IE Top Prospects ID: Catchers

+ 2020 C Brandon Heidal (Orange Lutheran HS) 5-11, 200
Medium/large frame, present strength though body and a strong lower half. Heidal started the day with the 60-yard dash he recorded a 7.77 laser time then recorded a 4.69 home-to-first time. Heidal then went onto the hitting portion of the day and recorded one of the highest exit velos on the day 86 MPH and the highest of any catcher before two solid rounds of batting practice. Operates from a slightly open-setup, bent knee, a leg lift and very quiet at the plate. Shows a line drive approach using very compact swing and makes consistent loud contact; showed more pull side and up the middle focus. Stayed on a bunch of pitches and smacked a handle full of line drives up-the-middle. He then went on to the catching potion of the day. Heidal recorded 1.87- 2.03 pop-time and a catching velo of 79 MPH. Heidal looked really strong behind the plate working with an above average arm with throws having carry and accuracy. Heidal does have good hands and footwork showing quick exchanges helping keep throws accurate. During the pitching portion he framed the ball really well and also blocked the ball strongly. This kid is a gamer as he asked me if two rounds of catching of the pitchers was enough. Has handled some of the best pitchers in the state from Cole Winn (15th overall) to future D1 and draft guys like Christian Rodriguez and Max Rajcic

+ 2020 C/2B Paul Torrez (Etiwanda HS) 5-8, 170
Physical frame, strong and athletic build. He started the day off with a laser time 60-yard dash of 7.27 and he recorded a home-to-first time 4.41 from the left side. Has a medium stride and a quick first step. He then went to hitting where he recorded an exit velo of 85 MPH. Operates from a slightly open setup and a toe tap for timing. He had that classic left-handed swing where he flashed more pull side approach on the day. He had two good rounds of batting practice making consistent contact. Behind the plate he registered a catching velo 78 MPH and a pop-time ranging from 2.01-2.08. He has a strong arm behind the plate, made accurate throws having carry through the bag. His exchanges were clean and showed good footwork. Was one of the more impressive catchers during the pitcher’s portion of the day. He framed the ball really well, showed athleticism and did and did a nice job blocking. 

+ 2021 C/OF Aaron Reyes (St. John Bosco) 5-11, 170
Medium/large frame, present strength, young and athletic. He started the day off with a laser timed 60-yard dash 7.02 second and a home-to-first time of 4.62 seconds. He recorded the fastest 60 time off all the catchers and landed in the top 10 of fastest 60-times of the day. Has quick feet, medium stride and a good first step. He then recorded an exit velo of 85 MPH. Operates from a straight up set-up at the plate, small leg lift and good use of the lower half. Reyes had two very good rounds of batting practice, compact line drive swing and sprayed the ball around the field. He made consistent hard contact and has quick hands. Behind the plate he recorded a catching velo of 71 MPH and a pop-time that range between 2.00-2.08. Has a good arm and makes accurate throws to the bag. Had a clean exchange and footwork was good. Did a good job during the pitching portion framing the ball and receiving. 

+ 2023 C/SS Ty De Perno (West Ranch HS) 5-9, 150.
Long, lean, young body with wiry strength. DePerno started the day off with a laser time 60-yard dash of 7.57 seconds and a 4.87 home-to-first time. He then went onto the hitting wheel and started off recording an exit velo of 76 MPH. Operates from an open-setup, slightly bent knees, hands by the back shoulder and a small leg lift. Showed a line drive approach as he sprayed the ball around the field. Has a feel for the barrel as he keeps it through the zone, does have a longer load and hands were quick. Behind the plate he recorded a velo of 74 MPH. He showed an average arm, that will get stronger as he continues to mature and add strength. Flashed good footwork and clean exchanges. Arm does lag sometimes as he doesn’t follow through on throw. Did a nice job of blocking and framing the ball during the pitching portion of the day. Will be a prospect to keep an eye on as he continues to mature.

+ 2021 C/3B Adam Monteon (Cajon HS) 5-9, 185
Medium frame young body, strong lower half. Monteon started the day off with a laser times 60-yard dash of 8.13 seconds and a 5.04 home-to-first time. He then went on to the hitting portion of the day and recorded an exit velo 82 MPH. Operates from a slightly open setup, slightly bent knee, hands at the back shoulder and foot glides.  He showed a line drive approach showing more focus to the pull side and up the middle with a contact oriented swing. Behind the plate he recorded his catching velo of 73 MPH and his pop-time ranged from 2.10-2.28. Has fringe-average arm strength throwing from a shorter arm slot. Transfers were okay showing better footwork. In the pitching portion he did a good job framing.

