Fall Underclass Trials: Catcher Analysis

PBR Georgia hosted its second annual Fall Underclass Trials on Saturday, November 7th at LakePoint Sports in Emerson, GA. The event brought together over 50 prospects from the 2023-2024 class for a pro-style workout. Today, we will start the player report analysis. First up are the backstops.

Leading this group is 2024 C Evan Doss (East Coweta). Our first look at Doss proved to be a good one, as he showed some advanced actions behind the plate for such a young prospect. Offensively, Doss swings with aggressive intent and can use the entire field with a level swing.

C/1B Carson Royal (Winder-Barrow, 2023) and C Tyler Jackson (North Springs Charter, 2022) make appearances on the top prospect list. Royal is a strong, sturdy, 5-foot-10, 180-pounds, and he uses his natural strength to impact the ball with force at the plate. As for Jackson, he has a well rounded defensive skill set and a level swing, showing aggressive intent pull-side.

Top catching Prospects

Evan Doss, East Coweta (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP/INF
Body: 5-foot-8, 170-pounds. Strong, sturdy frame, will continue to fill out as he matures
Hit: RHH. Open setup, smooth rhythm and load, short stride, good balance, finishes with heavy rotation of lower half.  Showed intent, good feel for the barrel, swing works level through the zone, uses the entire field.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. INF - 74 mph.. Traditional catcher's actions, short, quick, over-the-top slot, accurate down to second, on the infield arm works longer with some pie action.
Defense: 2.04-2.20 pop times. Showed some advanced actions behind the plate, strong receiver, fluid footwork, clean exchanges. Moves athletically behind the plate, good flexibility. Good body control on the infield.
Run: 7.80 runner in the 60.

Carson Royal, Winder-Barrow (GA), 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-foot-10, 180-pounds. Strong, physical build, wide shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, good rhythm in hands, loads back, short stride. Barrel path is level through the zone, hits off backside, strong hands/wrists, creates hard contact pull-side.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Power potential, bat strength.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 71 mph. Short, clean arm action to an over-the-top slot, accurate throws across the infield and behind the plate.
Defense: 2.04-2,25 pop times. Moves well around first base, fluid footwork and clean glove hand. Behind the plate, athletic receiver, sets up on the balls of his feet, clean exchanges and glove work, carries momentum on line..
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60.

Tyler Jackson, North Springs Charter (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Long, lean frame, wiry strength
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, hands drop and deepen on load, brings barrel vertical, reverse toe-tap stride, finishes towards third base.  Barrel works mostly level through the zone, looks to turn on and lift the ball with aggressive intent.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action, quick acceleration, high 3/4 slot, kept throws on first base side of second base.
Defense: 2.06-2.25 pop times. Good receiver, quick exchanges, clean footwork, carries momentum through the ball.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed alphabetically)

Ethan Babcock, Milton (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-9, 155-pounds. Young, lean frame, lots of growth left
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, hands start back and deepen on load, low sweeping leg kick, finishes balanced Some length to the zone, mostly level through the zone, can get uphill at-times, flicks wrists through contact, creates line drive contact, uses the entire field.
Power: 72 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short, loose arm, coils on the back-side, 3/4 slot, fluid
Defense: 2.10-2.25 pop times. Fluid receiver, clean exchanges and footwork, gets to release with some quickness, showed good athleticism.
Run: 8.05 runner in the 60. 

Xavier Bradley, Luella (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-8, 165-pounds. Young frame, has lots of growth to come
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup, hands load back with a wrap, long stride to balanced finish. long barrel path, upward through the zone, looks to elevate middle/pull
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action to a high 3/4 slot
Defense: 2.20-2,36 pop times. Receives deep in stance, clean exchanges and footwork, moves well laterally
Run: 8.02 runner in the 60.

Conner Christopher, Ringgold (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-7, 138-pounds. Young, lean frame, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, hands start on shoulders, drop and deepen on load with a barrel wrap, short stride. Barrel works level through the zone, creates line drive contact, uses the entire field, quick hand speed.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short, loose arm, comes out of an over-the-top slot, kept throws on line, utilized one hop off turf
Defense: 2.22-2.33 pop times. Competent receiver, clean exchanges, at-times can work around the ball, moves well out of the crouch.
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60. clean gait

Zachary Counts, Brookwood School (GA), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Proportional build, lean strength, more to come as he continues to mature.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, big leg lift stride, hands load back on stride, good balance through finish, early timing Takes a power/pull approach, gets barrel going early, swing works mostly level through the zone, elevates with some force
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Power potential, bat strength
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action to a high 3/4 slot, kept throws on target.
Defense: 2.20-2.40 pop times. Competent receiver, flexible hips, clean on exchanges, at-times stands up on throws.
Run: 7.95 runner in the 60.

Kade Nicholson, Habersham Central (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 5-foot-10, 190-pounds. Wide frame, thick, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, hands start low, big hand load back, sweeping leg kick, finishes heavily on back-side. Mostly level barrel path, looks to elevate the ball to the pull-side
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph.. Short arm action to an over-the-top slot, kept throws around the bag.
Defense: 2.35-2.51 pop times. Clean on exchanges, has tendency to stand up on throws, stabs at ball. Good blocker
Run: 8.60 runner in the 60.

Camden Page, West Hall (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-foot-9, 180-pounds. Strong, sturdy frame.
Hit: SH. Similar setup from both sides of the plate. Open, hands drop and deepen on load, brings barrel vertical, leg kick timing trigger, good balance. Takes a power, pull approach from both sides, strong hands, throws his upper half into each swing.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Power potential.
Run: 7.74 runner in the 60.

Mason Siniard, Houston County (GA), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-10, 173-pounds. Thick, strong frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, hands start back and deepen on load, short leg lift stride, finishes balance. Swing works level through zone, loose wrists, aggressive intent, line drive type hitter.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. INF - 71 mph. Short arm action to an over-the-top slot behind the plate and on the infield. Kept throws around the bag at both.
Defense: 2.26-2.32 pop times. Clean on exchanges and with footwork behind the plate. On the infield, fields deep, long on exchanges, competent back hand.
Run: 8.00 runner in the 60.

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