Prep Baseball Report

Top 10 Stories of 2015: No. 9 Cooper Johnson emerging onto a National Stage



By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Over the next few weeks, in addition to highlighting the Top 10 Player Profiles of 2015, we will also highlight the Top Ten Stories in Illinois High School Baseball during the 2015 calendar year.

Today, we’ll take a look at No. 9 Cooper Johnson emerging onto a National Stage

2015 was a great year for Carmel Catholic HS catcher, Cooper Johnson, who has seen his draft stock skyrocket throughout the year. Johnson, a Mississippi commit, is now widely regarded as the top high school catcher in the country. This label is largely credited to what the young man can do defensively. There is no doubt he has evolved into the best high school catch and throw prospect flashing sub 1.8 pop times. His throws have carry that I have never seen from a high school catcher and been clocked at 83 mph from the crouch. At times it looks as though the ball is still rising as it hits the middle-infielders glove at second base. Another electric part of Johnson’s defensive game is his transfer. Feet work athletically and he gets rid of the ball in a blink of an eye.

His flexibility behind the plate is unparalleled. He never looks to be rushed or out of control. Plays with bounce and confidence well beyond his years. Makes blocking and receiving pitches look easy with his soft and receptive hands. Extremely fluid behind the plate and it shows when he is forced to move side-to-side.  Has the entire defensive package someone would look for in a catcher.

The biggest improvement in Johnson’s game over the past year has come with his bat. Entering this summer the biggest knock on him was if his bat was going to play enough to handle the next level. Johnson earned the opportunity this summer to showcase his improved offensive game on the biggest stages available. He participated in the Tournament of Stars, Area Code Games and Under Armour All-America Game before heading overseas and winning a gold medal with Team USA. Cooper rose to the occasion on every stage presented to him.

The first opportunity of the summer for Johnson came at the Tournament of Stars.  

Scouting Report from the Tournament of Stars 6.30.15 - Johnson’s defense stands alone in the 2016 class and he made that evident at the Tournament of Stars, reeling off a 1.87-second pop time and picking a runner off of first. Johnson has a strong, durable frame with good mobility. He stays low in his crouch and makes a quick exchange before firing strong, accurate throws to second base. He’s also very vocal and captains the field. The question with him has been his bat, but he showed the tools this week to hit. He has a patient approach, good path and quick swing. He went 3-for-12 with two RBIs, four runs scored and four walks.

Another one of his impressive performances of the summer took place at the Under Armour All-American Game.

Scouting report from Under Armour All-American Game 8.17.15 - Cooper Johnson (Carmel Catholic HS, IL) continued to show why he is the No. 1 catching prospect in the country. Johnson back-picked a runner at second base, and also fired a 1.85 in-game pop time. Offensively, he lined an RBI single up the middle on an inside curveball, was robbed of another hit when second baseman Bichette made a diving catch up the middle. He also walked against Pint in the first inning. In pregame, Johnson took one of the better rounds of batting practice, hitting two home runs while consistently barreling balls to all fields.

Johnson was featured in “The Hotlist” this September as being the Prep Baseball Report 2016 player of the summer for the state of Illinois.

If he hasn’t done enough already, Johnson will have another big opportunity before his senior season of high school baseball starts to impress scouts. What will ultimately influence where he will get plucked in the draft depends on what scouts covet most, a big bat, or an elite defensive catcher? One thing I know for sure, pure catch and throw prospects like Johnson do not come around very often.

Video of Johnson at the Preseason All-State Showcase 2.15.15

 

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