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Preseason I.D. - Gurnee: Catcher Analysis

March 31, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Gurnee Preseason ID showcase took place on Sunday, February 21st at the Bat Speed Academy in Gurnee, IL. Today we start the analysis from the event with the catchers.

Let’s take a look at the catching prospects from the event.

TOP CATCHERS

1. Victor Perez, C, Warren HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, hitterish look in the box, athletic setup with fluid rhythm throughout; Short, level bat path, line-drive approach; 89 mph exit velocity off of a tee. Smooth pre-pitch load, short stride and good balance through contact. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top slot, with some effort in his throws; 71 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.18-2.26. Also, ran a 4.51 home-to-first.

2. Alexander Gamache, C, Lake Forest Academy, 2017
5-foot-10, 197-pound, muscle-bound, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, fluid rhythm, present bat speed and strength through contact; 98 mph exit velocity. Good approach, gap-to-gap type hitter and long uphill bat path. Balanced setup, smooth pre-pitch load, short stride and good balance through contact. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top release, some effort in his throws; clocked at 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.12.-2.25. 4.43 home-to-first.

3. Cal Poremba, C, Warren HS, 2017
6-foot, 180-pound, athletically built, left-handed hitting catcher. Ran a 4.38 home-to-first. Offensively, flashed bat speed and an uphill bat path through the hitting zone; 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Open setup, deep pre-pitch load and leg-lift timing trigger. Defensively, quick release from the crouch, short arm action; clocked at 70 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.08-2.17.

4. Sam DeLuca, C, Warren HS, 2018
5-foot-8, 145-pound catcher. Offensively, left-handed hitter and flashed bat speed. Level bat path, gets extension through the baseball at times; line-drive approach and good balance through contact; 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, stays in-line on his throws, accurate, long arm action, ¾ slot; 72 mph from the crouch.  Athletic block and has some bounce behind the dish. Pop times ranged from 2.20-2.26.

5. Quentin Wallace, C, Hinsdale Central HS, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, level bat path, getting extension through contact at times; 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Balanced setup, smooth pre-pitch load and good balance. Defensively flashed solid arm strength from the crouch, 74 mph; short arm action, over-the-top slot. Pop times ranged between 2.08-2.19. Would benefit with improved direction during his transfer. Also, ran a 4.83 home-to-first.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Joshua Bleichman, C, Buffalo Grove HS, 2019
5-foot-11, 240-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, no load and a short open stride. Long bat path; 77 mph exit velocity. Defensively behind the plate, short, over-the-top arm action, falls off toward third base; clocked at 68 mph. Pop times 2.36-2.44. Also, ran a 5.40 home-to-first.

Jacob Curley, C, Wilmot Union (WI), 2017
5-foot-10, 185-pound solid lower-half, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, long stride, and uphill bat path through the hitting zone; 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, short arm swing, ¾ slot and clocked at 63 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.35-2.61. Also, ran a 5.32 home-to-first.

Kyle Grawe, C, Carmel Catholic HS, 2019
5-foot-7, 130-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, open setup position, hands load pre-pitch and big leg-kick timing trigger. Long bat path through the hitting zone; 77 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, short arm action from a ¾ slot; clocked at 67 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.22-2.37. Also, ran a 5.19 home-to-first.

Brandon Houtz, C, Warren HS, 2019
6-foot, 146-pound, long-limbed, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, flashed rhythm in his swing; balanced setup, leg-kick timing trigger, uphill bat path and above-average balance. 76 mph exit velocity. Defensively, over-the-top slot on his throws; clocked at 66 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.31-2.44.

Kyle Ives, C, Cary Grove HS, 2018
5-foot-10, 175-pound, well-proportioned, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, flashed a level bat path through the hitting zone at times. Starts from a crouched/hunched setup position, no load, short stride and average balance through contact; 79 mph exit velocity. Defensively, prototypical catchers arm action; short and from an over-the-top slot. Clocked at 71 mph out of the crouch and pop times ranged between 2.26-2.30. Also, 4.37 runner, home-to-first.

