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Preseason All-State Showcase: Catcher Analysis (Part Two)

February 22, 2014

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting 

A total of 32 catchers showcased their abilities on Day Two of the Preseason All-State Showcase. In Part One of our evaluations we will take a look at half of the group, with the remaining 16 prospects to be reviewed in Part Two.

additional Catcher content:

Catcher Analysis: Part One

PBR Plus: Standout Catchers


Mason McKinley, Garden Spot HS, Class of 2016
McKinley demonstrated quick feet and a clean transfer with pop times of 2.00-2.09 on throws of 72 mph from the crouch. While he did not possess the arm strength of some catchers in attendance he made up for it with footwork. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound sophomore displayed a line drive approach at the plate with a bat exit velocity of 82 mph. McKinley starts from a slightly open stance and displayed the ability to barrel the baseball consistently with no stride from his lower half.

Michael Melady, Springside-Chestnut Hill, Class of 2015
Melady is a 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior that registered a 4.63 home-to-1B time and flashed pop times of 2.06-2.16 on throws of 72 mph from the crouch. The physical right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance with a high hands load and strides closed at contact. Melady showcased a bat exit velocity of 91 mph and the ability to drive the baseball to all fields during his round of batting practice.

Austin Morgan, Episcopal Academy, Class of 2015
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound right-handed hitter starts from an open stance with a high hands load. He has a bit of length to his swing and displayed difficulty with pitches on the inner half. Morgan barreled the baseball middle/away consistently with a bat exit velocity of 75 mph. The junior flashed pop times of 1.96-2.13 on throws of 79 mph out of the crouch.

Dylan Morrissette, Souderton Area HS, Class of 2015
Morrissette is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior with a very projectable frame. The right-handed hitter used a toe tap trigger out of a square stance in barreling the baseball consistently to all fields. Morrissette showed balance throughout his swing and a bat exit velocity of 88 mph. He showed a very accurate arm behind the plate with a bit of a long arm throwing motion. Morrissette flashed pop times of 2.12-2.19 on throws of 75 mph from the crouch and registered a 4.48 home-to-1B time.

Jake Pae, Susquehanna Township HS, Class of 2016
Pae is a 6-foot-2, 165-pound prospect that displayed the ability to barrel the baseball frequently from a square stance with a high hands load. The right-handed hitter utilizes a flat bat path and showed the ability to use all fields with a bat exit velocity of 82 mph. Pae registered a 4.42 home-to-1B time and flashed pop times of 2.07-2.16 on throws of 75 mph from the crouch.

Garrett Palmeri, Comsewogue HS (NY), Class of 2014
Palmeri is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound unsigned senior that registered a 4.72 home-to-1B time. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and utilizes a leg lift trigger to initiate his swing. Palmeri displayed a flat bat path and the ability to barrel the baseball frequently with a bat exit velocity of 82 mph. He showcased 2.28-2.38 pop times on throws of 68 mph from the crouch.

Dutch Reardon, Plymouth Whitemarsh HS, Class of 2016
Reardon flashed pop times of 2.19-2.31 on throws of 69 mph from the crouch and ran a 4.57 home-to-1B time. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-handed hitter showed the ability to use all fields with a balanced swing from a square stance. Reardon barreled the baseball routinely with a bat exit velocity of 84 mph. The sophomore will show even greater power potential when he incorporates more of his lower half in his swing.

Travis Renner, University HS (WV), Class of 2014
Renner is a solidly built 6-foot, 185-pound prospect that registered a 4.15 home-to-1B time and demonstrated some gap power potential. The right-handed hitting unsigned senior displayed the ability to consistently drive the baseball with a bat exit velocity of 89 mph. Renner showcased pop times of 2.12-2.19 on throws of 72 mph from the crouch behind the plate.

Shawn Shaner JR, Kittaning HS, Class of 2014
Shaner is a 5-foot-8, 160-pound unsigned senior that flashed pop times of 2.22-2.32 on throws of 69 mph from the crouch. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and uses a leg lift trigger to start his swing. Shaner showed solid balance and a flat bat path with a bat exit velocity of 79 mph. He registered a 4.38 home-to-1B time.

Jeff Shanfeldt, Garnet Valley HS, Class of 2015
Shanfeldt emerged as one of the top catching prospects in his class following a very solid performance. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and incorporates a toe tap to initiate his swing. Shanfeldt displayed a direct, balanced swing with the ability to drive the baseball to all fields. He registered an 89 mph bat exit velocity and showed athleticism with a 4.19 home-to-1B time. Behind the plate he was even more impressive. Shanfeldt flashed pop times of 1.90-1.96 on throws of 82 mph out of the crouch.

Zack Skatell, Greensburg Central Catholic HS, Class of 2016
Skatell is a 5-foot-10, 200-pound sophomore that registered a 4.87 home-to-1B time and showcased pop times of 2.56-2.66 on throws of 63 mph out of the crouch. The right-handed hitter displayed a flat bat path and the ability to barrel the baseball frequently from a square stance with a bat exit velocity of 85 mph. Skatell uses a high hands load and a lift and replace stride foot along with a solid hip turn to create barrel whip.

Conor Smith, Easton Area HS, Class of 2015
Smith is a 6-foot, 170-pound junior that hits from an open stance. The right-handed hitter showed some gap power and the ability to use all fields with a bat exit velocity of 81 mph. Smith showed one of the most accurate arms at the event with pop times of 2.03-2.09 on throws of 71 mph from the crouch. His good feet were also evident in his 4.15 home-to-1B time.

Jonny Smith, Red Lion Area HS, Class of 2015
Smith displayed quick feet and a clean transition with pop times of 2.00-2.12 on throws of 75 mph from the crouch. Those times will continue to improve as the junior works to eliminate a bit of a hitch in his throwing motion. Smith starts from an open stance and gets to extension consistently from the right side of the plate. He displayed some gap power and a 90 mph bat exit velocity in a solid round of batting practice.

Justin Smith, Warwick HS, Class of 2016
Smith displayed quick feet and an accurate arm with pop times of 2.09-2.16 on throws of 73 mph from the crouch. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound left-handed hitter showcased a flat bat path and looseness in his swing that allowed him to barrel the baseball consistently to all fields. Smith showcased a 78 mph bat exit velocity from a square stance with a toe tap trigger.

David Straub, Souderton HS, Class of 2015
Straub displayed a short swing path with a very small stride from a square stance. The right-handed hitter barreled the baseball consistently and used all fields but lacked full extension to his swing. Straub registered an 84 mph bat exit velocity and turned in a 4.72 home-to-1B time. The junior flashed pop times of 2.09-2.16 on throws of 74 mph from the crouch. Straub displayed solid footwork and a clean transfer with an accurate arm.

Jeremy Sultzaberger, Susquenita HS, Class of 2015
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound left-handed hitter has some stiffness in his swing but showed the ability to barrel the baseball frequently with a bat exit velocity of 83 mph. Sultzaberger starts from a slightly open stance and strides closed making it difficult for him to clear his hips regularly cutting off some of his power potential. He registered a 4.45 home-to-1B time and flashed pop times of 2.09-2.16 on throws of 72 mph from the crouch. Sultzaberger showed a quick release and very accurate arm.


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