FL Insider: A few Advanced 2017 Catchers Showing well at Recent Events

July 24, 2015

Justin Burgess
Florida Area Scout

A few 2017 catchers have really been playing well and showing off their tools lately as the summer begins to wind down. These three young men all have the ability to stay behind the plate at the next level and can really swing the bat. If they have not already, they should be attracting multiple schools in the near future.

Garrett Sheppard 2017, C Tampa Jesuit

Sheppard is an uncommitted incoming junior who is 5-foot-10 175 pounds with a lean and compact body with strength. He has a quick transfer and short, over the top arm action. He has plenty of arm to catch at the next level and throws from multiple arm angles as needed. Sheppard moves well and is an aggressive player. He fires a 1.95 pop down to second and at the plate he is slightly open, gets a good separation, and his hands come down with his load. He has a short, quick swing and consistently squares up balls. Garrett has a line drive approach and the ball jumps off his bat. His ability to hit quality pitching and be consistent behind the plate should make him attractive to multiple schools.

Alexander Hernandez 2017, C Flanagan HS

Fernandez is an uncommitted incoming junior and stands at 6 feet 185 pounds with an athletic, strong, and stalky body. He has a short, over the top arm action and plenty of arm down to second with a consistent 1.95 pop time. Fernandez has a quick transfer and is a soft receiver behind the dish. He is somewhat upright at the plate and gets a separation for his load. His good bat speed and flat swing plane are good indicators to him being a hitter at the next level. Fernandez has already began to attract a few DI schools to recent events.

Lucas Patterson 2017, C West Oaks HS

As an uncommitted incoming junior, Patterson is 6 feet 180 pounds with a lean, athletic, and strong body. He has an advanced approach at the plate with good rhythm, getting a nice separation and hand trigger for his load. Patterson has a nice, smooth lefty swing plane. He blocks and deadens the ball well behind the plate and is a soft receiver. When he throws down to second he shows a quick transfer with a short, over the top arm action and good arm strength with a consistent 2.0 pop time. Lucas’s game translates well to the next level and it is just a matter of time before recruiters will be after him, if they are not already.

FL Insider: A few Advanced 2017 Catchers Showing well at Recent Events

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