By Illinois and Missouri Scouting Staff

Over the next week we will be rolling out our analysis from the St. Louis - Top Prospect Games on June 6th. This event featured some of the top uncommitted 2018 prospects from Illinois and Missouri. Today we begin the analysis with a look at the catchers in attendance.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. AJ Spinello, C, Rockhurst (MO), 2018
Spinello is a 5-foot-10 188-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.72 home to first and has an 87 mph exit velo.  At the plate, Spinello had hard consistent contact during batting practice, gap to gap approach, power to pull side, starts slightly open, controlled leg lift to in line stride, loose hands with feel for barrel.  Behind the plate, pop times between 1.97 and 2.15- seconds, quick transfer, hands and feet work together, over the top release, accurate throws with backspin.

2. Mason Majors, C, Staley (MO), 2018
Majors is a strong 5-foot-10 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 5.07 home to first and has an exit velocity of 91 mph. At the plate,  Majors has a short and compact swing, repeats, balanced set up, short stride with minimal load, quick hands that generate bat speed after contact, hard middle to pull contact during batting practice, flashing power.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.07 and 2.18, 77 mph positional velo, over the top release, quick exchange with fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws.

3. Ben Chapman, C, Rochester, 2018
6-foot, 185-pound, strong, athletically built, right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively, athletic actions behind the plate, clean and quick exchange, arm carries at times and is consistently around the bag, clocked at 78 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.06-2.19. Offensively, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride and finishes on his backside. Loose hands, rhythm in swing, line-drive approach and 87 mph exit velocity.  

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Brandon Bannon, C/INF, Richmond-Burton, 2018
5-foot-11, 160-pound, lean, athletic, two-way prospect. Defensively, worked out behind the plate and on the infield. Behind the plate, moves well, highly athletic out of the crouch, closes himself off at times on his exchange. Arm is quick and loose, ¾ slot and clocked at 75 mph from the crouch and 77 mph across the infield. Pop times ranged between 2.01-2.13. On the infield ranges well, reliable hands, quick release. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short leg-kick timing trigger, and average balance through contact. Line-drive approach, works the middle to pull-side part of the field. Finished the day with a single and stolen base. Ran a 4.51 home-to-first.

Jack Darwin, C, Whitfield (MO), 2018
Darwin is a 5-foot-11 195-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.51 home to first and has an exit velocity of 85 mph. At the plate, thin and tall set up, controlled leg lift, in line stride, level swing path, swing produced mostly pull side line drives during batting practice.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.39 and 2.53, 65 mph positional velo, over the top release, hands and feet work together, clean exchange. 

Nick Doman, C, Marist, 2018
6-foot-2, 185-pound, long, athletically built, right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively, flexible, narrow setup, quick, tall exchange and stays on-line. Arm works short and over-the-top; clocked at 72 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.09-2.26. Offensively, tall setup, leg-kick timing trigger and average balance through contact. Path works level through the hitting zone at times, 86 mph exit velocity. Ran a 4.87 home-to-first.

Andrew Erickson, C, Tuscola, 2018
5-foot-9, 205-pound, sturdy, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, open, balanced setup, and short, toe-tap stride. Flashed hard contact, strength through contact and pull approach; 87 mph exit velocity. Defensively, athletic, balanced setup,  squares his feet on exchange, short arm action clocked at 74 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.11-2.30. Also, 4.82 runner home-to-first.

Ian Jacobs, C, Liberty (MO), 2018
Jacobs is a lean and projectable 6-foot 170-pound left handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.48 home to first and had a 74 mph exit velo.  At the plate, starts slightly open, square stride, minimal load, attacks ball with quick hands and high finish,  showed gap to gap pop during batting practice. Behind the plate, had pop times between 2.13 and 2.32-seconds, positional velocity of 72 mph, short over the top arm action, quick footwork creating momentum to throw, mostly accurate throws, some with carry.

Jake LaSota, C, Marengo, 2018
5-foot-10, 185-pound, strong, right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate, balanced setup, long, stride, fluid rhythm and aggressive approach; 89 mph exit velocity from a tee. Gap-to-gap approach and gets extension through contact at times. Defensively, flexible behind the plate, presents low target, slightly open setup and willing blocker. Gains ground towards target at times, arm works short, over-the-top and clocked at 77 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.28-2.33.

Bryce Moskiewicz, C, Lyons Township, 2018
5-foot-9, 192-pound, muscle bound, right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively, had one of the strongest arms at the event from the crouch, clocked at 82 mph; throws carry and are downhill. Open setup behind the plate, clean transfer that has length, short, over-the-top arm action. Pop times ranged between 2.11-2.19. Offensively, narrow setup, ong leg-lift timing trigger and strength through contact; 91 mph exit velocity from a tee. Quick hands, creates bat speed, bat stays level through the zone and pull approach. Ran a 4.47 down-the-line.

Logan Shepard, C, Maroa-Forsyth, 2018
6-foot, 180-pound, strong, athletically built, left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, wide, slightly crouched setup, short stride and finishes on his backside. Simple hands, flashes bat speed, natural lift in swing and gap-to-gap approach; 86 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, squared setup, clean release, simple, agile blocker. Arm works short and over-the-top, clocked at 76 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.10-2.19. Also, ran a 4.58 down-the-line.

Colten Weber, C, Jackson (MO), 2018
Weber is a 6-foot-3 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2017 class.  Weber has recently committed to Crowder JC.  He ran a 4.81 home to first and had an 89 mph exit velo. At the plate, balanced set up, smooth pressing rhythm, short stride, level path through the hitting zone, high two-hand finish, gap to gap line drives.  Behind the plate, 2.06 to 2.25 pop times, 82 mph positional velo, short high three quarters release, footwork creates momentum to second base, transfer on time with feet, mostly accurate throws.

Josh Zellak, C, Liberty (MO), 2018
Zellak is a 5-foot-11 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.65 home to first and has an 89 mph exit velocity.  At the plate, has a balanced set up, short stride, loose and easy bat path, gap-to-gap line drives, smooth tempo in set up.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.15 and 2.38-seconds, 70 mph positional velo, over the top release, fluid footwork, clean exchange. 

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