PLANO, TX - The talent in Texas always amazes our scouting staff and we were fortunate to see a ton of high end players on Saturday at the DFW Preseason ID. This week we begin our positional analysis from that event, starting with the catchers. A number of players from this list will be entering our Texas Class Rankings as we work through all six preseason events. 

Catchers

Jackson Duke, C, South Grand Prairie HS, 2020
Duke has a strong, thick frame at 5-foot-11, 200-pounds. The right-handed hitter loads back smooth with a reverse leg lift as he triggers his hands and creates separation, landing stacked. Aggressive hack with loose-quick hands and direct path created hard contact and gap power during BP with a top exit velocity of 96 mph. Duke threw strikes to second base with a top velocity from the crouch of 78 mph, and pop times ranging from 1.86-2.11. Quick footwork with an easy gather and clean exchange allow his arm to work well, while his lower half mobility and soft hands allow him to receive at a high level.

Ryan Blackwell, C, Amarillo HS, 2020
Blackwell has a strong, muscular frame with a well defined lower half at 5-foot-11, 195-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a narrow stance with flex in his lower half, using a knee-to-knee leg kick to generate a strong weight shift through contact. Quick-strong ands work well through the zone with a loose finish allowed him to drive the ball deep during BP, including a home run, and post an 88 mph exit velocity. Behind the plate, he has an easy exchange with quick footwork that allows him to play easy catch to second base with a top velocity from the crouch of 78 mph and pop times ranging from 2.06-2.16.

Creed Willems, C/RHP, Aledo HS, 2021
Willems has a strong, sturdy frame at 6-foot-1, 215-pounds. The left-handed hitter made strong contact to the pull side during BP, including a home run and posted a top exit velocity of 104. Starting from an open stance, he triggers his hands and loads back smooth, turning inward, landing soft, then working uphill through the zone as he stays in his legs. Strong hands at contact and sits back on his finish, staying behind his front side. Willems has solid arms strength for his class, which translates onto the mound, and behind the plate, where he threw with a top velocity from the crouch of 80 mph, with pop times ranging from 1.92-2.11.

Keanu Maldonado, C, Estacado HS, 2020
Maldonado has a quick-twitch frame at 5-foot-8, 150-pounds, and can really play catch at two premium positions. The left-handed hitter has a balanced setup and loads back with simple rhythm as he triggers his hands, allowing him to repeat his hack. Line drive approach through the middle of the field with a direct path, loose finish and top exit velocity of 86 mph. On the infield, he plays low through the ball with good tempo and soft hands. Stays on line to make accurate throws with a top velocity of 71 mph across the diamond. Can start the double play with a quick exchange, can make the play on the run and throw from lower slots. His catch play transitions over well behind the plate where he has a quick exchange into an easy arm swing, throwing with a top velocity from the crouch of 76 mph, and pop times ranging from 1.92-2.15.

Haydn Hammerschmidt, C, Lampasas HS, 2020
Hammerschmidt has an athletic, quick-twitch frame for a catcher at 5-foot-10, 168-pounds, running a 7.02 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter has quick hands and his barrel stays in the zone a long time, giving him room for error and allowing him to drive the ball during BP with a top exit velocity of 91 mph on the field. He homered to left field, and showed a gap approach. Behind the dish, he threw 70 mph from the crouch and posted pop times of 2.12-2.26. In line footwork and quick exchange. Sits quietly in his receiving stance and receives the ball with soft hands.

DeAngelo Morales, C, Lakeview Centennial HS, 2021
5-foot-10, 160-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance, then triggers his hands back as he cocks the barrel forward. Gap approach with a top exit velocity of 83 mph. Behind the plate, Morales has a quick exchange into a top velocity from the crouch of 75 mph with pop times ranging from 2.07-2.18. Really soft hands behind the plate with quality feel for blocking and receiving.

