MN Future Games Trials- Catcher Evaluations

August 25, 2016

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

Prep Baseball Report's MN Future Games Trials event took place July 6, 2016. The event was held at Vet's Field at Minnetonka HS in Minnetonka, MN. The event featured prospects from the 2018 class from Minnesota who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff. Thank you to the players, parents, my staff; and Coach Paul Twenge and Minnetonka HS for such a great event.

There were a number of great individual performances this year at the MN Future Games Trials; as we drill down into the statistics:

+ 16 players ran sub-7.25 60's.
+ 20 players recorded 80+ mph exit velocities
+ 12 players recorded 76+ mph infield throws
+ 9 players recorded 76+ mph outfield throws
+ 12 catchers recorded 70+ mph throws to second base
+ 6 catchers recorded sub-2.1 pop times
+ 18 pitchers were 78+ mph on the mound

CLICK HERE to view Complete Statistics in PDF Format.

Today we begin our breakdown of the player's in attendance with our evaluations on catchers. Players are listed below in alphabetical order.

catchers evaluations

Jonathan Draheim, C/RHP, Jordan, 2018
6-foot-4, 160-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 8.37 runner. Quiet rhythm in load. Solid balance in box. Flat line drive swing plane. Mid/pull approach with solid contact. 75 mph exit velocity. Strong set-up behind plate. Shows ability to receive. Works underneath and up through baseball well. Clean exchanges on throws. Some hitch and length on release. Long stride to target; loses lower half strength. 75 mph arm strength with 2.15-2.31 pop times.

Drew Grunklee, C/RHP, Eagan, 2018
5-foot-9, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.81 runner. Square stance with short leg kick trigger. Slight arm bar in load with choppy rhythm. Shows good approach at plate staying gap to gap and consistent solid contact with flashes of pop in bat. 72 mph exit velocity. Solid initial set-up behind plate, strong hands, fluid movements, and deadens blocks well. Feet are quick behind plate with good direction on throws. Exchanges are short and clean. Lower arm slot on release with avg. arm action.70 mph arm strength with 2.09-2.22 pop times.

Jake Koller, C, East Ridge, 2018
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.47 60 time. Lean flexible build with fast twitch movements. Good balance at plate, hands are loose, and generates bat speed. Early lift at contact causes occasional roll-over. Mid/pull approach. Follow bat in 2018 class with minor adjustments. 84 mph exit velocity. Light on his feet behind plate, some length to exchange, short arm action with quick release. Avg. accuracy to second base with 72 mph arm strength with 2.03-2.18 pop times.

Ian Masui, C, Minnetonka, 2018
5-foot-11, 245-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.43 60 time. Leg kick trigger. Produces good bat speed to contact. Barrel stays through zone well. Gap to gap approach with consistent hard/loud contact and shows ability to use whole field. Low set-up with good flexibility for size. Show ability to stick pitches in zone. 84 mph exit velocity. Solid feet and direction on throws, short clean exchanges, quick release with avg. arm action. 76 mph arm strength with 2.03-2.16 pop times.

Gage Merhar, C, Ely Memorial, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 7.07 runner. Simplified footwork from side-saddle set-up. Throws have above avg. carry and accuracy with quick release. Soft receiving glove, decent framer, raw mechanics behind plate. Strong catch and throw guy with chance to improve overall with instruction. 73 mph arm strength with 1.95-2.07 times. Solid contact underneath baseball with uphill plane and lift. Shows ability to use whole field. Tends to drop hands in swing creating uphill plane. Barrel short through zone. 81 mph exit velocity.

Matthew Nunn, C, Edina, 2018
6-foot-2, 160-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 8.1 60 time. Knee to knee leg kick trigger. Off-time at this event. Clean bat path with line drive swing plane. Shifts weight well through contact with gap to gap approach. 76 mph exit velocity. Lean flexible frame. Good initial set-up, presents glove well to pitcher, and shows ability to receive. Is mobile and athletic behind plate. Some length to exchange. Inconsistent release slot. 66 mph arm strength with 2.16-2.22 pop times with solid accuracy to bag.

Anthony Pikula, C/RHP, Champlin Park, 2018
5-foot-10, 140-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.5 runner. Crouched stance with easy balanced stride. Solid bat speed with ability to use whole field. Solid contact; tends to lift up/stand at contact. 70 mph exit velocity. Flexible with wide base. Good direction with feet and arm is above average with accuracy and carry. Average receiver behind plate- tends to be rigid with glove. 2.00-2.07 pop times with 76 mph arm strength.

Jose Rodgers-Valdez, C/IF, South St. Paul, 2018
5-foot-6, 150-pound right-handed hitting player. 7.6 runner. Crouched stance, balanced swing, stiff lower half through contact, works middle of field, line drive approach. 80 mph exit velocity. Works around plate with feet, some length to exchange, short arm action, and is accurate to bag. 72 mph arm strength with 2.19-2.41 pop times. Solid receiver, shifts weight well behind pitch, and centers pitches to body.

Wyatt Schoephoerster, C, Centennial, 2018
5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 7.1 runner. High back elbow set-up, flat swing plane, with stiff finish through contact. Shows solid pop in bat with pull approach. 78 mph exit velocity. Quick feet and exchanges behind plate with good direction. Clean release on throws with solid accuracy. 70 mph arm strength with 2.12-2.25 pop times. Flexible behind plate. Average receiver- ball tends to pull glove out of zone.

Justin Stacey, 2B/C, Chanhassen, 2018
5-foot-7, 140-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 7.84 runner. Leg kick trigger. Short to contact with average pop in bat. Rolls hands over early at contact. Short finish. Uses whole field. 77 mph exit velocity. Clean exchange, long release, extra step in footwork, 71 mph arm strength with 2.34-2.53 pop times. Hard worker behind plate, average mobility, needs to improve receiving.

Ben Stolar, C, Minnetonka, 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.12 runner. Strong square stance, long stride to contact, slight collapse through contact. Middle/away approach with consistent solid contact. 73 mph exit velocity. Solid direction to target, length to exchange, shows arm strength. 75 mph arm strength with 2.13-2.22 pop times. Average receiver, slight stabbing action on pitches, weight occasionally on heels losing balance and lateral mobility.

Mitch Stroh, C, Elk River, 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.11 runner. Easy rhythm in load, stays short to contact, with above avg. extension and separation through baseball. Consistent hard contact with mid/pull approach with occasional pop in bat. 86 mph exit velocity. Clean crisp exchanges with quick release, moves with ease with rhythm and timing. Above avg. receiver, works under ball well, calm demeanor and quiet actions. 74 mph arm strength with 2.00-2.09 pop times. Strong follow in MN 2018 class.

James Woelfel, C, Osseo, 2018
5-foot-10, 174-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.82 runner. Aggressive load, slight front heel turn trigger, generates solid bat speed, Consistent solid contact, works middle of field, and shows ability to drive ball to oppo gap. 81 mph exit velocity. Solid rhythm and actions behind plate, length to exchange, with hitch in arm action. Avg. accuracy to bag with 73 mph arm strength with 2.13-2.31 pop times. Solid receiver with blocking ability consistently deadening balls in front.

Interested In Attending A PBR Minnesota Event? Click Here

Interested In Subscribing to Prep Baseball Report? Click Here

MN Future Games Trials- Catcher Evaluations

Recent News