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The Preseason All-State was hosted by Virginia Sport Complex on Saturday, February 17th. Over 100 players from around the Commonwealth came to be apart of the biggest event in Virginia history and the talent on display was equally impressive. We begin our analysis of the event with the catchers who stood out the most.

Top 5 Catchers

 

Nathan Cmeyla C / Briar Woods, VA / 2020 Cmeyla is 5-11 with an athletic frame. A switch hitter, from the right side, hits from an open athletic stance. Big leg kick stride, good rhythm, smooth load back to an arm bar. Explosive lower half. Longer path, but bat gets through zone quickly, works uphill with extension, shows power potential to pull side. From the left side, hits from a similar stance that is a bit more square and balanced. Leg kick stride closed, wraps a bit in his load. Good lower half rotation, shorter swing path, more of a line drive gap to gap type swing. Best exit velocity was 91. Behind the plate, quick clean release that is consistent and simple. Throws from three-quarters arm slot with a short, quick arm action that is fast. Strong arm, position velocity was 82, pop times were 1.99-2.03. Good wide stance receiving, sways body behind ball well, drops quickly into block. Soft hands receiving. Has some speed, ran a 4.44 home to first.

 

 

Dylan Hatfield C / William Byrd, VA / 2021 Hatfield is 5-10 with an athletic frame, he hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance. Short leg kick stride on line, small load down, good rhythm to setup. Hips rotate completely with some explosiveness, has some balance during swing. Short to ball, gets barrel to contact point in a hurry, level line drive swing with extension through the ball. Line drive hitter with gap power and potential for more. Showed good approach working gap to gap. Exit velocity was 90. Behind the plate, quick clean exchange, throws from a lower three-quarters arm slot, short loose arm action. Position velocity was 76 and pop times were 2.01-2.07. Quiet receiver, soft hands catching ball. Ran a 4.45 home to first.

 

 

Hyatt Hurst C / Tallwood , VA / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 19 / POS: 2 Hurst is 5-11 with a lankier athletic frame that he has room to add to. He hits from the left side from an open upright stance. Leg kick stride on line, loads back to a bit of a bar, good rhythm to his set-up. Explosive lower half with full hip rotation and good balance to his swing. Slightly longer path, but stays inside and gets barrel to contact quickly. Whippy bat with some bat speed, line drive swing that works uphill with extension through contact, pretty classic lefty swing with pull power, exit velocity was 86. Quick clean exchange, throws from high three-quarters arm slot with a short quick arm action. Pop times were 2.06-2.14 and position velocity was 76. Has some speed and ran a 4.25 home to first.

 

 

Gavin Younce C / Greenbrier Christian, VA / 2019 Rankings  StateRank: 59 / POS: 10 Younce is 6-0 with an athletic frame that still has some projection. He hits from the right side from a balanced athletic stance. Short leg kick stride on line, short smooth load back, good quiet rhythm to his setup. Explosive lower half with good balance throughout swing. Very short line drive swing, fast whippy bat, slightly uphill finish. Showed good approach working gap to gap, has the potential to develop more power, exit velocity was 83. Behind the plate, quick clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short loose arm action. Throws had plenty off carry, catcher velocity was 83 and pop times were 2.04-2.18. Shows good body sway while receiving and stays low in his stance.

 

 

Tyler Cotten C / Grafton , VA / 2020 Cotten is 5-10 with an athletic frame, he hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance. Short leg kick stride on line, loads back and wraps. Explosive hips and good balance throughout swing, good rhythm. Short path, gets barrel to ball in a hurry, good extension through the ball. Level line drive swing, showed good approach working gap to gap, should have doubles power with potential for more, exit velocity was 89. Clean exchange, gains ground towards second. Throws from three-quarters arm slot, short quick arm action. Pop times were 2.09-2.16 and position velocity was 78. Showed speed running a 4.19 home to first.

