Madison Preseason ID: Catcher Analysis

May 1, 2023
Wisconsin Staff

On March 12, the PBR Wisconsin staff traveled to GRB Academy in Windsor, WI to host the annual Madison Preseason ID. The event featured over 150 players from the surrounding area, and provided our staff with an ample opportunity to check-in on some of the state’s top high school prospects.

In the week that followed this event, we produced post-event analysis that includes performance highlights inside of our Quick Hits story, a look at the traditional stats measured within our Statistical Analysis piece, batted-ball and swing metrics captured in our Positional Data Dive, and pitch data compiled in our Pitcher Data Dive.

You can learn more about the state-of-the-art technologies featured at our showcases within the hyperlinks above. Today we’ll begin our post-event process by rolling out the individual scouting reports of the day, starting with the catcher position while working our way across the diamond as the week continues.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

no. 1 Carter Kutz C / 3B / Hartford Union, WI / 2025

Positional Profile: 3B/3B
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds. Well proportioned, room for to add strength, athletic.
Hit: RHH. Wider base slightly open with relaxed hands. Fluid load into a flat path, uphill at times, stays balanced through contact, intent to lift.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 81.7 mph. 348’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 81.00 mph. INF - 88.00 mph. 3/4 slot, carry to throws.
Defense: 1.91-2.01 pop times. Quick first step, works around ball.
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60.

no. 2 Terek Verhage C / OF / Monona Grove, WI / 2025

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds. Lanky, well proportioned, fill coming, athletic.
Hit: LHH. Wide base set up with preloaded hands. Creates hand separation into an uphill path, creates bat-speed through impact, stays through the zone, works the middle of the field.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 80.6 mph. 287’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77.00 mph. OF - 88.00 mph. Compact, quick arm, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.01-2.23 pop times. One-hand gather, works in-stride, works towards target.
Run: 7.50 runner in the 60.

no. 3 Brady LaViolette C / 1B / Notre Dame Academy, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-10, 190-pounds. Thicker frame with strength.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up, upright set up. Hands start high, uphill path, stays through the ball, repeated hard lifted contact.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 86.4 mph. 344’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph. Compact, quick arm, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.94-2.08 pop times. Quick first step, soft hands, works in-line, athletic actions, soft blocker.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60.

no. 4 Colin Murphy C / SS / Waunakee, WI / 2026

Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-8, 160-pounds. Athletic, with strength and good proportions.
Hit: RHH. Wider base set up with flat barrel at set up. Flat path, stays through the zone for a long time, creates bat-speed, uses the middle and pull-side.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 79 mph. 269’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph. Compact, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.03-2.10 pop times. Quick first step, smooth transfer, soft hands, soft blocker.
Run: 6.98 runner in the 60.

no. 5 Gavin Obremski C / 1B / Mosinee , WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 220-pounds. Big thick frame with strength and more fill coming.
Hit: SH. R: Open set up, stock set up. L: open set up with relaxed hands. R: Short load with a flat path, stays closed through impact, whole-field approach. L: Direct, short quick path with ability to impact the ball to all fields.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 81.1 mph. 285’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76.00 mph. Short arm action, quick arm, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.98-2.12 pop times. Quick first step, soft hands, quick, clean transfer, soft blocker.
Run: 7.24 runner in the 60.

no. 6 Bennett Keller C / Evansville , WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/C
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds. Athletic with good proportions.
Hit: LHH. Slight crouch set up, with relaxed hands. Hands move back with load, direct path, slightly uphill.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 79.8 mph. 269’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73.00 mph. Compact, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.92-2.11 pop times. Soft hands, quick, clean transfer, works in-line, accurate throws, soft blocker.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60.

no. 7 Manuel Abreu Socorro C / 3B / Sun Prairie East, WI / 2026

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Athletic with fill.
Hit: RHH. Athletic, balanced set up with higher hands. Minimal hand load, stays short to the ball, slightly uphill, stays through the ball, uses the whole field and works gap-to-gap.
Power: 76 max exit velocity, averaged 71.9 mph. 248’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph. Compact, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.03-2.19 pop times. Quick first step, clean transfer, soft hands, accurate throws.
Run: 7.86 runner in the 60.

no. 8 Nate Novinska C / OF / Verona , WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds. Athletic build with good proportions and strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with higher hands and strong back elbow. Quiet hand load into an uphill path, showed some bat-speed and hard lifted contact up the middle to the pull-side.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 85.7 mph. 331’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph. OF - 88.00 mph. Long, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.07-2.26 pop times. One-hand gather, works in stride, up and over arm, works in-line.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60.

no. 9 Michael Monson C / 2B / Madison West, WI / 2025

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Athletic with strength and some projection.
Hit: RHH. Narrow set up with pigeon toe set up. Hands work uphill, intent to lift the ball, middle/oppo approach.
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 75.9 mph. 268’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73.00 mph.
Defense: 1.97-2.19 pop times.
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60.

no. 10 Carter Lund C / RHP / Cambridge, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Athletic with good proportions.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up, athletic. Hands work flat through the zone, flat path, quick to the ball long through.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 80 mph. 292’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74.00 mph. Compact, quick, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.04-2.26 pop times. Quick first step, quick, clean transfer, accurate throws, soft hands, smooth blocker.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60.

no. 11 Luke Baginski C / RHP / West Salem, WI / 2025

Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Athletic with projection.
Hit: RHH. Wider base set up with slight crouch. Long through the zone, flat to slightly uphill at times, easy bat-speed with extension through contact, uses the whole field.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 81.4 mph. 295’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76.00 mph. Compact, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.13-2.30 pop times. Quick first step, works around plate, soft blocker.
Run: 7.23 runner in the 60.

