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By Greg Williams
Pennsylvania / West Virginia Director of Scouting

The 2016 Elite Prospect Showcase took place Saturday, October 29th at Keystone State Baseball Academy in Manheim, PA with nearly 70 prospects from four states displaying their skills. Today we continue our analysis of all prospects in attendance by reviewing those players who showcased as catchers.

- FINAL MEASURABLES for all prospects in attendance

top prospect

Dylan Swarmer, 2018, Knoch
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and initiates his swing with a leg-lift stride. Displayed above average barrel whip (92 mph) with some present power during a solid round of batting practice. Early weight transfer at times leads to timing issues but ball jumps of barrel when all parts work together. Registered a top pop time of 2.06 on throws of 74 mph from the crouch and ran a 7.31 60-yard dash. Quiet receiver has the potential to play early defensively at the next level. 

 

 

Catchers

Sam Aslansan, 2019, Springside Chestnut Hill
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and utilizes a lift-and-replace stride to initiate his swing. Displayed good balance with a feel for the barrel. Low hand position in load leads to some length in his swing but the sophomore displayed the ability to get to the hitting zone on time with regularity leading to a bat exit velocity of 86 mph. Above average defender showcased pop times of 2.09-2.15 on throws of 72 mph from the crouch. 7.51 runner displayed a clean transition and accurate arm with good carry to his throws.

Mike Becker, 2019, Harriton
5-foot-7, 165-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance with a high hands load and initiates his swing with a leg-lift stride. Displayed a feel for the barrel with a strong lower half in a solid round of batting practice with a bat exit velocity of 83 mph. Ran a 7.15 60-yard dash and flashed pop times of 2.31-2.33 on throws of 68 mph from the crouch. Displayed a clean transition and solid footwork with a tendency to drift to the right-hand batter's box.

Bryce Behmer, 2020, Lancaster Catholic
6-foot, 170-pound freshman displayed advanced abilities defensively. Showcased pop times of 2.06-2.16 on throws of 72 mph from the crouch. Demonstrated a clean transfer and short arm stroke with solid carry during defensive workouts. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and initiates his swing with a leg-lift stride. Showed a good feel for the ability and the ability to create backspin with a bat exit velocity of 78 mph. A potential for power is likely through physical maturity and strength gains over the coming years.

Tom Borum, 2018, Holy Redeemer
6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed hitter starts from a wide, slightly open stance and utilizes a short, lift-and-replace stride to initiate his swing. Displayed a flat barrel path that stays in the zone for extended periods of time with a bat exit velocity of 81 mph. The junior ran a 7.20 60-yard dash and registered pop times of 2.47-2.58 on throws of 68 mph from the crouch. Would benefit from additional work to speed up his release while working through the baseball.

Austin Clauser, 2019, Schuylkill Haven
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and initiates his swing with a leg-lift stride. Long, flat swing path with a feel for the barrel. Displayed a bat exit velocity of 85 mph and the ability to use the middle of the field. Ran a 7.23 60-yard dash and registered pop times of 2.14-2.27 on throws of 76 mph from the crouch. Showcased athleticism and quickness with solid straight line carry to his throws.

Sean Hopkins, 2019, West Chester Rustin
6-foot-2, 200-pounder has a very projectable frame and ran an impressive 6.82 60-yard dash. The primary catcher registered pop times of 2.20-2.28 on throws of 71 mph from the crouch. Hopkins has also shown capable defensive actions at third base and in the outfield. The right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and utilizes a short stride to square. Flat bat path with limited extension leads to a line-drive approach and a bat exit velocity of 83 mph.

Emmett McCauley, 2018, Stroudsburg
5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and uses a pronounced lift-and-replace stride to initiate his swing from a high hands load. Displayed a solid feel for the barrel with a bat exit velocity of 86 mph. Ran a 7.56 60-yard dash and registered pop times of 2.19-2.32 on throws of 70 mph from the crouch. Quiet receive impressed with above average receiving skills during the bullpen phase of his workout.

Lenny Piccini, 2020, Norwin
5-foot-7, 165-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance with a high hands load and initiates his swing with a leg-lift stride. Displayed a feel for the barrel with a strong lower half in a solid round of batting practice with a bat exit velocity of 83 mph. Ran a 7.15 60-yard dash and flashed pop times of 2.31-2.33 on throws of 68 mph from the crouch. Displayed a clean transition and solid foot work with a tendency to drift to the right-hand batter's box.

Joshua Rich, 2018, Northeastern
5-foot-9, 165-pound junior displayed an above average defensive skill set registering pop times of 2.07-2.22 on throws of 74 mph from the crouch. Displayed a quick, clean transfer with limited wasted movement with solid carry on all throws and ran a 7.23 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and utilizes a heel raise stride to initiate his swing. Stays behind and through the baseball well while showcasing a gap-to-gap approach with a bat exit velocity of 77 mph.

Nathaniel Semanek, 2019, Bedford Area
Long, lean 6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and initiates his swing with a abbreviated toe-tap stride. Displayed a feel for the barrel with a short swing path and a middle, opposite approach that led to a bat exit velocity of 82 mph. Showcased pop times of 2.18-2.31 on throws of 73 mph from the stretch. With work to clean up his footwork and shorten his throwing motion times could approach the 2.00 threshold. The sophomore showed an athletic across-the-board skill set while running a 7.02 60-yard dash with plenty of room to add to his frame.

Chad Speiser, 2018, Northern York
5-foot-9, 160-pound right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and initiates his swing with a bat-waggle load and a leg-lift stride. Put together a solid batting practice round repeatedly barreling baseballs to the pull side with a bat exit velocity of 81 mph. The junior ran a 7.01 60-yard dash and registered pop times of 2.31-2.32 on throws of 74 mph from the crouch. Displayed quick feet and a clean transition with a short arm throwing motion.

Josh Tesarck, 2018, Pennsbury
6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and uses a controlled leg-lift stride to initiate his swing. Displayed above average barrel whip and some present power to the pull side with a bat exit velocity of 88 mph. The junior showcased the top arm strength among catchers in attendance (79 mph) with pop times of 2.13-2.19. Physical junior showed good straight-line carry on all throws along with the ability to make a snap throw from his knees.

Matt Turner, 2020, Downingtown West
5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and initiates his swing with a leg-lift stride. Showed an ability to stay behind the baseball and barreled the baseball routinely when he was able to get his front foot down on time with a bat exit velocity of 83 mph. Showcased pop times of 2.33-2.44 on throws of 70 mph from the crouch. The freshman displayed a solid all-around skill set that should develop with physical maturity and strength gains.

Luke Weigel, 2018, Lampeter-Strasburg
Physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior continues to show development, especially as a defender. Registered pop times of 2.12-2.21 on throws of 73 mph from the crouch with a clean transition and quick release. The right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and incorporates a short stride to initiate his swing. Has shown some pull side power at recent events and registered an 84 mph bat exit velocity on this date.