 

 

Best of the Rest

Peter Benavides Battlefield 2020
Benevides is 5-10 with a lankier athletic frame. Hits from the right side from a slightly open, athletic stance. Strides on line while loading back to a wrap, has some rhythm. Hips rotate completely, good lower half balance throughout swing. Slightly uphill swing path, line drive swing that works well when gap to gap, exit velocity was 77. Behind the plate, clean exchange, throws from high three-quarters arm slot, short arm action, pop times were 2.18-2.33, catcher velocity was 73. As a receiver, works up from under the ball, shows some body sway to catch ball.

Cade Brewer Salem (VA Beach) 2020
Brewer is 6-1 with an athletic frame, hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance. Big leg kick stride lands a bit open, wraps as he loads, lots of movement but has some rhythm to it. Explosive hips and balances well on lower half. Longer, slightly uphill swing path, gets extension through the ball and generates some backspin. Swing is set up to pull the ball with some power potential, exit velocity was 86. Behind the plate, quick exchange, catches ball with hands apart, throws from three-quarters arm slot, longer arm action, breaking back away from head. Pop times were 2.17-2.22, position velocity was 72.

Trevor Bush Colonial Forge 2021
Bush is 5-10 with a lankier frame, hits from the right side with an open upright athletic stance. Strides on line, short load back, shows some rhythm. Lower half rotates completely, maintains some balance throughout swing. Swing is short to the ball, level to contact, gets uphill through it a bit. Line drive hitter working middle of the field, exit velocity was 79. Behind the plate, gains ground towards second on his exchange, throws from a higher three-quarters arm slot, very short arm action. Pop times were 2.28-2.39 and position velocity was 64.

Sean Butler George Mason 2019
Butler is 5-11 with a lanky frame, hits from the right side from an open loaded back athletic stance. Strides on line, smooth load back, shows rhythm to his set-up. Good hip rotation and good balance in firm lower half throughout his swing. Uphill swing path generates some fly balls, showed good approach working the middle of the field, exit velocity was 74. Behind the plate, gains ground towards second on his exchange, throws from high three-quarters arm slot, short arm action. Pop times were 2.31-2.38 and catcher velocity was 70.

Tillman Butler Eastern View 2020
Butler is 5-11 with an athletic frame and a stronger lower half. He hits from the right side from a slightly open, balanced athletic stance. Short stride on line, smooth short load back, slight wrap, good quiet rhythm to his swing. Hips rotate completely and get explosive, maintains a good base with balance throughout his swing. Short and quick to the ball, works uphill through contact with extension through the ball. Line drive ability to the gaps with power to his pull side is evident, exit velocity was 83. Behind the plate, receives ball with hands apart, clean exchange otherwise, gains ground and throws from a three-quarters arm slot, short arm action. Pop times were 2.19-2.27 and position velocity was 73. Quiet receiver, sticks the ball with soft hands.

Corey Comeaux Jamestown 2020
Comeaux is 5-8 with an athletic frame. He hits from the right side from a loaded back athletic stance. Strides on line, short smooth load back, some rhythm to his setup. Explosive lower half and good balance throughout swing. Line drive swing, showed good approach working gap to gap, exit velocity was 70. Behind the plate, gains ground on his exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, short arm action. Position velocity was 71, pop times were 2.42-2.49.

Andrew Gerhart Potomac Falls 2019
Gerhart is 5-10 with an athletic frame, he hits from the right side from an open, more upright balanced stance. Leg kick stride on line, smooth load back, slight wrap, good rhythm to setup. Hips rotate, has good balance throughout swing. Longer path, gets barrel to contact quickly though, level to contact uphill through it. Showed slight pull preference with some strength behind his swing to pull side. Exit velocity was 83. Behind the plate, reached for the ball and caught it with hands apart, clean exchange otherwise. Throws from high three-quarters arm slot, short arm action. Catcher velocity was 73, pop times were 2.21-2.30. Ran a 4.40 home to first.

Zachary Grainger York 2020
Grainger is 6-0 tall with a strong lower half. Hits from the right side from a slightly open upright balanced stance. Short stride on line, smooth load back with a wrap, some rhythm to his setup. Lower half rotates completely, maintains some balance throughout his swing. Shorter swing path, strong through contact, slightly uphill with extension through the ball to pull side. Has some doubles pop, exit velocity was 82. Stands up on exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, short arm action. Position velocity was 68 and pop times were 2.30-2.40.