no. 12 Elijah Knutson C / 3B / Pecatonica, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds. Athletic, projectable.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up relaxed set up. Path works uphill, pullside approach with some lifted contact.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 79.4 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph. Compact, quick, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.11-2.30 pop times. Quick first step, clean transfer, smooth hands, soft blocker.
Run: 6.99 runner in the 60.

no. 13 Jefferson Mobry C / OF / Columbus, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-3, 190-pounds. Athletic with long levers, projectability.
Hit: RHH. Wide base with crouch, strong back elbow. Fluid hands, flat path through the zone, repeats.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 77 mph. 192’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph. Compact arm, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.08-2.17 pop times. Soft hands, clean transfer, works in-line, soft blocker.
Run: 7.03 runner in the 60.

no. 14 Cameron Miller C / 3B / Madison East, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 190-pounds. Athletic with projection and strength.
Hit: RHH. Upight set up with relaxed hands. Hands load with leg-kick into a flat to slightly uphill path, intent to lift the ball, on the barrel the the pull-side and up the middle.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 84.8 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph. Compact, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.30-2.34 pop times. Quick first step, works in-line, accurate throws, smooth transfer, soft blocker.
Run: runner in the 60.

no. 15 Ben Erdman C / 2B / Verona, WI / 2026

Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-8, 148-pounds. Strong frame some projection.
Hit: RHH. Narrow set up slightly open with higher hands. Minimal hand load, short to the ball, uphill path, works on the barrel up the middle, also showed the ability to work line-drives to the opposite field.
Power: 82 max exit velocity, averaged 73 mph. 228’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66.00 mph. INF - 73.00 mph. C: Carry to throws, compact, 3/4 slot. INF: Quick, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.32-2.62 pop times. C: Works in-line on throws, soft hands, quick trasnfer. INF: Methodical footwork, two-hand gather, soft hands, fields ball to body.
Run: 8.05 runner in the 60.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Tyler Craig, Vel Phillips Memorial (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 205-pounds. Thick build with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wider base with slight crouch. Creates hand seperation at footstrike before moving into a flat path, uphill at times, uses the whole field.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 78.4 mph. 292’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69.00 mph.
Defense: 2.12-2.26 pop times.
Run: 7.89 runner in the 60.

Anthony Greco, Janesville Craig (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-7, 175-pounds. Athletic build with some strength.
Hit: RHH. Wide crouch with relaxed hands. Minimal hand load, short to the ball, flat path, simple, repeats the swing, maintains balance through impact.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 75.8 mph. 277’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69.00 mph. Compact, quick arm, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.11-2.19 pop times. Quick first step, quick transfer, works in-line, soft blocker.
Run: 7.58 runner in the 60.

Shayden Lentini, Germantown (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 5-11, 195-pounds. Strong build.
Hit: RHH. Upright set up with high hands. Hands start away from the body, flat rotational path.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 69.5 mph. 291’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph. Compact, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.12-2.36 pop times. Clean tranfer, works around the plate, soft blocker.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60.

Kaleb Maier, Verona (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-6, 160-pounds. Athletic with some fill coming.
Hit: RHH. Wider base set up with relaxed hands. hands drop into an uphill path, flat at times, uses the whole field.
Power: 74 max exit velocity, averaged 70.4 mph. 229’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 65.00 mph.
Defense: 2.44-2.66 pop times.
Run: 7.87 runner in the 60.

Jacob McDonald, Pulaski (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Athletic frame good proportions.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with centered hands, low hands at set up. Short and uphill through the zone, flat on pitches up in the zone, rotational through the zone.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 77.5 mph. 227’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.19-2.32 pop times. Soft hands, quick transfer, works in-line.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60.

Colton Moen, DeForest (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 145-pounds. Wiry with some projection.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up, slightly open. Long to the ball with a flat path, rotational through the zone.
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 68.7 mph. 245’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66.00 mph.
Defense: 2.25-2.44 pop times.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60.

Kiefer Parish, Cambridge (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Athletic with projection.
Hit: RHH. Wider base, with relaxed hands. Minimal hand load, flat path to the ball, uses the whole field.
Power: 80 max exit velocity, averaged 76.6 mph. 199’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 65.00 mph. Compact, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.28-2.43 pop times. Soft hands, clean transfer, accurate throws, soft blocker.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60.

Andrew Reuter, Stoughton (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-8, 135-pounds. Wiry with some projection.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up, higher hands. Pre-set hand seperation, flat and rotational path through the zone.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 71.9 mph. 264’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72.00 mph. INF - 81.00 mph. INF: Clean, quick arm, 3/4 slot. C: Compact, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.11-2.32 pop times. INF: Quick first step, two-hand gather, clean, quick, transfer. C: Soft hands, clean, quick transfer, works in-line, soft blocker.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60.

Will St.Clair, Neenah (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Athletic with strength and good proportions.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with relaxed hands. Hands drop and work uphill, pull-side/middle approach.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 67 mph. 252’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72.00 mph.
Defense: 2.11-2.32 pop times.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60.

Ben Yoss, Verona (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-9, 142-pounds. Wiry with projection.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with strong back elbow. Flat path, rotational through the ball, uses the whole field.
Power: 75 max exit velocity, averaged 64.6 mph. 227’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 64.00 mph. INF - 66.00 mph. C: Compact, high 3/4 slot. INF: Compact, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.37 pop times. C: Soft hands, clean transfer, soft blocker. INF: Methodical footwork, lets ball travel, two-hand gather.
Run: 7.76 runner in the 60.