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Underclass Games Analysis: Catching Reports from Sept. 7th

September 12, 2014

Dan Cevette
Director, New York

The Underclass Prospect Games were a huge success, bringing young players together from all over New York. The exposure PBR gives is crucial for players trying to play baseball at the next level. We would like to give a special thanks to all the players, parents, help, and Horseheads HS for making Sept. 7th a truly special day for us.

The scouting notes on all 8 catchers are now complete, lets take a look at what Sept 7th had behind the dish.

Zach Fascia  C/RHP (Turner Fenton, Ontario 2016)
Fascia has next level prowess behind the dish. The skilled catcher uses athletic mechanics with a quick transfer to an over the top slot. His arm strength is plus at 81 mph, pop times were 2.00-2.06 (1.91 6/21) showing some signs of a long season. The upside is high for fascia behind the dish. At the plate he bats from the left side, with balance through his swing. He stays inside the ball, bat travels slightly on the incline with a high finish. Exit velocity was 82 mph. 

Isaiah Spears C (John Jay Campus, 2016)
Spears strands 5-foot-7 195-pounds and showed well behind the dish. He uses a slightly open stance to receive, quick clean high transfer, footwork is sound making up ground and with proper alignment, throws from a high 3/4 slot at 71 mph with a solid pop time at 2.16. At the plate his setup is open, weight distributed evenly through his stance with his hands high. On the pitch he uses a back load, brings his front leg back to even with a heel lift, powers his hands inside the ball with a short path to the ball, level bat path through the zone. His exit velocity off a tee was 81 mph.

Andrew Czubaj C (John F. Kennedy HS, 2016)
Czubaj stands 5-foot-10 175-pounds with an athletic build. Behind the dish he shows prowess with his actions. Quick transfer to a high 3/4 slot, plus footwork moving quick and gaining ground towards second, arm strength will get better with maturity and strength at 71, pop time was 2.06-2.15 all day. At the plate his setup is athletic with his weight slightly shifted back. On the pitch he loads back, uses a leg lift and stride for timing. His path is short to the ball, level through the zone with a high finish. Exit velocity was 78 mph.

Ty Syta C (St. Francis HS, 2018)
Syta stands 6-foot-0 192-pounds with projectable size and prowess behind the dish. He sets up wide creating a big target, on his throws he moves athletic, quick transfer with hand getting close to ear, throws from a high 3/4 slot with arm strength at 73 mph and a pop time at 2.19. At the plate he bats from the left side, weight back before the pitch with hands near his chin, He loads back on the pitch and uses a stride. He drives his hands inside the ball, bat plane is level through the zone with a shoulder height finish. Exit velocity was 75 mph.

Chris McDonnell C (Bath Haverling HS, 2016)
Behind the dish McDonnell uses a quick transfer, solid arm from a mid 3/4 slot at 75 mph. He needs to improve his footwork which moved a little heavy. His pop time was 2.25-2.36. At the plate his setup is wide, weight shifted back, stride forward on the pitch. His bat is fairly level through the zone, path is short, extension through contact. Exit velocity off a tee was 72.

Kaleb Kille C (Johnson City HS, 2016)
Kille stands 6-foot-2 175-pounds with excellent size behind the dish. He shows a wide target behind the plate and receives with soft hands. His transfer was quick, footwork needs to be faster, released from a high 3/4 slot at 72 mph. Pop time was 2.21 and with increased arm strength he will see that number drop considerably. At the plate he starts with his weight balanced centered, hands by his back ear, shoulder level. On the pitch he uses a rocking back load, stride for timing before keeping his hands inside the baseball. Bat path is short, plane is level through the zone, over rotates some on finish. Exit velocity was 79 mph off a tee.

Benjamin Monti C (Lancaster HS, 2016)
Monti stands 5-foot-11 160-pounds with a frame able to handle more positive weight. Behind the dish he shows off a plus skill-set. He uses a wide base receiving the ball to a high clean transfer, short arm action to an over the top release. His arm strength will improve with strength which was 73 mph, footwork showed quickness, pop time ranging 2.18-2.28. At the plate he starts with his weight shifted back, hands high. On the pitch he drops his hands, strides for timing, and gets the bat to the ball on a short path. His path is inclined through the zone using extension through contact and a high finish. His exit velocity off a tee was 78 mph.

Alexander Durand RHP/1B (Burnt Hills HS, 2016)
Durand has a big bodied frame at 6-foot-5 271-pounds which helps for a big target behind the dish. He needs to work on his footwork and transfer in order to get his pop times down. He throws from a low 3/4 slot with a pop time of 2.39. At the plate he has a balanced setup, back load with hands that drop and back toe touch for timing, with a long stride. His path is long, bat path is level with some above average speed (85) through the zone with a shoulder height finish rolling some on his front foot.