Prep Baseball Report

N. California Preseason All-State: Catchers Analysis


Ryan Ozella
N. California Area Scout

STOCKTON, CA - Today we take a look at the catchers from the Northern California Preseason All-State event, held at San Joaquin Delta College on Sunday, January 27th. We will cover outfielders and infielders in other features and have already posted a Quick Hits on some standouts from the event. Additionally, Player stats and Pitchers are also available for review.

NOTE: Following this piece will be THE FIVE, featuring five additional standout catchers. Players are listed in no particular order. Be sure to click on the player profile for full video from this event and additional notes from other viewings. Position listed is the primary position players have listed in their profiles.

(Players can create a free PBR profile here)

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - N. California Preseason All-State

Long, lean build showing young muscle with high waist and length in arms and legs on medium frame; projectable frame with athletic ability. Runs well with some quickness in the first step showing average stride length (7.22 60-yd). Showed quick transitions from the glove with snap throws from a compact arm that projects to keep improving in future (1.94-2.02 pop; 73 MPH); athleticism in the body allows for the ability to get to knees quickly keeping the ball in front of him. Offensively works with a balanced stance keeping hands high with flared elbows and slight wiggle of hands; slight foot lift loading into back hip as hands turn the barrel to pitcher. Short, quick barrel with the ability to control bat head finishing high around ears; ability to create leverage on the ball flashing power to both gaps (81 exit velo).

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State - Long, medium frame that projects a larger frame once fully developed; length in limbs and plenty of projectable space to keep adding to frame. Heavier feet, moving decently for his size (7.89 60-yd). Sets slightly turned behind the plate with ability to move ball to throwing hand quickly in exchange; body was soft when blocking keeping himself in a good position for recovery. Compact arm that kept the ball on the bag showing projectable strength in the arm (2.02-2.15 pop, 71 MPH). Wide, slightly crouch and balanced stance at the plate with high back elbow/high hands; slight load with toe tap timing. Bat works on slight uphill with quickness into the zone and ability to drive the back hip (81 exit velo); flashed pull side gap power with line drives into the gap especially when getting full body turn.

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State - Very long and young medium frame; Flexible and skinny with very high waist and lots of space for added room on frame. Heavy feet should improve as he matures (8.63 60-yd). Wide base behind the plate with bow and arrow throws from higher release; arm strength is present and can continue to utilize lower half for more strength/quickness in throws (2.25-2.35 pop, 67 MPH). Wider, balanced stance showing good posture with high back elbow/high hands; rocks into back hip as hands have slight move into back shoulder. Bat works on upward path with pullside focus; flashes of quickness and leverage with projectable power as he matures (72 exit velo).

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State - Medium frame showing barreled chest with proportions through lower half; legs get moving underway and shows some make up speed in straight line run (7.97 60-yd). Narrow, slightly turned stance behind plate showing quick transition from glove to hand; arm is average with ability to keep ball on the bag showing high elbow before release (74 MPH). Balanced stance with high hands/back elbow and high front shoulder; hands work deep into shoulder and start to slot early with slight foot lift/tuck. Bat works on upward path and swings with authority; pull side focus showing flashes of more pop and ability to get bat head quickly through the zone (88 exit velo).

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State - Long, Medium frame with high waist and tight muscles in upper half showing projectability in frame for more growth; runs high with average stride length (7.69 60-yd). Narrow set up showing higher posture with athleticism to get out of stance and into legs; smooth transition from glove to throw hand and quick release. Times where upper/lower half are working out of sync and small adjustments will help lower pop times (2.11-2.26 pop, 71 MPH). Narrow stance with high back elbow and even hands; big leg lift with ability to sink into lower half as hands pull back/down in load. Bat is quick flashing pull side drive and more into the gaps when bat finishes on a slightly upward path; projectable swing with full body turns (86 exit velo).

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State - Long, Large frame showing very lean, young body type and squared shoulders; lots of space and projectability with frame for more growth. Feet move quickly with shorter stride length (7.50 60-yd). High, slightly turned stance with agility in hands/feet moving well for length in body; high release with growing arm strength that can be focus as he matures (2.12-2.38 pop, 66 MPH). Balanced stance with tall posture and high back elbow; slight lift/tuck of front knee as hands show slight load back with balance throughout swing including limited head movement. Level swing with long levers working in time and showing strong rotations; hands stay inside with flashes of quickness and ability to spray ball through middle of the field (86 exit velo).

