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Prospect Identification Showcase 2.18.13: Catcher Analysis

March 5, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director - Illinois

This week we will begin to break down the Prospect Identification Showcase at the Quarry Fieldhouse on February 18th. We will kick off our coverage with the catching group where we saw two young prospects that really caught our eye in David Craan (Whitney Young HS, 2015) and Matt Gould (Neuqua Valley HS, 2015). Both showed excellent pop times for their age with projectable athleticism that should only make their game better as they mature and gain experience.

Here’s how we broke down the rest of the catchers

Top Catchers

1. David Craan, Whitney Young HS, C, Class of 2015
Athletic, 5-foot-9, 165-pound catcher. Defensively shows quick twitch actions, athletic footwork. Well above average arm, 79 mph from the crouch, short over the top arm action, shows carry. 2.04-2.19 pop times. Receives well, soft hands, firm wrist. Offensively, hits from a balanced stance, uses short stride. Lower half could be involved more. Shows bat speed, path is short to the baseball, swing has violent tendencies, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.

2. Matt Gould, Neuqua Valley HS, C, Class of 2015
Sturdy build, 5-foot-9, 165-pound catcher. Defensively shows above average actions, quick feet out of the crouch, quick clean transfer. Arm action is over the top, shows accuracy, stays on line (74 mph), pop times range 2.00-2.15. At the plate hits from a slightly open stance, slight leg lift trigger. Bat path gets extension, some uphill tendencies, generates hard contact. Above average bat speed, 82 mph exit velocity, good balance throughout.

3. Shawn Chiaramonte, Richards HS, C/3B, Class of 2014
Athletic build with some length, 6-foot, 170-pound catcher/third baseman. Defensively shows a quick exchange, quick release of the baseball, flashed a 2.05 pop time, 73 mph arm from the crouch. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, tall stance, short stride. Line drive hitter, stays inside the baseball, shows inside-out tendencies, works from the middle to opposite field.

4. Kyle Kasper, Jacobs HS, C/3B, Class of 2016
5-foot-10, 155-pound catcher. Shows a projectable game, young prospect to follow. Defensively shows efficiency getting rid of the baseball, short steps out of the chute. Arm plays, 70 mph from the crouch, 2.18-2.26 pop times. At the plate hits from a balanced stance, short stride. Line drive hitter, lacks lower half, opposite field approach.

5. Ryan Fish, Oak Park River Forest HS, C/RHP, Class of 2015
6-foot-1, 185 pound switch hitting two way player. Defensively showed solid blocking technique, recorded 2.26-2.36 pop times, 70 mph from the crouch. Ran 4.22 home to first. Offensively has a balanced setup, uses short stride from both sides of the plate. Showed bat speed from both sides of the plate, dives to the baseball, shows stiffness from the left side. Fastball has run at 80 mph, touched 81 mph. Curveball lacks action, slow, 49-50 mph, changeup has occasional fade, 64-66 mph, lacks control.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Justin Agne, Riverside Brookfield HS, C/3B, Class of 2014
5-foot-11, 210-pound catcher. 2.27-2.34 pop times, 73 mph arm strength from the crouch, footwork needs refinement. At the plate, hits from a balanced setup, uses slight leg lift trigger, average balance. Bat path has some uphill tendencies, shows some bat speed, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Drew Cerney, Loyola HS, C, Class of 2014
6-foot, 202-pound catcher. Recorded pop times 2.19-2.26, 71 mph arm strength from the crouch. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, uses short stride, lacks lower half. Showed the ability to find the barrel, bat path has length, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Vince Coletti, Jacobs HS, C, Class of 2015
5-foot-11, 195-pound catcher. Pop times range from 2.19-2.25. Arm action is over the top, 71 mph from the crouch, footwork lacks quickness. Offensively hits from a tall setup, short stride. Gets occasional extension, shows some pop, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Luke Daley, Naperville Central HS, C, Class of 2014
Strong build, 6-foot-1, 210-pound catcher. Offensively hits from a balanced stance. Bat path has length with uphill tendencies, pull side approach, makes hard contact, strong hitter, hits off back side, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Behind the plate, recorded 2.25-2.43 pop times, arm action is long, shows stiffness, 70 mph arm strength from the crouch.

Noah Daniel, Warren HS, C, Class of 2015
5-foot-9, 150-pound catcher. Defensively, arm works from a ¾ slot behind the plate, arm works at 73 mph from the crouch, pop times range 2.18-2.26. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, short stride. 76 mph exit velocity from the tee, lacks overall strength.

Bryce Hinton, Peoria Notre Dame HS, C, Class of 2016
5-foot-7, 162-pound catcher. Defensively sets up tall, arm action is over the top, pop times range from 2.59-2.77, 62 mph arm strength from the crouch. Offensively hits from a wide stance, toe tap stride. Lacks repeatability, 65 mph exit velocity.

Brandon Kilday, McHenry East HS, C, Class of 2016
5-foot-9, 160-pound catcher. Hits from a balanced setup, short stride, quiet approach, excellent pre pitch setup. Bat path gets occasional extension, moderate bat speed, 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses a long over the top arm action behind the plate, exchange is long, long strided out of the crouch, 2.43-2.51 pop times, 70 mph arm strength.

Alec Melone, Joliet Catholic Academy, C/1B, Class of 2015
6-foot-2, 220-pound catcher/first baseman. Defensively recorded 2.29-2.44 pop times, 70 mph arm from the crouch, sets up tall, lacks foot quickness. 5.15 runner home to first. Hands shows potential around the bag at first base. Offensively, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, slight bat wrap load. Lower half lacks involvement, shows the ability to make hard contact, hits off front foot some, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Shamus Segersten, Marian Central HS, C, Class of 2016
Lanky frame, 5-foot-11, 150-pounds, lacks overall strength, young frame has room to fill out. Hits from a balanced setup, uses short stride, good balance throughout. Bat path is short, some extension, 68 mph exit velocity. Defensively recorded 2.5-2.66 pop times, 67 mph from the crouch, uses high ¾ arm action.

Joe Spano, Waubonsie Valley HS, C, Class of 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher. Solid blocking technique, 2.36-2.44 pop times, 68 mph arm from the crouch. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, uses short stride with slight leg lift. Hits off backside, long path, slightly uphill, 73 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Sean Sullivan, St. Thomas Moore HS, C/INF, Class of 2014
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher and infielder. Solid arm from behind the plate, stayed on line from a short, over the top slot, 2.12-2.25 pop times. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, stride dives to the baseball, shows opposite field approach.

Charley Zeschke, Richards HS, C/3B, Class of 2014
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher/third baseman. Hits from a balanced stance, short stride, excellent balance throughout. Quiet, simple approach, lined drive hitter, level bat path, 79 mph exit velocity. Defensively posted 2.26-2.44 pop times, 68 mph arm from the crouch. Quick out of the crouch, arm shows stiffness.

Check back for more positional analysis this week

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