Bradenton, FL— On Saturday, Jan. 27th, 100 of the top high school prospects ranging from the 2018-2021 classes participated in PBR Florida’s second annual Preseason All-State which is the premier kickoff event for the 2018 spring high school season. Last year’s inaugural event boasted some of the top talent from throughout the state of Florida and this year’s event was no different. From draft talent, numerous Division I recruits, and some of the top uncommitted underclassman in the state, the Preseason All-State is one of the most highly viewed events in the state of Florida. With that talented group, we continue our breakdown with the Catchers, starting with the top five, followed by the best of the rest. 

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Charlie Welch C / 2B / Jefferson, FL / 2018 Rankings  StateRank: 27 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 92 / POS: 5 Pepperdine recruit. Stands at 6-foot, 200 pounds, he carries the weight well, with strong broad shoulders and a strong lower half. The frame looks the part of a durable catcher as defensively he shows flexibility. He is a solid receiver and had pop times ranging from 1.98-2.07. His hands works and has all the makings of a solid defensive catcher. Overall, his bat is his calling card. Setup slightly wider than shoulder width, he has a leg kick trigger and consistently gets on time. Sinks into the lower half and creates a party that generate natural loft and power. The swing is still compact while generating bat speed and had an exit velocity of 98 mph. Expect to see him come June as solid defensive catchers with power are normally favorites of professional scouts.

Danny Neri C / OF / Bishop Snyder, FL / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 54 / POS: 9 Georgia Tech recruit. 6-foot, 165 pounds, athletic build that will add strength and athleticism with time. Defensively, he uses the athleticism well behind the plate. He could improve on flexibility to get in a more consistent receiving position, but overall the toolset is there to be a solid defensive catcher. Offensively, he showed ability to use the big part of the field. Able to get ball in the air with regularity. Shows the ability to not only create leverage, but turn the barrel and show above average hit tool with power potential. A lot of tools to like and follow going forward.

Julio Cortez Jr. C / 1B / American Heritage, FL / 2018 Rankings  StateRank: 109 / POS: 10 South Florida recruit. The strong, stocky 6-foot 210 pound catcher is built for the position. Defensively, he presents a good target and shows potential as an above average receiver and all around defender. The hands work and that is evident in the quick transfer to release, with pop times ranging from 2.08-2.17. Offensively, he really gets into the lower half early. Staying on the back side, when he works through the ball it jumps off of the bat from gap-to-gap. Could clear the back side a bit more,  but there is a lot of strength and quality utilization of the lower half. He has strong wrists and a simple, compact swing and approach that are going to play at the next level.

McGwire Holbrook C / RHP / Bishop Moore, FL / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 42 / POS: 7 OverallRank: 187 / POS: 24 West Virginia recruit. Currently stands 6-foot, 190 pounds. Defensively behind the plate he showed good mechanics and ability to defend ball in the dirt. He recorded a pop time of 2.08-2.17 seconds with his throws to the bag topping out at 75 mph. Offensively, he showed the ability to clear his hips quickly using a strong lower half with gap to gap power. Makes consistent, hard contact with a feel for the barrel. He registered an exit velocity of 95 mph in the cage. Clocked in at 7.91 seconds for his 60-yard dash time.

Sebastian Jimenez C / Coral Reef, FL / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 40 / POS: 5 OverallRank: 178 / POS: 23 Florida International recruit. Currently stands 6-foot-3, 178 pounds with an athletic, projectable frame. Defensively, behind the plate he showed the ability to be light on his feet with a pop time between 2.18-2.27 seconds and his throws topping out at 76 mph. Offensively, he showed gap to gap power and the ability to drive the ball with authority. As Jimenez continues to add to his frame and mature, look for a jump in power at the plate. Registered an exit velocity of 91 mph. He recorded a 60-yard dash time of 7.26 seconds.

Now here's the best of the rest, in no particular order:

Migdiel Burgos C / OF / Saint Cloud, FL / 2018 Stocky 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. Defensively, he stood out in the game. Received and blocked well. Stayed in good positions and showed some feel for calling pitches. He showed pop times ranging from 2.17- 2.25. Offensively, starting upright and slightly open, he has rhythm in the load. Uses a small leg kick as he trigger, can cut himself off at times and could see power jump with better extension, but is level through the zone. Exit velocity was 88 mph. Strong balanced lower half.

Dylan Goldstein C / 1B / North Broward Prep, FL / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 104 / POS: 15 Tulane recruit.  Looks to have leaned out since the Future Games. Defensively, he shows above average defensive potential. The hands work and has strong shoulders. Could benefit from added flexibility to stay in correct receiving position more consistently, but the actions are there. Offensively, he appears to have lowered where he sets his hands and it looks to have freed him up. He gets more quality separation, staying in the zone longer and is looser with the wrists. Consistently found the barrel in batting practice and had an exit velocity of 97 mph. There's big power potential from the left side and left-handed hitting catchers with power potential are always ones to follow.

Isaac Ferrer C / 3B / Elev8 Baseball Academy, FL / 2020 Present strength with room to add to his frame currently standing at 5-foot-10, 165 lbs. Offensively, he shows ability to drive ball with authority when he squares it up. Makes hard contact and registered an 86 mph exit velocity in the cage. Behind the plate he displayed a good hands and a strong arm which topped out at 77 mph on his throws to the bag. Clocked in at 7.63 seconds for his 60 yard dash time.

