Top Prospect Games: Catcher Analysis

September 1, 2023
By: Wisconsin Staff

On July 11, the PBR Wisconsin team hosted the Top Prospect Games at The Rock Complex in Franklin, Wis., featuring many of the top uncommitted players in the state’s 2024 and 2025 grad classes. We began the analysis of the event by looking at the data and measurables from the day as well as a few of the initial standouts in our Quick Hits piece.

Today we begin the positional breakdown of the event, starting with all of the catchers from the invite-only event.

Below we ranked the Top-five catchers from the day as well as all of the scouting reports on each of the backstops.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

No. 1 Hunter Carlson C / SS / Hudson, WI / 2024; Wichita State commit

Rankings State Rank: 17 / POS: 1

Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 6-1, 195-pounds. Athletic frame with strength throughout; projects well.
Hit: LHH. Quiet balanced setup, hands load back in rhythm as bat tips, strides short. Strong hands, works uphill through the zone with leverage out front, gap-to-gap approach. 65.9 mph bat speed with 8 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 88.2 mph. 366’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Short arc, high 3/4 slot, accurate, what it should look like.
Defense: 1.95-2.15 pop times. Quick transfer, short right foot, repeats. Reliable blocker.
Run: 7.87 runner in the 60.

No. 2 Peyton Ryback C / OF / Nathan Hale, WI / 2024

Rankings State Rank: 61 / POS: 5

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Open, slightly crouched set up. Low hands work back into a strong back elbow with a medium leg lift. Fast, athletic hands. Level through the zone, line drive feel, backspins off the barrel and repeats. Hitterish. 73.2 mph bat speed with 9 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 90 mph. 329’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. High 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: 2.00-2.21 pop times. Short quick transfer, quick feet, athletic down to block.
Run: 7.06 runner in the 60

No. 3 Dimitry Edmunds C / OF / Appleton West, WI / 2025

Rankings State Rank: 43 / POS: 8

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-7, 170-pounds. Athletic, compact build with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, open stance with a stock hand set up. Simple stride load with minimal hand movement. Strong hands with bat speed. Short and on top of the baseball, line drive feel. Hard off the barrel, stayed up the middle with backspin. 69.7 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 87.2 mph. 281’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short arc, quick release.
Defense: 1.98-2.52 pop times. Quick transfer with quick feet, quick to block, athletic mover behind plate.
Run: 6.99 runner in the 60.

No. 4 Parker Schwake C / 1B / Wauwatosa West, WI / 2024

Rankings State Rank: 81 / POS: 10

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-4, 215-pounds. Strong, physical build with long levers.
Hit: RHH. Crouch set up with low hands, barrel tip load into a strong launch position. Strong hands with bat speed. Short bat path, barrel stays in the zone, creates leverage out front. Hard off the barrel, approach. 70.2 mph bat speed with 18 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 102 max exit velocity, averaged 92.6 mph. 356’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. 3/4 slot with carry and accuracy.
Defense: 2.00-2.00 pop times. Quick transfer, replaces feet. Reliable blocker, athletic out of crouch.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60.

No. t5 Gavin Obremski C / 1B / Mosinee , WI / 2024

Rankings State Rank: 52 / POS: 3

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 220-pounds. Thick, physical frame with strength throughout.
Hit: SH. Tall start, narrow base, slightly open. Widens base from the right side. Loose hand load, long stride and in line. Strong hands. On top of the baseball, level path. Low-effort with rhythm, juice off the barrel. 69.3 mph bat speed with 12 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 89.7 mph. 343’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arc, high 3/4, accurate.
Defense: 1.95-2.34 pop times. Short right foot, quickness to footwork.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60.

No. t5 Quade Thompson C / 3B / Wrightstown, WI / 2024

Rankings State Rank: 117 / POS: 15

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 190-pounds. Well-proportioned, athletic build with some strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide, open setup. High hands with barrel wiggle. Leg lift trigger into aggressive foot strike. Strong hands with loose rhythm. Long through the zone, backspun the baseball middle-in. 65.7 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 82.6 mph. 328’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. High 3/4 slot, athletic on blocks, quick out of crouch on bunts.
Defense: 2.06-2.21 pop times. Clean transfer.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Cal Casper, Bay Port (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-9, 185-pounds. Strong, compact build with broad shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Athletic set up, slight crouch, short stride, compact load into strong hitting position. Strong hands, direct path to contact, on the barrel middle-away. 63.3 mph bat speed with 19 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 83.6 mph. 332’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. High 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: 1.89-2.06 pop times. Short, quick right foot. Clean transfer and quick out of the chute. Quick down to block.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60.

