NorCal Preseason All-State Catchers
January 30, 2020
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Lathrop, CA: The annual NorCal Preseason All-State was our latest stop on the road to the California State Games setting up shop at Islanders Field on a cool and foggy day. The weather didn’t stop us from getting to see a large group of talented players at this premier early season showcase with those players ready to show their fall/winter development as their high school seasons are just a few weeks away. This invite only event roster saw just over 70 players in attendance.
Players were put through a customary pro-style workout that included a laser-time 60-yard sprint, a round of batting practice, defensive workouts at respective positions, and concluded with bullpen sessions for pitchers. We purposely did not include games because we didn’t want to put pitchers who aren’t ready to face live hitters in that situation.
A large majority of the players have been on our radar from previous Springs, Summers and Falls or previous PBR events. A few were attending their first ever PBR California event giving us a first look at these players in a showcase setting. No matter how many times we may have seen players, this was another great showing with many players leaving a lasting impression and quickly getting added to the spring follow list.
With so many players at the event we've begun rolling out positional breakdowns. We showcased our Quick Hits, Stats Leaders and today we focus on the Catchers from the event.
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Catchers:
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-10, 170 with added firm strength through the upper half as he’s started to mature. Wider, balanced at the dish with even hands resting bat on back shoulder; quick hand load transferring weight back before forward movement. Short-upward arc through the zone having some barrel whip and showing the ability to keep hands inside the baseball as he lifted pitches to the LCF and RCF gaps (77 EV). Quick feet out of the crouch staying directional towards 2nd and having clean transfers to keep balls on base (2.01-2.11 Pop, 75 C). Flexible between both one-knee and more upright stance showing low-target with fluid movements back when presenting. Receiving skills have consistently shown well for Elias and he’s a solid player.
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All State: Lee was a player I’d seen this Fall and he came out with a focused demeanor where he showed the ability to fit at multiple positions and the arm strength to translate to the next level. After a 7.28 60yd, Lee showed a quick bat allowing his hands to stay tight to the frame as he used his level stroke lining balls with easy carry gap-to-gap. Lee is an athletic frame and because of that showed off behind the plate and in the OF where his arm strength can carry him (79 C/87 OF MPH). From the OF the throws were firm and online to both bags with strong footwork and easy actions. Behind the plate he can keep improving his direction out of the crouch to 2nd base, but with his arm strength could make big leaps in this spot as well; throws were regularly around the bag.
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All-State: Button has been a regular over the years at PBR events and continues to show tools to be a strong hitting/receiving catcher at the next level. It’s a wider shouldered frame that continues to shape with more strength as he matures. At the plate the hands stay at the back shoulder allowing him to stay inside the baseball and allow the quick, direct hands to have the barrel follow. Button worked each of the gaps with lifted and hard line drives before finishing the round with more loft and power to the pullside. Behind the dish he showed strong footwork and the ability to get the ball out of the glove and to the bag quickly (2.11-2.20 Pop, 76 MPH); during bullpens his framing was consistent and works well with his flexible body.
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All-State: We saw Mock at the Area Code Tryouts in the Summer and the growth in his game and strength in his frame were noticeable at the event. The frame is still growing and with that said there’s still upside in the already impressive tools. At the plate the low hand, high front foot set up allows his strong wrists to drive through the baseball; he stays behind the ball well and put on a show as balls jumped off the bat through the gap and over the fence to the pullside (92 EV). During defense he showed a very quick release and great direction to second keeping throws on the bat with life (1.94-2.11 Pop, 77 MPH). Receiving was strong during bullpens and he showed his ability to beat balls to the spots when going to block.
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-10, 170 with strong chest build and space to keep filling the frame. Slightly open stance with high hands and uses a toe-tap to gather and stay behind the baseball; hands are direct to the baseball showing short parth and high finish on the full-body swing. Was able to make contact out front with a steeper bat path and backspin balls through the pull gap; times where he was on plane better and showed better carry on the liners (83 EV). Shows skills to make plays both behind the place or at 3B. 3B showed good prep and bounce with feet narrow underneath him and ability to open his hips when moving to the gloveside; showed adjustability pushing through high hop on back hand and was generally accurate on throws (77 INF). Body stacks well on pop times showing quick feet and strength in the arm as throws were regularly firm and on the bag (1.94-2.12, 76 C MPH); able to stick pitches with his strong wrist showing agility behind the plate and understanding of manipulating the zone. Solid skills and frame still projects.
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-1, 185 has added strength throughout as the frame is filling in well. Balanced, slightly squatted stance with hands tight and even; slight foot lift with hands having short load back while maintaining posture. Creates some stretch with barrel turn keeping the hands tight and working level through the zone keeping body behind the ball on firm front side; hands did cut the zone occasionally. Best swing allows him to drive the RCF gap and be able to get out front more for the LCF gap like he did during BP (83 EV). Strong prep step and footwork at 3rd being light on his feet and showing the ability to open his hips quickly; reacts to the ball and keeps high firm throws across (72 INF). Gets out of crouch well with good direction to 2nd and high hand on throws; regularly on the bag and best throws occurred when he had chest over feet more consistently (2.08-2.12, 74 C). One-knee receiver with low target; showed ability to block from the one-knee and keep it soft in front of him. Noticeable improvements in catching skills and overall athleticism. High quality kid and consistently working to improve not only himself but those around him.
