2016 Uncommitted Catcher
December 8, 2015
By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director
A look at five catchers that are still uncommitted. This group has been cogs to their high school programs success, catching in games deep into the state tournament, including Bratspies catching the 7A State Championship Game.
2016 Cole Boyd C/RHP Horatio HS
Boyd is a 5-foot-9 160-pound athlete with an athletic frame and build, He is one of the most advanced hitters in the entire state. He starts from an athletic stance, he has a smooth load and attacks the baseball with an uphill bat path. He has advance bat speed and an explosive lower half. As a junior Boyd hit double digit homeruns for the Lions. Defensively he is well rounded playing outfield and catcher. At both position he shows a strong arm with carry. On the mound Boyd pounds the strike zone with a fastball 81-84 mph and compliments it with an 11/5 curveball with late break. Overall Boyd is a well-round baseball player with an advanced offensive game.
2016 Keandre Purifoy C Smackover HS
Purifoy is a 5-foot-10 190-pound catcher with a medium frame and a jacked build. A physically gifted player with raw skills. He threw a 2.00-2.21 pop times during the pro-style work out. He has an elongated exchange if he could clean that up his pop times would be sub 2.0. Offensively he is raw but attacks the baseball aggressive, he tends to spin off balls being overly aggressive. He produces 88 mph exit velocities and drove the ball well to the pull side gap during batting practice. Overall Purifoy has huge upside with an unrefined skill set, as he continues to learn and develop he could turn into a very good collegiate player.
2016 Matt Bratspies C Bentonville HS
Bratspies is a 6-foot-1 190-pound left-handed hitting catcher with a large frame and an athletic build. He is a sound defender showing the aptitude to block and receive. He throws pop times of 1.95-2.05 with accuracy. Offensively he attacks the baseball with fast bat speed, and has shown the ability to find barrel on a consistent basis. Overall Bratspies projects to get better as he continues to play the game.
2016 Dylan Hurt C Bryant HS
Hurt is a 5-foot-10 160-pound catcher with a medium frame and an athletic build. Defensively he is very solid behind the plate. He has solid lateral movement while blocking and maintains proper arm angles while receiving. He throws pop times consistently below 2.0 and as low as 1.87. He does this with a quick exchange and an accurate arm. Offensively he starts with an athletic stance, with a smooth load and attacks the baseball with average bat speed. He has a line drive swing that keeps the barrel in the hit zone for a consistent basis, which allows him to hit the ball to all fields. Overall Hurt is an above average defender with an adequate offensive game. He is a versatile athlete that can play multiple position if needed.
2016 Caleb Regan C Farmington HS
Regan is a 5-foot-10 175-pound catcher with a medium frame and an athletic build. One the more offensive catchers in the event. Regan produced exit velocities up to 86 mph with a line drive swing with fast bat speed. He would benefit by incorporating his lower half with more aggression. Defensively he shows effort and aptitude while blocking. He threw pop times of 1.97-2.11 with an elongated exchange and an accurate arm. He has the arm strength to throw under a 2.00 on a consistent basis. Overall Reagan is a solid catcher with fast bat speed, as he develops physically he should be a sound collegiate catcher.
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