By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

The Prep Baseball Report MN Preseason Underclass event took place on Saturday, March 18, 2017. The event was held at the Vadnais Sports Center in Vadnais Heights, MN. The event featured prospects from the 2019 & 2020 grad classes; and included many breakout performances from this year's participants. Players showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff and college coaches in attendance.

As we drill down into the statistics:

   + 17 catchers recorded 70+ mph throws to second base
+ 17 catchers recorded sub-2.1 pop times
 
Today we take a look at the catchers that were in attendance at this year's event. Overall this was a physical group of underclass players; with catch and throw type guys standing out the most. This position is deep and talented in MN in the 2019 and 2020 classes; and a solid number of these players with continued maturity and development should receive significant college interest.

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Catcher Evals (alphabetical) 

DJ Andrews, C, Stillwater, 2019
6-foot-1, 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 8.16 runner. Athletic setup, body load, arm bar in load, drags bat through zone occasionally, out front at contact, gap to gap approach, spray contact with avg. pop in bat, 72 mph exit velocity. Flexible behind plate, solid target, avg. receiver, long exchange, hitchy arm action, tall stance to throw, 2.4-2.45 pop times with 66 mph arm strength.

Taylor Brodersen, C, Heritage Christian, 2019
5-foot-10, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.78 runner. Tall to fall, transfers weight through contact, mid/pull approach, solid bat speed, rolls hands over early through contact, flashes pop in bat, 87 mph exit velocity. Solid feet and hands behind plate, above avg. blocker, mobile, solid accuracy to bag, throws uphill occasionally, 2.00-2.12 pop times with 74 mph arm strength.

Will Busch, C, New Prague, 2020
5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.75 runner. Body load with leg kick trigger, athletic setup, some stiffness in swing path, slight lift, spray contact, 80 mph exit velocity. Moves well behind plate, quick to block, mobility, raw receiver, stabs occasionally and lost low strike, above avg. quick feet and exchange, fast hand path, lacked accuracy to bag at this event, 1.87-2.08 pop times with 75 mph arm strength.

Nolan Conzemius, C/RHP, Cretin-Derham Hall, 2019
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.78 runner. Square stance, body load, shows hand-eye coordination, uses both gaps, line drive and ground ball contact, 80 mph exit velocity. Has strong glove, sticks low strikes, flexible and moves well behind plate, quick exchange and release, 2.00-2.09 pop times with 73 mph arm strength.

Ben Cradle, C, Bloomington Kennedy, 2019
5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 8.4 runner. Narrow stance, easy tall to fall mechanics, quiet head, consistent hard line drives and fly balls to pull side of field, 81 mph exit velocity. Works through plate, clean exchanges, solid accuracy, pie arm action, avg. carry, 2.00-2.07 pop times with 75 mph arm strength.

Joey Danielson, C, Eden Prairie, 2019
6-foot-2, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Physical build with lean strength. Projects to add 20 lbs. through high school. 7.21 runner. Square stance, slight inverted C load, easy body load, clean bat path with extension through contact, mid/pull approach with pop in bat, 89 mph exit velocity. Large frame behind plate, strong glove with ability to stick pitches, has sway to both sides of plate, taller receiving stance, occasional length to arm action, hand path is quick, above avg. carry on throws, accurate to bag, 1.92-2.09 pop times with 78 mph arm strength.

Carson Funk, C, Chanhassen, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 8.18 runner. Some rhythm in swing, shoulder load, longer stride, spray contact, flashes of hard pull contact, 74 mph exit velocity. Solid square stance, gets beat by ball occasionally receiving, extra movements behind plate, has direction on throws, slight hitch in arm action, 2.12-2.32 pop times with 66 mph arm strength.

Ty Hawes, C, Eagan, 2019
5-foot-10, 225-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 8.62 runner. Square stance, simple load, stays connected through swing, gap to gap hitter, solid pop in bat, 85 mph exit velocity. Moves well for size, has sway to both sides of plate, high target, avg. blocker, works around plate with feet on throws, long release on throws, clean exchanges, 2.1-2.21 pop times with 69 mph arm strength.

Drew Kelly, C, Triton, 2019
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.22 runner. Pre-set hands and load, minimal rhythm, dead pull approach, inconsistent contact during BP, 84 mph exit velocity. Clean exchanges and arm action, accurate to bag, raw receiving, late to spot, extra movements, 2.13-2.26 pop times with 70 mph arm strength.

Cody Kelly, C, St. Michael-Albertville, 2020
6-foot-1, 170-pound left-handed hitting catcher. 7.5 runner. Easy actions in box, works mid/away, line drive and fly ball contact, quiet head, repeats swing well, consistent solid contact, 81 mph exit velocity. Flexible behind plate with solid athleticism, handles low strike, sound blocker, stance can be narrow at times, loses outside pitch, stays down and works through plate, easy arm action, sound carry and accuracy to bag, 1.9-2.02 pop times with 70 mph arm strength.

