NorCal Rising Stars Showcase: Catchers
December 16, 2020
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ISLANDERS FIELD (LATHROP), CA. - The inaugural Northern California Rising Stars Showcase had 35 players take part in as players were put through traditional workout that included the 60-yard sprint, a round of batting practice, defensive workouts at respective positions (multiple spots for a few players), and concluded with main diamond mound bullpen sessions where the pitchers' stats were compiled.
Note: All showcase videos have been added to player profiles. We will post reports by position as the week moves along (corner INFs, outfielders, MIFs, 2023/2024 pitchers, 2025 pitchers). The players listed here are ordered by their peak throwing velocity, followed by their EV if their throwing mph was the same.
CLICK FOR SORTABLE PLAYER STATISTICS INCLUDING TRACKMAN AND BLAST MOTION DATA
Kalen Clemmens, Casa Grande (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF/3B
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Athletic build, well-proportioned, strength in core/thighs, broad upper body.
Hit: RHH. Wider feet, balanced with slight knee bend, relaxed arms, on plate, small quiet hand load, small stride. Flat plane, mature BP session working middle of field w/line drive approach, accelerates hands easily, consistent barrel contact, tools for line to line power, lower half can engage earlier; 11.3 max rotational acceleration, 70% on plane efficiency.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. 20.6 max hand speed, 66.9 max bat speed.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. OF - 80 mph. At C showed short quick arm action, efficient exchange, throws carried with pace and repeatedly on the bag; in OF aggressive release, came out of hand well, short arm action, flashed on/near bag accuracy with some tailing action.
Defense: 2.17-2.19 pop times. Strong soft hands at C, can stick it where caught on both sides of body, quiet actions, able to get out of crouch quickly, arm side set up a bit open and has block willingness/ability with some needed technique adjustments with outside shoulder; in OF charged aggressively, got to throws quickly w/crow hop, can create better angles on way to ball.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60.
Andrew Witt, Garces Memorial (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/C
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds. Lean wiry strong build, fairly projectable frame for size and strength gains.
Hit: RHH. Wide feet, early weight shift to backside, pinched knees, engaged early, high hands, gliding stride, closes off stride from slightly open stance, small quiet hand load. Rhythmic stroke, hips gain ground toward the pitch as back foot travels forward, aggressive uphill attack angle, swing has some life and looseness; 16.9 max rotational acceleration (11.17 avg), 77% on plane efficiency, 45.5% LDs, 54.5% fly balls.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. 20.2 max hand speed, 61.8 max bat speed.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. INF - 77 mph. Loose quick arm, smooth athletic arm stroke, had carry across diamond in INF; quick transfer behind plate, throws tailed and lacked carry.
Defense: 2.18-2.21 pop times. Light feet, sets up with body in excellent position to throw quickly and on target, plays ball on the high side, graceful INF; quick out of crouch at C, in line stride to throwing position, sits low in crouch, soft hands, athletic in actions out of crouch and side to side.
Run: 7.00 runner in the 60.
AJ Cenizal, Archbishop Mitty (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-5, 145-pounds. Smaller compact athletic body type, well-proportioned.
Hit: RHH. Open, closed back foot, pinched knees, high back elbow, high controlled knee lift out to in line stride, small controlled load getting barrel in good position. Has bat control, works inside, maintains balance throughout swing, uses hips to create life in the swing, two hand finish with strong top hand; 16 max rotational acceleration (11.48 avg), 70% on plane efficiency, 71.5% LDs/fly balls.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. 19.4 max hand speed, 64.4 max bat speed.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 71 mph. Aggressive thrower, full effort, finishes throws to bag at C position, gets air under it and easy to handle for MIFs; short quick snap throws from 3B, gets rid of it quickly and easily.
Defense: 2.21-2.36 pop times. Agile and flexible, sits deep in haunches, hands work though receives a bit deep, has energetic presence behind plate; Bouncy feet at 3B, gritty, soft hands, quick first step and decisive actions, plays low and below the ball, concentrates through the finish of the play.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60.
Fernando Oseguera, Los Altos (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/C
Body: 5-8, 155-pounds. Avg athletic body type, can see slight size/strength gains since last look in July.
Hit: RHH. Quiet set up, balanced, starts with narrow feet, slightly open, smooth medium stride, quiet hand load. Stays stacked, has rhythm, feel for barrel, repeated swing consistently, flat plane, line drive hitter, swing projects well with future strength gains;14.2 rotational acceleration (10.61 avg), 76% on plane efficiency.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. 19.3 max hand speed, 62.3 max bat speed.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. INF - 71 mph. Compact with goalpost type arm action, smooth arm, somewhat careful thrower, minimal carry at SS position; takes time at C focused on accuracy, similar smooth and somewhat holding back, flashed ability to be on the bag.
