John
Sheehan

Norcal Procase

Body: Long, large, athletic 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame that carries lean muscle and has plenty of room for physical growth. 

Hit: Currently geared for line drives and doubles. Average bat speed, with minor hitch. Good Early connection metrics suggest he has more adjustability in his swing to cover his hot zones and will strike out less.  Has the ability to recognize secondary pitches, but has trouble barreling up at present time.

Power: Gap-to-gap. Topped out with an exit velocity of 94 MPH via Blast Motion. Possesses on par MLB averages in early connection metrics that suggest there will be some power down the line. Currently it will come in the form of doubles. Shows some loft in the swing.    

Field: Carry tool. Above Average. Has catch-ability with a feel for receiving. Predict he can endure the rigors of the position over time. Exhibits extreme flexibility in the hips and ankles which allows for perfect crouching positions and multiple set-ups, also giving him excellent mobility to his left and right on balls in the dirt. Displays proper technique in framing and blocking. Also appears he has the desire to block balls. Predicting high defensive runs saved and defensive WAR statistics in the future. 

Arm: Carry tool. Above average. Gun-slinger mentality. Can shut down the college/pro run game right now with current pop times consistently in the 1.78-1.98 range. Will throw from knees with ease and quickness along with being able to throw from all angles and arm slots. 

Run: 7.30 60-yard. Short, choppy stride, better underway.

Summary - Comp(s): Hybrid of Will Smith (Dodgers) & Sean Murphy (A's) - Field over bat/power profile. Prototype defensive catch and throw catcher. Possesses leadership qualities seen in successful catchers, and with only a small sample size to go on; communicates and works well with his pitchers.  Has a hunter mentality with an arm that can get the job done day-in-day-out.  Will have to gain overall strength in the body, which should naturally happen with age and maturity. All-in-all Sheehan may not be a top 10 round catching prospect right now, however, after 3-years in a college program he will grow into a solid catching prospect, and it will allow the bat to catch up with his catching chops.

5/27/19 - N. CA Underclass ID - Long, large frame with high waist carrying lean muscle. Athletic with good movements (7.53 60-yd). Very high hands with high back elbow standing tall slightly open. Hands pull bat down and into back shoulder with soft front stride transferring weight well. Hands stay on top of the ball with barrel working on quick upward arc through the zone. Bat was quick showing extra-base hit power staying balanced as he drove gap-to-gap (85 EV). Catching skills are very high, including an extremely strong arm (81 MPH), a very clean and efficient transfer (1.87-2.01 Pop), excellent blocking skills and a soft glove that can manipulate the baseball. Showed his glove skills during Catching drills, but also filled in at first picking the ball out of the dirt with his catchers glove. Athletic and moves well behind the plate with catching tools being carrying tools for him.

Fresno Easter Classic - Blocks with agility and control. All the defensive skills you look for in Catcher. Big time release, plus accuracy; intimidating for other teams and stops run game. Warm-up pop times vs Lemoore HS 1.87-2.00. Strength in frame and barreled two balls today. Fair bat speed with XBH power in there; Hit tool continues to remain something to improve.

Uncommitted as of this viewing vs Franklin HS;  one of the top catchers in the region in his class. Big and durable type body at 6-foot-2 190-pounds, showed really good agility behind plate, with good blocking skills. Shifts side to side with quiet actions and does so late as to not tip off location, can get low and stick a firm low fastball. Soft strong hands. Has all the defensive tools, including quick feet for throws to 2nd and back picks to other bags. Does an awful lot right as a defender, especially considering he's a sophomore. Offensively is where he's going to have to make some strides. He's strong and will have some power but the timing and pitch selection and overall approach are areas to improve. Can get a little long with the swing and made contact off the barrel, a few times toward end of the bat. Hitting mechanics can be worked on and as he's likely trained very hard to be as polished as he is already as a defender, it's likely that he is hard at work on the offensive side of his game as well.

PBR N CA Preseason All-State - Long and tall, large frame with width in shoulders; growing strength and starting to add more mass to frame carrying more projectability as he reaches full maturity. Average runner with good stride length (7.43 60-yd). Very agile with excellent footwork and explosive actions in catch and throw skills; controlled transitions and a quick, compact arm that flashes plus working in time with lower half giving him the ability to put the ball on the bag with extra carry (1.78-1.98 pop, 79 MPH). Open stance with high hands/high back elbow as bat starts on back shoulder; controlled load as hands work down and back and quiet lower half works forward. Bat snaps into zone with good weight transfer, working on level path and showing pull side approach; quickness in bat that flashed more gap power when creating leverage and working on upward plane matching path with the ball (86 exit velo). One of the top uncommitted 2021 Catchers in California.

Fall tournament 10/27-10/29/18 - Lanky/agile backstop w/strong arm that consistently plays each time we have seen him, hitting tools are present w/favorably projectable frame for future power, overall tools/talent project him as one of top 2021 catchers in N California.

PBR N CA Underclass Games - 6-foot-1, 175-pounds, good frame, room throughout to keep gaining size and strength, long and lanky now with some wiry strength, good body type. Interesting tools on this young catcher. Arm strength and potential bat talent both stood out and that is a profile that generally will get a catcher on the radar of college coaches. Slightly open stance, fluid load and swing prep, minimal forward movement and stays behind ball nicely. Has some present gap pop and projects to have more that will play through his high school years. Let’s ball travel and though didn’t have the greatest two game at-bats, his approach was consistently in the middle of the field. Defensively he showed high level transfer skills and a strong arm. The times he posted are not going to hold up in game play with the need to do the primary job of a catcher, that being to receive. Has good agility and moves around athletically. Tools are there, making them all happen consistently in game play will dictate what kind of player he becomes. Talked the game well too with leadership skills. All in all a talented 2021 catcher who should be considered among the best backstop prospects in the region in his class.