smooth load back into a leg kick as his hands trigger back into a slight front arm bar. Short stride, lands balanced, transfers weight easy through contact. Slightly uphill path, loose hands, good extension through contact with a loose finish as he stays behind his front foot to lean back, creating lift, leverage and hard contact to the pull side with an exit velocity of 84 mph. Behind the plate, Gonzalez threw 74 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging from 2.04-2.22. Loose arm action, clean exchange, quick footwork. On the infield, he has an accurate arm at 78 mph across the diamond.

Jackson Appel, C/SS, Memorial HS, 2019
5-foot-10, 165-pound, lean frame. Appel has a strong arm behind the plate (80 mph), and in the outfield (87 mph). In the outfield, he plays through the ball with quick footwork, soft hands, big crow hop to generate momentum and arm speed. Accurate throws to the plate from a high-¾ slot with a short arm stroke. Behind the plate he threw 80 mph from the crouch with pop times of 1.97-2.2. Quick exchange, gains ground with in-line footwork. A switch-hitter, from the left side he starts from a slightly open stance with relaxed hands. Smooth early load back as he triggers his hands back and up, then strides forward, landing square. Short, flat path through the zone with a loose finish and exit velocity of 80 mph off the tee. From the right side, starts from a tall, open stance, triggers hands back, strides closed. Slight front arm bar and a flat path produced mostly ground balls. Ran a 7.1 60-yard dash.

Parker Spanley, C/OF, Johnson HS, 2020
5-foot-9, 155-pound, high-waisted, lean-strong, projectable, athletic frame. The left-handed hitter starts from a neutral, relaxed stance with his hands set high and the barrel cocked over his head. Smooth, simple load back as he triggers his hands down and back. Short stride, lands balanced, aggressive swing, strong hands, uphill path, high finish and an exit velocity of 83 mph. Behind the plate, Spanley has quick, in-line footwork, and threw 75 mph from the crouch with pop times of 2.33-2.44.

Keaton Urioste, C/RHP, Cinco Ranch HS, 2020 
6-foot, 165-pounds. The left-handed hitter starts from a tall, neutral stance. Smooth load back, knee-to-knee leg lift, relaxed hands and rhythm. Lands balanced, barrel stays in the zone a long time, simple weight shift, loose finish on a slightly uphill path. Line drive power with an exit velocity of 74 mph. Behind the plate, he threw 74 mph from the crouch and posted pop times of 2.11-2.18. Blocked well during live bullpens.

Dylan Simmons, C/3B, Concordia Lutheran, 2019 
6-foot, 160-pound, long limbed, wiry frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a crouched, open stance with a wide base and the barrel coiled back behind his head. Triggers his hands back and up as he strides forward, landing balanced. Rotational swing, strength at contact, slightly uphill path and an exit velocity of 84 mph. Threw strikes to second base with a 75 mph velocity from the crouch and pop times of 2.11-2.29.

Jaxson Pierce, C/OF, The Woodlands HS, 2022
5-foot-8, 175-pound, strong frame for an eighth grader. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall stance with relaxed hands. Lowers himself into his legs as his hands trigger down and back, then lifts his front foot as he strides forward. Present hand strength and bat speed, short path, hard contact during batting practice. Does a nice job of creating simple separation and weight shift. Exit velocity of 70 mph off the tee. In the outfield, Pierce is an accurate thrower with a smooth arm swing and top velocity of 73 mph. Behind the plate, he threw 72 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging from 2.35-2.61. Ran a 7.61 60-yard dash.

Levy Hammack, OF/RHP, Magnolia HS, 2020
5-foot-10, 145-pounds. A two-way player, Hammack is an aggressive player. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, open stance with his shoulders tilted down and forward. Uses a big leg kick to load, aggressive and balanced weight transfer, loose-strong hands, uphill path creates leverage with an exit velocity of 83 mph. Behind the plate, Hammack has in-line footwork and threw 72 mph from the crouch with 2.15-2.43 pop times. Ran a 7.4 60-yard dash.

Adam Whitty, C/1B, Memorial HS, 2020 
5-foot-11, 158-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide, slightly open stance with his set back below his back shoulder. Triggers hands down and back, short stride, lands square. Rotates lower half to contact, flat path with an exit velocity of 76 mph. Behind the plate, Whitty has quickish footwork, threw 64 mph from the crouch with a short arm stroke and pop times of 2.25-2.41.

 

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