The inaugural Top Prospects Showcase took place on Wednesday, August 1st at O'Malley Field, home of the Harvard Westlake Wolverines. The event attracted over 100 players in the 2019 class many of whom are in our Class of 2019 Top 100 rankings. With over 20 colleges and seven (7) MLB clubs in attendance, the participants were put through a pro-style workout to showcase their abilities.

As part of our continuing coverage of the event we will continue to break down all the data, roll out stats, content, and videos from the event. In this edition we present the catcher analysis from the Top Prospects Showcase.

Players are listed in no particular order. Be sure to click on player profiles for full individual statistical performances.

Jared Thomas, C, Orange Lutheran HS, 2019

Thomas has an athletic, muscular frame at 6-foot, 180-pounds. The Miami commit posted the best pop-times at 1.90-1.97 with an ultra-quick exchange, and posted the best velocity from the crouch from any catcher at the event at 81 mph. Moves with easy actions on blocks and bunts, and showed soft hands receiving. Shows a quiet glove while providing a low target. Thomas ran a blazing 6.86 60 to open the day which immediately got the attention of scouts in attendance. The left-handed hitter starts with a slightly open, balanced setup before a slight leg lift trigger initiates his swing. Quick bat with strong hands at contact, simple path with good barrel awareness through the zone. Shows some pullside power and hit one onto the roof of the hitting facility beyond right field. Has good present power which really projects with an exit velocity of 96 off the tee.

Connor Lawrence, C, California HS, 2019

Lawrence is an athletic 6-foot, 175-pound muscular and well defined lower half, switch hitting catcher that was one of the best overall athletes on the field. The Tennessee commit started the day with 6.87 60 yard dash and followed that up with stellar work behind the plate. Lawrence shows a quiet glove and sticks pitches very well. Goes down to get the low pitch without much movement in his upper body or giving pitches away. The switch hitting Lawrence gets his hands to work through the zone and keeps his barrel on a consistent path while getting good extension through the ball. Appears more comfortable from the left side where his power really projects. Had an exit velocity of 88 off the tee.

Brant Voth, C, Murrieta Mesa HS, 2019

Voth showed his versatility by standing out behind the plate and in the outfield. At 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, Voth is a wiry strong player with a frame that could easily add mass and strength and projects for added power. He registered a showcase high 98 mph exit velocity off the tee and carried that into his batting practice where he showed his present pull-side power by launching one over the right field fence. Voth keeps his barrel through the zone from a balanced setup while using his backside to drive his fast hands through the hitting zone. Voth is flexible and athletic behind the plate where he is quick out of his crouch while working low. His arm is strong and accurate while his misses are slight to the first base side.

Cole Andavolgyi, C, North Torrance HS, 2019

Andavolgyi at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds is a strong, physical catcher with his strength distributed evenly throughout his body. Lower half has more room for growth. He blocks very well and is quick out of his crouch without wasted motion. Moves well behind the plate and shows soft hands when receiving. Frames well and goes down to get the low pitch without giving it away. His strong build helps him at the plate where he starts from a slightly open stance before using a toe tap trigger to initiate his swing. He shows pulls side power presently with a middle-middle approach. Shows excellent feel for the barrel which stays through the hitting zone well. Registered a 91 mph exit velocity off the tee.

Trent Turquand, C, Chaminade Prep HS, 2019

Turquand is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound catcher with a long, lean, muscular frame that projects to easily add mass and strength. Turquand is a strong armed catcher whose throws were accurate and showed carry. He quick out of his crouch both on blocks and throw downs. Doesn't waste much movement getting to where he needs to be. Identifies the ball quickly out of his crouch on blocks. Presents well and provides a large target. Transfers are smooth and not rushed. Looks experienced and comfortable in the catching position. At the plate he shows an opposite field approach from an upright, slightly open stance with high hands above his shoulder. Keeps the barrel in the hitting zone. When his timing was on he peppered line drives to middle-right field.

