Preseason I.D. - McHenry: Catcher Analysis

February 21, 2017

By Illinois Scouting Staff

The second annual Prep Baseball Report Preseason I.D. - McHenry at Pro Player Academy in McHenry, IL was held on Sunday, January 29, 2017. The event, which sold out, had over 100 2017-2020 high school graduates in attendance. We began the rollout of the event a couple of weeks ago taking a look at the Quick Hits and Stat Story.

Today we continue the analysis with the catchers in attendance.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Julio Cajigas, C/OF, Romeoville, 2019
Strong stocky frame, 5-foot-9, 170-pound switch hitting catcher. Shows plus arm strength for his age, short over the top slot, carries well with accuracy, 80 mph out of the crouch, 89 mph from the outfield. Hands are soft, quick feet and exchange, plays athletically through the baseball in the outfield. Posted event best pop times at 1.94-2.08. Offensively hits from both sides of the plate. Open stance, leg lift stride back to even. Path works with uphill tendencies from both sides, showed stronger balance from the right side. Makes hard contact with aggressive swing, doubles type approach. 93 mph exit velocity from the right side, 89 mph from the left side. 4.30 runner down the line out of the left-hand box.

2. Alex Powers, C, Prairie Ridge, 2019
6-foot-1, 165-pound catcher, lanky athletic frame. Strong armed catcher, short over the top action, played accurately and with carry at 77 mph out of the crouch. Agile defender, blocks well, exchange has some length, 2.06-2.11 pop times. Right-handed hitter, wide base, short stride, good balance. Loose hands work well, works to the middle of the field, level path, line drive type, fast bat. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.60 runner down the line.

3. Brandon Bannon, C/INF, Richmond Burton, 2018
5-foot-10, 150-pound catcher/infielder, lean athletic shape, loose lively frame. Showed arm strength defensively, 76 mph out of the crouch, 82 mph across the diamond, carries well, short over the top slot, loose arm. Hands are soft, quick exchange, athleticism played well both behind the plate and on the infield. Posted one of the top pop times, 1.97-2.08. Right-handed hitter, balanced, slightly open stance, short stride. Loose hands, level path with line drive contact, showed bat speed. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.28 runner down the line.

4. Jake LaSota, C, Marengo, 2018
5-foot-10, 185-pound catcher, strong wide shouldered body type. Defensively showed a quick athletic exchange out of the crouch, led to 2.08-2.19 pop times. Arm action was short and over the top, stayed on line, quick release, 72 mph. Right-handed hitter, squared setup, slightly wider base, short stride, good balance. Hard contact out of simple, balanced approach. Fast bat, short path with extension, line drive, gap to gap approach. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.48 runner down the line.

5. Jake Masini, C, Prairie Ridge, 2020
6-foot, 150-pound catcher, thin, lanky frame, body projects, wiry athlete. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, smooth loading action, slight arm bar load, leg kick trigger. Athletic quick swing, loose hands, aggressive swing, sprayed contact in BP, line drive gap to gap. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long, high ¾ slot, flashed carry, 73 mph out of the crouch. Active receiver, moves well, block and recover, long exchange. 2.25-2.37 pop times. 4.84 runner home to first.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Matt Breig, C, Cary-Grove, 2018
6-foot-1, 195-pound catcher, large build. Left-handed hitter, balanced, open stance, short stride, lower half works. Path is short to the baseball with some lift, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 71 mph out of the crouch. Exchange is quick, 2.10-2.32 pop times. 4.52 runner home to first.

Hunter Dawson, C, Huntley, 2020
5-foot-7, 140-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, heel lift trigger, minimal loading action, simple. Opposite field contact in BP, short path, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 67 mph out of the crouch, short high ¾ slot. Clean exchange, showed ability to block. 2.29-2.44 pop times. Gets down the line at 4.83.

AJ Henkle, C/OF, Huntley, 2019
6-foot, 175-pound catcher/outfielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, quiet toe tap load. Pull side contact, path works with slight lift. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Runs a 4.61 home to first. Defensively arm played efficiently from a short over the top slot, clean exchange, 83 mph from the outfield, 74 mph out of the crouch. Pop times posted at 2.04-2.29. Solid versatile defender.

Evan Jewson, C, Crystal Lake South, 2019
6-foot-2, 165-pound thin build catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, minimal load action, short stride. Simple approach, path is on level plane, occasional uphill. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 75 mph out of the crouch. Showed softer hands, clean exchange. Pop times registered at 2.18-2.32. 4.97 runner down the line.

Bryce Klepfer, C/INF, Huntley, 2020
5-foot-5, 125-pound left-handed hitting catcher/infielder. Hits from an open stance, slightly crouched, stride has some length getting back to square. Path is short, line drive opposite field contact. 73 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.69 runner home to first. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 63 mph out of the crouch, 72 mph across the infield. Presently showed best on the infield, moved well laterally, some body control for his age. Showed good quick footwork out of the crouch. 2.22-2.43 pop times.

Alex Ledinsky, C, Jacobs, 2018
Long lean upside frame, 6-foot-3, 170-pound catcher. Defensively arm action is long, ¾ slot, 71 mph out of the crouch. Gets tall out of the chute, 2.34-2.51 pop times. 4.81 runner in the 60. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, slight dive to hit. Path works uphill, created some line drive contact, 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Jonathan Mroz, C, Hampshire, 2019
5-foot-11, 190-pound catcher, stocky build. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 68 mph out of the crouch. Transfer was quick and clean, resulting in 2.18-2.29 pop times. Right-handed hitter, slight open stance, short stride with rhythm, smooth loading action. Simple easy approach, path has some uphill tendencies, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 5.11 runner down the line.

Drew Stengren, C, Cary-Grove, 2020
5-foot-8, 130-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, minimal load, static pre-pitch, long stride, linear lower half. Path is level, some length and extension. 72 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short, high ¾ slot, 64 mph out of the crouch. Ability to block, exchange is clean, hands worked. Pop times are 2.26-2.58. 5.16 runner down the line.

Scott Stetz, C, Prairie Ridge, 2018
5-foot-11, 186-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, open stance, loads hands back, stride has some length. Shows bat strength, simple bat speed, aggressive approach. Line drive contact, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, and over the top, 74 mph out of the crouch. 2.30-2.37 pop times, solid blocker. 4.62 runner down the line.

Tyler Waterson, C, Woodstock, 2020
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Simple setup, hard middle of the field contact, level path. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action plays with some length, high ¾ slot, 63 mph out of the crouch. Exchange has length, 2.39-2.57 pop times. 5.01 runner home to first.

Owen Waunn, C, Fenwick, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher, lean frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, leg kick trigger, average balance. Short path, works up through contact, handsy swing. 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively pop times ranged 2.25-2.31. Firm arm action, short over the top slot, 69 mph out of the crouch. 4.80 runner home to first.