MN Unsigned Senior Showcase: Catching Analysis

September 29, 2015

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

The Prep Baseball Report Minnesota's Unsigned Senior Showcase took place on August 23, 2015 at Vet's Field- Minnetonka High School. The showcase featured uncommitted prospects from the 2016 class who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff, college coaches, and professional scouts.

Today we start our position by position analysis with catchers. This group had a variety of talent including catch and throw guys, strong receivers and blockers, and offensive oriented players. When we create this list we evaluate the overall package of abilities along with future projection at the college level.

The top catching prospect at this year's MN Unsigned Senior Showcase is Austin High School's switch-hitting catcher; Dylan Gasner. Gasner shows athletic actions behind the plate along with an above average swing from the left-hand side of the plate. The Iowa Central CC commit should contribute immediately next season at the college level.

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Top Catching Prospects

1. Dylan Gasner, C, Austin, 2016
5-foot-11, 150-pound switch-hitting catcher. 7.41 runner. Gasner continues to improve offensively and defensively through the summer. Above avg. ability from left-hand side of plate. Middle/away approach and drove several balls into the gaps. Soft hands with ability to receive at an above average level. 75 mph arm strength with a 1.94 pop time to second base. Soon after event; Gasner committed to Iowa Central CC in Fort Dodge, IA.

2. Aaron Hanson, C, Monticello, 2016
6-foot-2, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.6 runner. Athletic looking body with present strength. Active load. Mid/pull approach. Flashes pop in bat to pull side of field. 87 mph exit velocity. Showed above avg. blocking ability with good flexibility in lower half. Simple step and throw mechanics. Consistently on bag with throws at 76 mph with pop times in 2.06-2.12 range.

3. Isaiah Grancorvitz, C, Hudson (WI), 2016
5-foot-11, 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.06 runner. Square stance. Inline stride to pitcher. Aggressive swings. Stays connected well and is short to contact. 80 mph exit velocity. Soft hands receiving. Will benefit from staying more square behind plate. Strong blocker. Has athleticism behind plate. Good direction on throws. Some length to exchange. Repeats release well. Accurate to bag with 74 mph arm strength and pop times in 2.1-2.16 range.

4. Alexander Schwartz, C, Hopkins, 2016
6-foot, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.66 runner. Physical build. Simple set-up. Solid contact. Body lift through contact. Flashes pop to oppo gap. 87 mph exit velocity. Staggered stance behind plate. Makes it difficult to square up to plate and block. Good feet on catch and throw. Arm is clean with strength. Slight tailing action on throws from ¾ slot. 77 mph arm strength with 2.06-2.22 pop times.

5. Joey Baumann, C, Hill-Murray, 2016
6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.57 runner. Front heel turn trigger. Leans back into contact. Out and around at contact to pull side. Consistent solid contact. Gets barrel to ball. 81 mph exit velocity. Receives well middle/up in zone. Needs to work underneath low pitch. Quality low set-up behind plate while maintaining laterally movement and blocks extremely well. Good feet behind plate. Uphill on release. 2.13-2.22 pop times with 71 mph arm strength.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Travis Conoryea, 2B/C, Simley, 2016
5-foot-7, 170-pound left-handed hitting infielder/catcher. 7.57 runner at this event. Is shorter to contact. Better job of staying connected in load. Gap to gap approach with solid line drive contact to pull side of field. Plays hard with energy. Shows solid feet and hands in field. Accurate throws to base at 70 mph. Second base tools and actions. Good blocker and receiver. Works hard behind plate. Needs to continue to improve arm strength. 66 mph throws to second base with2.19-2.28 pop times.

Brett Fehr, C, Rogers, 2016
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.53 runner. Deeper load than previously seen. Length to contact with slight arm bar. Flashes pop in bat to pull side of field. Used whole field. Showed avg. power to gaps. 82 mph exit velocity. Solid receiver. Late to block occasionally. Accurate throws to bag with consistent release. 74 mph arm strength with 2.09 pop time.