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State  - Narrow, long, large frame showing wider chest and strength growing in lower half; projectable frame and athleticism in body showing strong stride length (7.41 60-yd). Very energetic player who continues to improve and impress while competing on the diamond. Balanced and agile behind the plate showing quick transition with light feet showing strength in footwork; quick to ear with arm and compact release keeping ball on the arm side of the bag (2.00-2.12 pop, 71 MPH). Slightly crouched, balanced stance with even hands, relaxed elbows and high bat; hands stay tight while working back with front knee lift keeping balance in back hip. Stays behind the baseball working bat on level path with slight upwards finish; ability to drive ball gap-to-gap flashing barrel control and growing pop (81 exit velo). Really nice swing that projects more once getting to maturity.

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State - Medium frame with strength and length in lower half showing high waist and good thickness; legs have some scissor action sapping some speed (8.06 60-yd). Wide, low stance showing quickness in his feet and ability to smother pitches in the dirt; arm works from lower slot with quickness almost slinging the ball to 2nd base. Can work to stay on top of the ball a bit and cut some of the armside run (2.04-2.11 pop, 74 MPH). Narrow, tall stance with strong posture and high hands/high back elbow; hands work down and back as front leg lifts creating strong separation between upper and lower half. Works from behind the baseball as bat works with leverage to the pull side of the feel; easy controlled swing with quickness into hitting zone and future power available (84 exit velo)

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State - Medium frame with sloping shoulders on wide chest and high waist; athletic lower half with some quickness and strong stride length (7.28 60-yd). Low, balanced target using athleticism in lower half to pop up and gain ground to 2nd base; arm has flashes of average with high elbow and is compact with quick release (2.04-2.16 pop, 73 MPH). Wider, balanced stance with slight bend in the knees and even hands keeping bat straight up with high back elbow; loads body deep into back side with front leg lift and hands starting to pull back slotting early and flattening out the bat. Level swing with slight upward path showing late quickness through the zone and ability to drive ball gap-to-gap; bat was very loud with some future pull pop projection (88 exit velo) as he learns to turn through the zone.

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State - Large, wide frame with present strength and length in lower half; big, physical kid with some baby weight and lots of projectability in the frame (8.53 60-yd). Big, wide target and flashes athleticism behind the plate with turn and transfer to throwing hand; arm is strong showing high back elbow with slight recoil on throws (2.24-2.30 pop, 76 MPH). Glove hands shows strength with ability to stick pitches and slight movements back into zone on offspeed pitches; projectable skills that can continue to improve over next seasons. Slightly opened, balanced stance with knees turned towards each other showing strong posture and high back elbow; weight stays in back side on front foot lift with hands working back into shoulder. Controlled, aggressive swings staying behind the ball well with excellent extension out in front of plate and through the baseball; bat has easy loft and very easy to project big power as he regularly drove gaps and flashed pullside pop currently (83 exit velo). Raw skills currently and if he can improve his overall athleticism, could make big jumps quickly.

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State  - Full XL frame with current strength and long arms/legs and wide chest; agile with athleticism in frame and ability to get long legs moving quickly (7.59 60-yd). Consistently shows projectable skills with strong mesurables in very big and athletic frame that still hasn’t reached full maturity. Wide target with quickness in transition and ability to use long legs to gain ground while being under control; arm is compact and has a quick release regularly able to keep the ball on the arm side of the bag (1.98-2.08 pop, 74 MPH). Very soft glove hand and ability to be athletic behind the plate with quickness to block and recover. Slight crouch with wide, even hands and flared elbows; big knee tuck keeps him behind the baseball as hands stay in place during load. Quick and easy turns allowing bat to get on plane and showing loft with flashes of big, future power; loud bat has quickness and regularly does damage driving balls deep into gaps (92 exit velo).

Scouting Report

1/27/19 - PBR N CA Preseason All-State - Medium frame with present strength in upper half showing wide shoulder and squared up chest; very athletic build with thin waist and strong quads showing good running form (7.18 60-yd). Wide stance behind the plate with two-hand catch and throw mechanics; arm has some length in actions but is strong showing a quick release. Pop times should go down with some minor adjustments in his footwork and speeding up the arm (2.18-2.26 pop, 77 MPH). Narrow stance when receiving with smooth glove hand able to stick pitches. Slightly crouched, balanced stance with weight in back foot and hands deep in the back shoulder; rocks back with quiet front foot as hands have slight lift. Bat works on uphill path showing quickness and creating easy lift; bat has some whip through the zone and can create easy gap power to his pull side (88 exit velo).

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Super 60 Pro Showcase NATIONAL 02/03 The Max
Solano-Sac Junior Future Games Trials CA 02/24 Vacaville Christian HS
SoCal Junior Future Games Trials CA 03/09 O'Malley Field - Harvard Westlake
East Bay Junior Future Games Trials CA 03/24 Athenian School
North Bay Junior Future Games Trials CA 04/28 Clyde P. Smith Field - Cardinal Newman HS
Northern California Future Games Trials CA 05/26 Islanders Field
Orange County Futures Games Trials CA 06/08 Hart Park - Orange CA



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