Jason Hawkins, C, Plano Senior HS, 2021
6-foot-1, 175-pounds. The right-handed hitter has a balanced setup and shows simple strength in his hack at the plate and posted a top exit velocity of 90 mph. Loose hands with lag in the barrel through the zone and an inside-out path on a slightly uphill plane. Hard contact during BP with a gap approach. Behind the plate, he threw 74 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging from 2.12-2.26 seconds.

Weston Duncan, SS/C, Guyer HS, 2022  
Duncan is going to be a lot of fun to watch over the coming years. Standing 6-foot-1, 176-pounds, he has an athletic frame and ran a 7.3 60-yard dash to start the day. A switch-hitter, Duncan took his best cuts from the right side, where he posted a top exit velocity of 90 mph and showed quick hands through the zone with a clean path and the ability to finish the barrel, driving the ball to the right-center gap. From the left side, he has an inside out hack with line drive power. On the infield, he has quick footwork, soft hands, midline exchange and does a nice job of playing the ball left-of-center. He threw with a top velocity across the diamond of 76 mph. Behind the plate, he also shows soft hands and posted a top velocity from the crouch of 72 mph with pop times ranging from 2.25-2.40.

Tanner Benson, C, Frisco Memorial HS, 2020
5-foot-10, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from an open, tall stance, then triggers his hands back as he pinches his knees together, turning inward and uses a low-hanging glide to stride forward, creating separation. Took an outstanding round of BP, showing an aggressive, leveraged hack with quality transfer and strength in the barrel. Pounded several balls off the wall to the pull side and posted a top exit velocity of 89 mph. Behind the plate, Benson has quick feet, and posted pop times of 2.18-2.32 with a top velocity from the crouch of 71 mph.

Jacob Ennnen, C, Dallas Jesuit, 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pounds. The right-handed hitter uses a slight toe-tap load with easy rhythm and loose hands to produce hard contact during BP. Gap approach with strength in his hands, he works on a slightly uphill plane and transfers his weight through contact with a loose finish and top exit velocity of 87 mph. Behind the plate he receives with soft hands and an easy sway in his one-stance. Posted pop times of 2.27-2.33 with a top velocity from the crouch of 71 mph.

Drew Marshall, C, Jasper HS, 2021
5-foot-9, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base then triggers his hands back into a front arm bar and tips the barrel forward, giving his hands room to work on a clean path through the zone. Controlled stride forward, lands with separation, barrel stays in the zone a long time and he showed a middle-to-opposite gap approach with a top exit velocity of 87 mph. Behind the plate, he has good lower half mobility that allows him to sit relaxed and low in his receiving stance. He posted pop times of 2.19-2.3 with a top velocity from the crouch of 71 mph.

Foster Engelhardt, C, Keller HS, 2020  
5-foot-11, 190-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, slightly open setup with his hands in a relaxed position. Simple leg lift as he cocks the barrel forward, then lands with a short stride. Linear move to contact as he throws the head, making hard contact to the pull side with a top exit velocity of 88 mph, including a home run to left field during BP. Behind the plate, he post pop times of 2.11-2.44 with a top velocity from the crouch of 70 mph. On the infield, he does a nice job of getting his hands out front into a fundamental fielding position and he threw with a top velocity across the diamond of 78 mph.

Cade Keeler, C, Frisco Heritage HS, 2021
6-foot, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a bent, slightly open stance then loads back and down as he sits into his legs, using a short leg kick for timing. Lands into a crouched launch position, then rotates his body to contact with his hands working slightly uphill. Made hard contact during BP and posted a top exit velocity of 91 mph on the field. Behind the plate, Keeler posted pop times of 2.28-2.44 with a top velocity from the crouch of 70 mph.

Kyler Mooney, C, Grapevine HS, 2019
5-foot-11, 160-pound frame. Mooney throws with solid carry behind the plate, posting one of the top catching velocities of the day (80 mph). Threw strikes to second base with pop times ranging from 2.08-2.29. The right-handed hitter starts from a crouched setup and has an inside out path with line drive power and top exit velocity of 82 mph.

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