By Jeff Markle
Assistant State Director

The Prep Baseball Report’s Junior Sunbelt Tryout took place on April 24th at ThunderRidge High School. 54 prospects showed up and strutted their stuff in a pro-style workout. Over the next several days the PBR Scouting staff will roll out position-by-position analysis of the event. We begin our look at this event with the catching position.

You can view the complete stats from this event HERE.

Catcher Analysis (Listed Alphabetically) 

TJ Barnes, Chatfield Senior High School, 2017
6-foot-0, 170-pound right hand hitting catcher/right-hand pitcher. Behind the plate he shows good actions receiving pitches. He has quiet hands and does a good job framing.  Shows a quick release and accurate arm with a 2.06 pop time.  He is balanced at the plate with a long stride on the pitch. Strong weight transfer and quick hands produced several balls in the gap. Exit velocity was 84 MPH off the tee. On the mound he is tall and delivers from a high ¾ arm slot.  Arm speed stays consistent on all three pitches.  Fastball was 78 MPH, a 65-66 MPH curve and a 67-68 MPH change. Ran a 7.2 60. 

Russell Cruz, Columbine High School, 2017
6-foot-0, 190-pound right hand hitting catcher/3B. Strong and athletic behind the plate, he moves well on pitches in the dirt. He showcased a 71 MPH arm and a 2.02 pop time off a coach. In the field he attacks the ball and gets rid of it quickly. He had a 75 MPH arm velocity with accuracy across the diamond. He is balanced at the plate with a slight load back on the pitch. A Short stride for timing and aggressive rotation during contact produced good power to the left center gap. Exit velocity was 90 MPH off the tee.  Ran a 7.3 60.

Brock Downing, Ralston Valley High School, 2017
6-foot-0, 175-pound right hand hitting catcher/OF. Very athletic, ran a 6.80 60 and showcased himself well behind the plate and in the outfield. Downing has quick feet and release, pop time was 2.02 off a coach and a 75 MPH arm velocity. In the outfield he is quick to the ball and shows smooth fielding actions. Arm was 83 MPH with accuracy to third base.  At the plate he hits from an open stance with a high leg kick for timing.  He is aggressive with his rotation and hands through the zone. His exit velocity was 87 MPH with good power to the opposite gap. 

Jarod Dreiling, Littleton High School, 2017
5-foot-7, 145-pound right hand hitting catcher/right-hand pitcher. Quiet behind the plate with a 2.10 pop time and a 70 MPH arm. In the field he showed good footwork and a quick release.  At the plate he stands narrow with a long stride on the pitch. Swing is on a slight upward path with good rotation at contact. He had an 81 MPH exit velocity.  On the mound he throws from a low ¾ release with movement on all three pitches.  Fastball was 71 MPH with slight run, he also showcased a 63 MPH curve with sweeping break and a 64 MPH change.  He ran a 7.6 60. 

Josh Haensly, Fairview High School, 2017
6-foot-1, 195-pound right hand hitting catcher/OF. Behind the plate he showcased a quiet set up and good actions blocking pitches. Arm was 66 MPH from the crouch.  In the outfield he moved well and throws from an over the top release with accuracy.  Arm was 73 MPH.  Wide athletic stance at the plate with a double tow tap on the pitch. He hits against a firm front side with strong weight transfer. Good power to the pull side. Exit velocity was 92 MPH off the tee.  He ran a 7.28 60. 

Tyson Hays, Grandview High School, 2017
5-foot-11, 185-pound right hand hitting catcher/3B. Good looking prospect behind the plate. Good set up and framing on pitches and quick actions on balls in the dirt.  Accurate 81 MPH arm with a 1.96 pop time. Stands tall at the plate with very little movement on the pitch.  Swing path is slightly uphill with quick hands through the zone.  Exit velocity was 93 MPH off the tee and he showed good power to all parts of the field.  Athletic player who ran a 7.02 60. 

