DFW Fall I.D.: Catching Analysis

PLANO, TX - It never fails, the talent in Texas is always impressive, and the DFW Fall I.D. revealed more quality depth in both the 2020 and 2021 class, along with several 2019 standouts. Statistics and video have already been uploaded into players profiles. This week we are rolling out player reports, today we bring you the catching analysis.

Catchers

2021 C Nick Lazzara (Dallas Jesuit) is a switch-hitting catcher with strength, rhythm, and feel for the barrel from both sides of the plate. Standing 5-foot-11, 180-pounds, he has an already strong frame for his class with proportional strength throughout. His batting practice was impressive to say the least, posting a 96 mph exit velocity with power from both sides of the plate. Behind the dish, Lazzara has solid arm strength that produces excellent carry with a top velocity of 78 mph from the crouch. Threw strikes to second base with pop times ranging from 2.04-2.19. Moving forward, look for big things from this young backstop as his bat and arm strength will make him a coveted recruit in the ‘21 class.

2019 C Kolsen Powers (Liberty Christian) is a Midland JC commit with a strong, muscular frame and well defined lower half at 6-foot-3, 215-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, narrow, slightly open stance. Triggers his hands down as he tilts his shoulders forward and coils inward as he sits down into his stance, then strides forward. Slots the barrel in the zone early, working on a slightly uphill path, using his strong lower half to transfer through contact. Roped balls through the middle of the field during BP, hard contact, line drives with carry, and a top exit velocity of 85 mph. Behind the plate, Powers throws from a short, over the top arm slot with a relaxed gather that provided for accurate throws with pop times ranging from 2.17-2.19 and a top velocity from the crouch of 75 mph.

2021 C/RHP Creed Willems (Aledo HS) has a strong, barrel-chested frame at 6-foot-1, 215-pounds. A two-way player and left-handed hitter, Willems starts from a wide, slightly open stance, then rocks back as he triggers his hands back and upward, tilting his shoulders as he takes a short stride. Strong hands work on a mostly flat path through the zone with a high finish that produced hard contact and carry to the pull side with a top exit velocity of 94 mph. His arm strength showed well behind the plate, producing true carry through the bag with a top velocity from the crouch of 79 mph and pop times ranging from 1.93-2.04.

Uncommitted 2019 C Cole Stewart (Royse City HS) threw thigh high strikes on the bag at second base with pop times of 2.14, 2.19, 2.19, 2.15, and 2.21. The ball comes out clean with good carry and a top velocity from the crouch of 75 mph. Great mobility in his lower half allows his to receive well in both stances, as well as athleticism on blocks. The feet work in sync with his exchange and he can pounce on balls in front of the plate, working through throws to first base with smooth footwork. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, open, narrow stance, then lifts his front leg as picks his hands up and triggers them back as he strides forward, landing square with separation. Weight glides forward as he takes a flat path through the zone working inside the baseball.

2020 Blake Miles (Round Rock HS) has added lean strength to his frame in the past year and is listed at 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from an open stance with his weight already set to a bent back leg. Triggers his hands back as he strides forward, walking away from his hands, creating separation, and landing square. Hips transfer weight as he glides to his front foot, engaging the barrel on plane, then working on a slightly uphill through contact with a top exit velocity of 90 mph during BP. Behind the plate, Miles has an accurate arm to second base with quick footwork, in-line direction, and easy gather as he exchanges the ball.  Threw with a top velocity from the crouch of 73 mph and pop times ranging from 2.01-2.15.

Uncommitted 2019 C Trevor Easter (Stephenville HS) has a lanky, athletic frame at 6-foot, 165-pounds, with plenty of room to add strength. Really good lower half mobility in both his one - and two stance behind the plate. Shows good arm strenght with a top velocity from the crouch of 78 mph with pop times ranging from 2.18-2.32. His ankle mobility and easy sway allow him to stay underneath the ball as he receives with soft hands. Offensively, the right-handed hitter starts from a tall, slightly open stance, then loads his weight back with a quick trigger of his hands and a short stride. Line drive approach with a flat path through contact produced a top exit velocity of 87 mph with hard contact in the middle of the field. Also ran a 7.18 60-yard dash.

