Preseason All-State (2018's): Catchers Analysis

March 22, 2017

By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director

The 6th annual Preseason All-State took place on Sunday, February 19th at Grand Park in Westfield, IN. The invite-only event featured 88 players from Indiana's class of 2018.

Today we continue the analysis with the catchers in attendance.

Zyon Avery, C/3B/OF, Ben Davis HS, 2018

6-foot-2, 215 pound, big, strong frame. Offensively, hits from an open setup, smooth load, quick hands to the baseball. Takes aggressive swings with quick bat speed. Uphill swing plane, produces present power to his pull-side. Strong lower half, at times gets his backside through. Maintains balance throughout the swing. Good approach. Registered a high exit velocity of 95 mph. Behind the plate recorded pop times of 1.94-2.01. Clean transfer, quick out of the shoot. Short, quick arm action. Throws topped at 81 mph with accuracy. Sure hands behind the plate. Needs to continue to improve on his flexibility.

Luke Houin, C, Saint Joseph HS, 2018

Strong frame at 6-foot, 195 pounds. Offensively, hits from an open/athletic setup, smooth load with a slight wrap, leg kick timing trigger. Good use of his lower half, fair balance. Possesses some bat speed from a long, uphill swing path. Showcased the ability to drive the left-center gap. High exit velocity of 89 mph. Aggressive hacks during his BP round. Behind the plate registered pop times of 1.93-2.01. Throws from a high ¾ slot, topped out at 80 mph. Quick, Clean transfer. Average hands while receiving. Lacks hip flexibility.

Benjamin Berenda, C, Lafayette Central Catholic HS, 2018

6-foot, 210 pound receiver. Offensively, switch hitter, much more explosive and power potential from the left-side of the plate. Open setup, toe tap timing trigger, smooth load, quick hand speed, short-slightly uphill swing path, gets to extension. Over rotates with the lower half. Power-pull approach. Registered a high exit velocity of 90 mph. Defensively, showcased above average arm strength, short arm action with a hitch. 82 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.04-2.17; if he gets rid of the hitch expect pop times to decrease. Long, clean transfer. Receives the ball well with good blocking ability. Shows flexibility, with good feel for the position.

Stephen Karis, C, Zionsville HS, 2018

5-foot-9, 180 pounds. Offensively, athletic-balanced setup, loads back, short stride, average lower half. Maintains average balance throughout the swing. Showcased above average bat speed. Gets to extension displaying hard contact to his pull-side, uphill swing path. Fluid rhythm. Overall good approach at the plate. Registered a high exit velocity of 88 mph. Defensively produced pop times of 1.97-2.04. Short arm action with arm strength, small hitch in the arm action. throws topped out at 77 mph. Clean transfer. Quiet receiver with sure hands while receiving. Shows some flexibility.

Isaac Bair, C, Homestead HS, 2018

5-foot-11, 205 pounds. Offensively, hits from a crouch setup, leg kick timing trigger, quick bat speed, choppy rhythm. Loads back and up, partial lower half. Swing path is level to slightly uphill. Maintains balance throughout the swing. Registered a high exit velocity of 92 mph. Behind the plate recorded pop times of 1.94-2.01. Transfer is quick and clean, short arm action, soft hands while receiving, narrow setup. Throws from the crouch topped out at 79 mph.

Kyle Richardson, C, Zionsville HS, 2018

5-foot-11, 185 pounder. Offensively, simple approach. Balanced setup, loads back, short stride. Average use of the lower half. Maintains balance. Above average bat speed, gets to extension, short/level swing plane, line drive type hitter with gap to gap power potential. Fluid rhythm in the swing. Registered a high exit velocity of 88 mph. Ran a 7.21 in the laser-timed 60 yard dash. Behind the plate lacks flexibility, stiff hands while receiving, needs to become more mobile. At a previous PBR event showcased a strong arm at 79 mph with pop times between 1.90-2.02.

