West Milwaukee Preseason ID: Catcher Analysis

March 14, 2023
By: Wisconsin Staff

On Saturday, Feb. 18th, the PBR Wisconsin staff traveled to the GRB-STiKS Academy and Sports Training facility in Waukesha, WI to host one of the largest showcases on our winter calendar, the West Milwaukee Preseason ID. This event provided us an ample opportunity to check-in on some of the area’s high school prospects and identify several names as we prepare for the WIAA season, as well as future invite-only events on the PBR Wisconsin calendar.

In the week that followed this event, we produced post-event analysis that includes performance highlights inside of our Quick Hits story, a look at the traditional stats measured within our Statistical Analysis piece, batted-ball and pitch data covered in our Positional and Pitcher data dives.

You can learn more about the state-of-the-art technologies featured at our showcases within the hyperlinks above. Today we’ll begin our post-event process by rolling out the individual scouting reports of the day, starting with the catcher position while working our way across the diamond as the week continues.

TOP-11 CATCHERS

Marek Bolson C / 2B / Oconomowoc, WI / 2025

Rankings StateRank: 22 / POS: 3

Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. Long levers, high waist, sloped shoulders, projectable.
Hit: LHH. Stock setup, relaxed hands. Leg lift gather, lands slightly back of center, short quick direct path, long through the ball, can impact and loft the ball middle to pull side gap and hit line drives to opposite field, hitterish.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 80.9 mph. 314’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72.00 mph. High 3/4 slot, quick arm.
Defense: 2.06-2.13 pop times. Athletic, quick first step, clean transfer, smooth transfer, soft blocker.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60.

Connor Harvie C / 1B / Waterford Union, WI / 2025

Rankings StateRank: 24 / POS: 4

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds. Long levers, projectable.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with relaxed hands. Center load and gather, short direct path, very quick hands, drives balls to both gaps, hitterish.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 86.1 mph. 311’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73.00 mph. Short, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.15-2.33 pop times. Quick right foot, clean transfer, smooth blocker.
Run: 7.64 runner in the 60.

Bryce Duszak C / 3B / Menasha, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-1, 200-pounds. Athletic with high waist and strong build
Hit: RHH. Balanced set up with slightly wide base and slight crouch. Centered load, gets to strong hitting position, flat direct path, quiet head, hands work quick through ball, impacts line drives to both gaps.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 86.4 mph. 340’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 82.00 mph. Aggressive, quick arm, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.03-2.20 pop times. Athletic, quick transfer, clean firm throws.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60.

Parker Schwake C / 1B / Wauwatosa West, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-4, 215-pounds. Strong, athletic build, well proportioned.
Hit: RHH. Upright set up, relaxed hands. Gathers back, gets to strong hitting position on time, serious leverage and impact to all fields.
Power: 102 max exit velocity, averaged 96.7 mph. 399’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74.00 mph. INF - 69.00 mph. Full arc, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.14-2.28 pop times. Feet work around the bag.
Run: 7.07 runner in the 60.

Brady Johnson C / 3B / St. Thomas More, WI / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 87 / POS: 13

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-2, 200-pounds. Long levers, strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Stock set-up, small quiet gather into inside part of back heel, gets back to center, strong back elbow, strong loaded position, Short, quick swing, impacts the ball to all fields.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 86.1 mph. 316’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79.00 mph. Quick, aggressive arm, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.01-2.08 pop times. Feet work around bag, quick feet, smooth transfer.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60.

PJ Hamel C / OF / Arrowhead, WI / 2025

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-3, 180-pounds. Long levers, high waist, projectable frame.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with slight crouch. Small gather into back side, gets back to center, short compact swing, rotates hard through the swing, can impact the ball to both gaps.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 81.1 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph. OF - 85.00 mph. OF: Medium arc, 3/4 slot. C: Quick 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.13-2.25 pop times. OF: One-hand gather, shuffle step, medium leg swing finish through target. C: Quick first step, clean transfer, smooth hands, clean block.
Run: 7.50 runner in the 60.

Jonah Borchardt SS / C / Marquette University, WI / 2025

Positional Profile: SS/C
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Strong frame, well proportioned, strong lower half, athletic.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with relaxed hands. Sits into back side, advances forward into strong loaded position, hands work quick and direct through ball driving balls to both gaps.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 79.3 mph. 291’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74.00 mph. INF - 79.00 mph. INF: High 3/4 slot, quick arm, accurate. C: High 3/4 slot, clean arm action.
Defense: 2.07-2.22 pop times. INF: Athletic, quick first step, clean feet and hands, solid actions. C: Throws downhill, athletic, moves well.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60.

Gavin Schieffer C / 3B / Lake Country Lutheran, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 195-pounds. Strong frame, good proportions.
Hit: RHH. Open set up with relaxed hands. Centered land with toe tap, direct path, quick hands, long through the ball.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 90.3 mph. 336’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80.00 mph. 3/4 slot, quick arm.
Defense: 2.09-2.15 pop times. Very quick first step, smooth clean hands, works in-line.
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60.

