Underclass Showcase: Catching Analysis

The last event of the 2017 calendar year was the Underclass Showcase in late October and this week we begin our positional analysis, highlighting some of the top prospects in attendance.

Leading things off with catchers, Harrisburg’s Isaac Crabb took the top spot by unanimous decision. Already on the PBR radar, Crabb showed all the tools to be a high level backstop and then some. Even on the back end of his football season, Crabb still showed the pep and bounce to handle the most demanding position on the field.

Here’s a look a our top five catchers:

Top Catching Prospects

1. Isaac Crabb, C, Harrisburg, 2020
6-foot-1, 200-pound catcher, strong durable build, typical catcher’s frame. Advanced defender, hands are soft, moves well behind the plate, strong hands, sticks the baseball. Clean exchange out of the crouch, 2.03-2.12 pop times. Arm played with carry and accuracy, short over the top at 77 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, smooth loading action, short stride. Loose hands with bat speed, attacks the baseball, poll side power. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 8.15 runner in the 60.  

2. Zachary Schwartz, C, Elk Grove, 2020
5-foot-11, 155-pound left-handed hitting catcher, lean athletic build with projectable bat.. Hits from an open stance, leg kick trigger, loads hands back, tips barrel forward, good balance. Aggressive swing, really attacks the baseball, path is flat through contact, gap to gap contact in BP, in rhythm. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm action is firm, high ¾ slot, 70 mph out of the crouch. Exchange has length, and works uphill out of the chute, 2.29-2.42 pop times. 7.25 runner in the 60.

3. Kyle Czarnecki, C, Minooka, 2020
5-foot-7, 170-pound catcher, strong physical build, compact frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, wider stance, reverse toe tap trigger, solid balance. Strong hands and bat, physical swing, flashed hard middle of the field contact with bat speed, two-handed finish. 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, easy arm at times, 73 mph out of the crouch. Footwork get misdirected, sound blocker, 2.18-2.29 pop times. 7.28 runner in the 60.

4. Aaron Montgomery, C, Woodstock North, 2020
5-foot-10, 155-pound catcher, solid build. Highly defensive catcher, actiony and quick out of the chute, feet work quick, soft block and bounces to recover. Arm action is short and over the top, flashed carry, 72 mph, quick clean release. 2.13-2.26 pop times. Right-handed bat hits from a wide slightly closed stance, short stride, average balance. Flashed quick hands, opposite field contact, timing is late at times. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.93 runner in the 60.

5. Trevor Thurston, C/INF, Marian Catholic, 2020
5-foot-9, 145-pound catcher, solid build. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup with short slightly lifted stride, solid balance. Line drive hitter to the middle of the field, loose quick hands. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively profiled best behind the plate, showed soft hands and natural actions, willing and sound blocker, second base projection on the infield. Arm action is short and over the top, accurate, 71 mph out of the crouch, 74 mph across the diamond. Pop times ranged 2.29-2.37. 7.56 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Clay Billadeau, C, Metea Valley, 2020
5-foot-11, 190-pound catcher, solid build. Above average defender, hands are soft, presents the baseball, good actions, solid blocker. Arm action is loose and over the top, accurate, carries to target, 72 mph out of the crouch. 2.14-2.25 pop times, natural receiver. Right-handed bat, balanced stance, long stride, works linear. Path works uphill, lifts the baseball. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. 8.32 runner in the 60.

Alan Brown, C/INF/OF, Oak Park-River Forest, 2020
5-foot-6, 155-pound utility player, strong compact build. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride. Spray type hitter, loose hands, presence in the box, some effort. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed above average athleticism and versatility, 6.97 runner in the 60. Profiled best behind the plate and in the outfield, arm played at 72 mph out of the crouch, 80 mph from the outfield, 73 mph across the infield, longer over the top slot. Pop times ranged, 2.19-2.32. Outfield actions play through the baseball on line, true to target.

Zachary Burhans, C/INF/RHP, DePaul College Prep, 2020
6-foot, 140-pound utility player, slender build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, loads hands down and back, leg lift stride. Path has length, uphill path. 70 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played from a high ¾ slot, 70 mph across the infield, 64 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.51-2.63. 8.59 runner in the 60. On the mound fastball topped at 70 mph, sat 66-69 mph. Curveball sat 56-61 mph, 11/5 type. Changeup is 59-64 mph.

