On back-to-back days in August, PBR hosted the Top Prospect Games and the Top Underclass Games at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium.  The Top Underclass Games featured players from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 classes, working out for PBR scouts and close to 20 college programs in attendance.  Position players participated in a full pro-style workout followed by a live scrimmage with pitchers throwing in a controlled environment to the hitters.

The Top Underclass Games saw plenty of high end talent.  Today we dive into the catchers that attended the event.  Nine catchers went through the workout with a median top pop time of 2.07 in the workout session.  Below we examine each catcher with a full evaluation, their stats, and a link to their personal PBR Video.

CLICK HERE to see the full statistical results from the Top Underclass Games.

 

Top Underclass Games: Catchers

 

CATCHERS

Bryan Arendt C / 3B / Holly Springs , NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 10 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 335 / POS: 42   Athletic, strong build at 6 foot 1, 190-pounds.  Good athlete with an elite arm.  Filled the stat page at the event.  Balanced setup from the right side of the plate.  Smooth load with a short stride. Loose hands with advanced bat speed.  Gets extension through the ball with strength to both gaps lining balls out.  Drove a double to right center during game action.  Exit velocity recorded at 92 mph.  Arm has advanced carry to second base with quick, smooth transfers throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Arm topped at 85 mph to second base from a crouch position.  Accurate arm with pop times ranging from 1.87-1.91.  Fluid actions on the infield with relaxed hands.  Accurate arm with carry across the diamond that topped at 90 mph.  Recorded a 7.32 in the 60, still recovering from a high ankle sprain in mid-July.

Brooks Brannon C / OF / Randleman, NC / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 22 / POS: 3   5 foot 11, 180-pound build with strength present.  Has a solid in game approach at the plate.  Barreled balls to center and right center field.   Right hand hitter with a relaxed, balanced setup.  Smooth load with a short stride.  Balanced swing with strength to both gaps.  Has better than average barrel awareness and bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 93 mph.  Quick feet, with quick transfers behind the plate with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Positional velocity from a crouch position topped at 74 mph.  Accurate arm with pop times recorded at 1.97-2.01.  Recorded a 7.80 in the 60.

Brendan Burke C / 1B / Panther Creek, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 115 / POS: 20   6 foot 2, 200-pound frame with strength.  Left hand hitter with a balanced setup.  Smooth load with his hands working back and a short stride.  Simple swing with some quickness to his hands.  Works gap to gap with lift in the swing.  Has strength showing more bat speed against live arms.  Exit velocity recorded at 93 mph.  Feet gain ground on his throws to second base with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Arm topped at 79 mph from a crouch position.  Some feel for the second base bag with pop times ranging from 2.06-2.19.  Accurate arm on the infield that topped at 82 mph.  Some feel around the first base bag with average hands.  Recorded an 8.09 in the 60.

Jax Gerrell C / 3B / Grays Creek, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 117 / POS: 21   Lanky frame at 5 foot 11, 170-pounds.  Right hand hitter with a narrow, open base.  Leg kick during his load with his hands working back.  Longer stride with some lunge into the ball.  Has some strength to his pull side with average bat speed.  Barrel can get out of the zone to quickly at times.  Exit velocity recorded at 88 mph.  Feet work through his throws to second base.  Stands up out of his crouch, transferring across his chest, with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Arm topped at 73 mph to second base.  Some accuracy to his throws with pop times ranging from 2.15-2.21.  Works to the ball on the infield with his feet stopping at catch.  Funnels to the belt after catch with an accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 71 mph.  Recorded a 7.62 in the 60.

Luke Johnson C / 2B / Southwest Guilford, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 94 / POS: 15   5 foot 9, 161-pound average build.  Right hand hitter with a balanced setup.  Simple load with a short stride and his hands working slightly back.  Gap to gap approach with his barrel working slightly uphill through the zone.  Stayed through a ball with two strikes making hard contact to center field in game action.  Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.  Quick feet with clean transfers using a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Positional velocity topped at 75 mph from a crouch position. Some feel for the second base bag with his pop times ranging from 2.07-2.14.  Recorded 7.41 in the 60.

Jackson Kuhn C / 2B / Pinecrest, NC / 2022   Thin, lanky frame at 5 foot 11, 138-pounds with room for growth ahead.  Balanced setup from the right side of the plate with his barrel starting flat above his back shoulder.  Weight works back in his load with little to no stride.  Barrel works mostly level through the zone working middle to his pull side.  Hit a ball hard to left field during game action.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph.  Feet gain ground on his throws to second base.  Clean exchanges, throwing from a high ¾ slot with his arm topping at 75 mph.  Pop times ranged from 2.29-2.38 with some feel for the bag.  Recorded an 8.31 in the 60.

Peter Maldonado C / RHP / Heritage, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 89 / POS: 14   5 foot 11, 168-pound build with room to add strength.  Narrow, open base from the left side of the plate. Smooth load with his hands working back.  Feet get back to even staying under control.  Fluid, loose swing with his barrel working flat through the zone.  Has strength to his pull side.  Average to above average bat speed and feel for his barrel.  Barreled a ball to right field against live pitching.  Exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.  Has hip mobility and received well in game situations.  Works to block and enjoys playing the game.  Arm topped at 77 mph to second base from a crouch position.  Accurate arm with pop times ranging from 2.17-2.26.  Fluid actions on the infield with softness to his hands.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 77 mph.  A baseball player, showed an ability to play multiple spots throughout the day.  Recorded a 7.94 in the 60.

Ethan Stanley C / OF / Lee County, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 145 / POS: 22   Lanky frame with room for growth at 6 foot 3, 160-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a balanced setup.  Short stride with his hands going back during his load.  Flat barrel path hitting some line drives to his pull side. Swing can get long at times.  Exit velocity recorded at 83 mph.  Feet work through his throws to second base with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Accurate arm that topped at 75 mph.  Pop times ranged from 2.02-2.19.  Recorded a 7.60 in the 60.

Gage Tomlin C / 1B / South Iredell, NC / 2022   6 foot 1, 220-pound build.  Hits from the right side with a wide base, sitting into his legs.  Weight goes back in his load with no stride.  Hands stay close to his body during the swing with his barrel working short to the ball.  Uses the whole field with average barrel awareness.  Exit velocity recorded at 90 mph.  Quick feet, transferring across his chest with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Some accuracy to his throws with pop times ranging from 2.06-2.11.  Arm topped at 74 mph to second base from a crouch position.  Recorded a 7.87 in the 60.