Dieter Pommer C / 3B / West Bend West, WI / 2026

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 205-pounds. Thick, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Narrow base with crouch and relaxed hands. Leg-lift gather, lands with balance into strong hitting position, flat direct path, whippy bat speed out front, drives balls to all fields.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 88.2 mph. 304’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph. Quick arm, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.06-2.26 pop times. Quick first step, clean transfer, throws downhill, accurate throws.
Run: 7.95 runner in the 60.

Benjamin Doherty C / 3B / Pius XI, WI / 2023

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Strong frame, good proportions.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open set up, with relaxed hands. Flat path, loose free and easy, line drives to all fields, hitterish.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 77.5 mph. 294’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph. INF - 78.00 mph. INF: Short arc 3/4 slot, accurate. C: 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.08-2.16 pop times. INF: Hands and feet work smooth through the ball, reliable. C: Quick first step, works around the plate, downhill throws.
Run: 7.83 runner in the 60.

Benjamin Van Bell 3B / 3B / Whitefish Bay, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-9, 170-pounds. Athletic with good proportions, some fill coming
Hit: RHH. Stock set up, with balance. Gathers into back side, short compact load, gets to strong hitting position, flat through baseball, impacts ball to pull side.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 85.4 mph. 320’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph. High 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.19-2.31 pop times. Quick first step, smooth transfer, soft hands, soft blocker.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Davis Cashin, Watertown (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Athletic frame with some projection.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, higher hands. Big gather into back side, gets back to center, quick hands, direct path, line drive stroke to both gaps.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 70.6 mph. 265’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70.00 mph. 3/4 slot, aggressive arm.
Defense: 2.25-2.50 pop times. Clean transfer, smooth hands, soft blocker.
Run: 7.45 runner in the 60.

Alan Duran, Ronald Reagan (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Athletic with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with relaxed hands. Gathers back into back leg, turns hard on back side with loft to path.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 73.2 mph. 279’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph. High 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.28-2.56 pop times. Works around plate, clean transfer, smooth block.
Run: 7.95 runner in the 60.

Chase Freschi, Catholic Memorial (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 206-pounds. Thick, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with relaxed hands. Toe-tap gather back, gets back to center, direct path, short and quick through the ball, can drive balls to both gaps.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 80.9 mph. 304’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67.00 mph. High 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.37-2.45 pop times. Works in-line, soft hands, smooth transfer.
Run: 8.78 runner in the 60.

Nathan Hinek, New Berlin West (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: 2B/C
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Well proportioned, athletic, some projection.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, stock set up with higher hands. Controlled gather back, soft land, bat speed and hand quickness to and through the ball, impacts the ball, good look.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 82.7 mph. 312’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73.00 mph. INF - 78.00 mph. INF: Short arc, 3/4 slot. C: 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.20-2.37 pop times. INF: Two-hand gather, shuffle step through target. C: Smooth hands, clean transfer, works on-line, smooth blocker.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60.

Jackson Naber, Slinger (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-8, 150-pounds. Athletic with good proportions.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up, slight crouch, hands close to ear, small leg lift. Controlled move forward, quick hands, short path, long through ball, leverages ball to both gaps, hitterish.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 82.4 mph. 298’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72.00 mph. High 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.33-2.38 pop times. Clean transfer, quick first step.
Run: 8.32 runner in the 60.

Zeke Penvose, Milwaukee Rufus King (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds. Well proportioned, athletic with some projection.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with higher hands. Short gather back into strong hitting position, drives balls to pull side.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 81.9 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73.00 mph. Quick, aggressive arm, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.20-2.28 pop times. Quick first step, works on-line, smooth, clean hands, quick transfer.
Run: 7.67 runner in the 60.

Jackson Reno, Oconomowoc (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 5-11, 155-pounds. Good proportions with projection.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up, hands in strong position at set up. Small gather back, direct path, line drive contact through middle of field.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 80 mph. 295’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73.00 mph. OF - 80.00 mph. OF: Medium arc, 3/4 slot, carry and accuracy. C: 3/4 slot, quick arm.
Defense: 2.19-2.33 pop times. OF: Shuffle to target, medium swing finish. C: Works around the plate, smooth blocking.
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60.

Chase Schimpf, Kettle Moraine (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. Athletic with some fill coming.
Hit: RHH. Narrower set up with higher hands. Early foot down, rotates hard through ball, line drive path to all fields.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 78.5 mph. 275’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68.00 mph. High 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.45-2.57 pop times. Quick transfer, clean hands, works in-line.
Run: 7.67 runner in the 60.

Ethan Trudell, New Berlin West (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. Athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up with higher hands. Feet stay on ground with rock back into back leg, rocks back to center, short path, line drives to middle of field.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 71.6 mph. 268’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71.00 mph. High 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.32-2.45 pop times. Works in-line, athletic, clean transfer, smooth blocker.
Run: 7.85 runner in the 60.