Derek Wagner, C, Tri-West Hendricks HS, 2018

6-foot, 200 pounds. Offensively, hits from a balanced setup. Short stride, average lower half. Showcased a short swing path, average bat speed, line drive approach. At times lacks extension, finishes the swing 1-handed. Choppy rhythm. Recorded a high exit velocity of 86 mph. Defensively, pop times ranged between 2.15-2.27. Throws topped out at 75 mph from a low arm slot, floppy arm action, head snap. Clean transfer. Shows some flexibility, solid receiving skills. Good setup.

Nick Anderson, C, Highland HS, 2018

6-foot-2, 185 pounds. Offensively, balanced setup, minimal load, short stride. Average lower half. Level swing plane, line drive type hitter, ability to get to extension. Registered a high exit velocity of 85 mph. Defensively, pop times ranged between 2.08-2.18. Transfer is clean, fluid footwork. Short, high ¾ arm action, throws topped out at 71 mph. Setup was athletic, high at times.

Tarron Lawson, C, Danville HS, 2018

Strong frame at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds. Offensively, hits from a slightly open, wide setup. Stride is short, over rotation with the lower half. Above average bat speed, uphill swing plane. Produced gap to gap type power during his BP. Registered a high exit velocity of 89 mph. Defensively, pop times ranged between 2.00-2.07, throws topped out at 79 mph, quick release. Long, low transfer. Shows average hands while receiving, needs to continue to develop flexibility behind the plate. Raw defensive tools.

Sam Eaton, C/3B, Westfield HS, 2018

6-foot-1, 175 pounds. RHH hits form an open setup, smooth back, small leg kick timing trigger. Above average bat speed, long/level-to slightly uphill swing path. Line drive type hitter with fluid rhythm. Overall good approach at the plate with an average lower half. Registered a high exit velocity of 88 mph. Defensively, low arm slot, floppy arm action, gets long at times, throws topped out at 73 from the crouch. Transfer is clean, long at times. Needs to quicken up the footwork. Produced pop times of 2.08-2.25.

Alex Mitchell, C/3B, Decatur Central HS, 2018

5-foot-10, 150 pounds. Offensively, hits from both sides of the plate. Mirrored setup from both sides. Athletic, open setup, small leg kick timing trigger. Average lower half. Smooth load, average bat speed. Appeared to have better separation and more bat speed from the right side. Line drive approach. Registered a high exit velocity of 77 mph. Defensively, quick out of the shoot, quick/clean transfer. Produced pop times of 2.01-2.15. Short arm action, quick release, throws topped out at 71 mph. Shows some athleticism with quick feet behind the plate. Above average receiver, blocks the baseball well on both sides of the plate.

Braedon Payne, 1B/C, Avon HS, 2018

6-foot-1, 215 pounds. Offensively, the RHH hits from a slightly open setup, short stride, smooth load. Partial rotation with the lower half, average balance. Above average bat speed, showed the ability to get to extension, creates lift on the baseball. Registered a high exit velocity of 90 mph. Defensively, produced pop times of 2.22-2.34. Long exchange, raw footwork. Throws topped out at 73 mph.

Hugh Pebworth, C/3B, Brebeuf HS, 2018

6-foot-3, 195 pounds. Offensively, the RHH hits out of a slight crouch setup. Smooth load, long stride, wide finish. Maintains balance. Average bat speed, uphill swing plane. Pull-side type hitter. Has some stiffness in the lower half. Registered a high exit velocity of 86 mph. Behind the plate produced pop times of 2.27-2.40. Throws topped out at 75 from the crouch.

Alec MacLennan, C/2B, Franklin HS, 2018

5-foot-8, 165 pounds. Offensively, balanced setup, loads back, short stride, average lower half, average balance. Long/level swing plane. Line drive type hitter. Registered a high exit velocity of 78 mph. Defensively, produced pop times of 2.16-2.22. Transfer is clean. Throws were accurate, topping out at 69 mph from a short arm action. Firm hands while receiving.