Andrew Hiller George Marshall 2021
Hiller is 5-8 with an athletic frame. He hits from the right side from an open upright stance. Two-step stride on line, gains a lot of ground, short load back, wraps bat, has good rhythm. Explosive lower half with some balance to his swing. Short path to ball, bat has some quickness, level line drive swing, slight pull tendency but good approach, has gap power with potential for more, exit velocity was 87. Finishes uphill when he pulls ball, generates extra carry. Behind the plate, receives the ball away from his body with hands apart, otherwise exchange is quick and clean. Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, short arm action with some quickness. Position velocity was 72 and pop times were 2.13-2.28. Ran a 4.40 home to first.

Jackson Horton Colgan 2020
Horton is 5-10 with a lanky frame, he hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance. Short stride on line, smooth load back, some rhythm to his swing. Hips rotate completely, maintains some balance throughout swing. Comes around the ball, works uphill through contact with a pull fly-ball approach. Gets extension through the ball, exit velocity was 74. Behind the plate, clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a shorter arm action. Position velocity was 67 and pop times were 2.38-2.42.

Ben Koomey Yorktown 2019
Koomey is 6-3 with a projectable athletic frame, he hits from the left side from an open athletic stance. Short stride on line, smooth load back, has some rhythm to his set-up. Hips rotate and he maintains good balance to his swing. Short path to the ball, shows good approach and uses the whole field. Line drive hitter who has the frame to grow into more power eventually, exit velocity was 83. Does get uphill to his pull side and generates some carry that way. Behind the plate, clean exchange, throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a short, double-clutched arm action, throws had some carry. Position velocity was 78 and pop times were 2.20-2.25.

Drew Larsen Deep Run 2020
Larsen is 5-11 with an athletic frame that still has projection to it. He hits from the left side from an open slightly upright stance. Strides on line, short load down and back, some rhythm to his swing. Lower half rotates completely and gets explosive, maintains good balance on a good firm base throughout his swing. Short path to ball, works level to contact, drops head near contact and works uphill through it with extension. Line drive swing with some doubles power. Showed good approach working primarily gap to gap, exit velocity was 85. Clean exchange behind the plate, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, short arm action with some looseness to it. Position velocity was 73 and pop times were 2.14-2.22. Has some quickness, ran a 4.35 home to first.

Noah Madison Patrick Henry (Ashland) 2019
Madison is 5-11 with a strong lower half, he hits from the right side from a slightly open balanced stance. Short stride on line, smooth load back, has some rhythm to his set-up and swing. Explosive hips and good balance, very good lower half. Longer path, has batspeed, gets barrel to ball quickly, keeps hands inside to contact. Level line drive swing, showed good approach working gap to gap. Doubles power, has some juice to his pull side when he turns on the ball, exit velocity was 91. Behind the plate, clean exchange, gains ground towards second during transfer, throws from three-quarters arm slot. Short arm action with some quickness. Catcher velocity was 72 and pop times were 2.24-2.32.

Jonathan Sexton William Monroe 2019
Sexton is 5-10 with a strong athletic frame. Hits from the right side from a relaxed, open upright stance. Short leg kick stride on line, smooth load back, very good rhythm, quiet set-up. Explosive lower half and maintains good balance after hips fire. Short path to the ball, level to contact and works uphill through it. Line drive swing with some bat speed, showed good approach working gap to gap with doubles power evident, exit velocity was 90. Behind the plate, clean exchange, gains ground to second, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with short arm action, loose and throws have some carry. Position velocity was 75 and pop times were 2.15-2.23.

Evan Williams Clover Hill 2019
Williams is 5-10 with an athletic frame, he hits from the right side from a balanced athletic stance. Short stride opens up a bit, loads down and back. Hips rotate completely and maintains some balance during his swing. Longer swing path, works uphill with extension through contact. Swing is setup for pulled fly balls, showed ability to go up middle or other way with pitches as well, exit velocity was 80. Behind the plate, clean exchange, throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action. Catcher velocity was 69 and pop times were 2.35-2.41.