By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Wisconsin/Illinois

The Fox Cities Preseason I.D. was held on March 1 and this week we will start to roll out positional analysis from the event. Starting with the catchers, this might have been the strongest position of the showcase. Several prospects stood out, and several have the ability to play at a high level as they move on. Here's a look at the top receivers from the Fox Cities Preseason I.D.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Jack Kinzer, C, Port Washington, 2016
Strong solid build, durable catcher’s body composition, 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver. Natural catching abilities, soft hands, athletic defender. Arm action is short, over the top slot, quick release, works well out of the crouch, showed carry at 75 mph. Blocks well, quick to his feet. Pop times recorded at 2.00-2.04. High level catch and throw prospect. Right handed hitter, open stance, smooth loading action, short stride, good balance through contact. Makes hard contact, power potential, athletic loose hands at the plate. Line drive gap to gap hitter, excellent bat speed. 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Showed improved foot speed, ran a 7.46 laser timed 60.

2. Jamie DeWitt, C, Waukesha South, 2017
Plus frame, 6-foot-3, 200-pound catcher, advanced physical make up, athletic, moves with ease. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, smooth loading action, short stride back to even, maintains good balance through contact. Athletic, loose hands, good presence in the box, confident hitter. Advanced bat speed, line drive gap to gap hitter, fluid hitter. Pull side power potential, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively looks to be one of the top catch and throw prospects in the 2017 class. Easy actions, loose over the top slot, arm plays well, 74 mph out of the crouch, accurate arm. Posted 2.05-2.12 pop times. Footwork is athletic and directional, 7.77 runner in the 60. High follow prospect in the 2017 class.

3. Kody Theobald, C, Freedom, 2015
Unsigned senior. 5-foot-9, 155-pound catcher, average frame and build. Good defensively actions, quick catch and throw guy, blocks well, natural receiver. Arm action is short, over the top slot, typical catcher release, 73 mph arm strength. Exchange and footwork are quick, ran a 7.27 in the 60, laser timed. Best pop time of the event, 1.99-2.05. Right-handed hitter, open setup, smooth loading action with short stride getting him back to square. Looks the part in the box, good presence and balance. Path works well, short to it with some extension, slight pull side hitter, loose hands. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.

4. Gannon Goldensoph, C, Oak Creek, 2016
Athletically built, 5-foot-11, 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Showed catch and throw skills, quick transfer and release, 2.01-2.14 pop times. Arm played accurately, short arm action, over the top slot, 71 mph arm strength out of the crouch. Mechanically sound blocking the baseball. Offensively showed advanced tools, open stance, smooth loading action, short stride back to even. Bat speed present, 7 mph exit velocity from the tee. Pull side tendencies with hard contact, strong hitter. 7.68 runner in the 60.

5. Jack Thelen, C, West Bend West, 2017
Long lanky frame, 6-foot-3, 180-pounds projectable frame, slender build, will fill out. Good catch and throw prospect. Arm action is short and loose, over the top slot, arm carries through target, highly accurate and stays online, 74 mph arm strength. Feet worked well, quick clean exchange, showed softer hands.  Posted pop times at 2.00-2.08. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg lift stride. Spray hitter, uses the whole field, showed good bat speed, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Raw bat with upside, athletic hands. Ran the 60 at 7.53.

6. Cody Cline, C, Fall Creek, 2016
5-foot-8, 175-pound left-handed hitting catcher, squared stocky build, shows strength. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good balance. Strong swing, uphill path, looks to lift some, topspins the baseball, pull side tendencies. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Good follow at the plate. Defensively showed good receiving actions, blocks well. Arm plays short, over the top slot, 72 mph out of the crouch. Good exchange, quick clean, pop time ranged from 2.08-2.19. Ran a 7.35 laser timed 60 yard dash.

7. Trevor Hogenson, C, St. Mary Central, 2016
5-foot-8, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher, average build, moves athletically. Defensively showed soft hands, good catching actions and athleticism out of the crouch. Receives well, quiet target, mechanically sound and willing blocker. Gets out of the chute quickly and efficiently, compact actions, arm action is short and over the top, typical to a catcher’s slot. Posted pop times at 2.16-2.19, consistent and accurate arm, 72 mph arm strength out of the crouch. Excellent actions and release, as arm strength improves could see significant improvement in pop times. Offensively hits from an open stance, slight leg kick trigger back to even, smooth loading action, good balance. Good balance, slight pull side approach, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee, good bat speed.

8. Jayden Adrians, C, Green Bay Preble, 2017
6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed hitting catcher, large frame with strong build, good body with projection. Projects well with the bat, strong follow. Balanced stance, short stride, good balance. Loose hands, attacks the baseball aggressively, makes hard contact and shows the ability to back spin the baseball. Flashed a pull side power approach, advanced bat speed for age, 91 mph exit velocity, power potential bat. Defensively showed some quick twitch actions out of the crouch, can polish catch and throw mechanics. Arm works from a lower slot, 73 mph arm strength out of the chute. Sits high through pop times, 2.10-2.26, as catch and throw mechanics improve he’s likely to see vast improvements in pop times. 7.81 runner in the 60.

9. Pierce Blohowiak, C/3B, Xavier, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound catcher/third baseman, medium frame, young build, projectable. Defensively showed more polish behind the plate. Arm action is short, over the top slot, arm stayed online, 71 mph out of the crouch. Posted pop time at 2.18-2.26, well above average for his age. Blocks well, shows upside behind the plate. At third base, arm played similar, 71 mph across the diamond, longer transfer. Hits from the right side, balanced stance, longer stride, linear lower half. Feet can stay steadier, occasionally lunges. Bat speed present for age, gap to gap type hitter, good path. 7.14 runner in the 60, laser timed. Good athlete with upside, strong follow.

