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Freshman Free Showcase: Catcher Analysis

In late January, PBR VA/DC hosted its Freshman Free Showcase at Virginia Sports Complex in Ruther Glen. Over thirty players from the classes of 2021 and 2022 showcased at the event, with the weather cooperating for us to run the 60 yard dash outside. There were a handful of players who stood out and are potential future members of Team Mid-Atlantic for the PBR Future Games.

Today we begin our analysis of the event by looking at the seven catchers who participated in the event.

Kade Abrisz C Menchville 2021
Abrisz is 5-7 and hits from the right side from an open, slightly crouched athletic stance. Short stride on line, minimal load, some rhythm to his swing. Hips rotate completely, good balance to swing. Short to ball, level path with a line drive swing, good barrel awareness, showed good approach working middle of field. Simple swing should produce high average. Exit velocity was 72. Behind the plate, quick clean exchange, gained ground towards second during transfer. Threw from three-quarters arm slot, short arm action with some looseness, pop times were 2.08-2.20, position velocity was 74.

Mason Balsis C Osbourn Park 2022
Balsis is 5-11 with an athletic frame, he hits from the right side from an athletic stance. Short stride on line, short smooth load back. Quick hips, good balance and has some rhythm to swing. Takes knob straight to ball, quick hands with a quick bat, short path to ball. Level to slightly uphill line drive swing, good approach working gap to gap, projects to have some power, exit velocity was 83. Behind the plate, reaches for ball a bit, quick clean transfer otherwise, gains ground during exchange. Short loose arm action with some carry, three-quarters arm slot. Position velocity was 72, pop times 2.06-2.15. Good deep set-up, projects to be a good receiver.

Joshua (JT) Carter C Bishop O’Connell 2021
Carter is 5-11 with a mature strong frame and a very strong lower half. He hits from the right side from an open athletic stance, big leg kick stride lands a bit open, smooth load back, good rhythm to his swing. Hips have some explosion, some balance to swing as well. Short to ball, slightly uphill swing path with extension through it. Showed good approach working middle of the field. Exit velocity was 84, has potential to have big power in the future. Behind the plate, receives ball with hands apart, quick clean transfer afterwards, gains ground to second. Throws from high three-quarters arm slot, short quick arm action, loose arm with life. Position velocity was 76, pop times were 2.06-2.17. Good wide stance receiving, works up to ball well and receives with good hands. Also can play outfield, gets behind ball and works through it, throws from high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, outfield velocity was 83. Ran a 7.67 60 yard dash.

Gaarison Holran C Flint Hill 2021
Holran is 6-0 with a lanky frame, he hits from the right side from an upright balanced stance. Short leg kick stride on line, loads back to a wrap. Hips explode fully, shows some balance to swing. Short to ball, level line drive swing, showed good approach working the middle of the field, exit velocity was 72. Behind the plate, gains ground on exchange, throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, short arm action. Catcher velocity was 66, pop times were 2.39-2.47. Also can play outfield, showed ability to get behind ball, fields with above average hands and works through it, threw from low three-quarters slot, outfield velocity was 70. Ran a 7.77 60 yard dash. 

Cameron Murray C Mountain View 2021
Murray is 5-11 with an athletic frame, he hits from the right side from an open crouched stance. Short stride on line, smooth load back, some rhythm to his swing. Explosive lower half and good balance to swing. Simple swing, gets barrel to ball quickly, works slightly uphill with extension through the ball. Line drive swing with potential for power down the road, good approach working the middle of the field, exit velocity was 81. Behind the plate, receives ball with hands apart, clean exchange after that, gains ground towards second. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot, short loose arm action, catcher velocity was 74 and pop times were 2.18-2.34. 

Johnny Oates C Thomas Dale 2021
Oates is 5-11 with an athletic frame, he hits from the right side from an open athletic stance. Short stride on line, smooth load back to a slight wrap, good rhythm to his swing. Hips rotate fully with some explosion, some balance to swing as well. Gets barrel to ball quickly, bat has some quickness to it. Works slightly uphill, pull approach with extension to ball, can go with ball to middle of the field, has potential to develop power to pull side, exit velocity was 81. Behind the plate, gains ground during exchange, works through the ball to throw from a low three-quarters arm slot. Short quick arm action, ball has some carry, position velocity was 75, pop times were 2.16-2.22. 

Ryan Peterson C First Colonial 2021
Peterson is 5-11 with an athletic frame, hits from the left side from an open upright stance. Short leg kick stride slightly open, minimal load back with arm bar. Explosive lower half with some balance to swing. Very strong swing, whippy bat, gets barrel to zone quickly with extension through the ball. Path is very uphill with pull preference, power potential with exit velocity of 85. Swing is set-up to pull for power, showed ability to work gap to gap. Showed some barrel awareness. Behind the plate, clean exchange, gains ground towards second during transfer. Throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, short arm action. Catcher velocity was 68, pop times were 2.32-2.38. 

 

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