Nick Hronski, C, Centennial, 2016
5-foot-10, 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 8.19 runner. Shows solid line drive swing to pull side of field. Stays inside the ball well. Avg. power. 75 mph exit velocity. Works hard behind plate. Avg. mobility. Length to exchange and release on throws. Elevated throws to bag with 69 mph arm strength and 2.25-2.37 pop times.

Brady Lanoue, C, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 2016
6-foot-2, 210-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 7.32 runner. Strong build. Mid/pull approach. Minimal use of lower half in swing. Solid contact. 78 mph exit velocity. Avg. receiver behind the dish. Quick release on throws. ¾ arm slot creates sink on throws. 74 mph arm strength with 2.04-2.16 pop times mostly around bag.

Luke Merz, C, Buffalo, 2016
5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.81 runner. Has strength in swing. Pull approach. Stiffer lower half effects weight transfer and power. 83 mph exit velocity. Shows decent hands behind plate. Needs to improve lateral mobility. Quick feet and release behind plate. Average carry and accuracy to bag. 69 mph arm strength with 2.16 pop time.

Sam Moyer, C, Albert Lea, 2016
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.25 runner. Gap to gap approach at plate. Short to contact with flat swing plane through zone. Avg. pop in bat. 80 mph exit velocity. High set-up. Needs work with low pitch. Receives ball well to center of body. Average feet behind plate. Good direction to target. Long release on throws. 70 mph arm strength with 2.29-2.57 pop times.

Brooks Ralph, C, Homestead (WI), 2016
5-foot-9, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.53 runner. Compact swing with short finish. Solid contact with line drive swing plane. Mid/pull approach. 76 mph exit velocity. Upright set-up. Needs to improve lateral agility. Inconsistent exchange length and release on throws. Showed accuracy to bag. 72 mph arm strength. 2.09-2.22 pop times.

Dan Ryan, OF/C, Cretin-Derham Hall, 2016
6-foot-1, 195-pound left-handed hitter. 7.34 runner. Inline stride to contact. Hands drift down in load. Uphill swing plane. Gap to gap approach. Uses whole field. Flashes of bat speed. 77 mph exit velocity. Narrow set-up behind plate. Shows ability to receive. Long arm action on throws to second base with avg. feet. 74 mph arm strength with 2.13-2.19 pop times.

Tristen Saulsbury, C, Andover, 2016
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.59 runner. Leg kick trigger. Middle/ pull approach. Avg. solid contact to that side of field. Short finish after contact. Leans back at contact. 71 mph exit velocity. Solid set-up and flexibility behind plate. Needs to improve strength. Long release on throws. 67 mph arm strength with pop times in 2.34-2.69 range.

Peyton Schumacher, C, Lewiston-Altura, 2016
6-foot-1, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.34 runner. Open to start. Stays open in stride. Short through zone. Avg. contact. Mid/ pull approach. 67 mph exit velocity off tee. High set-up behind plate. Slightly stiff hands receiving. Avg. blocker. Low arm slot. Steps open to throw. 65 mph arms strength with 2.31-2.5 pop times.

Noah Vreeman, C, Willmar, 2016
6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.56 runner. Has improved balance and strength in swing since the Spring. Shows good hands to baseball with solid contact. Several line drives with pop to pull side of field. Uses whole field in approach. 85 mph exit velocity. Good mobility behind plate. Solid receiver. Some length to exchange. Needs to improve arm strength. 67 mph arm strength with 2.15-2.28 pop times.

Jacob Wegner, C, Apple Valley, 2016
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.5 runner. Active load with inline stride to contact. Aggressive approach at plate. Gap to gap approach with some lift in swing plane. 76 mph exit velocity. Needs to stay square to plate when receiving. Pops up to block occasionally. Release is quicker. Threw substantially better than previous events. 71 mph arm strength with pop times in 2.06-2.19 range.

MN Unsigned Senior Showcase: Catching Analysis

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