10. Benjamin Kellner, C, Reedsburg, 2017
Athletic frame with some length, 5-foot-11, 170-pound catcher, projectable body. Works quickly out of the chute, athletic defender, blocks well, footwork can be more directional, tendency to open early. 2.07-2.19 pop times, should improve with maturity. Arm played at 72 mph, short over the top slot, occasional carry. 7.8 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, narrow stance, leg kick trigger. Made hard contact, good bat speed, some extension, path works well to the baseball, average balance. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Ty Dorner, C, Luxemburg-Casco, 2016
5-foot-10, 210-pound catcher, has current strength. Defensively showed the ability to catch and throw, compact release, short and over the top. Arm played at 71 mph, posted pop times at 2.33-2.42. Blocks well and shows softer hands when receiving. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride. Strong compact swing, pull side power approach, bat speed present. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee, power potential bat. 8.16 runner in the 60.

Jack Hanauer, C, Shawano, 2017
6-foot-1, 170-pound catcher, good frame has some projection in his body. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride with heel lift. Path has some length, pull side approach, 67 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and firm from the crouch, 68 mph. Posted pop times at 2.29-2.43. Ran the 60 at 8.09.

Brandon Huettl, C, Bay Port, 2017
5-foot-11, 175-pound catcher, medium frame and build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, brings hands down and back to load. Path works slightly uphill, 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses a long arm action out of the crouch, high ¾ slot, 67 mph arm strength out of the chute, works uphill. Posted pop times at 2.32-2.38. Ran the 60 at 7.58 laser timed.

Steven Jacobson, C, Kimberly, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher, medium athletic build. Defensively played with a short arm action, over the top slot, 73 mph arm strength out of the crouch. Pop times at 2.08-2.16. Works slightly uphill out of the crouch with effort, hands played well, good glove to hand transfer, release can improve to quicken pop time. Right-handed hitter, open stance, tall and narrow, short stride back to even, lower half can get more involved. Easy relaxed swing, opposite field contact. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.52 runner in the 60.

Michael Lund, C, DePere, 2016
5-foot-9, 160-pound catcher, medium frame. Defensively arm action is short, high ¾ slot, average arm strength played at 71 mph, firm arm action. Pop times ranged from 2.18-2.25. Receives well, hands showed softness, quiet setup and target. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Spray type hitter, mechanical approach, path has some length and worked mostly to the middle of the field. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Good runner for the catching position, 7.16 laser timed 60.

Leighton Myers, C/RHP, Little Chute, 2017
Long lanky frame, 6-foot-2, 170-pound catcher, slender build, body has projection. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, loads hands back. Path has length, slight uppercut path, projects some with the bat. As he fills out will see harder contact. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action has length, high ¾ slot, 71 mph out of the chute. Posted pop times at 2.30-2.37. 7.48 runner in the 60. On the mound arm works from a high ¾ slot, some length. Fastball sat 72-74 mph, mostly straight, four seam action. Curveball has 11/5 shape, slows arm some, 56-62 mph. Changeup has slight cut action, near fastball arm speed.

Bryce Patin, C, Hartford Union, 2016
Slender build, 6-foot, 170-pound catcher. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, slightly crouched, short stride. Path works around the baseball, pull side approach, showed some bat speed, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee, produced top spinning line drives. Solid foot speed for the catching position, 7.24 runner in the 60. Defensively arm played from a high ¾ slot, firm arm action, 73 mph out of the chute. 2.19-2.32 pop times, footwork and direction can improve to decrease pop times.

Simon Pflum, C, Appleton East, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher, medium frame, lean build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, no stride approach, minimal lower half involvement. Pull side hitter, path works around the baseball, produced consistent line drives to his pull side. 70 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 68 mph from the crouch, long over the top arm action. Can shorten up arm and footwork to improve pop times, posted 2.26-2.43. Solid runner for a catcher at 7.22 in the 60.

Alan Roden, C, Middleton, 2018
5-foot-10, 170-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 2.18-2.25 pop times out of the crouch, sets up tall, solid transfer. Firm arm action, 72 mph arm strength, high ¾ slot. Hits from the left side, balanced setup, short stride. Path is flat and level through the zone, solid contact, barreled the baseball. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Left-handed bat has upside, should continue to develop.

Casey Roeser, C/RHP, Green Bay Preble, 2018
5-foot-9, 175-pound switch hitting catcher, medium frame, has some strength and projection in body. Offensively hits from both sides, similar setup and load, balanced stance with reverse toe tap stride. Good contact, slightly strong from right side, pull side approach left handed, works more gap to gap right-handed. Good bat speed from both sides, legitimate switch hitting prospect, 80 mph exit velocity from the left side, 86 mph exit velocity from the right side. Defensively arm played at 69 mph out of the crouch, long arm action from high ¾ slot. Stands up tall out of the crouch, sits high, pop times at 2.30-2.44. Runs the 60 at 8.22, laser timed. On the mound arm plays with length, tall and fall delivery. Fastball is mostly straight, showed fell for the zone, 72-73 mph, touched 75 mph. Curveball has gradual action, 60-65 mph. Throws straight change with control, fastball similar arm speed, 66-68 mph. Also flashed a knuckleball at 60-62 mph.

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