All-State Games: Catcher Analysis
September 17, 2018
On Aug. 9, we hosted the invite-only showcase in River Grove, Ill., at Triton College: All-State Games. The showcase featured over 50 of the top 2020 prospects from both Illinois and Wisconsin. We’ve already seen one of the event’s attendees commit to play at the next level since All-State Games and, given the talent at Triton College last month, there’s bound to be more in the future.
Today, we’ll begin our position-by-position analysis with a deep dive into the event’s catchers.
Morton’s Isaiah Gudeman and Antioch’s Logan Delgado are the top two uncommitted catchers in their state’s 2020 class. Both are ranked within the top 50 on the Illinois class of 2020 board with their all-around game. Gudeman affirmed his standing as one of the best at his position when it comes to pure bat strength – the 6-foot-2, 195-pound backstop recorded the day’s highest exit velocity. He topped the event’s leaderboard in pop time as well.
Delgado has a strong, durable, catcher frame and an intriguing left-handed bat. Delgado made consistent hard contact in BP and flashed pop to the pull side.
We previously published our Statistical Analysis from the event and will be providing further analysis from this event all week. Keep an eye out tomorrow where we’ll break down the day’s outfielders. For now, read reports on all seven backstops who attended All-State Games.
TOP PROSPECTS (Listed Alphabetically)
Logan Delgado, C, Antioch, 2020
6-foot, 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher, strong physical build. Offensively works from a tall setup, short stride and athletic balance. Strong simple approach, creates hard pull contact, path is level, slight uphill with intent to lift hard contact. 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays short and over the top, showed soft hands, quick clean exchange. 76 mph out of the crouch, 2.08-2.19 pop times. 7.26 runner in the 60.
Matthew Flaherty, C, Lake Zurich, 2020
5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher, solid build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, smooth loading action, short lift and hang stride. Path is long, slightly uphill, creates hard contact. Front foot hitter, slight pull side approach, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Gets tall out of the crouch, exchange is quick, hands play. 2.04-2.15 pop time. Arm action is loose, over the top slot, 72 mph out of the crouch. 7.95 runner in the 60.
Isaiah Gudeman, C, Morton, 2020
6-foot-2, 195-pound catcher, strong build. Right-handed hitter, athletic setup, loads hands back, short reverse load stride. Short path is loose, advanced bat strength, gap to gap approach. Aggressive swing with hard contact, 99 mph exit velocity from the tee. Strong arm out of the crouch, carries with accuracy to target, short quick stroke, 77 mph. Hands play well, clean exchange, 1.95-2.01 pop times. 7.48 runner in the 60.
Chase Mason, C, Washington, 2020
6-foot, 165-pound catcher, wiry frame, athletic build. Right-handed hitter, tall open setup, long stride slightly dives. Spray contact, bat control, created line drive contact, level path, repeatable swing and contact. 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays at 79 mph out of the crouch, high ¾ slot, flashed carry, lacked accuracy. 2.08-2.13 pop times. Above average runner 7.09 in the 60.
Bryce Miller, C, Franklin (WI), 2020
6-foot-2, 205-pound catcher, solid durable frame, strong lower half. Right-handed hitter with bat speed, wide setup, smooth load actions into short stride. Simple quiet bat speed created , loose hands. Contact worked the middle of the field on a line, hard gap to gap approach. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm action plays long out of the crouch, over the top slot, flashed carry, 80 mph. Exchanges clean, some length, 2.04-2.14 pop times, showed soft hands. 7.78 runner in the 60.
Kyle Murphy, C, Madison Memorial (WI), 2020
5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher, strong trim build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, minimal load, short stride, keeps it simple. Strong hands create bat speed and strength, slightly long path, flashed hard contacts off the bat, power potential. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm action has some length, over the top slot, 69 mph out of the crouch. 2.12-2.26 pop times. 7.53 runner in the 60.
Connor Stephenson, C, Normal West, 2020
5-foot-5, 145-pound catcher, small frame with quick body actions. Well above average runner, 6.89 in the 60, laser timed. Agile defender behind the plate, athletic blocker, active actions, quick exchange, 2.12-2.22 pop times. Arm action is short and over the top, 75 mph out of the crouch. Right-handed hitter, crouched and slightly closed setup, short stride. Line drive contact, level path, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.