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By Greg Williams
Pennsylvania / West Virginia Director of Scouting

Of the 100 prospects to showcase their abilities over two days of the 2017 Preseason All-State Showcase, nearly 25% were catchers. Today we continue our analysis of the prospects in attendance by taking a look at the catchers in the Class of 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Top Prospects

Mark Black, 2020, Serra Catholic
5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed hitter starts from a wide, square stance and initiates his swing with a heel-raise stride. Balanced swing with short load. Fires hands through the hitting zone with intent and showed ability to create back spin. Registered an 89 mph bat exit velocity and has run a 7.44 60-yard dash. Showcased pop times of 2.05-2.14 with 73 mph arm strength out of the crouch. Incremental improvements continue behind the plate. Still shows some stiffness, some of which can be attributed to work in the weight room and addition of 50 pounds to his frame over the past two years.

 

Eric Grintz, 2019, Downingtown West
6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitter showcased the best raw power of any hitter in attendance over two days. Starts from a balanced, slightly open stance and initiates his swing with a short, lift-and replace stride. Gets to extension regularly and shows present power to the pull side with the ability to also drive the opposite field gap. Ran a 6.95 60-yard dash and showcased pop times of 1.98-2.10 on throws of 74 mph from the crouch. Solid defender has the athleticism to make move to third base, first base or corner outfield at the next level if need be.

 

Cole Houser, 2020, Hempfield
5-foot-9, 155-pounder is an advanced defender that showcased above average arm strength of 78 mph out of the crouch with pop times of 1.92-2.01. Feet are very quick, transition is clean and throws show above average carry. Works from a low, wide base with quiet receiving hand and shows advanced blocking skills. Ran a 7.17 and registered an 88 mph bat exit velocity. The right-handed hitter has a very solid feel for the barrel and works inside the baseball routinely. He starts from a slightly open stance and uses a leg-lift stride to initiate the barrel with solid rhythm throughout.

Other Participating 2019/2020/2021 Catchers

Julian Bailey, 2019, Dallastown Area
5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open, athletic stance and initiates his swing with a short, lift-and-replace stride. Showed some feel for the barrel with some length to his swing from a deep load position. Registered an 80 mph bat exit velocity and ran a 7.28 60-yard dash. Showcased pop times of 2.02-2.12 on throws of 75 mph from the crouch with quick feet and a short arm stroke. Quiet receiver impressed during bullpen session.

Dean Bergmann, 2021, Penn Charter
5-foot-11, 155-pound right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and uses a leg lift stride to initiate his swing. Displayed a solid feel for the barrel and an ability to impart back spin without yet fully engaging lower half. Registered a 79 mph bat exit velocity. Showcased pop times of 2.25-2.38 on throws of 70 mph from the crouch. Accurate throwing will benefit from physical maturity and added arm strength. Receives from an athletic, wide base and presents a soft wall when blocking.

Burke Camper, 2019, Hampton
6-foot, 187-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and utilizes a heel-raise stride to initiate his swing. Loads hands away from body and fights them to get back inside baseball with a short path through the hitting zone. Registered an 88 mph bat exit velocity and ran a 7.09 60-yard dash. Showcased pop times of 2.08-2.17 on throws of 74 mph from the crouch. Blocks well and stood out as a receiver during the bullpen session.

Luke Gregory, 2020, Council Rock South
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and utilizes a very short lift-and-replace stride to initiate his swing. Shows a deep hand position, with little load and an aggressive lower half turn on the ball with the ability to create backspin. Ran a 7.38 60-yard dash and showcased pop times of 2.40-2.47 on throws of 65 mph from the crouch. Sound receiver and blocker will see improved pop times with improved arm strength and work to shorten up footwork.

Jake Haus, 2019, Malvern Prep
5-foot-11, 155-pound left-handed hitter starts from a square stance and initiates his swing with a toe-tap stride. Stays behind baseball well with a flat barrel path and displayed a bat exit velocity of 78 mph. Showed a solid feel for the barrel while wearing out the middle of the diamond. Ran a 7.51 60-yard dash and showcased pop times of 2.33-2.40 on throws of 67 mph from the crouch. Overall game will benefit from strength gains and physical maturity.

Kollin Henneman, 2019, Big Spring
5-foot-9, 180-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance, initiates his swing with a heel-raise stride, and transfers 100% of his weight to his front foot at the point of impact. Displayed a flat barrel path through the zone from a high back elbow with a bat exit velocity of 91 mph. Ran an improving 7.62 60-yard dash and showcased pop times of 2.14-2.19 on throws of 75 mph from the some carry to the bag.

Sean Hopkins, 2019, West Chester Rustin
6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and initiates his swing with a heel-raise stride. Displayed a flat barrel path and a line drive approach with a bat exit velocity of 87 mph. Showcased very quick feet (7.21 60-yard dash) and a clean exchange while registering pop times of 2.15-2.25 on throws of 71 mph from the crouch. Quiet receiver showed above average receiving skills during bullpen session.

Noah Ross, 2019, Cochranton
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and initiates his swing with a heel raise stride followed by an aggressive weight transfer to front foot. Head travels with weight shift, but showed ability to routinely barrel the baseball with a flat bat path and a line drive approach. Registered an 87 mph bat exit velocity and ran a 7.32 60-yard dash. Showcased pop times of 2.08-2.16 on throws of 70 mph from the crouch. Very short arm stroke and quick feet lead to clean transition. 

Preseason All-State Showcase News