Joshua Gilroy, Arrowhead (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 205-pounds. Strong, physical frame with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Crouched, slightly closed stance with a high hand set up. Low leg lift with minimal hand movement. Physical hands with aggressive bat speed. Uphill bat path, favored the pull-side. Middle of the order type raw juice. 69.7 mph bat speed with 15 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 90.2 mph. 366’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. 3/4 slot, quick arm, carry and accurate.
Defense: 1.95-2.14 pop times. Quick, clean transfer, short right foot gains ground, athletic on blocks and reliable fielding bunts.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60.

Nathan Hanel, Oak Creek (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds. Strong, physical frame with good proportions.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with a slightly closed stance. Short, simple stride with little hand movement. Simple swing, works direct to the baseball. Barrel stays in the zone, level path, all-fields feel. Easy and repeats. 65.5 mph bat speed with 8 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 83.9 mph. 254’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short, quick arc, very accurate, throws on money, true backspin through target.
Defense: 2.08-2.27 pop times. Quick transfer, quick right foot, gains ground.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60.

Brody Henderson, Lake Mills (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/C
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Athletic, broad-shouldered frame with some strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup. Hands start near center of body, load into a strong back elbow. Aggressive foot strike using a simple stride load. Quick hands, level path, line drive feel, on the barrel. 69.5 mph bat speed with 11 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 78.7 mph. 340’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. INF - 82 mph. C: Short, quick arc, accurate with carry. INF: Clean arm action, accurate with carry.
Defense: 2.08-2.31 pop times. C: Quick, clean transfer, short quick right foot. athletic down to block. INF: Clean actions, clean feet, fields well through the ball, soft hands, good look.
Run: 7.23 runner in the 60.

Bennett Keller, Evansville (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds. Proportional frame, some strength in lower half.
Hit: LHH. Stock set up with slight crouch, lower relaxed hands, short trigger with short barrel tip. Short and simple, works direct to the baseball. Flashed line drive feel to the pull-side. 57.7 mph bat speed with 7 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 82.7 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short arc, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.08-2.40 pop times. Quick transfer, pivot right foot, athletic on blocks, fields bunts reliably.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60.

Gavin Schieffer, Lake Country Lutheran (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 195-pounds. Strong, broad-shouldered build with a thick lower half.
Hit: RHH. Open setup. Aggressive weight shift with leg lift. Aggressive foot strike. Aggressive, swings with intent. Physical hands with bat speed, fast out of load. Juice off the barrel, worked line drives middle-in. 73.2 mph bat speed with 18 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 89 mph. 309’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short, quick arm action, accurate with carry.
Defense: 1.94-2.13 pop times. Quick feet, gains ground.
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60.

Carter Schmitt, West De Pere (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame with long levers.
Hit: RHH. Narrow base. Leg lift trigger to closed foot strike. Loose, fast hands with whip. Long to contact, level through the zone, worked to the opposite field. Upside with a noticeable ceiling. 68.8 mph bat speed with 9 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 83.4 mph. 285’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. OF - 82 mph. OF: 3/4 slot with arm quickness. C: Slings it from 3/4 slot, accurate with carry.
Defense: 2.21-2.33 pop times. OF: Athletic with bounce, one hand gather, shuffle step towards target. C: Quick clean transfer, short right foot, athletic down to block.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60.

Benjamin Van Bell, Whitefish Bay (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Athletic build with good proportions.
Hit: RHH. Slight crouch set up, with higher hands, lands centered into strong and athletic hitting position. Loose hands, long to contact, level path. 70.8 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 79.2 mph. 322’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Flashed carry, accurate, short arc, repeats.
Defense: 1.94-2.09 pop times. Quick transfer, direct, quick feet, reliable blocker, quick out of crouch on bunts.
Run: 7.81 runner in the 60.