By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

The spring season is underway and our analysis of the Milwaukee Preseason I.D. kicks off with the catching prospects. Throughout the week we will be breaking down each position with complete scouting reports of players from the event. For our breakdown of catchers we look at the top backstops in each graduating class, starting with the juniors.

Here’s a look at the top catching prospects:

Top 2017 Catching Prospects

1. Kyle Hammitt, C, Muskego, 2017
5-foot-11, 170-pound catcher, carries some strength. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, slightly open stance, short stride, gets it down early, rhythmic hitter. Smooth loading action, path is level through contact, good path to the baseball. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted solid pop times at 2.00-2.04, gets out of the crouch efficiently. Arm plays at 79 mph from the crouch, lower slot than a typical catcher, solid agility behind the dish. Good athlete, 7.08 runner, well-above average for his position.

2. Ryan Zizzo, C, Muskego, 2017
Lean athletic body, 6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively showed solid actions, gets out of the crouch well. Posted pop times at 2.01-2.08. Arm plays short and over the top, 77 mph out of the crouch. Solid overall defender. Offensively hits from a tall open stance, short stride to even, lower half works, average balance. Occasionally lifts the baseball, uphill plane, loose hands, showed bat speed, fluid hitter. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran a 7.31 in the 60.

3. Jack Kraus, C/RHP, Neenah, 2017
6-foot-1, 215-pound two-way prospect, large strong build. Right-handed hitter, wide setup, short stride, loads weight transfer back, solid balance. Bat strength hitter, some effort, fast bat flashed pop, 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short and over the top, 76 mph, clean exchange, showed quick feet, got out of the crouch well. 7.64 runner in the 60. Pop times ranged 2.12-2.19. Flashed arm strength on the mound, tall and fall delivery works directionally. Long arm action, over the top slot. Fastball touched 86 mph, sat 81-84 mph, created downhill tilt. Curveball played at 69-73 mph. Changeup saw decelerated actions, 72-76 mph.

4. Rusty Murphy, C, Cudahy, 2017
6-foot-2, 200-pound catcher, solid frame, shows athleticism. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Above average bat speed, path has slight uphill plane, occasional effort. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, slight carry, 78 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.12-2.15, showed quick actions out of the chute. 7.34 runner in the 60.

5. Sam Devorkin, C, Grafton, 2017
Strong build, 5-foot-9, 180-pound catcher, durable physical make up to handle the position, profiles as an offensive catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Line drive gap-to-gap hitter, showed bat strength with a fast bat, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays over the top, muscled arm action, 73 mph out of the crouch. Average hands, showed an ability to block, 2.22-2.32 pop times. Above average runner for his position, 7.21 in the 60.

Top 2018 Catching Prospects

1. Jacob Campbell, C, Janesville Craig, 2018
5-foot-11, 190-pound catcher, physically advanced, strong build, high level catching prospect. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, good balance. Well-above average bat speed, short path, hard contact, strong bat, 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Gap to gap type hitter. Defensively arm plays short and over the top, typical catchers arm action, highly accurate with carry, 81 mph out of the crouch. Showed soft hands receiving, athletic receiver, can get out of crouch well, active feet. 7.17 runner in the 60. Posted pop times at 1.94-2.05. High follow 2018 catching prospect.

2. Ian Drays, C, Jefferson, 2018
5-foot-11, 200-pound right-handed hitting catcher, advanced physical strength, profiles as an offensive minded catcher with pop. Balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Fast aggressive bat, attacks the baseball, hard loud contact in BP, some effort. 97 mph exit velocity from the tee, physical hitter. Defensively exchange is clean, solid direction, footwork is mechanically sound. Pop times posted at 2.04-2.11. Arm action is short and over the top, 76 mph arm strength from the crouch. 7.59 runner in the 60.

3. Ben Cameron, C, Waukesha West, 2018
5-foot-10, 190-pound catcher, strong body, durable catchers frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, lower half can get more involved, solid balance. Showed bat strength, path stays on top of the baseball, line drive gap-to-gap hitter, good approach with fast bat. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed good actions out of the crouch, exchange and feet work together, softer hands. 2.12-2.16 pop times. Arm played over the top at 73 mph. Ran the 60 at 7.41, laser timed.

4. Stevie Diderrich, C/2B, Oconomowoc, 2018
5-foot-7, 150-pound multi-positional player, athletic shape and actions. Defensively showed athletic actions both on the infield and behind the plate. On the infield showed soft hands, ability to play through the baseball, good infield actions suitable for second base. Arm flashed carry, 79 mph across the diamond, 74 mph out of the crouch. Also showed soft hands receiving the baseball behind the plate, quick exchange. Posted 2.01-2.12 pop times. Ran a 7.71 in the 60. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Aggressive swing, fast bat, line drive contact, 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.

5. Alessandro Kulutbanis, C, Homestead, 2018
5-foot-11, 177-pound catcher, solid strong build, durable catcher’s make up. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, loads hands back, leg kick stride. Good bat strength, power type bat with pull side contact. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, over the top slot, 73 mph out of the crouch. Solid actions, showed agility blocking the baseball. Pop times ranged 2.15-2.26 out of the crouch. 7.73 runner in the 60.

Top 2019 Catching Prospects

1. Jake Goodman, C, Nicolet, 2019
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher, strong build, good projectable catcher’s body. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride gets back to even, can get more out of lower half, solid balance. Fast bat, well above average for his age, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Path is short to the baseball gets extension and produced hard contact. Strong hitter with pop, highly projectable bat. Above average runner, 7.26 in the 60. Defensively arm played at 72 mph out of the crouch, short over the top slot, efficient release. Athletic defender, good direction, pop times registered at 2.18-2.29.

