Underclass Invitational: Catcher Analysis
March 5, 2018
Previously in our Quick Hits post from February’s Underclass Invitational, we noted just how captivating this particular group of freshman and sophomores catchers was. It was truly one of the deepest and most alluring positions from the invite-only event, especially those representing the 2021 class.
Freshmen Alex Calcaro (New Trier), Mason Roehr (Granite City), and Brian Rapanan (Warren) all stood out for their blossoming abilities behind the plate and in the batter’s box. Calarco commanded our attention because of his high-ceiling switch-hitting talent and ability behind the plate.
Sophomore Trevor Davis (Danville) recorded the day’s low pop time of 1.86 and also swung one of the best left-handed bats on the day.
To see how the rest of this top-five list played out, or to learn more about some of the best underclass backstops this state has to offer, continue on below.
TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS
1. Alex Calarco, C, New Trier, 2021
6-foot-3, 183-pound, catcher, highly-athletic frame with plenty of room for continued physical development. Emerged as a high-follow 2021 switch-hitting catcher. Has a high ceiling with the bat from both sides of the plate. Aggressive swing, attacks the baseball with ability to repeat, natural lift in swing and present bat speed. Makes a lot of hard contact works both gaps; 90 mph exit velocity from the right side and 89 mph from the left. Defensively, athletic actions, flexible behind the plate, strong wrists, soft hands. Quick out of the crouch, present arm strength; 76 mph from the crouch. Long, over-the-top arm action, will only improve and quicken up release as arm action shortens. Pop times ranged from 1.94-2.05. 7.66 runner in the 60.
2. Trevor Davis, C, Danville, 2020
Illinois State commit. 6-foot, 175-pound, catcher, strong, durable build. One of the top defensive catchers in the state. Advanced arm strength for his age, topped at 80 mph from the crouch. Throws had cut at times but when he stays behind the baseball, throws carry and stay true. Pop times ranged from 1.86-2.06. Polished receiver; soft hands, stays quiet, presents pitches well in the zone. Left-handed hitter, balanced setup, smooth load and leg-lift trigger. Confident look in the box, fluid rhythm, present bat speed, uphill bat path and present bat strength; 86 mph exit velocity from a tee. 7.55 runner in the 60.
3. Mason Roehr, C, Granite City, 2021
6-foot-1, 195-pound, catcher with a durable frame, strong lower half. High-follow 2021 catcher. Offensively, open setup, loads hands and leg-lift timing trigger. Fluid rhythm flashed bat speed, feel for the barrel and made consistent, hard, gap-to-gap contact; 93 mph exit velocity. Defensively, efficient, quick transfer; replaces feet, stays on-line. Demonstrated soft hands and firm wrist receiving bullpens. Short, over-the-top arm action, throws uphill at times and topped at 79 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 1.97-2.08. 7.10 runner in the 60, laser-timed.
4. Logan Delgado, C, Antioch, 2020
5-foot-11, 185-pound, left-handed hitting catcher. Thick, strong, athletic build; Wide, sloped shoulders. At the plate, balanced setup, deep load, inconsistent leg-lift stride and maintains balance throughout. Long bat path, stays through the zone, worked the middle of the field and fluid rhythm throughout. Lift and strength in swing; 90 mph exit velocity. Behind the plate, soft hands, clean transfer, directional, gains ground through release. Short arm action, throws from the ear, strong arm, carries at times, 80 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 1.94-2.08. 7.30 runner in the 60, laser-timed. Follow 2020 catcher.
5. Brian Rapanan, C/INF/RHP, Warren, 2021
5-foot-7, 150-pound, multi-positional prospect. Highly-advanced defensive catcher. Athletic, quick footwork, clean transfer, works on-line and repeatable. Soft hands, flexible and agile behind the plate. Strong arm for age; 76 mph from the crouch. Accurate throws consistently around the bag and pop times ranged between 1.97-2.05. Also, worked out on the infield. Athletic actions, sure hands, ranges well to both sides, maintains body control. Athletic, loose arm action and throws topped at 80 mph across the diamond. 8.00 runner in the 60. At the plate, right-handed hitter, loose, athletic swing. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride and maintains balance throughout. Stays short the baseball, feel for the barrel and line-drive approach; 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, fluid rhythm, highly repeatable and works on-line. Loose arm action, clean arm swing and comes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball thrown for strikes, arm-side-run at times, sat 78-80 mph. Cutter, fastball arm speed, 10/4 action, 74-76 mph. Changeup, feel, down in the zone, 71-73 mph. Also, featured a curveball, 11/5 shape, 66-70 mph.
Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)
Clay Billadeau, C, Metea Valley, 2020
6-foot, 190-pound, catcher with a thick, strong lower half. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, long stride and average balance throughout. Flashed bat speed, long, uphill bat path and gap-to-gap approach; 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Behind the plate, clean, deliberate transfer, works on-line, repeats. Short arm action, high ¾ slot and throws consistently around the bag, topped at 72 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.15-2.26. Ran a 8.24 60.
Alan Brown, C/INF/OF, Oak Park-River Forest, 2020
5-foot-6, 155-pound, multi-positional prospect with a strong, compact build. Ran a 6.98 laser-timed 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced, open setup, quiet, simple approach; short leg-lift stride and maintains balance through contact. Bat stays level through the zone, looks to control the barrel, line-drive approach; 85 mph exit velocity. Worked out behind the plate, on the infield and in the outfield. Natural catcher arm action; short and over-the-top. Quick, clean exchange behind the plate, feet work on-line. Throws clocked at 73 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.12-2.20. Moves well in the outfield and on the infield. Steady hands, short, over-the-top arm action, throws clocked at 81 mph from the outfield and 73 mph across the infield.
