Catcher Analysis: Rawlings Prospects / College Prospect Open

August 21, 2018
Brandon Hall, Matt Payne, & Lee Miller
North Carolina Director of Scouting & PBR NC Scouts

PBR was on hand at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium to run the Rawlings Prospects Scout Day in conjunction with the College Prospect Open Scout Day. The Rawlings Prospects is a club organization that runs teams at the high school ages, and younger. For their scout day, players were run through a full pro-style workout on the turf field at Campbell.

The PBR Scout Day with the Rawlings Prospects ran in conjunction with an Open Scout Day, allowing players from across North Carolina to update their statistics, evaluation, and video within their PBR Profile. All players attending the event are receiving the updated information and video, as well as updating their player grade in the PBR files, allowing PBR to continue to rank players in the various graduating classes. Players with a player grade will also be considered for “Invite Only” events as well as national events like the PBR Future Games and the Super 60.

Today we look at the group of catchers from the event. Five total catchers workout with a mix of defensive and offensive type guys. Physicality and arm strength is present with one touching 97 mph in his exit velocity testing. Below are full evaluations, statistics and links to the player pages that include the individual player videos.

CLICK HERE to see the complete Scout Day roster for the Rawlings Prospects

CLICK HERE to see the players attending the College Prospect Open Scout Day

CLICK HERE to see the full statistical release from the August 7th Scout Day.

Catcher Analysis

Edward Kunas C / 3B / Holly Springs, NC / 2021

Young body. Still maturing. Slight frame at 6-foot, 155 pounds. Quickness exists in the body running a 7.15 sixty. Right handed hitter is balanced and tall using small toe tap and short stride Good rhythm. Needs to add strength to increase bat speed. Good head discipline and looseness, working for extension. Has feel for the barrel. Defensively, presents well with a good base. Hands work. Transfers across belt on throws with a short arm swing to an over-the-top slot. Advanced accuracy on throws with a positional velocity of 72 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.26 - 2.33. Feet bog down a little on the infield. Hands work to funnel to the midsection. Long feet through the exchange. Medium arm swing to a high-¾ slot. Accurate at 76 mph across the diamond.

Zachary Long C / 1B / Fuquay Varina, NC / 2020

5 feet 11, 165-pound lanky build. Offensively he works from the left side using a tall, slightly open setup. Leg kick diving into the plate during his load. Hands drop during load leading to an uphill swing. Gets his lower half through the ball with average bat speed. Pull approach with his exit velocity topping at 84 mph. Athletic behind the plate with quick, fluid feet. Short arm action throwing from an over the top slot. Accurate arm that topped at 72 mph and pop times at 2.06-2.19. Shows feel for playing first base with fluid feet and accurate arm. Quick exchanges, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Arm peaked at 72 mph across the diamond. Recorded a 7.61 in the 60-yard dash.

Blake Rudd C / RHP / Cary , NC / 2019

Athletic frame. Physical presence at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. Arm has carry behind the dish with a positional velocity of 79 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.00-2.06 with average accuracy. Sits high in his stance. Hips need more bend. Hands present high but show the ability to work. Inconsistent exchange working to be quick. Footwork needs polish. Average arm swing to a high-¾ release. Offensively there is strength with an exit velocity of 97 mph off the barrel. Tall setup with flat bat and the hands just off his shoulder. Loads with the hands and an average stride. Works with some rotation on the back side. Uphill leverage in the swing. Quick with strength. Average barrel awareness. Works for extension with a pull emphasis. Balanced throughout. Ran a 7.63 sixty.

On the mound, the fastball touched 85, sitting 80-82 throughout the bullpen. Good balance working on-line and level with the shoulders. Foot-strike is in-line and square. Medium arm swing with the ball working inside the elbow at its height. Slightly stiff through the release with a stable head. Change-up looks to be the 2nd pitch at 67-69. Occasionally slowing the hand, there is sink and some feel for the zone. The breaking ball ranged 62-64 with a hump out of the hand and 11/5 action.

Nick Tyler C / OF / Corinths Holder, NC / 2020

6 feet, 170-pound lanky build. Hits from the right side using a balanced setup. Uses a leg kick during his load, getting his lower half through the ball, with good balance throughout his swing. Uses a pull approach with his barrel working short to the ball and staying level through the zone. Exit velocity recorded at 84 mph. Has a higher setup behind the plate, with quick feet, and a quick release. Short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot with some accuracy to his throws. Pop times recorded at 2.11-2.19 with positional velocity peaking at 74 mph. Recorded a 7.44 in the 60-yard dash.

Bryson Willis C / 2B / West Carteret, NC / 2021

5 feet 10, 145-pound build. Hits from the right side using a balanced setup. Smooth load with a small leg kick. Gets his lower half through the ball, with good balance throughout his swing. Fluid swing, with a line drive approach and average bat speed. Barrel works level through the zone with his exit velocity topping at 82 mph. Quick, fluid feet behind the plate with a long, stiff arm action throwing from an over the top slot. Pop times recorded at 2.26-2.40 with positional velocity peaking at 69 mph. Recorded a 7.55 in the 60-yard dash.