Missouri Valley Preview: Catching Analysis

March 3, 2016

By Brian Feekin
Prep Baseball Report Nebraska

The Missouri Valley Preview was an opportunity for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 prospects from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota to showcase themselves and see where they were at before the spring season begins. Prep Baseball Report's Missouri Valley Preview event took place on Monday, February 15, 2016 at Ultimate Baseball Academy in Omaha, NE.

There were breakout performances, opportunities to see new players, and gave PBR Nebraska the opportunity to create an extensive follow list of prospects to see over the course of the spring and summer. Many individuals, as well, placed themselves into the fray for our 2017 and 2018 state-wide player rankings which will be released in the future.

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Catching Prospects- Listed Alphabetically

Cullen Ainsworth, C, Elkhorn, 2019
5-foot-7, 170-pound catcher ran a 5.78 40-yard sprint. Slightly open stance with short stride. Balance in swing. Stays in middle of field with gap to gap approach and consistent contact. Line drive swing plane. Quick hands to baseball. 76 mph exit velocity off tee. Solid set-up behind plate. Shows quick feet in blocking. Above average receiver. Length to exchange. Loses direction to target. 69 mph arm strength with pop times in the 2.31-2.37 range.

Travis Baily, C/OF, Elkhorn, 2017
Athletic 6-foot, 192-pound catcher/outfielder that ran a 4.93 40-yard sprint. Open stance. Get's closed after small triggered stride. Lots of movement with hands. Level swing plain with a long follow through. Square stance behind the plate. Needs some polishing on receiving. Extra movement with pitch. Quick release on throws to target. Clean transfer from glove to hand. Posted top pop time of 2.03.

Brenton Davis, C/OF/INF, Raymond Central, 2017
5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitting 2nd basemen/catcher that ran a 5.03 40-yard sprint. Simple load and keeps arms and bat in good launch position. Short to contact. Shows barrel control and is able to use the whole field. 76 mph exit velocity off a tee. Narrow set-up behind the plate limits movement to balls. Quick transfer makes up for velocity. Throws were made in the 2.07-2.15 range.

Dylan Glaser, C, Adams Central, 2018
5-foot-11, 170-pound catcher that ran a 5.15 40-yard sprint. Square stance at the plate. Short toe tap triggers compact swing. Whole field approach. Average pop and contact. 73 mph exit velocity off a tee. Low base behind the plate. Narrow set-up, average receiver. Ball beats glove to the spot. Fundamental blocker. Posted pop times between 2.22.-2.28.

Ryan Jansen, C/INF, Millard West, 2017
5-foot-8, 175-pound compact catcher that ran a 5.38 40-yard sprint. Stiff lower and upper half in swing. Hands drop to the ball with slashy swing. 67 mph exit velocity off of tee. Lots of extra movement while receiving. Wide athletic base. Stiff on throws to 2nd base. Posted pop times between 2.19-2.25.

Dustin Jelinek, C, Wilber-Clatonia, 2017
5-foot-9, 200-pound left-handed catcher that ran a 5.31 40-yard sprint. Bat wraps early in set-up. Slight toe tap triggers swing. Uphill swing plane with short finish. 72 mph exit velocity off a tee. Showed 68 mph arm strength to second base with pop times in the 2.3-2.5 range. Below avg. receiving abilities.

Nolan Opheim, C, Burke, 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound catcher ran a 4.88 40-yard sprint. Good set up behind the plate with large target to throw to. Lot of extra movement receiving. Has quick feet and has a chance to become good blocker. Footwork and glove to hand exchange is clean. Pop times ranged 2.19-2.25. Quick front leg kick triggers short compact swing. Line drive swing plane with long finish. 68 mph exit velocity off a tee.

Jake Reeves, C/INF, Seward, 2017
6-foot-3, 180-pound catcher that ran a 5.37 40-yard sprint. Pull approach. Flashes of solid contact to pull side. Sporadic top-spin and rollover contact. 84 mph exit velocity off tee. Solid set-up and hands behind the plate. Receives well. Big target. Will need to improve blocking quickness. Clean exchanges. Length in release. Tall body on release. 70 mph arm strength with 2.25-2.34 pop times.

Bryce Walker, C, Bellevue West, 2017
5-foot-10, 175-pound catcher that ran a 5.22 40-yard sprint. Behind the plate showed ability to be a strong receiver. Set-up angled to first base, big target to throw to, moves well with solid glove. Fundamentally sound blocking technique. Had trouble with transfers during throws at time. Posted times between 2.07-2.12. Square stance at the plate. High leg kick triggers hands. Had trouble getting barrel to the ball at times. 79 mph exit velocity off a tee.

Colin Weis, RHP/C, Omaha Gross, 2016
An athletic 5-foot-10, 175-pound two-way player. Ran a 5.03 40-yard sprint. Hands will drift down into swing causing uphill swing plane. Quality job of staying inside ball at contact. 78 mph exit velocity off a tee. Top catcher velocity at the event with 76 mph. Ok receiving actions. Chicken wings to release. Athletic when blocking.