Kevin Butler, C, Neuqua Valley, 2020
5-foot-10, 170-pound, left-handed hitting catcher. At the plate, balanced setup, pre-pitch load, leg-kick trigger and hits off front foot. Natural lift in swing, long path at times and 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, long, over-the-top arm slot, throws topped at 74 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.19-2.25. 7.91 runner in the 60. Ran a 7.91 60.
Isaac Crabb, C, Harrisburg, 2020
6-foot-1, 190-pound, catcher with a large frame and present strength. Has shaved 10 pounds off his frame since October. Offensively, balanced setup, smooth load, leg-lift timing trigger and fluid rhythm. Utilizes lower half, bat stays flat through the zone, gets extension, works gap-to-gap, hard strong contact; 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, clean out of the crouch, transfer works on-line. Throws clocked at 74 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.11-2.25. Ran a 7.97 60.
Jordan Donato, C/RHP, Triad, 2021
5-foot-10, 150-pound, two-way prospect, athletic build. At the plate, left-handed hitter, balanced, open setup, toe-tap stride and high back elbow. Long bat path, 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Behind the plate, quick feet, active out of the crouch, quick release and throws clocked at 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.18-2.37. 7.89 runner in the 60. On the mound, smooth delivery, works down the hill, stays on-line and lands square with regular effort throughout. Loose arm action, high ¾ slot and gets extension out front at times. Fastball arm-side action at times, thrown for strikes, 74-78 mph. Curveball, maintains arm speed, tight spin at times, some feel, 11/5 shape, 63-67 mph. Slider, similar action to curveball, 62-66 mph.
Nicholas Hemken, C, Edwardsville, 2020
6-foot-1, 180-pound, athletically built, catcher with well-proportioned strength. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short leg-lift stride. Long, uphill bat path, flashes quick twitch, 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Behind the plate has a big arm for his age; throws carry and topped at 82 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.00-2.14. Ran a 7.67 60.
Camden Janik, C, Wauconda, 2021
5-foot-9, 185-pound, catcher, durable frame with present strength. High follow 2021 catcher. Defensively, has advanced arm strength for his age; 77 mph from the crouch. Arm works short, over-the-top and throws carry at times. Pop times ranged between 2.04-2.12, up early out of the crouch. Received bullpens with bounce and energy, willing blocker. Soft, strong hands, quiet with pitches in the zone. At the plate, right-handed hitter, open setup, short stride. Stays short to the ball and compact at times, present bat strength; 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. 7.64 runner in the 60.
Ryan Maloney, C, Providence Catholic, 2020
6-foot-1, 215-pound, right-handed hitting catcher, thick lower half. At the plate, tall, relaxed setup, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Long, uphill bat path, present bat strength and lift in swing. 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, starts open, quick exchange, short arm action, high ¾ slot and throws topped at 73 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between, 2.11-2.19.
Aaron Montgomery, C, Woodstock North, 2020
5-foot-10, 165-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate, wide, closed setup, short stride and no load. Long bat path, flashed bat speed, stays level at times, gap-to-gap approach and strength through contact; 89 mph exit velocity. Defensively, quick transfer behind the plate, arm works short and from a high ¾ slot; throws true at times, clocked at 74 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.07-2.15. 7.75 runner in the 60.
Michael Schicker, C, Riverside-Brookfield, 2020
6-foot-3, 200-pound, strong, durable catcher with a thick lower half. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, smooth loading action and slight leg-lift trigger. Long bat path, pull approach, ball jumps off the barrel at times and flashed pull-side power. 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, presents low target, agile blocker. Works across his body on exchange, short arm action, from a ¾ slot. Strong arm, clocked at 80 mph. Pop times ranged between 1.97-2.08. 8.41 runner in the 60.
Zachary Schwartz, C, Elk Grove, 2020
5-foot-11, 163-pound, well-proportioned, left-handed hitting catcher. 7.19 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, open, tall setup, gets separation in hands, slight bar and leg-kick trigger. Creates advanced bat speed for age, aggressive, violent swing, bat stays flat through the zone, line-drive approach and 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Behind the plate, plays tall out of the crouch. Short, high ¾ arm slot, topped at 75 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.08-2.22.
Zachary Taylor, C, Stevenson, 2020
6-foot, 168-pound, catcher, with an athletic, strong build. Right-handed hitter, balanced, open setup, loads into backside and stride gets back to even. Long bat path, occasional gap-to-gap contact; 87 mph exit velocity. Defensively, wide base, fundamentally sound blocker, natural catcher arm action, short and from an over-the-top slot. Topped at 74 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.16-2.25. 7.78 runner in the 60.
Trevor Thurston, C/INF, Marian Catholic, 2020
5-foot-9, 145-pound, athletically built, multi-positional prospect. 7.42 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, right-handed hitter, open setup, smooth load and short leg-lift. Flashed loose hands, lift in swing and 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, worked out behind the plate and on the infield. On the infield steady hands, fields in the middle of his body, length in transfer at times. Throws from a high ¾ slot and clocked at 75 mph across the diamond. Behind the plate, clean transfer, works on-line; throws topped at 72 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.25-2.43.