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By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

On Saturday, February 14, more than 100 players from all corners of the state convened at Champions Baseball Academy in Nicholasville for the third annual Preseason All-State Showcase. Over the coming days we will continue to take a look at all players who participated in the event.

Below we take a look at the Class of 2017 catchers who were in attendance. This is position player analysis only. Those players who also pitched at the event will have their pitching performance featured in a separate article.

Tanner Johnson, C/OF, R/R, South Oldham HS, 2017
6-foot-1, 180-pound prospect has proven to be the top catcher in Kentucky’s 2017 class. Right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, short swing path with good extension through contact, shows projectable gap to gap power, showed good speed for the catcher position with 7.00 60-yard dash, 81 mph exit velocity. Defensively, shows a strong and balanced set up behind the plate, advanced receiver with soft glove hand and good feel for keeping pitches in the zone, solid blocking ability, very good arm strength at 80 mph from the crouch, consistent throws to the bag with 1.95-1.97 pop times, also participated as an outfielder and plays through the ball with 82 mph arm strength, goo d combination of offensive and defensive ability, high-level prospect.

Jackson Campbell, C, R/R, Logan County HS, 2017
5-foot-8, 149-pound prospect has added 10 pounds to frame since last fall. Right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, maintains good balance through finish, short swing path with good extension through contact, shows surprising power for size, ran a 7.09 60-yard dash (6.96 is his best)big increase in exit velocity at 84 mph. Defensively, is athletic behind the plate, good blocking form and anticipation, average receiver, quick feet with good direction, very quick transfer with short over the top release, 70 mph arm strength with 2.06-2.13 pop times (1.98-2.08 at previous event with more accurate throws), athletic player who continues to get stronger and it shows in his offensive game.

Matt Reynolds, C/3B, S/R, Campbell County HS, 2017
5-foot-8, 175-pound switch-hitting prospect, from the left side, hits from a balanced stance with no stride, hands are loose, good extension in swing, line drive type hitter with the ability to drive the ball to the gaps, 75 mph exit velocity, from the right side hits from a balanced stance with no stride, smooth load back, explodes with lower half tending to spin out occasionally, shows projectable power, 81 mph exit velocity, ran 8.27 60-yard dash. Defensively, has a strong/athletic set up behind the plate, shows advanced receiving ability with soft hand and good feel for keeping pitches in the zone, good direction of footwork on throws, feet can be quicker, 74 mph arm strength with pop times of 2.10-2.21. As a 3B, shows soft hands, athletic corner actions, good arm strength at 82 mph across the infield.

Kaden Rose, C, R/R, West Carter HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 190-pound prospect, right-handed hitter, hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, stays quiet and has a short/direct path to the baseball, has strength in hands, line drive type hitter who shows flashes of gap power, ran a 7.68 60-yard dash, showed an increase in exit velocity at 88 mph. Defensively, shows solid receiving ability with soft hands, good direction of footwork on throws, short high-3/4 release, 72 mph velocity from the crouch (has shown better with 76 at previous event), pop times ranged from 2.13-2.21 (1.99-2.08 at previous event with better arm strength) pop times have room to improve with quicker footwork. Also participate as a 3B, shows average hands and lateral movement, short, high-3/4 release with accurate throws, 77 mph velocity across the infield.

Braden Wyatt, C/IF/RHP, Boyd County HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 155-pound prospect, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, slight leg kick with a short stride, has an uphill swing path, generates some lift and shows good power for size to all fields, ran 7.53 60-yard dash, 84 mph exit velocity. Defensively, shows a good, low setup behind the plate, good athleticism, receives well with a soft hand and does a good job on the pitch down in the zone, goo direction with footwork on throws, 73 mph arm strength with high-3/4 release, pop times ranged from 2.15-2.28 with most throws accurate to the bag, has room to improve pop times with quicker release and addition of arm strength.

Clay Slone, C/IF, R/R, Pikeville HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 170-pound prospect, right-handed hitter hits from a balances stance with a short stride, generates good bat speed, short swing path with extension through contact, generates some natural lift and shows power potential, ran 7.30 60-yard dash, showed his bat speed with 87 mph exit velocity. Defensively, has an athletic set up behind the plate, average receiver with room to improve keeping pitches in the zone, showed better arm strength and pop times at previous event, 68 mph from the crouch on this occasion with 2.13-2.22 pop times. Also participated as an infielder, showed soft hands with good lateral movement, long exchange, 73 mph velocity across the infield.

Jacob Frankel, C/RHP, R/R, Waggener HS, 2017
6-foot, 165-pound prospect, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, has a longer swing path with good extension through contact, shows a pull approach, average bat speed, 80 mph exit velocity, ran a 7.66 60-yard dash. Defensively, shows solid receiving and blocking ability, good direction with footwork on throws but can be quicker, release gets a little long, high-3/4 release with 72 mph velocity from the crouch, pop times ranged from 2.20-2.28 with room for improvement with quicker feet and release.

Daniel Carney, C, R/R, Taylor County HS, 2017
5-foot-9, 160-pound prospect, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, minimal load, short swing path, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, ran a 7.21 60-yard dash, average bat speed, 77 mph exit velocity. Defensively, high set up behind the plate, solid receiver with soft glove hand and good feel for the zone, blocks well with good form and anticipation, good athleticism, showed 68 mph arm strength from the crouch, footwork drifts to the third base side, mostly accurate throws to the bag with 2.15-2.29 pop times.

Jackson Millhollan, C, R/R, Ballard HS, 2017
5-foot-7, 135-pound prospect, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, level swing path with some length, line drive type hitter with opposite field tendencies, swing should shorten up as he continues to work on physical strength, has a solid offensive foundation to work from, ran a 7.19 60-yard dash, 79 mph exit velocity was his best to date. Defensively, shows good direction with footwork on throws, short over the top release, developing arm strength of 65 mph from the crouch (66 at previous event), 2.34-2.42 pop times (2.27-2.34 at previous event).

Peyton Fannin, C, R/R, Rowan County HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 155-pound prospect, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, tends to cut off lower half at times, long and level swing path with average bat speed, line drive type hitter, ran a 7.75 60-yard dash, 77 mph exit velocity, offensive game should continue to develop with added physical strength. Defensively, shows a good setup behind the plate, tends to move as pitcher is releasing ball, very sound blocking skills with good form and anticipation, average receiver, developing arm strength at 65 mph with short high-3/4 release, pop times ranged from 2.25-2.31 with mostly accurate throws.