2020 C Noah Kirkpatrick (Marcus HS) has a lanky frame at 6-foot, 175-pounds. The right-handed hitter barreled it up during BP with a top exit velocity of 89 mph. He starts from a balanced, open stance, then strides forward landing square. Quick twitch hands work through the zone on a mostly flat path as he rotates his lower half through contact. Behind the plate, Kirkpatrick posted pop times of 2.11-2.25 with a top velocity from the crouch of 74 mph, working with directional footwork and clean exchange. Good lower half mobility, presents a low target during bullpens, stays underneath the ball, and receives with soft hands.

2020 C/OF Alex Adauto (The Colony HS) has an athletic, lean-muscular build at 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base then loads back with a toe-tap load as he triggers his hands back into a front arm bar, strides forward, walking away from his hands, landing square and balanced. Slightly uphill path with strong hands, gap power and a top velocity 89 mph. Behind the plate, Adauto posted pop times of 2.11-2.22 with a top velocity from the crouch of 69 mph. Staggered setup on throws to second base, releases ball from a ¾ slot. Good mobility in his lower half, centers the ball on blocks, soft hands receiving during bullpen with a balanced setup. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with rythm, quick footwork, and an easy exchange into a ¾ arm slot with low effort and top velocity of 80 mph.  

2020 C/OF Nathaniel Blachowicz (Argyle HS) stands 5-foot-11, 180-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from neutral stance with flex in his lower half and his hands in a low position, then loads back relaxed and early as he triggers his hands back and up. Controlled stride forward as he walks away from his hands, then slots the barrel in the zone, working on an inside-out path on a slightly uphill plane with a top exit of 78 mph. Behind the plate, Blachowicz threw 70 mph from the crouch with pop times of 2.19-2.33.

2020 3B/C Hudson Hefner (Highland Park HS) has a long-limbed frame at 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, open stance, then loads with a short leg kick as he triggers his hands and strides forward. Short, inside-out path to contact as his hands work relaxed through the zone. Lower half works well with a simple weight transfer. Posted a top exit velocity of 75 mph, loose finish and contact approach. Behind the plate, Hefner throws with an easy arm stroke, clean exchange, fundamental footwork, top velocity from the crouch of 69 mph and pop times ranging from 2.18-2.26. On the infield, Hefner does a nice job of playing low with soft hands out front, easy exchange into his throwing motion with an accurate arm swing and top velocity across the diamong of 70 mph. Shows feel for throwing from different slots, clean arm action with easy effort.

2022 C Cutter Gray (Stephenville HS) stands 5-foot-6, 151-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, open stance with flex in his lower half, then loads back with a reverse leg lift as he triggers his hands back and up, then strides forward. Strong hands at contact with good barrel awareness, flat path, line drive approach and top exit velocity of 76 mph. Behind the plate, Gray has soft hands with a clean exchange, natural glove actions, and fundamental footwork that will allow him to improve as he continues to mature. Threw with a top velocity from the crouch of 70 mph with pop times ranging from 2.17-2.44.

2020 OF/C Matthew Alsina (Prosper HS) has a fast-twich, athletic, muscular frame at 5-foot-9, 170-pounds. Posted the top 60-yard dash time of the event by running a 6.72. The right-handed hitter starts from a neutral, crouched stance with good flex in his lower half. Simple load before he strides forward, landing balanced, quick hips rotate as his hands work on a flat path with a contact approach through the middle of the field, posting a top exit velocity of 80 mph. Behind the plate, Alsine has directional footwork, and throws from an over the top slot with a short arm stroke, top velocity from the crouch of 61 mph, and pop times ranging from 2.5-2.6. In the outfield, he throws from an over the top slot with a short arm stroke and top velocity of 63 mph.