2. Luke Hansel, C, Union Grove, 2019
5-foot-9, 160-pound catcher, long legs, strong build. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride back to even, average balance. Short path, stayed on top, line drive type hitter, above average bat speed, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Upside with the bat. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, accurate arm, 73 mph out of the crouch. 2.11-2.19 pop times out of the crouch. Showed softer hands, good ability to receive the baseball, solid block and agile out of the crouch. On the mound delivery is athletic and repeatable, easy effort. Quick arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 79-80 mph, touched 81 mph, good feel and ability to control the zone. Curveball is 12/6 action, showed feel for the zone, 71-73 mph, thrown aggressively, high upside. Changeup flashed sink, good feel, 71-74 mph. High follow 2019.

3. Kameron Laskowski, C, Hamilton, 2019
5-foot-8, 150-pound catcher, average lean frame, young build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, loads hands back, slight arm bar. Loose hands, good feel at the plate for his age, well-above average approach. Path works well, short to the baseball, line drive approach, fast bat, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, 69 mph out of the crouch. Shows some athleticism out of the crouch, some misdirection, pop times are 2.18-2.26. 7.22 runner, good runner for his position and age.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Zach Braun, C/RHP, Hartford Union, 2018
5-foot-7, 155-pound two-way player, average body type. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, linear lower half. Occasionally gets on front foot, average bat speed, long path. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, some accuracy, 70 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.26-2.34. Tall and fall delivery, down tempo, slightly closed landing. Long arm action, over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 73-75 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 63-64 mph. Changeup is down, some sink, 66-69 mph.

Chase Davis, OF/C, Milton, 2017
5-foot-11, 165-pound outfielder/catcher, athletically strong build. Well above-average runner, 6.93 laser timed in the 60. Left-handed hitter, slightly tall setup, balanced stance, quick leg kick trigger, average balance. Athletic type swing, flat path, some length, occasional pull side approach. 95 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays over the top, short arm action, 78 mph from the outfield, 72 mph out of the crouch. Profiles best in the outfield, showed some fluid actions. Pop times ranged 2.16-2.33 out of the crouch.

Brayden Elliot, C/OF, Nicolet, 2017
6-foot-1, 185-pound catcher, solid, above average frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, toe tap stride, rigid lower half. Showed average bat speed for his age, slight uphill path, lifts some with pop, 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.64 runner in the 60. Defensively arm played at 75 mph from the outfield, 68 mph out of the crouch, short over the top arm action. Pop times registered at 2.33-2.44.

Hunter Fredrick, C, Muskego, 2019
5-foot-6, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Balanced stance, short leg lift stride. Bat path works slightly uphill, lifting contact, 72 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 57 mph out of the crouch. Posted pop times at 2.68-2.79. Ran the 60 at 8.90.

Arthur Harmon, C/OF, Germnantown, 2016
Strong bodied, 5-foot-8, 185-pound catcher/outfielder. Solid runner, 7.12 in the 60, laser timed. Defensively showed some arm strength from the outfield, 84 mph, short over the top slot, similar arm action out of the crouch, played at 74 mph behind the dish. Posted pop times at 2.10-2.12. Offensively hits from an open stance, quick trigger, leg kick stride, average balance. Path is level, some pull side contact, muscled swing. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Caleb Horvath, SS/C/RHP, Grafton, 2017
5-foot-4, 125-pound multi-positional player. Offensively hits from an open stance, short stride, average balance. Line drive type hitter, average bat speed, 72 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed best projection on the infield, flashed proper actions. Arm played at 75 mph across the diamond, 71 mph out of the crouch. Posted pop times at 2.19-2.29. Ran a 7.64 in the 60. Balanced, tall and fall delivery on the mound, little effort, upright finish. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 71-73 mph, touched 74 mph. Curveball played on 11/5 plane, occasional 12/6, 64-66 mph. Changeup is 67-69 mph.

Colin Kalinowski, C, Oak Creek, 2019
5-foot-9, 155-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Balanced stance, stride dives to hit, average balance. Path works slightly uphill, flashed pull side pop, average bat speed. Dive/pull type approach, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, 70 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.19-2.30, can stay lower out of the chute. Quiet setup, average receiver. 7.72 runner in the 60.

Brodie Klukas, C, Janesville Parker, 2018
6-foot-1, 175-pound catcher, solid strong build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, good balance. Path stays on top of the baseball, ability to repeat, average bat speed. Hard pull side contact, 72 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 72 mph arm strength. Footwork can improve out of the chute, pop times ranged 2.25-2.32.

Matt Miller, C, Sussex Hamilton, 2018
Lean loose frame, 5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher, projectable frame. Defensively showed well above average catching actions, hands proved to be soft, sets up well, quiet receiver. Arm played short and over the top, 73 mph out of the crouch. Pop times at 2.19-2.25, good transfer, fundamentally sound out of the chute, pop times will improve with arm strength. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good load. Showed loose hands, above average bat speed, line drive type hitter. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran a 7.97 in the 60.

Tyrese Mitchell, C/3B, Riverside University, 2017
5-foot-9, 180-pound catcher/third baseman, average body type. Right-handed hitter, open stance, slight leg lift stride, average balance. Long path, uphill plane, moving parts, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 71 mph across the infield and 72 mph out of the crouch, short over the top arm action. Pop times posted at 2.19-2.38. Ran a 7.47 in the 60.

Carson Radtke, C/OF, Arrowhead, 2018
5-foot-10, 190-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, lacked lower half involvement. Average bat speed, uphill path, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, 70 mph out of the crouch, 77 mph from the outfield. Ran a 7.44 in the 60. Pop times posted at 2.25-2.32.