Kenosha Preseason I.D.: Catcher Analysis

On Jan. 26, the PBR Wisconsin team held its first showcase of 2019, the Kenosha Preseason I.D., at Fielder’s Choice Training Academy, in Kenosha, Wis. For the past two years now, this event has been revealed to us some of the most talented prospects in the Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois areas, and this year might have yielded the showcase’s most talented crop yet.

Last week, we published both our Quick Hits story, as well as our Statistical Analysis from the Kenosha event. Today marks the start of our position-by-position analysis, beginning with the event’s catchers.

At the top of the list is a backstop from Illinois, Warren Township’s Thomas Kenney (2020; uncommitted). The strong and compact catcher proved to be one of the top overall bats in attendance last month and his performance on the day helped result in an invitation to PBR Illinois’ Preseason All-State showcase last weekend.

The next two ranked backstops represent Wisconsin. Marquette University looks as if it’s burgeoning into promising spring season, and prospects like junior Jonah Wronski (uncommitted) are stirring some preseason buzz for the Hilltoppers.

Also, keep an eye out for freshman backstop Will Vierling (uncommitted), from Homestead. He brought with him an advanced bat, especially for his age, to the Kenosha showcase. He was further alongdefensively than many of the catchers there, as well.

Continue on below for a look at the ranked prospects, as well as each and every catcher who came out to Fielder’s Choice to participate in the first showcase of the year. Tomorrow, we’ll bring to you the notes on each of the event’s outfielders.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. Thomas Kenney, C, Warren (IL), 2020
5-foot-11, 190-pound catcher, strong compact build, solid lower half, wide shoulder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, maintains strong balance through contact. Path is compact and quick, advanced bat speed. Ball jumps off the bat, plus contact to both gaps for his age. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.33 runner down the line. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, accurate arm to the bag, 77 mph out of the crouch. 2.15-2.26 pop times.

2. Jonah Wronski, C, Marquette University, 2020
5-foot-10, 185-pound catcher, sturdy strong build. Defensively showed off the best arm strength of the day out of the crouch, (79 mph), plays short and over the top, carried on line. Tends to get tall at times out of the crouch, can gain more ground, showed quick actions, pop times played at 2.18-2.26. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, simple setup. Bat strength present, made hard contact to pull side. 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.43 runner home to first.

3. Will Vierling, C, Homestead, 2022
5-foot-11, 165-pound left-handed hitting catcher, sturdy build. Advanced bat, balanced, slightly open stance, short leg lift stride, strong balance through contact. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm action is short and over the top, accurate to target, arm plays up with carry and accuracy, 74 mph out of the crouch. 2.19-2.26 pop times, well above average actions. Goes home to first at 4.61.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Kevin Ahler, C/INF, Marian Central (IL), 2020
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher/infielder, average frame. Right-handed hitter, tall open setup, short stride. PAth is level with some length, showed ability to create line drive contact, front foot hitter at times, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 72 mph out of the crouch, 73 mph across the infield, short arm action. Hands showed playability, 2.29-2.37 pop times, showed best at catcher. 4.97 runner down the line.

Alejandro Del Valle, C, St. Laurence (IL), 2020
6-foot-1, 205-pound catcher, solid build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Occasional short path to the baseball, slight pull side approach, flashed hard contact. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Posted pop times at 2.26-2.38, arm plays short and over the top, 75 mph out of the crouch. 4.77 runner down the line.

Leo Falletti, C, Wilmot, 2021
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher, athletic build with lean strength. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, smooth loading action, short stride, good balance. Loose bat speed, path is short and level, gap to gap approach, creates line drive contact and hits in rhythm. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays short and over the top out of the crouch, 69 mph. Quick feet creates 2.25-2.36 pop times. 4.37 runner home to first.

Dominic Goodenough, C/RHP, South Milwaukee, 2021
5-foot-7, 180-pound two-way player, strong barrelled build. Arm action is short, over the top slot, flashed carry, above average arm strength for his age, 77 mph out of the crouch. 2.37-2.43 pop times, clean exchange with length. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, lower half collapses, average balance. Path is long and uphill, slight pull side approach, showed ability to hit in rhythm. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.76 runner down the line. On the mound arm action plays longer, slight drop and drive type delivery, high ¾ slot. Fastball ranged 79-81 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, near fastball arm speed, 61-64 mph. Changeup thrown with near fastball arm speed, fades at times, 74-77 mph.

Connor Groff, C, Evanston (IL), 2021
6-foot-2, 220-pound catcher, extra-large frame. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, slight dives to hit, average balance. Bat strength present, opposite field contact, 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively release plays long from a high ¾ slot, accurate to target, 75 mph out of the crouch. 2.36-2.44 pop times. 5.00 runner home to first.

Mason Hege, C, Marian Central (IL), 2020
6-foot-2, 210-pound catcher, strong physical build, developed lower half. Right-handed hitter, short stride, two-piece load, maintains good balance. Simple approach, quiet pre pitch, creates easy bat speed and hard contact. Path has some length, slightly uphill. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long from a high ¾ slot, some accuracy, 73 mph out of the crouch. Exchange gets long at times, pop times posted at 2.18-2.29 out of the crouch. 4.76 runner home to first.

Christian Pedersen, C, Mukwonago, 2020
6-foot-1, 206-pound catcher, wide shoulder, barrel chested build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, loads hands back, two-piece. Path has length, uphill, showed improved rhythm. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively ranged 2.50-2.57 pop times, 67 mph arm strength out of the crouch, long ¾ slot. 4.90 runner home to first.  

Leonard Pureza, C, Round Lake (IL), 2020
5-foot-9, 160-pound catcher, average build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride and loads hands back. Line drive approach, worked the middle of the field in BP. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 73 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.18-2.28, flashed agility out of the crouch. 4.51 runner down the line.

Cole Schrank, C, Winnebago (IL), 2021
6-foot-3, 210-pound catcher, large frame. Left-handed hitter, closed stance, short stride. Flashed line drive contact, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm is short out of a high ¾ slot, 69 mph out of the crouch. Ability to block, exchange has some length, 2.36-2.47 pop times. 4.68 runner home to first.

Kyle Smith, C, Warren (IL), 2022
5-foot-10, 195-pound catcher, stocky sturdy build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg lift trigger, simple approach. Compact swing with pop, hard contact at times. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm action is short and over the top out of the crouch, 71 mph. 2.22-2.30 pop times, exchange played quick. 4.65 runner home to first.

Samual Wysokinski, C, Grayslake North (IL), 2021
5-foot-10, 215-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride gets squared. Path is long, slightly uphill and pull side approach. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Pop times ranged 2.26-2.37. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot, 68 mph out of the crouch. 4.96 runner home to first.

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