Jakob Reed, C, Tustin HS, 2019

At 6-foot-1, 195-pounds, Reed is big bodied catcher whose lower half is ahead of the upper half strength wise. That's not to say he's not strong because he is, it's just that his lower half is thick and muscular whereas his upper half is still developing. Reed showed a consistent and accurate arm with online throws that had carry. The arm action is loose from an over-the-top slot. His one miss was on the bag just a tad high. Shows solid mechanics behind the plate and explodes out of his crouch on both throwdowns and on block-and-recovers. At the plate he flashes bat speed that resulted in line drives to the pull side from a very open stance. Also sprayed balls the other way with some power. Flashed some gap power and projects to add more power with continued physical development of his upper body. Uses his lower half well in his swing.

Davis Cop, C, Valencia HS, 2019

Cop is an athletic, wiry strong, loose limbed catcher at 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. He has proportional strength throughout his body but it's not bulky. His athleticism is on display behind the plate as he shows the ability to gain ground on throwdowns with a quick transfer and good forward lean. Cop plays low and frames well. Shows the ability to beat the ball to the spot. Throws well on the run after springing from his crouch without any wasted movements. Arm action is short with carry on his throws. Shows present pull side power as displayed by his bomb to left-center-field. Has quick hands which generates present bat speed that results in loud contact to all field. Keeps his barrel on a consistent path through the hitting zone while using his strong lower half to generate his power. Cop is a good, strong hitter.

JP Rocha, C, Westview HS, 2019

Rocha is a strong, well proportioned catcher at 5-foot-10, 175-pounds who projects for increased strength especially in the upper half where his squared shoulders and barrel chest have plenty of room for growth. Rocha shows excellent hands with quick transfers and present arm strength resulting in accurate throws with some carry. He has quick feet and agility that allow him to explode out of his crouch. Does an excellent job of locating the ball in dirt and on bunts. Plays fast. At the plate he starts with an upright, neutral stance before taking aggressive, confident hacks on the ball. Gets good extension through the ball while keeping his barrel on a consistent path with a middle-middle approach and some present gap power. The power is easily projectable given his present pull-side power.

Mikie Welch, C, Cathedral Catholic HS, 2019

Welch is a big bodied, physical catcher with a muscular lower half and projectable strength in the upper half. Welch starts with even, neutral stance and uses a rocking motion to move the weight to his back leg before exploding into the ball. He shows present power to the pull side and the ability to hit line drives the other way from an easy stroke. Keeps his barrel in a consistent plane through the hitting zone with quick hands. Defensively he presents a good target and sticks it. Stays level with a steady head. Has a bit of a recoil and lands on the balls of his feet before throwing. The arm is strong and throws have some carry. Accuracy was a tick inconsistent as one ball sailed on him.

Kai Guzman, C, Moorpark HS, 2019

Guzman plays with a bounce in his step, real energy, and quality body language. At 5-foot-10, 176-pounds, he shows good actions behind the plate. He has quick feel and his legs are strong underneath him. Sets up low and creates a large target. Receives with soft hands and explodes out of crouch on throwdowns. Shows the ability to beat balls to the spot and sticking them with strong wrists. Has short, quick footwork while throwing, and his pop times ranged from 2.02-2.34. The left-handed hitter starts with an upright, slightly open stance and uses a leg lift trigger with a controlled load. Has quick hands and a consistent barrel path through the zone. Shows some power potential to the pull side with a middle-middle approach.

Dylan Holt, C, Marina HS, 2019

Five-foot-10, 170-pound frame. Holt swung the bat with the intent to do damage while flashing some bat speed through the zone; 83 mph off the tee. From a slightly open, upright stance, Holt uses a slight leg lift trigger before shooting balls the other way with authority. Gets extension through the ball and flashes current gap power. Stays balanced throughout the swing while his barrel is on a slight uphill plane. From behind the plate, Holt shows the ability to catch-and-throw at a high level, posting pop times between 1.97-2.01 while all but one throw was on the bag; 74 mph position velocity. Clean and easy arm stroke, quick hand out front on release. His footwork is short and quick allowing him to get rid of the ball quickly while providing good direction.

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