Metro East Open: Catcher Analysis

August 1, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The annual Metro East Open took place on June 28th at Blazier Field in O'Fallon, IL. About 100 uncommitted prospects from the St. Louis area convened for the open showcase. Today we begin the roll out of the analysis from the event, starting with the catchers.

2019 Dalton Wallace from Edwardsville HS flashed a big arm from behind the plate to take home the top spot.

Here’s a look at the catcher's at the Metro East Open, starting with the top 3 prospects from the event:

TOP CATCHERS

1. Dalton Wallace, C, Edwardsville, 2019
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively, flashed a big arm from the crouch. Clean arm action from a high 3/4 slot. Clean, athletic exchanges, accurate throws on the bag, flashed carry, and clocked at 77 mph. Registered pop times between 1.97-2.08. Offensively, balanced setup, leg-lift timing mechanism, maintains balance throughout swing. Flashed bat speed, long, uphill bat path, pull side approach; exit velocity recorded at 82 mph. Also, ran a 7.51 laser timed 60.

2. Konnar Loewen, C, Civic Memorial, 2017
6-foot, 145-pound, catcher with a lanky, athletic frame. Offensively, right-handed hitter, flashed bat speed, fluid rhythm and loose hands; spray type hitter. Balanced, open setup, smooth load, long stride, maintains balance through the zone. Long, uphill bat path. Exit velocity clocked at 80 mph. Defensively, over the top slot, quick transfer and accurate throws with carry; clocked at 75 mph from the crouch. Also, ran a 7.45 laser timed 60.

3. Quinten Albrecht, C, Waterloo, 2018
6-foot-1, 165-pound, left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride and good balance through contact. Flashed bat speed, short path, fluid rhythm, quiet, looseness in swing; recorded a 79 mph exit velocity. Defensively, soft hands, high ¾ slot, quick release, recorded pop times between 2.12-2.22. Clocked at 72 mph from the crouch. Also, ran a 7.34 laser timed 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Kyle Becker, C, O’Fallon, 2019
5-foot-10, 180-pound strong bodied right handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced, open stance, leg lift timing trigger. Uphill bat path, pull side approach; exit velocity 70 mph. Defensively, high ¾ slot, feet get square, accurate throws with carry, pop times registered at 2.29-2.40. Clocked at 71 mph from behind the plate. Also, ran an 8.33 laser timed 60.

Caleb Carswell, C/INF, Parkway West, (MO), 2017
6-foot-1, 225-pound strong bodied catcher. Offensively, right handed hitter, wide, crouched over stance, leg lift timing trigger, maintains balance throughout swing. Bat speed, uphill bat path, line drive approach, fluid rhythm, finds barrel; exit velocity clocked at 89 mph. In the infield, flashed clean footwork, short, high ¾ release; clocked at 72 mph across the diamond. Behind the plate, ¾ slot, higher stance, pop times recorded between 2.29-2.40. Clocked at 67 mph from the crouch. Also, ran an 8.15 laser timed 60.

Tyler Cristofaro, C, Neuqua Valley, 2017
5-foot-9, 175-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced set up, short stride, balance with follow through. Level, short bat path, line drive type approach. Recorded an exit velocity of 81 mph. Defensively, quick footwork, quick exchange. Short arm action, over the top arm slot, flashed accuracy and carry. Pop time ranged from 2.19-2.26, clocked at 72 mph from the crouch. 7.57 runner in the 60.

Adam Drewry, C, O’Fallon, 2018
5-foot-9, 200-pound right handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, leg kick timing trigger. Uphill bat path, line drive approach, fluid rhythm, finds barrel, lift in swing; exit velocity clocked at 80 mph. Defensively, high ¾ slot, easy hands, little body movement, athletic catching stance; recorded pop times between 2.25-2.30. Clocked at 73 mph from behind the plate. Also, ran a 8.05 laser timed 60.

Brandon Droste, C, Alton, 2018
6-foot-2, 200-pound catcher. Offensively, right handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, leg lift timing trigger. Long, uphill path, bat speed, flashed pull side pop, fluid rhythm; exit velocity clocked at 81 mph. Defensively, high ¾ slot, accurate throws, feet work towards second; pop times recorded between 2.12-2.26. Clocked at 72 mph from behind the plate. Also, ran a 7.63 laser timed 60.

Mitchell Focht, C, Highland, 2019
6foot-1, 205-pound strong bodied catcher. Offensively, right handed hitter, balanced stance, smooth load, short stride, maintains balance throughout swing. Short, uphill swing path, fluid rhythm, bat speed, power approach; exit velocity recorded at 85 mph. Defensively, strong backstop, high ¾ slot, inline on throws, recorded pop times between 2.22-2.35. Clocked at 74 mph from behind the plate. Also, ran a 7.82 laser timed 60.