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All State - After bursting onto our radars at the Top Prospects game in the Fall, Sotomayor did nothing to take away from his high ceiling during the Preseason All-State. Sotomayor has kept shaping his young frame and that has allowed him to decrease his 60 time while also improving his arm strength; the added athleticism carries over with his receiving/blocking. At the plate the even hands stay tight with quick turns allowing the barrel to adjust to locations and giving him the ability to whip the top hand through contact; the compact barrel is quick and able to drive balls through the pullside. During defense he was landing on the plate early, but made an adjustment keeping throws right on the bag for infielders to make plays. I lost count, but it seemed like he was constantly behind the plate for bullpens working hard for pitchers and using his strong glove actions to catch some of the higher velocity arms on the day. Add in his double-plus makeup and you’ve got a young player coaches are going to want to see.
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-2, 180 frame is long with strength in the shoulders; projects more mass as he matures. At the plate keeps a tall posture with hands at the back shoulder and flared back elbow; easy, quiet and simple swing with good transfer of energy and barrel speed behind him. Consistently worked the middle/pull side lifting balls through the OF and showing there’s more available as he continues to grow (87 EV). Showed positional versatility and good athleticism with skills present behind the dish and at SS. At SS, feet stay underneath him well with higher hips and ability to control his body and timing through the baseball; arm has strength and accuracy making all the throws (80 MPH). As Catcher, a little bit higher stance showing ability to pull his glove in time to his throwing hand; balls were regularly on the bag and in a spot for MIF to make a play (2.07-2.18 Pop, 77 C MPH). Overall impressive 2022 and it’s obvious he understands the game and could make more leaps in the very near future.
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-7, 160 stout lower half with squared shoulders; space to shape frame. High hands lift off the back shoulder with front foot lift staying in back hip well; hands and back hip are in time together creating upward arc of barrel. Showed ability to stay on the baseball and allow compact barrel to work both gaps with ease (84 EV). Very quick transitions behind the plate and forward direction out of crouch; can work on keeping torso back a bit to add strength in the throws (2.01-2.11, 73 C). Kept throws straight with good bounce off the grass for MIF to make plays. Soft glove when receiving to keep pitches in the zone.
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-11, 170 long torso and higher waist with some projection available. Balanced stance, somewhat closed keeping hands at bottom of back shoulder with toe lift for timing; has a slight pause between toe landing and firing of the backside giving him some adjustability. Easy swing led by the hips and having a direct hand path; compact swings keeps hands tight throughout the swing but can jam himself when trying to go pullside. Level barrel kept liners to the pullside and middle of the field (82 EV). Slightly turned stance behind the plate using compact arm swing and bigger ground gain to keep throws on the armside (2.08-2.22, 75 C). Exclusively used a one-knee set up with body turned a bit more than needed; limited glove movement and ended with good targets on presentation.
Scouting Report
NorCal Preseason All-State: Young 5-9, 145 frame is long and lean with good proportions; should add weight easily. Even hands, balanced stance at the plate utilizing a pronounced hand load deep to back shoulder; showed good drift into the baseball but could get heavy to the front side. Level bat path with direct hands staying middle full round with compact hands; consistently on time to ball (78 EV). Behind the plate was easy out of the crouch showing good direction and using a more mid-3/4 release to keep balls to his glove side; can have more quickness out of the crouch to help lower the pop time. Low to high with his target showing fluid wrist movements and quiet body; receiving skills will keep improving. 2023 to put on lists for Spring/Summer.
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| Winter Update Series powered by FBK1 | CA | 01/30 | FBK1 |
| Winter Update Series powered by Monterey Bay Pirates | CA | 01/31 | Monterey Bay Pirates Facility |
| California Far North Preseason I.D. | CA | 02/01 | Chico HS |
| Super 60 Pro Showcase | NATIONAL | 02/02 | The MAX - McCook, IL |
| Winter Update Series powered by Mike Murphy Baseball | CA | 02/08 | MMB - Walnut Creek |
| SoCal Underclass Games ID - Los Angeles | CA | 02/09 | O'Malley Family Field |
| Winter Update Series powered by EM Sports | CA | 02/10 | EM Sports - Rancho Cucamonga |
| SoCal Underclass Games (INVITE ONLY) | CA | 06/13 | Hart Park |
| SoCal ProCase | CA | 06/14 | Hart Park |
| 2020 PBR Future Games (California Invite) | CA | 07/29 | LakePoint Sports |
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Scouting Report