+ 2020 C/2B Noah Rumenapp (Ontario Christian HS) 5-10, 170
Medium frame, skinner with wiry strength. Started the day by running a laser time 60-yard dash recording a 7.93and a 5.18 home-to-first time. Moving on to the hitting portion he went to the cage and recorded an exit velo of 80 MPH. Operates from a slightly open setup, with a short load and hands by back shoulder. He flashed a up the middle and oppose field hitting approach. Showed a compact swing and made consistent contact He then went on to catch where he registered a catching velo of 73 MPH and his pop-time ranged 2.01-2.36 on the day. Had a longer throwing motion and dragged his arm at times. When he fixed that he made accurate throws. Had good exchange, footwork and proper mechanics. Did a good job during the in pitching of receiving.

+ 2021 C Matthew Vargas (La Mirada HS) 5-10, 180
Medium frame, thick lower half and present strength. Vargas started the day by running a laser time 60-yard dash recording a home-to-first time of 7.89. He then moved onto the hitting portion of the day where he recorded an exit velo of 86 MPH. Vargas tied with three players for the fastest exit velo for catchers. Operates from a square setup, tall at the plate, hands by back shoulder and a leg lift for timing. Vargas had two solid rounds he sprayed the ball all over the field. Flashes a gap approach, makes consistent loud contact and flashes some pop as well. Vargas then moved onto catching where he registered a catching velo of 76 MPH and recorded a pop-time of 2.04-2.11 on the day. Flashed average arm strength, had quick hands and proper footwork. Vargas made accurate throws on day that were right on the bag. Did a good job framing during the pitching portion.

+ 2021 C/3B Rocco DiFrancesco (Dana Hills HS) 5-11, 165
Medium frame, long limbs, lean, athletic young body. Started the day off with a laser time 60-yard dash and his home to first time was 4.69 seconds. Operates from an open setup and tall at the plate with a leg lift. He then went onto the hitting wheel, where he recorded an exit velo of 85 MPH. He shows more pull side approach flashing power that way. At times has a longer swing, but when he was short he flashed some pop. Then went on to catching where he recorded a catching velo of 75 MPH and his pop time was between 2.06-2.10 on the day. He has an average arm, makes accurate throws and finishes the throw. His throws were accurate on the bag. 

+ 2021 C/OF Diego Hernandez (Beckman HS) 5-11, 174
Medium frame, athletic, young body. Started the day off with a laser timed 60-yard-dash running 7.45 seconds. He ran a 4.68 home-to-first time. Operates from an open setup, with hands in ready position and a leg kick; recorded an exit velo of 89 MPH. Had two good rounds of batting practice, where he sprayed the ball around the field putting more focus to the pullside and up the middle. Didn’t flash much power currently, but will come as he continues to add strength. Behind the plate he recorded a catching velo 69 MPH. His arm strength can improve and throws were accurate. Had okay hands and good footwork. His pop-time was 2.08-2.15 on the day. 

+ 2023 C/3B Anthony Murdica (Palm Desert) 5-11, 165
Large frame, wide shoulders, young body with physical projection. Started the day off with a laser timed 60-yard dash of 8.65 second. He had a home-to-first time of 4.69 seconds. Operates from an open stance, hands in ready position and a leg kick. His exit velo was 79 MPH. Had two very good round of BP, showing a pull side and up the middle approach with consistent contact flashing future power as he continues to add strength. Behind the plate he recorded a catchers velo of 71 MPH. His pop-time ranged from 2.11-2.19 on the day. Arm flashes average with good exchanges. Footwork can become more consistent and utilize the lower half for growth. When he starts engaging lower half his throws will became stronger.  Did a nice job receiving in the pitching portion of the day. 