Matthew Menendez C / 1B / Pace , FL / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 41 / POS: 6 OverallRank: 204 / POS: 25 Uncommitted. Lean build with room to add strength currently standing at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. Offensively, he looks to get the hands extended and flashes power to pull side when he squares it up. Can drive it with authority. Look for Menendez to see an overall jump at the plate as he continues to add to his frame which should see a jump in power. Registered an exit velocity of 91 mph in the cage. Behind the plate the hands work and transfers quickly with throws to the bag that topped out at 75 mph. Clocked in at 8.08 seconds for his 60 yard dash time.

Daniel Bernstein C / Sickles, FL / 2019 Uncommitted. Stocky build with present strength standing at 5-foot-11, 210 pounds. Physically works behind the plate with strong hands and accurate throws to the bag that topped out at 76 mph. Solid control of the run game. Offensively, he gets ball in the air and lets his strength go to work with present pull-side power. Creates hard, solid contact. Registered one of the top exit velocities at the event at 96 mph. Good follow for this spring an an uncommitted catcher with power at the plate.

Carlos Fonseca C / OF / Forest Hill Community, FL / 2018 Rankings  StateRank: 163 / POS: 21 Uncommitted. Currently stands at 5-foot-8, 180 pounds with a stocky build and athletic actions. Strong lower half. Switch hitting catcher who shows a feel from both sides of the plate. Gets his hands in and turns on inside pitches. Has quick bat on a compact path. Open stance with active hands in relaxed position at setup. Stays balanced through contact. Heads up player defensively with accurate throws that topped out at 74 mph to the bag. Clocked in at 7.75 seconds for his 60 yard dash time.

John Schroeder C / 1B / Lakewood Ranch, FL / 2021 Currently stands at 6-foot, 165 pounds with a projectable, athletic build. Feel for the game. Offensively, he hits from both sides of the plate and shows loose hands with intent to drive the ball into the gaps. Makes consistent contact and the ball jumps off the bat for his age. Registered an exit velocity of 90 mph in the cage which was one of the top ones in his class. Behind the plate he showed athleticism and displayed a strong arm on his throws to the bag that topped out at 75 mph. Clocked in at 8.01 seconds for his 60 yard dash time.

Declan McDermott C / OF / Viera , FL / 2020 Uncommitted, Currently stands at 5-foot-9, 161 pounds with a solid frame. Offensively, he starts from a balanced setup looking to drive the ball with a level path through the zone. Showed a level path through the zone with the ability to create hard contact and gap-to-gap potential. Registered an 89 mph exit velocity in the cage. Behind the plate the hands work and receives the ball out in front with his throws to the bag topping out at 68 mph. Clocked in at 7.55 for his 60 yard dash time.

Parker Aultman C / OF / Newberry, FL / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 98 / POS: 13 Uncommitted. Currently stands at 6-foot, 185 pounds with a lean, projectable build and a strong lower half. Offensively, he starts from a slightly open stance with a small leg kick for his load, looking to drive the ball gap-to-gap with strong hands through the zone. Registered an exit velocity of 92 mph in the cage, showing the ability to drive the ball with authority. Behind the plate he shows athleticism and had accurate throws to the bag that topped out at 78 mph. Clocked in at 7.18 seconds for his 60 yard dash time.

Keano Suarez C / OF / Lake Brantley, FL / 2019 Uncommitted. Currently stands at 5-foot-9, 205 pounds with a strong, solid frame with strength in his hands and wrists. Offensively, starts from an open stance and looks to drive the ball with intent, showing pull side power and creating hard, solid contact consistently. The ball jumps off the bat when he squares it uop. Registered an exit velocity of 95 mph which was one of the top ones at the event. Behind the plate, he shows strong hands, receives the ball well, and has strong, accurate throws which topped out at 80 mph to the bag. Clocked in at 7.32 seconds for his 60 yard dash time.

Henry Politz C / 1B / Jesuit, FL / 2020 Uncommitted. Currently stands at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds with a strong, athletic build. Stood out at the plate where he showed above average bat speed and consistently showed the ability to square the ball up from both sides of the plate. Gap-to-gap power and drives the ball. Catcher with power from both sides of the plate, registering an exit velocity of 92 mph. Behind the plate he shows strong hands and solid footwork with accurate throws to the bag that topped out at 76 mph. Clocked in at 8.0 seconds for his 60 yard dash time.

Jaime Ferrer C / SS / TNXL Academy, FL / 2021 Currently stands 5-foot-10, 155 pounds. He has a lean, projectable body with a strong lower half. Defensively behind the plate during the simulated game he worked well at blocking the ball in the dirt and controlling the tempo of the game. Throws to the bag were accurate and topped out at 73 mph. Offensively everything seems to work well. Short to the ball with and effortless swing. Off the bat his exit velocity registered 86 mph. He recorded a 60-yard dash time of 7.46 seconds.

Jakob Runnels C / OF / Auburndale, FL / 2019 Uncommitted. Currently stands 5-foot-11, 190 pounds with a strong, athletic build. Defensively behind the plate he showed the ability to block the ball well in the dirt. During the simulated game, he threw out a base runner at second. Strong arm with carry and accuracy on his throws that topped out at 78 mph. Offensively he showed a short, compact swing that gets to the ball quickly with some pull-side power. Feel for the barrel. Registered an exit velocity of 95 mph in the cage. He recorded a 60-yard dash time of 7.45 seconds.

Travis Stapleton C / 3B / Real Life Christian Academy, FL / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 57 / POS: 10 Uncommitted. Currently stands 5-foot-10, 190 pounds with a stocky, athletic build. Defensively behind the plate his throws were accurate to the bag and topped out at 74 mph. Works to keep the ball in front of him. Offensively, he was quick to the ball with a strong lower half showing power gap-to-gap. Looks to drive the ball with authority and square it up. Registered an exit velocity of 89 mph in the cage. He recorded a 60-yard dash time of 8.03 seconds.

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