Defense: 2.26-2.42 pop times. Soft hands, fields ball out front off his body, understands angles, first step gets him in good position, fair range, solid mechanics; at C has sound mechanics, not the quickest actions but efficient, got outside shoulder around BIDs, comes out of crouch in position to get off his best throws, soft receive hands, shifts side to side well.
Run: 7.89 runner in the 60.
Zach Wong, Dublin (CA), 2025
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-6, 130-pounds. Average build, well-proportioned.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, comfortable relaxed bat set up, slight crouch, quiet hands with small load, small stride. Short to ball, balanced swing, line drive swing plane, can spray around, has barrel control, one hand finish; 20.9 max rotational acceleration (15.74 avg), 79% on plane efficiency, 60% LDs/fly balls.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. 19.4 max hand speed.
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. INF - 72 mph. Short C arm action, slings it, some tail on throws but finished well and was around bag; 3/4 slot, got underway pretty quickly, carried to bag, solid throwing mechanics are present as arm strength develops.
Defense: 2.21-2.26 pop times. Sets up a bit high at C, bit of a narrow feet set up, stuck pitches quietly, quiet actions; Decisive actions/decisions on angles, small efficient footwork, sets up to get off timely throws with all he can get on them, fielded cleanly.
Run: 8.15 runner in the 60.
Ian Lewis, Prospect (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-5, 180-pounds. Stout and thicker body type.
Hit: RHH. Medium width feet, taller set up, relaxed bat early in set up, off the plate and deep in box, high controlled knee lift, gets barrel vertical before triggering swing, medium in line stride. Loose swing, hits from ground up, maintains balance, has barrel feel, adjustable to different locations, has some hitterish presence; 12.7 rotational acceleration (10.59 avg), 61% on plane efficiency, 33.3% LDs, 66.7% fly balls.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. 18.6 max hand speed.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph. INF - 65 mph. Behind plate showed fairly quick transfer, throws tailed, though inconsistent there were glimpses of carry; At 3B shows longer arm action with some extension on backside.
Defense: 2.24-2.43 pop times. Behind plate sets up a bit high, soft strong hands, short quick efficient footwork to get throws off, energetic, sways/shifts to pitch quietly, sticks out in front of his body; At 3B showed sense of urgency, closed well, nice first step, decisive actions, soft confident hands.
Run: 9.05 runner in the 60.
Chase Nadeau, Granda (CA), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-5, 110-pounds. Lean young body, wiry and lithe.
Hit: RHH. Medium width feet, very slightly open, slight crouch, relaxed elbows, balanced weight, small quick knee lift out to medium stride, deeper load to some lead arm bar. Creates wide base to maintain balance, aggressive uphill attack angle, two hand finish, aggressive top hand through contact to finish; 40% LDs, 30% fly balls.
Power: 69 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. 18.9 max hand speed.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph. INF - 65 mph. At C showed smooth shorter arm action, finished throws, around bag, able to get air under to create carry; Fairly compact, easy arm action from 3B, full finish on throws, high-3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.32-2.37 pop times. Replaces feet well behind plate, agile blocker, plays with energy, low set up as receiver while sitting deep in haunches; Athletic defender at 3B, quick and sure footwork, decisive first step, soft hands, confident defender.
Run: 8.64 runner in the 60.
Jordan Hsieh, Santa Teresa (CA), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-4, 120-pounds. Average build on young body, proportioned well.
Hit: RHH. Medium feet width, taller set, hands over right shoulder, pinch knee lift to gather over backside, deeper hand load, lays barrel flat prior to trigger. Flatter slashing type swing, some length on way to ball, top hand stays above ball on upper zone pitches, has feel for his swing; 12.5 max rotational acceleration, 87% on plane efficiency, 44.4% fly balls.
Power: 68 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. 17.4 max hand speed.
Arm: RH. C - 59 mph. INF - 57 mph. Sling-ish C arm action, throws tailed/sunk at bag lacking carry, still young and developing; At 3B showed longer arm strong after rhythmic patting of glove on way to release.
Defense: 2.66-2.79 pop times. Sits deep in haunches, understands glove technique as receiver on both sides of his body, strength will elevate how that plays, quick short footwork in throws to 2B, receives a bit deep into body; Plays 3B confidently, fair range for age, utilizes extra step or two to get throw off, inconsistent set up to ball.
Run: 9.46 runner in the 60.
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