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MO-KAN Underclass Invite: Catcher's Analysis

February 2, 2016

Shon Plack
Kansas/Missouri Scouting Director

Prep Baseball Report Kansas/Missouri held the MO-KAN Underclass Invitational at Mac N Seitz Baseball Academy on January 18 in Kansas City, Missouri.  Nearly 70 players in the 2018 and 2019 attended.

In the days to come, we will break down each position, taking a look at the catcher's performances today.  Player profiles have been updated with video and stats from the event.  Click on each player to see their profile.

Catchers are listed alphabetically and listed under Kansas or Missouri. 

CLICK HERE, to see the Instant Analysis from MO-KAN Underclass Invitational

Kansas Catchers

Jhet Burkhart, C, Buhler (KS), 2018
Burkhart is a 5-foot-11 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class.  At the plate, Burkhart starts with an open stance, lands in line with front foot, minimal load, controlled stride, swing produced line drives to middle of cage, 76 mph exit velo, ran a 4.46 home-to-first. Behind the plate, pop times between 2.09 and 2.28-seconds, high three-quarters release, fluid footwork, clean glove-to-hand exchange, accurate throws, 69 mph velo from the crouch. 

Tanner Freeman, C, Turner (KS), 2018
Freeman is a 5-foot-6 150-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class. Offensively, Freeman posted an 84 mph exit velo and ran a 4.44 home-to-first.  Athletic and open stance, smooth load in back leg with leg kick, small stride, minimal hand movement, quick bat speed, middle-to-oppo approach, swing works to the top of ball.  Behind the plate, quick exchange and release with quick feet, posted best pop time of event, pop times between 1.91 and 2.06-seconds, 73 mph positional velo, over-the-top release, throws to the bag at second.

Connor Hughes, C, Olathe South (KS), 2018
Hughes is a 5-foot-11 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class. Hughes ran a 4.64 home-to-first and had an 86 mph exit velo. Took an aggressive hack during batting practice, smooth load, level through the zone, line drives middle to pull side of cage, strong lower half, quick hands.  During catching evaluations, pop time between 2.10-2.29, 69 mph positional velo, over-the-top release, momentum through the catch and towards target, clean exchange, fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws.  Improvements across the board since last event.

Walker Kinney, C, Blue Valley (KS), 2019
Kinney is a strong 6-foot-2 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2019 class. Offensively, Kinney starts in a balanced set-up with front foot slightly open,  high and quick leg lift, minimal stride, quick hands, aggressive swing, gap-to-gap approach, power potential to pull gap, ran a 4.57 home-to-first, 82 mph exit velo.  Behind the plate, had pop times between 2.11 and 2.37, quick high exchange and release, fluid footwork, over the top release, momentum through the catch, 73 mph throwing velo from the crouch, accurate throws to the bag. 

Trey Kobler, C, Derby (KS), 2018
Kobler is a 5-foot-9 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class. Kobler runs a 4.40 home-to-first and has an exit velo of 74 mph. At the plate, Kobler starts in an athletic set-up and has a smooth linear load into back side, little hand movement, short stride, swing produced mostly line drives to middle of cage, high finish, consistent solid contact.   Defensively, pop times between 2.09 and 2.17, 74 mph positional velo, over the top release, fluid exchange, soft hands, athletic footwork, throws were on the money to second base.

Casey Mayes, C, Adnover (KS), 2018
Mayes is a 6-foot 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class.  Mayes runs a 4.21 home-to-first, and had an 81 mph exit velo. Simple and smooth swing, separates hands with short stride, level bat path to extension, middle to pull approach, loose hands.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.24 and 2.47, 68 mph positional velo, over the top release, quick footwork, clean exchange, back side finishes on throw, throws to the bag at second.

Jacob Morrison, C, Blue Valley West (KS), 2018
Morrison is a 5-foot-9 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class. Morrison gets down the line in 4.76-seconds, and has an exit velo of 70 mph. Starts with feet inline during swing set-up, toe touch to load, wide stride, upper body dominate in swing, line drive approach to middle of cage. Behind the plate, pop times in 2.23 to 2.47 range, 69 mph positional velo, high three-quarters release, fluid footwork and exchange, somewhat accurate throws.

Lawson Schultz, C, Buhler (KS), 2018
Schultz is a stong 6-foot 225-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class. Schultz ran a 4.74 home-to-first and had an exit velo of 80 mph.  At the plate, starts in balanced position, takes aggressive swing, fast hands and bat speed, short stride, little movement in body, middle approach. Behind the plate, pop times between 2.20 and 2.44, 70 mph positional velo, quick exchange and fluid footwork, somewhat accurate throws, over the top release, momentum through the throw.

