Kenosha Preseason I.D.: Catching Analysis

This week the PBR Wisconsin staff is rolling out our positional analysis from the Kenosha Preseason I.D. Starting with catchers, freshman Emmanuel Scott (St. Ignatius, IL) stood out as our top catching prospect from the event. Scott is a quick twitch athlete with a frame that will carry plenty of more muscle. Junior Riley Hughes (Bradford) showed the best present catch and throw skills, his arm played strong, but most of all, accurate. Hughes recorded an event best 2.0 pop time.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Emmanuel Scott, C, St. Ignatius (IL), 2021
5-foot-11, 150-pound catcher with a lanky, athletic frame, highly projectable build. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, smooth load into small leg-kick stride, sturdy throughout. Confident approach with quick twitch hands, plus bat speed for his age, on level, short path, produced gap-to-gap contact, fluid rhythm; 85 mph exit velocity. Defensively, quick-twitch athlete, short and over-the-top arm action; 71 mph from the crouch. Footwork is quick and fluid, soft hands, advanced receiver, quiet and athletic behind the dish. Pop times between 2.19-2.32. As a runner, 4.50 home-to-first. High follow 2021 prospect.

2. Riley Hughes, C, Bradford, 2019
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher. Defensively, short-arm action, over-the-top slot thrown accurately with carry; 78 mph out of the crouch. Consistently fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through athletically; pop times between 2.00-2.12. Right-handed batter, begins balanced, wide in setup, short stride. Uphill path, regularly barrelled line-drive contact; 86 mph exit velo from the tee. 4.46 home-to-first as a runner.

3. Nathan Rentas, C, Warren (IL), 2020
5-foot-11, 200-pound left-handed hitting catcher with strong build. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, stable throughout. Uphill path, hard contact to pull-side; 93 mph exit velocity from a tee, power potential hitter, advanced bat speed. Defensively, over-the-top arm action; 73 mph from the crouch. Fluid footwork; pop times between 2.26-2.33. 5.19 home-to-first.

4. Jeff Hynes, C, Brookfield Academy, 2018
5-foot-11, 190-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Balanced setup into short, toe-tap stride. Fluid rhythm, level path with pull to middle of the field contact; topped 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. On defense, short-arm action, over-the-top slot; 75 mph from the crouch. Simple, quick footwork, clean exchange; recorded pop times between 2.25-2.32. 4.21 home-to-first.

5. Benjamin Bergeron, C, Waterford, 2019
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher with strong frame. Strong, short-arm action, over-the-top slot with accuracy; 79 mph from the crouch. Fluid footwork, clean exchange; pop times between 2.22-2.32. Right-handed batter, balanced setup, short stride. Flashed bat speed, uphill path, pull-side contact; 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.43 home-to-first.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Michael Aragon, C, Marian Central Catholic (IL), 2020
5-foot-9, 155-pound switch-hitting catcher. Defensively, loose arm action, high ¾ slot; 68 mph from the crouch. Athletic, soft blocks. Recorded pop times between 2.32-2.41. Offensively, on the left side, open and tall stance, short stride, maintains balance. Uphill path, fluid rhythm; 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. As a right-handed batter, tall but less open, short stride, keeps balance. Same uphill path; 76 exit velocity. Ran 4.97 home-to-first.

Kylar Arias, C, Antioch (IL), 2021
5-foot-8, 177-pound catcher, projectable strength. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride. Uphill path, pull-side contact; 86 mph exit velocity. Defensively, short-arm action, over-the-top slot; 64 mph from the crouch. Recorded pop times between 2.36-2.59. 4.94 home-to-first as a runner.

Tyler Hoover, 1B/C, Racine Lutheran, 2019
6-foot, 170-pound first baseman and catcher. Right-handed batter, balanced start, short stride, holds balance throughout. Short path, line-drive contact; 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. At first base, high ¾ slot, consistent clean exchange; 68 mph in the infield. Behind the plate, short-arm action, ¾ slot, clean exchange; 68 mph from the crouch. Recorded pop times between 2.36-2.50. 4.75 home-to-first.

Colin Lehmann, C/1B, Barrington (IL), 2020
6-foot, 202-pound first baseman and catcher. Offensively, right-handed, balanced setup, toe-tap stride. Regularly looking to lift the ball on uphill path, hard contact; 92 mph exit velocity off the tee. Behind the plate, short-arm action, over-the-top slot; 70 mph from the crouch. Soft, athletic block. Clean exchange; pop times between 2.26-2.37. At first base, high ¾ slot; 71 mph in the infield.

Carter Perusich, C/INF, Indian Trail, 2019
5-foot-9, 160-pound catcher and middle infielder. Defensively showed abilities both behind the plate and on the infield. Above average catching actions, projects best there, repeated clean exchange and fluid footwork; pop times between 2.19-2.34. Short-arm action from over-the-top slot with accuracy and flashed carry; 74 mph from the crouch and accurate, 79 mph across the diamond and flashed athleticism. Offensively, right-handed batter, balanced setup, small stride. Uphill path, lifted contact; topspin some. 81 exit velocity from a tee. Ran 4.37 home-to-first.

Cooper Schlosser, C, West Bend East, 2019
5-foot-11, 165-pound catcher, strong and lean frame with wide-shoulder build. Left-handed batter, balanced setup, short stride and stable throughout. Consistent bat speed on level path, regular line-drive contact; 85 mph exit velocity. Defensively behind the plate, over-the-top arm slot, clean exchange; 74 mph from the crouch. Recorded pop times between 2.17-2.25. As a runner, 4.29 home-to-first.

Will Sommers, OF/C, Prospect (IL), 2021
5-foot-6, 140-pound outfielder and catcher. Offensively, right-handed, open stance, leg-kick stride, maintains balance. Fluid, uphill swing produces regular line-drive contact; 74 mph exit velocity from a tee. In the outfield, long, over-the-top arm action. Crowhop exchange, plays through; 75 mph to home. Behind the plate, throws high ¾; 71 mph from the crouch. Recorded pop times between 2.29-2.40. As a runner, 5.20 home-to-first.

Jacob Springer, C, Tremper, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Leg-lift stride with active, strong lower half but maintains balance throughout. Uphill path with fluid rhythm; 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, throws over-the-top, consistent accuracy; 70 mph from the crouch. Recorded pop times between 2.22-2.29. 4.58 home-to-first.