JR Johnson, C, Antioch HS, 2018
5-foot-11, 140-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Ran a 4.33 home-to-first. Offensively, starts from a balanced setup position, hands load pre-pitch, and a short stride. Uphill bat path, finishes on his backside; 85 mph exit velocity. Defensively, comes out of the crouch quickly, short arm action, over-the-top slot; ball comes out by his ear; 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.08-2.19.

Anthony Lelli, C, South Elgin HS, 2017
5-foot-9, 160-pound switch-hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced, narrow setup from both sides, slightly closed from the left. No load and tendency to dive forward during stride. Uphill bat path from the left-side of the plate. Registered an 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively, gets out of the crouch cleanly, long arm action from an over-the-top slot; 72 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.14-2.19. Also, ran a 4.54 home-to-first.

Matt Marczyk, C, Dundee Crown HS, 2017
5-foot-8, 185-pound, solid lower-half, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup position, lower-half load and average balance through contact. Registered an exit velocity of 73 mph from a tee. Defensively, long arm action, ¾ slot and clocked at 61 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.54-2.62. Also, ran a 4.87 home-to-first.  

Brian Mohry, C, Warren HS, 2019
5-foot-10, 158-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Registered an impressive exit velocity for a freshman; 85 mph. Ran a 4.42 home-to-first. Offensively, open setup position, drops hands during his load, short stride, occasionally toe-taps; Uphill bat path through the zone and average balance. Defensively, short arm from a ¾ slot, throws stay on-line; clocked at 72 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.25-2.29.

Jonathan Montalvo, C/INF, St. Patrick HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 215-pound, wide-shouldered, right-handed hitter. Worked out at third base and catcher. Offensively, registered a 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Balanced setup, smooth pre-pitch load, heel-lift toe tap stride, uphill bat path and average balance through contact. Defensively, on the infield, steady hands, flashed quick feet and a clean exchange. Short, loose arm action, some accuracy and clocked at 78 mph across the diamond. Also, worked out behind the plate; 74 mph from the crouch and pop times ranged between 2.15-2.25. Also, ran a 5.08 home-to-first.

Trevor Niedzwiecki, C/RHP, Lake Zurich HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 170-pound, lanky, two-way prospect. Looks to project out best on the mound. The right-handed pitcher flashed fluid rhythm, repeats his delivery and throws three pitches for a strike. Clean, quick arm action, over-the-top slot; stays in-line, square landing, and athletic finish. Fastball, works mostly straight, slight cutting action at times and clocked at 79-81 mph, touching 82. Curveball had feel, 12/6 downer action, 66-68 mph. Changeup, maintains good arm speed, straight action and sat 73-75 mph. Offensively, balanced setup, drifts to his front-side, gets his lower half involved and uphill bat path; 86 mph exit velocity. Defensively, behind the plate, clean exchange, comes out of the crouch athletically on throws; stays on-line, short arm action, over-the-top slot and clocked at 74 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.12.-2.16. Also ran a 4.50 home-to-first.

Parker Reinhard, 3B/C, Warren HS, 2017
6-foot-3, 215-pound multi-positional right-handed hitter. Offensively, flashed a quick bat and some pull power; 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Fluid rhythm, open tall setup and a controlled leg-lift timing trigger. Defensively, on the infield, steady hands and fields athletically out in front of his body. Short arm action, ¾ slot and clocked at 71 mph across the diamond. Also, worked out behind the dish; short arm action, over-the-top and clocked at 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times, 2.16-2.32. Also, ran a 4.72 home-to-first.

Mason Schaller, C, Mundelein HS, 2018
5-foot-8, 140-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Ran 4.00 home-to-first, above-average for a sophomore. Offensively, simple approach and loose hands through the baseball; flashed fluid rhythm, short, level bat path and good balance. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Behind the plate, flexible and quick feet; Long arm swing, high ¾ slot and 75 mph from the crouch; pop times ranged from 2.11-2.19.

Jake Wenz, C, Neuqua Valley HS, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound, long-limbed, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, made some hard contact during his round of batting practice. Wide, balanced setup position, lower-half loads, heel-lift load and good balance; uphill bat path and gets extension through contact. 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively, flashed a quick, clean release, with easy effort behind the plate. Short arm action, over-the-top slot; 70 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.03-2.11. Also, ran a 4.82 home-to-first.

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