Colorado Top Prospect Games: Catching Analysis
August 19, 2014
By John Cackowski
Director of Scouting
The Colorado Top Prospect Games took place on Saturday August 16th and Sunday August 17th, at Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, CO. This year’s event featured several talented, uncommitted players in Colorado’s 2015 through 2018 classes. Starting off our positional analysis we will take a look at the top catching prospects. Cherry Creek's Parker Jax, took home top honors impressing with his power potential, pop times, and throwing accuracy.
Here’s a look at the top catching prospects at this year’s Colorado Top Prospect Games:
Top Catching Prospects
1. Parker Jax, C, Cherry Creek, 2015
5-11, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher is currently uncommitted. The Colorado Top Prospect games was the first time the PBR staff has seen Jax and he impressed. He stands tall with a slightly wide open stance, a short close down stride, hands are already back and creating short, level bat path with extension and above average 84 mph exit velocity. Jax gets the most out of his swing, and during batting practice he hit several hard line drives showing gap to gap power. Defensively, reeled off live in-game pop times between 1.97-2.05, with very good accuracy (Both balls down to 2nd and 3rd were dropped which would have resulted in the runners being thrown out). Jax framed well all weekend and managed pitchers he did not know well. Ran a 6.93 60 yard dash, which is very good for a catcher, and 4.56 seconds from home to first. Parker was 1-2 with an RBI double to right center on day 2 of the games.
2. Kyle Derr, Catcher, Dakota Ridge, 2016
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Bats from a crouching position with minimal load and short stride. Hard working with quick feet behind the plate. His path is short to the ball and he is a gap to gap hitter. Has a good approach at the plate. Does a great job managing the game. At Colorado Top Prospect Games threw out two runners including one of the fastest runners in the country (Javy Garcia). During the games Derr had a run-scoring single on the first day. Ran a 7.53 60 and had a 2.20 pop-time.
3. Tyler Carrasco, C, Dakota Ridge, 2016
5-foot-10 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Hits from a balance stance, with minimal load with a short path that generates line drives with carry. Slash type hitter. Keeps hands inside of the ball. Dives a little over the plate. Hard working catcher. In Colorado Top Prospect games he caught with confidence, and made an awesome diving play on pop-up foul by plate. Behind the plate, Tyler reeled off pop times between 2.10-2.16 and threw 74 mph. Ran a 7.70 60.
Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)
Carter Bell, C, Dakota Ridge, 2017
5-foot-6, 112-pound right-handed hitting catcher hits from a balanced stance, very little stride, with a short bat path creating 71 mph exit velocity and consistant contact. Showed quick, efficient feet behind the plate, with pop times between 2.28-2.30. Also threw 68 mph from the position. Showed some speed for his age and position by running a 7.38 60. Young catcher who works hard behind the plate. Just needs to add strength and weight. In Colorado Top Prospect games was able to handle junior and senior pitching with ease.
Jordan Medina, C, Highlands Ranch, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher/right-handed pitcher, and middle infielder impressed with arm strength both on the mound, behind the plate, and during infield evals. Behind the plate, threw 76 mph with pop times ranging between 2.31-2.36. Arm is strong but throwing action is long for position. Hits from a open, balanced setup. Hands drop in load and has a long stride which makes him jump out towards ball. Has a bat path looking to pull with 81 mph exit velocity which is good bat speed for this age. When he learns to quiet down extra movement should be able to take advantage of above average velocity. Has a good approach at plate and good composure. Ran a 7.8 60 yard dash. We will also profile Medina in Pitching Analysis. Good looking young prospect.
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