Prep Baseball Report

Milwaukee Preseason I.D.: Catcher Analysis


PBR Scouting Staff

In our next positional breakdown of last month’s Milwaukee Preseason I.D. event, we’ll take a closer look at the day’s catchers. There were three catchers in attendance who came into the event ranked within their class on the state rankings, but someone who popped up from outside of our rankings and showed very well was junior Riley Hughes (Bradford). Hughes was a steady receiver and displayed athleticism from behind the plate and was a capable hitter in the box.

Colin Kalinowski (Oak Creek, 2019) reiterated why he’s ranked No. 41 overall within Wisconsin’s 2019 class and is the No. 4-ranked catcher. He’s strong and he demonstrated gap-to-gap abilty last month and made his way onto our rankings below.

Keep an eye out for the freshman Joe Turco (Franklin) as well. He was advanced for his age and showed soft hands as a receiver and quick from out of the crouch. Turco made hard contact at the plate, too.

We’ll be breaking down the rest of the day’s positions this week, so stay posted. In the meantime, we’ve taken the time to write up a report on each of the catchers in attendance at the Milwaukee showcase. To read those reports, continue on below.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. Riley Hughes, C, Bradford, 2019
5-foot-10, 175-pound, strong, athletic catcher. Defensively, traditional catcher’s actions, short, over-the-top arm slot, accurate with carry, 77 mph out of the crouch. Athletic behind the plate, receives with soft hands, quick footwork, quick and clean on exchanges. Pop times ranged 2.01-2.11. Offensively, right-handed, balanced setup, short stride, maintains balance, uphill barrel path, flashed bat speed, 82 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.91 laser-timed 60.

2. Julio Cajigas, C/OF, Romeoville (IL), 2019
Currently ranked No. 148 in Illinois’ Class of 2019. Defensively, behind the plate, short arm action, over-the-top slot, kept throws around the bag with carry, 82 mph from the crouch. Clean on exchanges, some long, quick footwork, pop times 2.00-2.12. From the outfield, short arm action, over-the-top slot, clean on exchanges, accurate with carry, 89 mph. Offensively, switch hitter, open setup, leg kick-timing trigger, short barrel path, pull hitter who flashed bat speed from left-side; 90 mph exit velocity, opposite field approach form the right-side; 94 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.12 laser-timed 60.

3. Colin Kalinowski, C, Oak Creek, 2019
Currently ranked No. 41 in Wisconsin’s Class of 2019. 5-foot-11, 180-pound strong catcher. Offensively, left-handed, wide, open setup, smooth load, short stride, maintains good balance through contact. Line drive hitter with gap-to-gap potential, short level barrel path, hands accelerate through contact, present bat speed, fluid rhythm, 83 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top slot, kept throws around the bag, 78 mph from the crouch. Pop times 2.11-2.26. Athletic and clean blocker. Ran a 7.58 laser-timed 60.

4. Kameron Laskowski, C, Hamilton, 2019
Currently ranked No. 67 in Wisconsin’s Class of 2019. 5-foot-9, 180-pound, athletic, strong catcher. Has gained a considerable amount of strength and muscle since we last saw. Defensively, traditional catcher’s actions, short, over-the-top, accurate, 76 mph out of the crouch. Showed natural instincts, flashed soft hands receiving, clean on exchanges, long stride, pop times between 1.98-2.10. Ran a 6.96 laser-timed 60. Offensively, right-handed, balanced setup, leg-kick timing trigger, maintains good balance through contact, short barrel path, present bat speed, 86 mph exit velocity off a tee.

5. Evan Henry, C, Wilmot, 2019
6-foot, 165-pound, lean, athletic left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, athletic, crouching setup, smooth load back, short stride, maintains good balance. Short barrel path, line drive approach, fluid rhythm, relaxed look, 81 mph exit velocity off tee. Defensively, traditional catcher’s actions, short, over-the-top slot, kept throws around the bag, 76 mph from the crouch. Moved athletically behind the plate, received with soft hands, quick on exchanges, 2.04-2.18 pop times. Ran a 7.39 laser-timed 60.

5. Joe Turco, C, Franklin, 2021
5-foot-10, 175-pound,  strong right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively, traditional catcher’s arm action, short, over-the-top slot, accurate with carry, 75 mph from the crouch. Received with soft hands, fluid footwork, quick and clean on exchanges, 2.11-2.27 pop times. Offensively, balanced setup, loads back, short stride, uses legs, maints good balance, uphill barrel path, line drive approach, fluid rhythm, 89 mph exit velocity off a tee.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically) 

Max Bruff, C/OF, Indian Trail, 2019

5-foot-9, 190-pound compact, strong frame, right-handed hitting catcher and outfielder. Offensively, open setup, leg kick timing-trigger, maintains good balance through contact. Pull hitter type, uphill barrel path, present bat speed, hard contact, 98 mph exit velocity. Ran a 6.92 laser-timed 60. Defensively, from the outfield and behind the plate, short arm action, occasional carry, fluid footwork, clean exchanges, 82 mph from the outfield, 75 out of the crouch, pop times of 2.15-2.26.

Blake Carey, C, University School of Milwaukee, 2020
Currently ranked No. 21 in Wisconsin’s Class of 2020. 6-foot-1, 185-pound, strong left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, open setup, smooth load, short stride, maintains balance through contact. Level barrel path, power hitter type, flashed bat speed, 85 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.43 laser-timed 60. Defensively, traditional catcher’s arm action, short ,over-the-top, kept throws around the bag, 75 mph from the crouch. Fluid footwork, clean on exchanges, flashed soft hands, 2.11-2.19 pop times.

Jakob Gast, C, Hale, 2019
6-foot-2, 188-pound, lanky, athletically-built catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, maintains good balance through contact, level barrel path, line drive approach, 94 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.30 laser-timed 60. Defensively, long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, 77 mph from the crouch, 2.25-2.33 pop times.

Aiden Nichter, C, Christian Life, 2020
5-foot-9, 200-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, maintains balance through contact, short barrel path, 76 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top slot, 67 mph from the crouch. Fluid footwork, pop times 2.44-2.57. Ran an 8.74 60.

Ryan Ueberfluss, C, Kenosha Tremper, 2020
5-foot-7, 160-pound, left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, loads back, leg kick timing-trigger, long barrel path, 75 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top slot, 66 mph from the crouch, pop time 2.43-2.61. Ran an 8.21 laser-timed 60.

Zach Weisgerber, C, Xavier, 2020
6-foot-2, 195-pound, lanky right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, tall, balanced setup, loads back, short stride, long barrel path, gap-to-gap type hitter, 79 mph exit velocity. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ arm slot, kept throws around the bag, 68 mph from the crouch, pop times between 2.44-2.56. Ran an 8.31 laser-timed 60.

Jonah Wronski, C, Marquette University, 2020
5-foot-10, 185-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, maintains good balance, present bat speed, short barrel path, power approach, 88 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.30 laser-timed 60. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top slot, 74 mph from the crouch. Fluid footwork, clean on exchanges, pop times between 2.18-2.25.

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