Chase Hackstadt, C, O’Fallon, 2017
6-foot-2, 200-pound physical catcher. Offensively, right handed hitter, balanced setup, leg lift timing mechanism, maintains balance throughout swing. Flashed bat speed, slight uphill path, extension through the zone, line drive approach, finds barrel, some backspin, simple swing; exit velocity clocked at 87 mph. Defensively, soft, strong hands, registered pop times between 2.18-2.32, but has been as low as 2.10 in the past. Clocked at 73 mph behind the dish. Also, ran a 7.82 laser timed 60.

Adam Lackey, C, Eureka (MO) 2017
6-foot, 185-pound catcher. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, maintains balance throughout swing. Level bat path, pull side approach; exit velocity registered at 85 mph. Defensively, handled low pitches with ease, high ¾ slot, short, quick release, recorded pop times between 2.19-2.26. Clocked at 70 mph from the crouch. Also, ran a 7.87 laser timed 60.

Cullen McBride, C/RHP, Staunton, 2019
5-foot-9, 142-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, leg kick timing mechanism. Level bat path, line drive approach; exit velocity clocked at 66 mph. Defensively, high 3/4. Slot, quick release, recorded pop times between 2.20-2.43. Clocked at 69 mph behind the dish. Also, ran a 7.86 laser timed 60. On the mound, high ¾ slot, short arm action, easy effort. Flashed rhythm in a tall and fall delivery, lands open. Fastball, slight run, pounded the zone, sat 73-76. Slider, 11/5 shape, sweeping action, sat 50-52. Changeup, near fastball arm action, fade, showed feel, clocked between 62-66 mph.

Avery Morrow, C, Union (MO), 2018
6-foot, 175-pound right handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, leg lift timing trigger. Uphill bat path, line drive approach; registered an 82 mph exit velocity off of a tee. Defensively, ¾ slot, quick release, recorded pop times between 2.15-2.33; clocked at 69 mph from the crouch. Also, ran a 7.50 laser timed 60.

Jeremy Reno, C, O’Fallon, 2018
6-foot-2, 160-pound lanky catcher. Offensively, right handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Short, level bat path, simple, line drive approach; 70 mph exit velocity off of a tee. Defensively, high ¾ slot, accurate throws to second, recorded pop times between 2.31-2.38. Registered throws at 72 mph from behind the plate. Also, ran a 7.17 laser timed 60.

Richie Rice, C, United Township, 2017
5-foot-11, 175-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced, open set up, back load, leg lift load. Early rhythm, bat speed, slightly uphill path, pull-side approach. Recorded an exit velocity of 79 mph. Defensively, soft hands, quick exchange. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, flashed accuracy and carry. Pop times ranged from 2.10-2.19, clocked at 70 mph from the crouch. 7.12 runner in the 60.

Kevin Smith, C, Triad, 2017
5-foot-8, 175-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced set up, toe-tap load, leg kick timing trigger. Uphill path, level bat path, pull-side approach. Recorded an exit velocity of 81 mph. Defensively, fluid footwork, clean exchange. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot. Pop time ranged from 2.30-2.36. Clocked at 72 mph from the crouch. 7.79 runner in the 60.

Josiah Steen, C, Homeschool (MO), 2018
6-foot-2, 175-pound athletic framed catcher. Offensively, right handed hitter, balanced stance, short, leg lift timing mechanism, looks the part. Bat speed, level swing path, gap-to-gap approach; exit velocity recorded at 84 mph. Defensively, ¾ slot, short arm action, some effort, soft blocking backstop; recorded pop times between 2.11-2.19. Clocked at 73 mph from the crouch. Also, ran a 7.47 laser timed 60.

Dillon Sunnquist, C, Belleville West, 2018
5-foot-6, 125-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced set up, short stride, uphill path. Recorded an exit velocity of 71 mph. Defensively, high ¾ arm slot, showed accuracy with throws. Pop time ranged from 2.33-2.44. Clocked at 63 mph from the crouch. 7.34 runner in the 60.

Jayce Timmerman, C/INF, Central Community, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound, right-handed hitting, multi-positional prospect. Offensively, balanced set up, back load, short stride. Short uphill bat oath, line drive approach. Record an exit velocity of 78 mph. Defensively, in the infield quick exchange, long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, flashed accuracy and carry. Behind the plate, quick exchange, pop time ranged from 2.26-2.37. Clocked at 77 mph from the crouch. 7.4 runner in the 60.