Underclass Invitational Catching Analysis
February 6, 2018
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Owen Best C / 1B / Regis Jesuit , CO / 2020Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 2
5-foot-10, 185 pounds. When you throw BP to Best the L-Screen doesn't seem to be enough protection. Live round was impressive. People stopped to watch. Wants to absolutely destroy the ball, and has proven in games he can. Goes in full-out attack the ball, and the bat looks like a toothpick in his hands. Exit velocity was 90 mph. Arm strength is there behind the dish, if improves feet quickness will improve pop-time. 2.14-2.19 pop-time range.
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Landon Boyd C / 3B / Legend , CO / 20215-foot-11, 185 pounds. Switch hitting 3B/C. Really came away impressed with body at the event. Quiet swing that repeats from both sides. Gap to gap power which produced 90 mph exit velocity from both sides as well. Athletic strong frame. Strongest arm at 3B at 80 mph. Pop time ranged from 2.06-2.10. Clean footwork with quick exchange and short arm action. No wasted movement. Throws have nice carry on them. Soft hands receiving. Good reactions. Also a hockey player. Player to follow in 2021 class.
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Tony Castonguay C / 3B / Grandview , CO / 2020Rankings StateRank: 22 / POS: 6
5-11, 175 pounds. Switch-hitting catcher who showcases bat-speed on both sides of the plate. Exit velocity was 86 mph from the right side and 83 mph from the left side. Get's money's worth with uphill swing path, and attack ball with good plate coverage on both sides. Wants to crush the ball. Both sides of the plate offensively play well. Can also run with dry 4.1 home to first time. Has a ton of tools. Good feet behind dish with solid receiving skills. Every time we see Castonguay we like him more. Looks like a leader as well. Pop time ranged from 2.05-2.10.
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Blake Rarog SS / C / Legend, CO / 2020Rankings StateRank: 93 / POS: 17
5-foot-9, 175 pounds. Will be biggest riser out our the event and showcased how much skills have improved. Impressive arm-strength behind the dish at 76 mph which also led to the best pop-time at 1.85 off a coach. Right-handed hitter, Open stance, big leg kick trigger, solid balance. Short loose path, hands create bat speed, projectable traits at the plate. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Righty on the mound and throws from an over-the-top arm angle, average arm speed. Toe lift to balance point with average effort leads to some rhythm and helps land in line. Straight fastball averages between 78-79 mph. Curve had sweeping 10/4 break, sits in the 67-68 range. Occasionally slows arm action down during changeup, averages 71 mph.
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Jack Roode C / 3B / Kent Denver, CO / 2020Rankings StateRank: 98 / POS: 13
6-foot, 160 pounds. The left-handed swing for a catcher plays. More power then last time we saw him in live round. Ball was jumping off bat with pull-side power. Bat stays in the zone with good extension. Exit velocity was 85 mph. Showed some ability to run with 4.15 home to first. Pop-times 2nd best at event at 1.98 off of a coach. Loose arm action throwing from a high three quarter slot with carry on throws and accurate. Smooth transfer with quick feet in exchange to throw from behind the plate. Arm velocity was 72 mph. Intrigued to see him get more strength.
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Craig Kenny C / 3B / Regis Jesuit, CO / 2020Rankings StateRank: 41 / POS: 7
5-foot-11, 180 pounds. Kenny continues to improve every time we see him. Shows some power potential at the plate and gets his money's worth. 87 mph exit velocity with pull power. Open stance, big leg kick trigger, solid balance. Uphill swing path with good extension out front. Good receiver behind the plate and had the strongest arm at 77 mph. Has a long release, might benefit from shortening up. Quiet hands while receiving and good athletic actions on balls in the dirt. Pop times were 2.10-2.13.
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Best of the Rest Listed Alphabetically
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Logan Balfanz C / 3B / Dakota Ridge High School, CO / 20215-foot-7, 135-pound right hand hitting C/3B. Open stance, big leg kick trigger, solid balance. Short loose path, hands create bat whip, 69 mph exit velocity from the tee. Pop time ranged from 2.40-2.45. Clean footwork and clean exchange with a short arm action. Arm velocity was 60 mph.
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Dylan Davis C / 2B / Columbine , CO / 20206-foot-0, 165-pound right hand hitting C/2B. Starts in an open stance, short stride during load, mostly balanced. Attacks the ball from a short path and level swing through the zone. Hands showed good quickness on the inside pitch. Exit velocity was 80 mph. Defensively, fluid footwork, clean exchange. Long arm action from high ¾ slot, 80 mph across the field. Loose arm action throwing from a high three quarter slot with carry on throws and accurate. Smooth transfer with quick feet in exchange to throw from behind the plate. Shorter arm action throwing from a three quarter slot. Pop time ranged from 2.13-2.19.
