VA Insider: Unsigned 2018 Catchers

10/10/16 -  Lefty hitting catcher with advanced feel for receiving.  Sub 2.0 pop times between innings, and 1.95 in game.  Feet move well, and arm has carry.  At the plate starts with back elbow high and bat on his shoulder before utilizing a pronounced leg kick to trigger the hands to hitch down and barrel to straighten out.  Good bat speed, and looks to attack pitches with present gap to gap power.

10/8/16 -  2018 C Ty Hanchey (Granby HS, VA) laced a couple line drives for hits for the Old Dominion Hitters, but it was his defense that really stood out. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Hanchey has a wide frame and presents a good target for pitchers to throw to. He is quiet and relaxed behind the plate, and threw out a runner with a 1.95 pop time.

6.27.17:  Varley is 6-0 with an athletic frame and a strong lower half. He hits from the right side from a balanced athletic stance, strides on line with a quiet load. Some hip explosion with good balance, simple swing. Quick to ball with hands, extends through it, works uphill with a slight pull preference, exit velocity was 85. Behind the plate, some sway to get behind ball, receives out in front, gets into block quickly and slides laterally well. Clean exchange, throws from a higher three-quarters arm slot, short loose arm action, showed some accuracy on throw downs. Pop times were 1.99-2.09 and position velocity was 76.

8.9.17:  Wilburn is 6-1 with an athletic frame and hits from the right side from and open athletic stance. Short stride on line, smooth load back, slight wrap, good rhythm to swing. Good lower half and good balance to swing. Quick to ball, works uphill through it with extension, shows barrel awareness and good approach, works gap to gap with some pop to pull side, exit velocity was 92. Behind the plate, clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot, short arm action. Position velocity was 70 and pop times were 2.15-2.25. 60 yard dash was 7.19.

2.11.17:  Wilburn is 6-1 with an athletic frame, hits from the right side from an open athletic stance. Short stride on line, smooth load back with slight wrap, good hips and balance throughout swing. Swing works uphill with extension, showed a pull approach and some power potential, exit velocity was 90. In the outfield, gets behind the ball well and fields with average hands. Clean exchange, throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a longer arm action, outfield velocity was 74. Behind the plate, clean exchange, throws from low three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, catcher velocity was 72, pop times were 2.16-2.20. Solid receiver, gets into blocks well and sways body behind ball.

4.10.17: Warley has an athletic frame. Ran a 4.88 to first on a groundout, can handle the bat with a bunt single in his first at-bat of the game. Behind the plate, 2.10-2.19 pop times, average arm from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short action. Looked fine catching Dragum and Plummer.

3.23.17: Trissler has a strong lower half to his frame. Behind the plate, showed a 2.09 in game pop with a very accurate throw. Quick release with an above average arm. At the plate, hits from the right side, open stance, short stride on line, smooth load back, slight wrap. Explosive hips, good balance to swing. Short quick stroke, level or slightly uphill, line drive swing now with potential for doubles power. 

6.22.17: Alexander has an athletic frame, hits from the right side and has bat speed to his swing. Gets to the ball quickly and extends through it with some power potential. Showed good approach, using whole field on the weekend. Ran 4.75 on a ground out. Behind the plate, between inning pops were 2.07-2.19, threw a 2.09 in the game with good accuracy.

12.3.16:  Buschman is 6-0 tall with an athletic frame, hits from the right side from a tight, athletic stance. Strides on line with smooth load back, good hips and balance throughout swing. Short to the ball, level swing with a good line drive approach, working gap to gap. Exit velocity was 80. Behind the plate, gains ground on a quick release, short high three-quarters arm slot, position velocity was 71, pop times were 2.10-2.20. Sways well to receive in front of body, athletic sliding into blocks. Home to first was 4.50.