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Unsigned Senior Showcase: Catching Analysis

October 20, 2014

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

The Prep Baseball Report Unsigned Senior Showcase took place on Sunday October 12th at the MAX in McCook, IL in front of over forty collegiate programs and featured 98 prospects in the class of 2015 that are still uncommitted. Last year’s same event saw over 35 collegiate commitments reported to PBR, and we expect more of the same after witnessing this year’s impressive crop.

Over the next few days we will roll out position-by-position rankings of the showcase culminating with the Top Overall Prospects from the event.

CLICK HERE to see complete statistics from the event in PDF format.

We will lead off our coverage with an analysis of the catchers, led by Andrew’s Ramon Padilla. Padilla impressed with a pop time of 2.01, and possesses advanced receiving skills. Lincoln-Way West’s Bailey Magruder possesses an ideal catcher’s frame, and showed consistent accuracy on his throws to second. Kenwood’s Joe Lucas and Shepard’s Bobby Peterka are offensive minded left-handed hitting catchers, that impressed as two of the top overall hitters at the event. Havana’s Kevin Bonnett impressed with his athleticism and catch-and throw skills.

Let’s take a look at the Top Catching Prospects at this year’s Unsigned Senior Showcase.

Top Catching Prospects

1.Ramon Padilla, C, Andrew, 2015
5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher with a strong lower half hits from a tall, open setup, hands load smoothly, short stride, creating short, level bat path producing line drives during batting practice from gap-to-gap. Above average 83 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, was one of the top catch-and-throw prospects at the Unsigned Senior Showcase reeling off pop times in the 2.01-2.09 range. Above average velocity throwing from the crouch at 78 mph from a short, over the top slot. Ran a 7.14 60.

2. Bailey Magruder, C, Lincoln-Way West, 2015
5-foot-11, 180-pound catcher, solid build, sturdy catchers make up. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride, athletic setup maintains good balance. Above average bat speed for his age, line drive gap to gap guy, lets ball travel deep, fluid rhythm at the plate. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted pop times at 2.11-2.26, mechanically sound with natural actions, exchange has length but clean, willing to block with proper mechanics. Arm action is short, over the top slot, 76 mph out of the crouch. 7.30 runner in the 60.

3. Joe Lucas, 1B/C, Kenwood, IL
5-foot-11, 200-pound strong, defined lower half, left-handed hitting first baseman/catcher hits from an open setup, short stride, hands load smoothly, explosive bat speed, short bat path creating line drives from gap-to-gap with power. Lucas has natural lift to his swing, and showed power to the opposite field gap during batting practice. Defensively, threw 79 mph from the crouch from long, over the top arm slot with pop times ranging from 2.26-2.36. Offensive minded catcher. Impressed at first base with soft hands, especially on backhand plays. Ran a 7.30 60.

4. Bobby Peterka, C, Shepard, 2015
5-foot-11, 180-pound offensive minded catcher, physical mature. Left-handed hitter, tall open stance, short leg lift stride. Pull side approach, bat speed present, top spin contact, showed the ability to make hard contact. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short arm action, over the top slot, 70 mph arm strength out of the crouch. Posted 2.19-2.32 pop times. Ran the 60 at 7.63.

5. Kevin Bonnett, C, Havana, 2015
5-foot-11, 175-pound athletic catcher, lean build with some length. Defensively sets up high, clean exchange. Arm action is short, some accuracy, 71 mph from the crouch. Posted pop times at 2.10-2.18. 7.13 runner in the 60-yard dash. Slightly open stance, long stride back to even. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee, some uphill bat path.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Parker Budzinski, C, Joliet West, 2015
6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher hits from balanced setup, no stride approach, hands drop during load, producing level bat path and above average 82 mph exit velocity. Defensively, pop times ranged from 2.36-2.43 from long, over the top arm slot with some accuracy. Threw 68 mph from the crouch. Ran an 8.24 60.

Michael Byrne, C, Niles West, IL
6-foot-1, 210-pound strong right-handed hitting catcher hits from a balanced setup, short, leg kick stride, hands load back; long, uphill bat path with gap-to-gap tendencies and power to his pull side. 74 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 70 mph from the crouch, pop times ranged between 2.25 and 2.36 seconds from short, over-the-top arm slot with some accuracy. Ran a 7.90 60.

Javier Delgado, C, Clemente, 2015
5-foot-9, 160-pound catcher. Defensively showed quick catch and throw abilities, exchange is quick, posted pop times at 2.12-2.26. Short arm action, 71 mph out of the crouch. Offensively hits from the right side balanced setup, slight leg lift trigger. Gap to gap approach, occasionally path gets long, 72 mph exit velocity form the tee. Ran the 60 in 8.34.

Andrew Konya, C, Belleville West, 2015
5-foot-10, 180-pound catcher, stronger lower half sturdy makeup. Right handed hitter, Balanced stance, hand movement pre pitch, drops hands at load. Path is level, some length, 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a high ¾ arm slot, 73 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.26-2.37.

Jake Surprenant, C, Riverside-Brookfield, 2015
6-foot, 157-pound catcher. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, short stride, linear lower half. Path is level, lunges some, hits off front foot, showed bat speed. 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted pop times at 2.26-2.37, arm played out of the crouch at 75 mph. 7.48 runner in the 60.

Josh Tesch, C, Plainfield Central, 2015
6-foot, 175-pound catcher. Posted solid pop times at 2.00-2.10, erratic transfer, traditional catchers arm action, short over the top slot, accurate arm and stays online well, 76 mph from the crouch. Right handed hitter, loads hands down and back. Middle of the field approach, longer path, 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Benjamin Wishba, C, Lockport, 2015
5-foot-11, 180-pound catcher, average frame with strong lower half. Defensively plays with a short arm action, over the top slot, arm played at 74 mph out of the crouch, 2.11-2.26 pop times. Ran a 7.48 in the 60-yard dash. Right handed hitter, balanced stance, slightly closed, slight leg kick trigger. Uphill path with some length, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.

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