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Chase Hinson C / 1B / Windsor , CO / 20206-foot-2, 190-pound right hand hitting C/1B. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, big leg kick trigger, solid balance. Short loose path, hands create bat speed, projectable traits at the plate. Repeats the same swing each time. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Pop time ranged from 2.18-2.23. Clean footwork with quick exchange and short arm action. No wasted movement. Throws have nice carry on them and accuracy to the bag. Soft hands receiving. Good reactions. Arm velocity was 70 mph.
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Nickolas Esquivel C / 3B / Cherry Creek, CO / 2020Rankings StateRank: 18 / POS: 4
6-foot-3, 170 pounds. Lanky, wiry frame. See the potential. Kinda plays everything a little careful but has the tools. Arm strength is there at 70 mph behind the dish. Clean footwork with quick exchange and short arm action. No wasted movement. Throws have nice carry on them. Soft hands receiving. Good reactions. Pop times were 2.10-2.13. At the plate has good pre-pitch rhythm, barrel stays through the zone with good extension. exit velocity was 83 mph. Projectable player with room to grow. Receiving behind dish stood out. Soft hands and quiet.
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Nate Leash C / 3B / Monarch, CO / 2020Rankings StateRank: 94 / POS: 12
5-foot-9, 170-pound right hand hitting C/3B. Open stance, big leg kick trigger, solid balance. Short path to the ball, swing path is slightly uphill with a front side finish. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Quick feet behind dish. Lower exchange at times with a short arm action and clean throughout. Pop time ranged from 2.11-2.15. Throws from a high ¾ arm slot with accuracy to the bag. Arm velocity was 70 mph.
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Dylan McKee SS / 2B / Smoky Hill , CO / 20205-foot-7, 135-pound right hand hitting C/SS. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, long stride trigger, solid balance. Short loose path, hands create bat speed. Swing path is uphill, good bat control through the zone. Exit velocity was 78 mph. Defensively he showed good athletic actions, hands played well with a quick exchange and release. Arm played short, 73 mph across the diamond. Quick feet behind dish. Quick exchange at times with a short arm action and clean throughout. Pop time ranged from 2.00–2.05 with accuracy.
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Ben McLaughlin 3B / RHP / Golden, CO / 2020Rankings StateRank: 42 / POS: 5
6-foot-0, 160-pound right hand hitting C/RHP. Left-handed hitter, starts in an open stance, long stride during load, mostly balanced. Attacks the ball in the zone. Swing path is uphill with some drag. Exit velocity was 77 mph off the tee. Quick feet behind dish. Clean exchange at times with a high ¾ arm action and clean throughout. Pop time ranged from 2.10–2.17. On the mound, he throws from a loose, high ¾ slot. Arm angle and whip created good movement on his off speed pitches. Fastball slightly runs to arm side, stays around the zone, sat 75-77 mph. Slider has 10/4 shape, 62-64 mph showed as his best secondary pitch. Changeup sinks with feel, 63-64 mph.
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Andrew Naha C / OF / Mullen, CO / 2020Rankings StateRank: 17 / POS: 3
6-foot-1, 155-pound right hand hitting C/OF. At the plate he has a balanced setup, smooth load, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Compact, fluid, repeatable swing, creates bat speed, consistent hard contact; 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. Loose arm action throwing from a high three quarter slot with carry on throws and accurate. Smooth transfer with quick feet in exchange to throw from behind the plate. Pop time ranged from 2.16–2.20. Arm velocity was 71 mph.
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Jared Olson C / RHP / Chatfield Senior High, CO / 2020Rankings StateRank: 64 / POS: 8
5-foot-10, 140-pound right hand hitting C/RHP. At the plate he hits from a balanced stance with a high leg kick trigger. Hands and weight sweep through the zone with an uphill swing path. Exit velocity was 76 mph off the tee. Behind the plate he showed good athletic actions and a clean exchange. Hands are soft on receiving. Pop time ranged from 2.18–2.23 with accuracy to the bag. Righty on the mound and throws from an over-the-top arm angle, average arm speed. Toe lift to balance point with average effort leads to some rhythm and helps land in line. Straight fastball averages between 74-76 mph. Curve had sweeping 11/5 break and sat between 66 and 67 mph. Occasionally slows arm action down during changeup, averages 60 mph.
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Reese Randell C / 3B / Dakota Ridge High School, CO / 20215-foot-6, 131-pound right hand hitting C/3B. Balanced setup, high leg kick to start swing maintains balance through contact. Finishes on his front side. Compact, fluid, repeatable swing, creates consistent contact; 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Pop time ranged from 2.20–2.25. Clean footwork and exchange with short arm action. No wasted movement. Throws were accurate to the bag. Soft hands receiving. Good reactions on balls in the dirt. Arm velocity was 65 mph.
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