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Fall Underclass Games: Catcher's Analysis

December 2, 2015

Shon Plack
Kansas/Missouri Scouting Director

 

 

On Sunday, November 1, Prep Baseball Report Kansas and Missouri held the Fall Underclass Games in Manhattan, Kansas.  Over 65 players in the 2018 and 2019 classes participated.

Player's profiles have been updated with video, times and velocities.  We will break down each position starting with catchers.  In days to come we take a closer look at infielders, outfielders and pitchers.  The catchers are listed below in alphabetical order. 

CLICK HERE, to see the instant analysis from the Fall Underclass Games.

CATCHERS

Jackson Caley, C, Pleasant Hill (MO), 2018
Caley is a 5-foot-10 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 7.19 60 and a 4.30 home-to-first.  At the plate, Caley has an athletic stance with fluid rhythm during his load, strides in line, hands work inside of the ball, used middle of the field during batting practice, gap-to-gap approach, body controlled throughout swing, 84 mph exit velo.  Behind the plate, Caley posted a top pop time of 2.04, one the top pop times on the day, over the top release, clean exchange, hands and feet work together, momentum through catch, 70 mph positional velo, somewhat accurate throws, numbers are on upward trend from last event.

Jackson Cobb, C, Topeka Seaman (KS), 2018
Cobb is a physical 6-foot-3 190-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Kansas 2018 class. Cobb ran a 7.14 60 and 4.59 home-to-first. At the plat, Cobb starts in a tall/balanced stance, smooth rhythm, slight dive with stride, level path to extension, middle to pull side line drives during batting practice, 88 mph, top left-handed exit velo of the event, singled to right during game action.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.15 and 2.30, short over the top release, quick footwork working with clean exchange, most throws at the bag at second base, event high of 73 mph positional velo for catchers. 

Daniel Hammond, C, Rockhurst (MO), 2019
Hammond is a 5-foot-10 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  Hammond ran a 7.56 60 and a 4.70 home-to-first. At the plate, 79 mph exit velo, starts slightly open, short stride, quick hands, works the opposite side of field, showed some power to pull gap.  Behind the plate, top pop of the event at 2.02, between 2.02 and 2.39, short over the top release, arm works, simple and quick feet, clean exchange with quick release, throws on the bag at second, 73 mph positional velo, top for the event. 

Crichton Hill, C, Grain Valley (MO), 2018
Hill is a 6-foot-1 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Hill ran a 7.56 60 and 4.82 home-to-first. At the plate, balanced starting position, walks away from hands with early stride, middle-to-opposite field approach, level bat to extension, body stays under control during swing, 80 mph exit velo.  Behind the plate, 2.35 to 2.58 pop times with 65 mph positional velo, over the top release, short and quick first step in feet, quick exchange, mostly accurate throws.

Connor Hughes, C, Olathe North (KS), 2018
Hughes is a 5-foot-10 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class. Hughes ran a 7.78 60 and ran a 4.91 home to first.  At the plate, he had an 84 mph exit velo, had a good round of batting practice displaying consistent line drives, gap-to-gap, balanced stance, some hand load, level path with aggressive bat speed, singled to center in game action.  Behind the plate, pop times 2.20 and 2.54, positional velo of 68 mph, hand and feet in sync to throw, over the top release, fluid exchange, quick release, mostly accurate throws.

Connor Jeffers, C, Burlington (KS), 2018
Jeffers is a 5-foot-11 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class.  Jeffers ran a 7.19 60 and a 4.46 home-to-first. At the plate, smooth rhythm in set-up, hands and front foot separate in stride, lands in line, level path, works inside ball, gap-to-gap approach, 82 mph exit velo.  During catching evaluations, pop times between 2.08 and 2.51, one to top pop times for the event, 71 mph positional velo, short over the top release, quick hand to glove exchange and release, momentum towards second, short and quick footwork, mostly accurate throws to first base side of second, athletic moves well.

Jacob Kindhart, C, St. James Academy (KS), 2019
Kindhart is a 5-foot-10 155-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2019 class.  Kindhart ran a 8.37 60 and 4.89 home-to-first. At the plate, 71 mph exit velo, Balanced stance, has toe touch and stride, level bat path, uses middle of the field.  Behind the plate, over the top release, moves well, soft hands, accurate throws, 66 mph positional velo, creates momentum and direction to throw.

Griffin Larsen, C, Shawnee Mission South (KS), 2018
Larsen is a 5-foot-9 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class. He ran a 7.15 60 and had an exit velo of 81 mph.  At the plate, controlled and smooth load, front foot slightly open in stance, in line stride, quick bat speed, showed power potential to middle and pull side.  Behind the plate, posted pop times between 2.11 and 2.41, 70 mph positional velo, aggressive and quick footwork, clean arm action, over the top release, throw have carry the bag, mostly accurate.  

Clayton Leathers, C, Blue Valley Northwest (KS), 2018
Leathers is a 5-foot-9 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class.  Leathers ran a 7.31 and 4.83 home-to-first.  Offensively, balanced stance, used leg kick to generate power, mostly pull side during batting practice, short and quick path, fast hands, 81 mph exit velo.  Defensively, pop times between 2.06 and 2.15, 72 mph positional velo, one of top pop times and velos for the event,  quick exchange and release, throws have carry to the bag, mostly accurate.

Riley Rader, C, Rockhurst (MO), 2019
Rader is a 5-foot-10 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  Rader ran a 8.89 60 and a 5.14 home-to-first.  Offensively, Rader had a 70 mph exit velo, fast rhythm during set up, wide base, loose hands, gap-to-gap approach.  During defensive evals, pop times between 2.41 and 2.65, 63 mph positional velo, most throws on line to bag, over the top release, fluid exchange.

Mikey Strong, C, St. Aquinas (KS), 2018
Strong is a 6-foot-2 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class.  Strong ran the 60 in 7.79-seconds and and a 4.70 home-to-first.  Balanced set up, no wasted movement in load, loose hands, pull approach, 83 mph exit velo, body controlled and balanced during swing, hit two singles in game action.  During catching evaluations, pop times between 2.15 and 2.27, 72 mph positional velo, one of top velos among catchers, quick glove to hand transfer, clean arm action, throws have carry to bag, short and quick footwork, over the top release, accurate throws to the bag. Shows improvement in many areas from last event.

Jonah Watt, C, Shawnee Mission East (KS), 2018
Watt is a 5-foot-10 170-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class.  Watt ran a 7.63 60 and got down the line in 4.46-seconds.  Offensively, had an 81 mph exit velo, had a good round of batting practice, consistent line drive to middle of field, thin stance, long stride, level path to extension, quick bat speed.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.19 and 2.35, 70 mph positional velo, over the top release, quick footwork, quick exchange, accurate throws with carry to the bag.

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