+ 2020 C/3B Billy Rocha (Los Osas HS) 5-11, 185
Medium frame, wide shoulders, strong lower half and present strength. He started the day off with a laser timed 60-yard dash of 8.42 seconds. He ran a home-to-first time of 5.12 seconds. He operates from a slightly open setup, hands in ready position and a leg lift. He recorded an exit velo time of 79 MPH. Had a good two rounds of batting practice showing more up the middle and pull approach. Has a compact line drive swing, made consistent contact. Recorded a catching velo of 74 MPH and a pop-time that ranged between 2.21-2.29 on the day. Has a fringe arm but made consistent throws to the bag. Did a good job receiving the ball during the pitching portion of the day. 

+ 2021 C/1B Ethan Felix (Redondo Union HS) 6-1, 175
Tall, slender frame with wiry strength. Started the day off with a laser time 60-yard dash of 7.41 seconds and a home-to-first time of 4.69 seconds. Operates from a straight up setup, hands in ready position and a small toe tap. He recorded an exit velo of 82 MPH. Has a short compact swing, where he flashed an up-the-middle and opposite field approach; makes consistent contact. Will dip back shoulder for slight upper-cut flashing some pop in the future. Felix then went on to the catching potion where his catching velo was 74 MPH. His pop-time range from 2.11-2.30. He has average arm strength and made accurate throws to the bag. Has a longer throwing motion, has quick hands and footwork was proper. He showed athleticism behind the plate and carried through the ball. During the pitching portion he framed the ball well and also blocked the ball showing some athleticism behind the plate. 

+ 2020 C/1B Owen Cain (Rancho Cucamonga) 6-0, 165.
Lean frame, athletic, wiry strength and physical projection. He started the day off running a lase timed 60-yard dash 7.33 and registered a home-to-first time of 4.58. He operates from a straight up setup with a longer load. He then went on to the hitting portion where he registered an 86 MPH exit velo, tying for the top exit velo among catchers. Did a good job spraying the ball around the field and driving the ball to all fields. He has a line drive swing, with quick and good bat speed. Behind the plate he recorded a catching velo 76 MPH and his pop-time ranged from 2.01-2.06. He flashes a strong arm behind the plate, making accurate throws. Had clean exchanges, good footwork and mechanics were on point. Did a nice job during the pitching portion framing the ball, blocking and also should some athleticism.

+ 2021 C/SS Garrett Teunissen (Hillcrest HS) 5-8,150
Medium frame, long limbs and wiry strength. He started the day off with a laser time 60-yard dash of 7.55 and a home to first time of 4.43 seconds. Operates from slightly open setup, puts weight on back leg and slight leg lift; recorded an exit velo of 82 MPH. He had two good rounds of batting practice where he flashed more up the middle and pull approach; flashes some feel for the barrel to go the other way. Showed quick hands at the plate able to turn on pitches with a compact line drive swing making consistent contact. Behind the plate he recorded a catching velo of 76 MPH and his pop-time was from 2.01-2.07 on the day. He had a strong arm and throws had carry. He shows quick hands, clean exchanges and had a strong lower half. Did a solid job during the pitching portion framing the ball and blocked well. 

+ 2021 C/2B Kody Davis (Jurupa Hills Hs) 5 -foot-10, 152
Medium frame, young body and wiry strength. He started the day off with a lase timed 60-yard dash of 7.61 and a home-to-first time of 4.94 seconds. He operates from an open set-up and his leg glides. Then then went onto the hitting portion and recorded an exit velo of 77 MPH.  During two rounds of batting practice flashed up the middle and opposite field approach on the day. Didn’t flash much power, might add more if he engages his lower half. Then went onto the catching portion where he recorded a catching velo 72 MPH. Arm was accurate and can continue to strengthen arm to stick behind plate. His hands were okay, slower exchanges and footwork was good. His pop-time range from 2.29-2.36

+ 2023 C/OF Tanner Radine (Foothill HS) 5-8, 145
Medium frame, young body. He started the day off with a laser timed 60-yard dash of 7.56 and a home-to-first tome of 4.62 seconds. He then went onto the hitting portion where he recorded a exit velo of 70 MPH. He operates from an open stance and a toe tap for timing. Hands are longer as he stuck to oppo/middle of the field for BP. Defensively he recorded a catching velo of 65 MPH and a pop time of 2.24-2.38. His arm will get stronger as he is young. Fairly accurate throws to the bag with footwork having room for improvement. I really like Radine because in the catching portion he didn’t cheat he was not just going through the motion and giving us accurate reads.

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