Jackson, MS – For the second year the MS All-State Games revealed more depth in both the 2020 and 2021 class, along with several 2019 standouts. Statistics and video have already been uploaded into players profiles. The last few weeks we began rolling out player reports with the outfielders and infielders.

Today we take a deeper look into the catchers that were in attendance.

+ Austin Lee, C/1B, Germantown, 2020
Broad shouldered, high-waisted frame that projects to add even more strength in the next year at 6-foot-5, 215-pounds. The left-handed hitter starts from a tall, stacked setup with relaxed hands, then loads up as he triggers his hands and tips the barrel forward, and taking a short stride. Hands work through the zone with looseness, creating lag in the barrel to go with lift through the zone, to create a top exit velocity of 86 mph. Defensively, high in setup, throws from a short, over the top arm slot with a relaxed gather that provided for accurate throws with pop times ranging from 1.95-2.00 and a top velocity from the crouch of 78 mph.

+ Tyler Harper, C/2B, Northeast Jones, 2019
Hulky 5-foot-10, 195-pound frame. Right-handed hitter that hits from balanced setup, hands starting at shoulder height with loose rhythm. Subtle shift of weight loading, with short stride and balance. Aggressive swing with a flat rotational path and bat speed that produced exit velocity of 83 mph. Behind plate gave good target out front with looseness in hip, made clean midline exchanges with directional footwork to second base. Threw strikes on the bag with pop times ranging 1.96-2.05. The ball comes out clean with good carry and a top velocity from the crouch of 77 mph. Displayed soft hands receiving and was able to get into adequate blocking position during game play.

+ Sam Suggs, C/1B, Magnolia Heights, 2019
Physical 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame with present strength in build. A blue-collar “gritty” backstop, posted pop times of 1.95-2.00 with a top velocity from the crouch of 76 mph. Did a nice job during game-play blocking and receiving. Right-handed hitter works from tall neutral setup and quite approach. Very subtle shift of weight as hands work backwards into hitting position. Solid lower half use with an aggressive uphill path that produced an exit velocity of 93 mph. Ran a 7.48 60-yard dash.

+ Landon Bull, 2B/OF, Warren Central, 2019
Medium build 5-foot-8, 185-pound frame. Right-handed hitter has tall setup with easy rhythm and loose hands, allowing him to produce ground ball/line drive contact from gap to gap posting an exit velocity of 81 mph. Made accurate throwing from behind the plate posting pop times of 1.98-2.05. Easy gather with directional footwork, he throws with low effort from a stiff, high-¾ slot. Ran a 7.84 60-yard dash.

+ Bailey White, C, Madison Ridgeland Academy, 2019
Wiry 6-foot-1, 155-pound frame. Right-handed hitter that starts from an athletic base in his stance, has looseness in his hands, takes a small simple load back with his body, pushes his hands past his back foot at shoulder height to create separation, has barrel lag through the zone with loose barrel action in his swing. Easy swing effort and has a flat finish through contact that produced an exit velocity 81 mph. Defensively made accurate throws around the bag to second base at 69 mph, and his pop times ranged from 2.00-2.10 seconds.  Creates good direction in his footwork with slow, clean exchanges while throwing. Ran a 7.18 60-yard dash.