Brett Johnson, Douglas County High School, 2017
5-foot-8, 170-pound switch hitting catcher/2B. Showcased at two positions, behind the plate he had a pop time of 2.09 with a 72 MPH arm. In the field he gets behind the ball and in good throwing position, has a 75 MPH arm with accuracy. From the right side he is balanced with a short stride for timing.  Bat sweeps through the zone on a slight upward plain.  Exit velocity was 81 MPH off the tee. From the left side he is balanced and closes off on the stride.  Swing follows an upward plain and he finishes high after contact. Good bat control to the opposite field from this side. Ran a 7.32 60. 

Jake Kleszczynski, Mountain Range High School, 2017
5-foot-10, 155-pound right hand hitting catcher/OF. Quiet in the crouch with a quick release, arm velocity was 77 MPH with a 2.01 pop time. Showed good actions blocking pitches in the dirt. At the plate he is balanced with a long stride on the pitch. Weight moves forward with good extension out front at contact. Exit velocity was 82 MPH off the tee.  Ran a 7.8 60. 

Sam McGill, Fairview High School, 2017
5-foot-11, 176-pound right hand hitting catcher/3B. Behind the plate he showed a good setup and positioning on pitches, frames the outside pitch well. He showed soft hands and quick feet on balls in the dirt. Arm velocity was 76 MPH from the crouch with a pop time of 1.98.  At the plate he starts open with a high leg kick to come square. Swing path is uphill with good extension at contact. Exit velocity was 91 MPH off the tee. He showed good bat control to the right center gap. Ran a 7.48 60. 

Brett Newman, Highlands Ranch High School, 2017
6-foot-1, 165-pound right hand hitting catcher/right-hand pitcher. Tall frame behind the plate with good hands for framing. Arm is long out of the glove with accuracy to second base. Pop time was 2.08.  At the plate he is balanced with his hands high in the zone.  He has a slight load to the back side and hands drop on the swing. He shows good weight transfer and hits off a firm front side. Exit velocity was 83 MPH off the tee. Ran a 7.5 60. 

Brevin Owen, Falcon High School, 2017
6-foot-0, 160-pound left hand hitting catcher/3B.  Small quiet crouch behind the plate with good reactions on balls in the dirt. Arm velocity was 68 MPH to second with accuracy.  Pop time was 2.07. At the plate he is balanced with a long stride on the pitch. Swing path is uphill with good weight transfer at contact produced balls with carry to the left center gap.  He had an 82 MPH exit velocity off the tee.  Ran a 7.5 60. 

Garrett Tisdall, Eaglecrest High School, 2017
6-foot-2, 185-pound right hand hitting catcher/3B. Tall athletic behind the plate, shows good hands receiving pitches and framing. Arm is accurate to the bag with a 74 MPH velocity and a 1.98 pop time. At the plate he stands tall and balanced. He uses a high leg kick to load on his backside and transfer his weight aggressively on the swing. Swing path is slightly uphill and produced a ball with good carry. His exit velocity was 87 MPH off the tee. Ran a 7.4 60. 

Jadon Uhrich, Rocky Mountain High School, 2017
5-foot-10, 170-pound right hand hitting catcher/1B. Athletic player with quick actions including a 6.8 60.  Moves well behind the plate, showcased a 74 MPH arm and a 2.05 pop time.  At first base he covers good ground and showcased a quick release on double play balls. Infield arm velocity was 78 MPH.  At the plate he starts in a wide stance with a strong load back and double tow tap on the pitch. Strong rotation and quick hands through the zone produced several balls off the fence. He had an 88 MPH exit velocity off the tee.

Dylan Van Sky, Thomas Jefferson High School, 2017
5-foot-10, 150-pound right hand hitting catcher/OF.  Athletic all-around player who ran a 7.08 60. Behind the plate he moves well laterally and has quick actions on balls in the dirt. Arm velocity was 73 MPH and a 2.10 pop time. At the plate he is narrow and crouched on the pitch with a long stride for timing.  Needs to get his weight through on the swing a bit more.  Hands show good extension out front on contact.  He had a 79 MPH exit velocity off the tee.