By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Wisconsin/Illinois

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The top catching prospects stood out far and away from the rest. Both Matt Miller (Sussex Hamilton, 2018) and Stevie Diderrich (Oconomowoc, 2018) were the top two catching prospects at the Fox Cities Preseason I.D. Miller is a premium receiver behind the dish, featuring soft hands and a strong arm that carries well. Diderrich, is a quick transfer out of the chute leading to sub 2.0 pop times and loose hands at the plate that showed well in BP.

Here’s a look at all the catching prospects from the Fox Cities Preseason I.D.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Pierce Blohowiak, OF/C, Xavier, 2018
5-foot-11, 170-pound quick twitch athlete. Plus runner, 6.40 laser timed 60 yard dash. Defensively showed quick feet in the outfield and out of the chute. Athletically plays through the baseball, plays with bounce in the outfield. Arm action is short and over the top, showed carry, 89 mph from the outfield, 75 mph out of the crouch. Pop times posted at 2.19-2.33. Defensively, speed will project best in the outfield, profiles as a rangy centerfield prospect. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, long stride, lower half works, some linear direction, solid balance. Worked middle of the field, with a short path, 93 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Parker Burch, C, Madison Memorial, 2018
5-foot-11, 170-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg kick trigger, average balance. Short level path, line drive contact in BP. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 71 mph out of the crouch, over the top slot. Posted pop times at 2.19-2.33. 8.00 runner in the 60.

Eli Davila, C, Oshkosh North, 2019
5-foot-7, 140-pound catcher, wiry frame. Arm action is short and over the top, 71 mph out of the crouch. Quick actions out of the chute, 2.04-2.18 pop times. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg kick trigger, average balance. Short uphill path, opposite field tendency, 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.49 runner in the 60.

Stevie Diderrich, C/INF, Oconomowoc, 2018
5-foot-8, 167-pound catcher/infielder, smaller frame with strength. Strong defensively catcher, short over the top arm action, quick release, quick footwork. 77 mph arm strength, 1.94-2.01 pop times. Soft hands and footwork carried over on the infield, plays through the baseball well, athletic actions. Abilities project to play both positions defensively. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short lift stride, solid balance through contact. Path is short with bat speed, showed opposite field contact. 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Isaac Gerhardt, C, Fox Valley Lutheran, 2018
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher. Left-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride, average balance. Showed some strength, with bat speed, line drive contact with slightly pull side favor. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short from a high ¾ slot, 75 mph out of the crouch. 2.18-2.26 pop times, transfer can shorten. 7.29 runner in the 60.

Carter Highline, C, Bay Port, 2019
6-foot, 181-pound catcher, solid frame. Right-handed hitter, tall open setup, narrow stance, bat wrap load, lower half works, loose hands. Showed bat speed, long uphill path, pull side contact. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, accurate arm, 66 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.36-2.50. 8.11 runner in the 60.

Tucker Kohl, C, New London, 2020
5-foot-11, 170-pound catcher, strong athletic build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, loads hands back, slight arm bar, short stride. Shows some bat speed for his age, long path on uphill plane, opposite field contact. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, some effort, 66 mph out of the crouch. Solid blocking the baseball, pop times are 2.36-2.45.  

Tony Krueger, C/OF, Appleton North, 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound catcher/outfielder. Left-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride, good balance. Simple approach, athletic quick hands. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, flashed carry, 77 mph out of the crouch, 84 mph from the outfield. Showed well behind the plate, block and recovers well. Pop times range 2.15-2.26. Plays through the baseball in the outfield, 7.61 runner in the 60.

Andrew Lenz, C/INF, Appleton East, 2017
5-foot-9, 170-pound catcher, first baseman, stocky build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Compact swing, fast bat, short path, opposite field contact in BP. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. 2.28-2.48 pop times. Arm played short and firm, over the top slot, clean exchange. 73 mph out of the crouch. Ran the 60 at 7.53.

Russell Mayer, C, Muskego, 2018
5-foot-6, 150-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg kick trigger. Long path on uphill plane, uses lower half, pull side contact. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 71 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.26-2.38. Showed ability to block the baseball. 7.54 runner in the 60.

Matt Miller, C, Sussex Hamilton, 2018
5-foot-11, 180-pound catcher, solid build. High follow defensive prospect. Advanced defender, soft hands, athletic, low setup, quiet receiver, agile defender, blocks well. Arm action is short and over the top, quick release, accurate to the bag, 80 mph. Transfer is quick and clean, 2.00-2.11 pop times. Right-handed hitter, slightly open setup, short stride to even, good balance. Path is short with some extension, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.77 runner in the 60.

Adam Mitchell, C, Lake Mills, 2019
5-foot-8, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, loads hands back, short stride. Path is level, flat through hitting zone, occasionally uphill, showed gap to gap abilities. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, 66 mph out of the crouch. Showed ability to block, 2.35-2.51 pop times. Ran the 60 at 8.27.

Hunter Olson, C, Oconomowoc, 2019
5-foot-9, 155-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg kick stride, linear lower half. Short steep path, uphill through finish. 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 70 mph out of the crouch. 2.25-2.36 pop times. 7.72 runner in the 60.

Samuel Pitz, 3B/C, Appleton West, 2019
6-foot-3, 185-pound catcher, upside frame, long and lean. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride to even. Path works uphill, some opposite field contact. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively worked out on the infield and catcher, long arm action, high ¾ slot, 71 mph out of the crouch, 73 mph across the infield. Pop times ranged 2.30-2.47. 7.68 runner in the 60.

Trevon Van Egtern, C, La Crosse Central, 2019
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher, solid build. Defensively arm played short and over the top, accurate to target, flashed carry, 75 mph out of the crouch. Release has some length, can shorten up release. Pop times are 2.22-2.26. Right-handed hitter, wide setup, short heel lift stride. Loose hands, showed bat speed. 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.51 runner in the 60.

Adam Zbiegien, C/OF, Cedarburg, 2020
5-foot-9, 160-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, open stance, toe tap trigger, lower half collapse, average balance. Path has length, slightly uphill, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.94 runner in the 60. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 64 mph out of the crouch, 70 mph from the outfield. Works with two hands through the baseball in the outfield. Pop times registered at 2.54-2.68, long exchange.

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