Jacob Kouneski, C/RHP, Minneapolis Southwest, 2019
6-foot-1, 200-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Physical with strong lower half. 7.84 runner. Easy body load into launch position, uphill path through contact, flashes pop in bat, fly ball contact to mid/oppo side of field, 83 mph exit velocity. Large frame behind plate, mobile, sticks low strikes, works ball back to middle of plate well, quick feet with direct exchange, get rid of ball well, solid accuracy to bag, 1.83-1.92 pop times with 75 mph arm strength.

Chase LaMotte, C, Rogers, 2019
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.51 runner. Active hand and body load, short stride, uphill swing plane, flashed hard pull contact, mostly ground ball contact with pull approach, 75 mph exit velocity. Solid athlete at position, flexible and moves well behind plate, stabs occasionally receiving, shows quick feet and release on throws, 2.08-2.21 pop times with 66 mph arm strength.

Nicolas Linarte, C/RHP, Henry Sibley, 2019
5-foot-9, 180-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.95 runner. Easy load, quiet head, transfers weight well through contact, line drive approach, solid present strength, clean swing, with flashes of pop in bat with mid/pull approach, 83 mph exit velocity. Quiet easy actions behind plate, sways to pitches, sticks baseball in zone, blocks well, clean arm action, throws downhill, accurate to bag, solid footwork and direction, 2.03-2.2 pop times with 71 mph arm strength.

Bryce Lovcik, C/RHP, Maranatha Christian, 2019
6-foot-1, 175-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.45 runner. Square spread stance, shoulder load, slight arm bar, lift in swing plane, flashes of hard line drive contact, mid/away approach, 84 mph exit velocity. Has athleticism behind plate, moves well, sways to pitches, ability to stick low strike, block well, strides open to throw, quick release, solid/avg. accuracy to bag, 1.9-1.96 pop times with 76 mph arm strength.

Nicholas Magnuson, C/RHP, Rosemount, 2019
5-foot-8, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.27 runner. Open stance, double tap trigger, line drive swing plane, solid strength, gap to gap hitter with solid contact, 84 mph exit velocity. Moes well to block, smothers ball keeps close to plate, solid receiver, some extra movement, stays low on throws, stiffer arm action, solid accuracy to bag, 2.13-2.22 pop times with 72 mph arm strength.

Tucker Rinehart, C, Woodbury, 2019
5-foot-7, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 8.03 runner. Body load, solid strength, some stiffness in swing, finds barrel consistently, spray contact to mid/pull side of field, 77 mph exit velocity. Works around the plate, clean arm action, solid carry and accuracy to bag, 2.06-2.19 pop times with 74 mph arm strength.

Eric Rinzel, C, Holy Family, 2019
6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Ranked #186 in PBR Overall for 2019’s. Physical presence at plate and behind the dish. 7.14 runner. Body load, clean bat path, line drive swing plane, ability to elevate baseball, long through zone with good extension, flashes above avg. power, 94 mph exit velocity. Easy actions behind plate, works up through ball well receiving, higher stance. Clean exchanges with above avg. arm, strides into batters box, accurate to bag at this event, lower arm slot, occasional sailing action, 1.9-1.96 pop times with 79 mph arm strength.

Will Roguske, C/RHP, New London-Spicer, 2019
6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.44 runner. Gap to gap hitter, active load, solid balance, present strength, flashes pop in bat, 87 mph exit velocity. Above avg. arm strength, sure hands, mobile behind plate, sticks pitches, 1.87-1.96 pop times with 80 mph arm strength.

Zachary Selchow, C, Eastview, 2019
6-foot-1, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.92 runner at this event. Body load with double tap trigger, high back elbow restricts swing plane, lift through contact, gap to gap hitter, 80 mph exit velocity. Mobile behind plate with sway to pitches and ability to receive, smothers blocks well, works through baseball with clean exchanges, slight hitch in release, 1.97-2.15 pop times with 75 mph arm strength.

Alexander Stephens, 3B/RHP, Totino Grace, 2020
5-foot-11, 195-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.9 runner. Present strength, body load, double tap trigger, short path through zone, snap hook contact, gap to gap approach, 91 mph exit velocity. Taller stance, occasionally late to block, sticks pitches well, solid grinder behind plate, works ball back to middle well, some length to exchange, quick release, avg. carry and accuracy to bag, 2.09-2.14 pop times with 72 mph arm strength.

Carter Tibbits, C/RHP, Wayzata, 2020
5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.72 runner. Crouched stance, rolling load, low hand set, flat swing plane, spray contact, 77 mph exit velocity. Solid glove, works ball back to middle, active behind plate with solid athleticism, works around plate, clean exchanges, clean arm path, 2.06-2.22 pop times with 73 mph arm strength.

Evan Zamec, C/RHP, Orono, 2020
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.76 runner. Bat is best tool, leg kick trigger, creates bat speed, line drive path, finds barrel consistently, flashes pop, 88 mph exit velocity. Sound receiver, works hard behind plate, active to block, handles low strikes well, tall throwing position, out on front leg, throws uphill to target, 2.27-2.41 pop times with 68 mph arm strength.

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