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IA Underclass Prospect Games- Catching Evaluations

September 2, 2016

IA Fall Review

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa

Prep Baseball Report's IA Underclass Prospect Games event took place on Monday, August 1, 2016. The event was held at Duane Banks Field; on the campus of the University of Iowa. The event featured 2018, 2019 & select 2020 prospects from Iowa who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff. Thank you to the players, parents, my staff and the University of Iowa coaching staff.

There were a number of great individual performances this year at the IA Underclass Prospect Games.

CLICK HERE to view Complete Statistics in PDF Format.

Below we have highlighted the prospects at their respective positions with evaluations; listed alphabetically.

 

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catching Prospects

Noah Bruckner, C, Atlantic, 2018
5-foot-7, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.4 runner. Solid rhythm, quiet load, strides slightly across body, front heel turn trigger, shows ability to stay on baseball through contact, line drive swing plane, stays inside baseball at contact, 72 mph exit velocity. Some length to exchange and release, lower arm slot, cuts ball on release, avg. accuracy, 2.52-2.7 pop times with 67 mph arm strength. Solid setup behind plate, extra movement with glove when receiving.

Adam Burns, C, Johnston, 2019
6-foot, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.77 runner. Open stance, leg kick trigger, inverted C load, length to contact, avg. bat speed, underneath at contact, fly ball contact, 85 mph exit velocity. Length to exchange and release, stands straight up to throw, inconsistent footwork and direction, 2.2-2.4 pop times with 70 mph arm strength. High glove set-up behind plate, needs to improve working up through pitch, avg. mobility.

Caden Ferguson, C, Waukee, 2018
6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.6 runner. Athletic stance, slight shoulder load, leg kick trigger, minimal weight shift through contact, out and around with barrel occasionally, fly ball contact, 84 mph exit velocity. Flexible with good mobility behind plate, long release, solid arm strength, shows ability to receive, above avg. blocker. 2.13-2.19 pop times with 75 mph arm.

Jayden Gibson, C/RHP, Grinnell, 2019
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.34 runner. Pre-set hands, minimal load, longer stride to contact with length, minimal weight shift, pull approach, 82 mph exit velocity. Works around plate with feet, clean exchanges, quick release, accuracy to bag, quiet receiver, avg. blocker, athletic with mobility behind plate. 73 mph arm strength with 2.00-2.08 pop times.

Calvin Harris, C, Western Dubuque, 2020
5-foot-11, 165-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 7.25 runner. Square stance with front heel turn trigger, hitch in load effects contact occasionally, stays on and through at contact, gap to gap line drive approach, flashes above avg. pop in bat, 82 mph exit velocity. Above avg. hands behind plate, clean exchanges, quick release, receives above avg. pitching well, active and athletic behind plate, tall stance to throw, solid carry to bag, 76 mph arm strength with 2.12-2.19 pop times.

Sam Lockhart, C, Cedar Rapids Prairie, 2018
5-foot-11, 145-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.26 runner. Slight crouched stance, front heel turn trigger in spread stance, quiet head, consistent hard contact, flat swing plane, works middle of field. 80 mph exit velocity. Simple catch and throw mechanics, clean exchange with quick release, works through plate with good direction. 72 mph arm strength with 2.19-2.27 pop times. Quiet receiver, works from ground up well, good blocker, athletic behind plate.

Nic McCay, RHP/C, Carlisle, 2018
6-foot, 185-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.6 runner. Early hand load, controlled double tap trigger, on time consistently, mid/pull approach, clean line drive swing plane, pulls off of contact keeping 2 hands on bat. 85 mph exit velocity. Clean exchange with quick release, above avg. accuracy to bag, stands up to throw, decent footwork and direction, 72 mph arm with 2.07-2.1 pop times. Good blocking skills with above avg. lateral movement, high glove setup occasionally, needs work on low pitch, active behind plate controlling game.

Konstantinos Papazoglou, C/RHP, Fairfield, 2019
5-foot-11, 195-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Sturdy build with above avg. strength for age. 7.34 runner. Active lower half, short to contact, flashes pop in bat, consistent hard line drives, pull approach, 86 mph exit velocity. Extra step in footwork, above avg. arm strength, quick release from varying slots, avg. accuracy with long with release on throws, 79 mph arm strength with 2.06-2.14 pop times. Solid blocker and receiver, avg. mobility. Has arm strength and pop in bat; raw mechanics. Young player that should continue to develop.

Mason Prymek, C, Des Moines Lincoln, 2018
6-foot-1, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.59 runner. Pre-set hands, body load, minimal use of lower half in swing, stays inside baseball at contact, stays through well with quiet head, works middle of field, 80 mph exit velocity. Length to exchange, low arm slot, sinking action on throws, avg. use of lower half on throws, 2.25-2.31 pop times with 68 mph arm strength. Receives well to glove side, extra movement when receiving occasionally, solid blocker.

Brett Swalve, C, Camanche, 2018
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Most polished catcher at event. 7.45 runner. Strong square stance with high hand set-up, front heel turn trigger into stride, long at times, loose upper half, uses hands in swing, consistent hard line drive and ground ball contact, mid/pull approach, 87 mph exit velocity. Light on his feet, good direction, consistent exchanges, quick release, short arm action, above avg. carry to bag, 73 mph arm strength with 2.00-2.07 pop times consistently on bag. Shows mobility and ability to block. Strong hands behind plate, receives well, works from ground up. Strong follow in 2018 class.

Jackson Thompson, C, WDM Valley, 2018
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.5 runner. Solid present strength. Spread stance, small leg kick trigger, rotational weight through zone, shows good hands at plate, aggressive swings, pull approach with line drive contact, 82 mph exit velocity. Light on his feet, good direction, clean exchanges, length to release, hitch in arm slot, 70 mph arm strength with 2.37-2.46 pop times. High setup at times with extra body movement receiving, handles glove side well, average mobility behind plate to block.

Brant Vanaman, C, Hall Township, 2018
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Athletic build that will add quality weight and strength. 6.97 runner. One of better bats at event, medium base, front heel turn trigger, quiet actions in box, loose hands, loud contact with line drive approach, 89 mph exit velocity. Clean exchanges, some length, slight hitch in release, stands up to throw, loses downhill plane on throws, 72 mph arm strength with 2.15-2.27 pop times. Athletic setup behind plate, good low glove target, receives and blocks well. Projectable 2018 prospect with strong bat and athletic actions.

Joel Vaske, C, Dyersville Beckman, 2018
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Strong athletic build. 6.94 runner. Present strength, toe tap trigger, minimal weight shift through contact, inverted plane, swing up and through contact, shows ability to use whole field, line drive and ground ball contact, 88 mph exit velocity. Works around plate with feet, loses direction, solid exchanges, good arm slot, shows strength on throws, 73 mph arm strength with 2.25-2.38 pop times. High glove set-up, extra movement with body, strong hands to hold pitches, avg. mobility and blocking skills.

 

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