By Chris Fuller
PBR Kentucky

The annual Preseason All-State Showcase at Champions Baseball Academy in Nicholasville included more than 120 players from all parts of the state looking to showcase their abilities prior to the high school season. In what is the premier preseason scouting event in the state, there were many standout performances which we continue to feature.

Complete stats for all players were posted a few days following the event.

CLICK HERE to view the stats from the event.

The following is a look at the Class of 2017 Catchers who participated in the event. This is position player analysis only. Those players who also pitched at the event will have that performance featured in a subsequent article.

Landon Moberly, C, Lexington Catholic, 2017
60 Time: 7.41, Pop Time: 1.98-2.06, Position Velocity:  C-75, Exit Velocity: 99
5-foot-11, 185-pound RHH hits from an open stance and gets to square with a leg kick trigger, aggressive use of lower half, showed advanced bat speed in exit velocity testing that translates to good power at the plate, creates lift at contact with backspin carry on the baseball, will be a legitimate power threat at the next level. Receives well, solid footwork with a quick release, good athleticism, strong and accurate throws to the bag. Moberly combines a good combination of offensive and defensive ability.

Hunter Combs, C, Muhlenberg County, 2017
60 Time: 7.00, Pop Time: 2.00-2.03, Position Velocity:  C-77, Exit Velocity: 92
5-foot-10, 190-pound RHH with good physical strength, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, aggressive hitter who looks to attack the ball, generates good bat speed, ball jumps off the barrel, has potential to hit for power at the next level, good athleticism and runs well for the catcher position. Defensively, has quick and active feet that stay online, good arm strength with a solid transfer and release, mostly accurate throws. Combs remains one of the top uncommitted catchers in the 2017 class.

Braden Wyatt, C/3B/RHP, Boyd County, 2017
60 Time: 7.77, Pop Time: 2.13-2.24, Position Velocity:  C-77, IF-84, Exit Velocity: 84
5-foot-11, 155-pound RHH hits from a wide base with a short stride, shows some hand quickness on the inner half, gets to front side early at times, has some power for size that should continue to develop with strength gains. Solid receiver with good arm strength behind the plate, showed slightly improved pop times that would be better with quicker footwork and release, does a good job with footwork staying online that produces consistent throws to the bag, arm is loose and athletic. Also showed the ability to play 3B with athletic actions and good arm strength across the infield.

Dalton Cornett, C, Knott County Central, 2017
60 Time: 7.60, Pop Time: 2.14-2.20, Position Velocity:  C-74, Exit Velocity: 85
6-foot, 155-pound LHH showed a sizeable jump in exit velocity and arm strength. Mechanically sound hitter hits from a balanced stance with a fluid load, line drive contact and looks to work the middle of the field, has room to get physically stronger. Didn’t run his best 60. Arm strength showed improvement, footwork stays online, release can get quicker, showed similar pop times as past events, solid receiver of the baseball.

Andrew Sharp, C/RHP, East Carter, 2017
60 Time: 7.51, Pop Time: 2.12-2.20, Position Velocity:  IF-73, C-74, Exit Velocity: 82
5-foot-7, 185-pound RHH hits from a balanced stance, mid-length stride, front side type hitter, occasional uphill swing path, shows flashes of power at times. Has a fairly quick release and gains ground on throws, footwork can drift occasionally, slightly above average arm strength from behind the plate, made some accurate throws to the bag.

Seth Hojnacki, C, Sayre, 2017
60 Time: 8.05, Pop Time: 2.14-2.20, Position Velocity:  C-70, Exit Velocity: 89
6-foot, 180-pound RHH hits from an open stance, uses a leg kick and mid-length stride to get square, occasionally gets to front side early, ahs a flat bat path throgh the zone and shows some power when everything is in sync, significant jump in exit velocity. Pop times and arm strength have remained consistent, fairly quick transfer and release with solid footwork, makes consistently accurate throws to the bag.

Michael Sharp, C, Tates Creek, 2017
60 Time: 7.37, Pop Time: 2.22-2.35, Position Velocity:  C-73, Exit Velocity: 85
5-foot-9, 155-pound RHH hits from a narrow/open stance, showed a longer stride than previous event, showed a big jump in exit velocity, front side type hitter, has a fairly flat bat path that produces line drive contact, gap to gap approach. Showed similar pop times with a slight decrease in arm strength from previous event. Footwork stays online but has room to improve quickness, release can get quicker, should see pop times improve with continued work, made occasional accurate throws to the bag.

Daniel Carney, C, Taylor County, 2017
60 Time: 7.45, Pop Time: 2.20-2.38, Position Velocity:  C-69, Exit Velocity: 79
5-foot-8, 160-pound RHH hits from a wide base with a heel lift to initiate swing, slight hand load, compact swing, average bat speed, line drive contact to the middle of the field, excellent balance through finish. Arm strength and pop times were not quite as good as in the past, footwork and release have room to get quicker, showed improvement in footwork staying online, shows solid receiving ability.