Connor Cassady, C/RHP, Lyons, 2020
6-foot-1, 165-pound catcher, lean lanky frame with upside. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride to even, good balance. Showed occasional bat speed, uphill path, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 69 mph out of the crouch. Pop times posted at 2.25-2.44, showed quiet hands receiving. 8.07 runner in the 60. On the mound arm action plays with more length. Fastball showed control of the zone, 72-74 mph. Curveball has gradual action at 61-64 mph. Changeup is straight, near fastball arm speed, 64-67 mph.

Mitchell Dollah, C, Stagg, 2020
6-foot-3, 172-pound catcher, athletically strong build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, average balance. Path works uphill, firm swing, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is over the top, 68 mph out of the crouch. 2.54-2.66 pop times, long lever exchange. 7.90 runner in the 60.

Jordan Donato, C/RHP, Triad, 2021
5-foot-10, 150-pound two-way player, lean build. Left-handed hitter, open setup, toe tap stride, good balance. Bat path works, level through contact with extension, in rhythm. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, loose clean release. 68 mph out of the crouch. 2.30-2.41 pop times. 7.78 runner in the 60. On the mound arm plays similar, little effort. Fastball played 74-76 mph. Throws curveball and slider, similar shape and velocity, 10/4 plane, 58-64 mph.

Matthew Flaherty, C, Lake Zurich, 2020
5-foot-10, 175-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, good balance with short stride. Quick hands at the plate, some effort, strong bat made hard contact and repeats. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short and loose, high ¾ slot, 69 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.19-2.25. 8.54 runner in the 60.

Nicholas Hemken, C/RHP, Edwardsville, 2020
6-foot-1, 175-pound two-way player, athletic frame with lean strength. Plus arm strength for age, short over the top arm action, carried well, 77 mph out of the crouch. Exchange is quick and clean, 2.05-2.18 pop times. Right-handed hitter, tall setup, short stride. Path works uphill, lifting swing. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.28 runner in the 60. On the mound arm action is quick and short, high ¾ slot. Fastball topped at 82 mph, sat 80-81 mph. Slider is 56-60 mph. Changeup is straight, 65-69 mph.

Ryan Maloney, C, Providence Catholic, 2020
6-foot-1, 215-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, average balance. Strong simple approach, slight uphill path, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 70 mph out of the crouch. Gets tall out of the chute, 2.25-2.37 pop times. 8.11 runner in the 60.

Jake Rybka, C, Providence Catholic, 2021
5-foot-10, 160-pound, catcher, large build for his age, sturdy. Projects well defensively, arm action plays over the top, short quick release, 70 mph out of the crouch. Soft hands above average receiver. Feet work out of the crouch, replaces directionally, pop times range 2.12-2.25. Right-handed bat, tall setup, heel lift stride, doesn’t stay grounded at times. Path works uphill some strength, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. 8.22 runner in the 60.

Colin Summerhill, C, Loyola, 2020
5-foot-10, 155-pound catcher, thin projectable frame, loose actions. Arm plays loose, long release, high ¾ slot, 71 mph out of the crouch. 2.30-2.37 pop times. Soft hands, athletic setup, flexible actions behind the plate. 7.88 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, smooth loading action, leg lift stride. Easy, loose bat path, uphill path, showed bat speed. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Zachary Taylor, C, Stevenson, 2020
6-foot, 158-pound catcher, wiry loose frame, projects. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, loads hands back, short stride, average balance. Lean strength, showed loose bat speed, uphill path. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Defensively arm played short and over the top, showed arm strength at 75 mph out of the crouch. 2.25-2.36 pop times, soft hands and quick agile blocker.. 7.70 runner in the 60.

Frank Tirone, C, Oak Park-River Forest, 2021
5-foot-11, 160-pound catcher, thin build. Balanced stance, arm bar load, short stride, minimal lower half. Path is long and level, pull side approach. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is firm, high ¾ slot, 68 mph out of the crouch. Pop times range 2.32-2.43. 7.84 runner in the 60.

Cade Turner, C/INF, Lincoln-Way East, 2020
5-foot-11, 150-pound catcher/infielder, lean lanky frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, toe tap stride, minimal lower half. Path is long and level, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, ¾ slot, 72 mph out of the crouch, 75 mph across the infield. Pop times ranged 2.41-2.61, long actions. Infield actions profile at a corner spot. 8.44 runner in the 60.

Related Content