Drake Seetin, C, Olathe Northwest (KS), 2018
Seetin is a 5-foot-11 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class. Seetin ran a 4.96 home-to-first and had an exit velo of 79 mph.  At the plate, athletic stance with leg kick, in-line stride, middle approach, level path to extension.  Behind the plate, 69 mph positional velo, 2.17 to 2.51 pop times, over the top release with momentum through the catch, fluid glove to hand exchange, accurate throws to second.

Payton Smith, C, Washburn Rural (KS), 2019
Smith is a 6-foot 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas 2019 class.  Smith ran a 4.53 home to first and posted one of the top RHH exit velos of the event at 91 mph. At the plate, has open stance with leg kick, level path, strong and fast hands, aggressive swing, middle to pull approach, power to pull side. Behind the plate, recorded one of the top pop times of the day at 2.01-seconds, consistently between 2.01 and 2.18, 76 mph positional velo, over the top release, gets back side finished to throw, quick catch and release, quick feet, somewhat accurate throws.

Jonah Watt, C, Shawnee Mission East (KS), 2018
Watt is an athletic 5-foot-10 170-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2018 class.  Ran a 4.59 home-to-first with an 83 mph exit velo, one of the top among LHH, smooth load, controlled leg lift to stride, accelerated hands, level to extension, gap-to-gap approach, hands work inside of ball.  Behind the plate, pop times between 2.06 and 2.40, 71 mph positional velo, short over the top release, hands and feet work together, back side through throw, quick catch and release, throws to the bag at second. Improvements in several areas since last event.

Missouri Catchers

Daniel Hammond, C, Rockhurst (MO), 2019
Hammond is a 5-foot-10 162-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class. Ran a 4.59 home-to-first and posted an 82 mph exit velo.  Starts in balanced position at the plate, controlled high leg lift, short stride, gap-to-gap approach, level bat path, high finish in hands.  Defensively, 75 mph catcher velo, pop times among the best for the event at 2.01 to 2.12-seconds, over the top release, quick footwork, high glove-to-hand exchange, accurate throws to the bag. All times and velocities improving since last event in November. 

Braeden Hinton, C, Nevada (MO), 2018
Hinton is a 6-foot-2 185-pound switch-hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Hinton had an 82 mph exit velo from the left side and an 83 mph exit velo from the right side. Ran a 4.71 home-to-first.  He has similar swing mechanics from both sides.  Starts in a athletic set-up, toe tap to load, short stride, level path, loose hands, more gap-to-gap from right side, more middle to pull from left side.  During catcher evaluations, posted pop times between 2.03 and 2.15, among the best for the event, clean exchange with fluid actions, over the top release, loose arm action, 70 mph throws from the crouch, accurate with all throws to the bag.

Braden Mahurin, C, Dixon (MO), 2018
Mahurin is a 5-foot-11 150-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Mahurin starts in a tall stance at the place, smooth load with little wasted movement, level path through the zone, swing accelerates to finish, gap-to-gap approach, balanced finish, body stays under control, ran a 4.51 home-to-first with a 69 mph exit velo. Behind the plate, recorded one of the top pop-times of the event, pop times between 2.00 and 2.38, quick hands with glove-to-hand exchange, over the top release, 71 mph positional velo, momentum through the catch, quick feet, throws were mostly accurate to second base.

 Johnny Joe Raybourn, C, Staley (MO), 2018
Raybourn is a 6-foot 170-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Raybourn posted the top LHH home-to-first time of the event at 4.10 and had a 77 mph exit velo.  He starts in a loaded position in the back leg, in-line stride, aggressive bat speed, middle to pull approach, quick hands.  Defensively, 2.19 to 2.27 pop times, 74 mph positional velo, hands and feet work together, fluid footwork and exchange, over the top release, mostly accurate throws.

Dominic Raybourn, C, Staley (MO), 2018
Raybourn is a 5-foot-11 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Raybourn ran a one the best home-to-first times for a RHH in the event at 4.13 seconds, had an exit velo of 84 mph. At the plate, athletic and balanced set-up, uses controlled toe tap for timing, accelerated hands, level bat path, gap-to-gap approach.  Behind the plate, 2.14 to 2.18 pop times, 76 mph positional velo, over the top release, clean hand to glove exchange, quick feet, momentum through catch, mostly accurate throws to second.

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