Preseason All-State: Catching Analysis

March 9, 2016

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Illinois/Wisconsin

The Preseason All-State is an invite only showcase held every year in February for the top juniors in the state. This week we start to roll out our analysis of the event starting with the catchers. Illinois has notoriously produced strong catching prospects with draft consideration every year, and the 2017 class looks to be no different. Florida commit Cal Greenfield is a physical specimen who showed off big bat speed coupled with a big arm out of the crouch. This group of catchers is loaded top to bottom, ad you could easily see a majority of these names in the state rankings, soon to updated this month.

Here's a look at the top catching prospects from the event.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Cal Greenfield, C, St. Rita, 2017
Florida commit. 6-foot-1, 195-pound catcher, physically advanced, strong athletic build. Currently ranked as the top prospect in Illinois’ 2017 class, strong defensive catcher with power bat. Open setup, loads hands back, small leg lift stride back to even, good balance. Advanced bat speed, fast bat, hard contact with backspin, gap to gap power bat. 96 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short and over the top, big arm out of the crouch, 82 mph with carry. Soft hands receiving, footwork is quick, efficient exchange, athletic defender. 7.04 runner in the 60.

2. Keaton Rice, C, Geneseo, 2017
6-foot-1, 175-pound left-handed hitting catcher, long lanky projectable frame. Profiles as a strong armed projectable prospect. Defensively his arm played at 82 mph out of the crouch, short over the top slot, carries well to target. 1.97-2.01 pop times. Athletic defender, flashes soft hands. Offensively hits from an open stance, short stride, average balance. BP round worked the middle of the field, slight uphill path, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.72 runner in the 60.

3. Merrick Eddington, C, Mount Zion, 2017
Strong physical build, 6-foot, 225-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Profiles as an offensive catcher with a power bat. Hits from a slightly open stance, average stride, loads hands back, good balance. Strong bat, fast bat speed, slight uphill path, powerful stroke, looks to lift baseballs with power to pull side. 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed arm strength out of the crouch at 80 mph, short arm action, showed accuracy with carry. Showed well blocking the baseball, 1.97-2.04 pop time, improved catching skills since last seeing him. 8.04 runner in the 60.

4. Kellen Sarver, C/3B, Champaign Centennial, 2017
6-foot-1, 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher, average frame. Strong armed catcher, 79 mph from the crouch, short over the top slot, easy carry, also showed it off at 78 mph across the diamond. Defensively shows best behind the dish, hands worked, gets out of the crouch well, wide base. Pop times ranged 2.00-2.08. Offensively hits from the left side, 97 mph exit velocity. Slight open setup, loads hands back, short stride, average balance. Showed feel for the barrel, line drive approach, took a good round working gap to gap. 7.70 runner in the 60.

5. Cam Post, C, Lincoln-Way Central, 2017
6-foot-2, 205-pound catcher, physical build with strength, durable receiver. Defensively showed softer hands receiving the baseball, quiet receiver. 2.00-2.05 pop times out of the crouch. Arm played short and over the top, carried at 78 mph, flashed accuracy. Right-handed hitter, strong bat, path works uphill looks to lift with power, occasional pull side tendencies. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.16 runner in the 60, above average runner for his position.

5. Bobby Barnard, C, Unity, 2017
Right-handed hitting catcher, lanky athletic frame, 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Profiles well defensively, loose over the top arm slot, arm carries well, one of the best arms at the event, 80 mph out of the crouch and highly athletic. Footwork is quick out of the crouch, showed good athleticism out of the chute, 2.00-2.05 pop times. 7.52 runner. Hits from an open stance, slight diving leg lift, can maintain balance better. Spray hitter, worked the middle of the field, average bat speed on level plane. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Pierson Gibis, C, Wauconda, 2017
Left-handed hitting catcher, average build, 5-foot-11, 175-pounds. Offensively hits from a tall and open stance, short stride and smooth loading action, average balance. Loose hands, spray hitter, showed control of the barrel, repeatable contact. Line drive gap to gap guy with above average bat speed, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed average arm strength, 76 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged, 2.08-2.16 and ran a 7.43 60.

Yaki Lee, C/SS, Harlan, 2017
5-foot-10, 170-pound multi-positional player, shows best skill set behind the plate, athletic receiver. 7.13 runner in the 60. Defensively arm plays short and over the top, showed well above average arm strength, 79 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.12-2.25, solid actions behind the dish, athletic blocker. On the infield arm played at 78 mph across the diamond. Tends to sits back, fields deep, has the athletic ability to play through more aggressively. Left-handed hitter, open stance, short stride back to even, average balance. Spray type hitter, works off backs side, showed athletic hands and bat speed. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Robert Marinec, C, Shepard, 2017
6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher, average build. Right handed hitter, balanced setup, shorter stride, occasionally dives, average balance. Level path showed some control of the barrel, slight dive to pull side approach, flashed pop. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted pop times at 2.08-2.16. Showed a quick transfer, arm played at 76 mph out of the crouch, short high ¾ slot. 7.55 runner in the 60.

Michael Massaro, C, Providence Catholic, 2017
6-foot, 190-pound catcher, strong build, durable catcher’s make up. Offensively hits from a tall setup, narrow and open stance, slight leg lift stride back to square, rhythmic stride, good balance. Lower half works, athletic in the box. Pull side approach with pop, fast bat, some barrel control, has a presence. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed softer hands, quick exchange, 2.00-2.11 pop times, one knee blocker. Arm played well, short and over the top, 77 mph out of the crouch. 7.24 runner in the 60.

Gabriel Panza, C, Oswego, 2017
5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher, solid build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Opposite field contact, late timing at times, shorter path. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played average at 74 mph, short arm action. Footwork is more deliberate out of the crouch, 2.10-2.14. 7.49 runner in the 60.

Daniel Reed, C, Edwardsville, 2017
5-foot-10, 185-pound catcher, solid frame. Defensively showed solid tools behind the dish, arm action is short and over the top, occasional carry, good accuracy, 77 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.01-2.07. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Path works uphill, opposite field contact, late timing. Flashed bat strength, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.63 runner in the 60.

Jordon Rogers, C, Simeon, 2018
5-foot-9, 165-pound catcher, highly athletic for the position, lean shape with cut muscle. Defensively plays with bounce behind the dish, quick getting to his feet after blocking the baseball, ran a 6.78 laser timed 60. Arm action is short, over the top slot, played with carry, 75 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.01-2.11. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride, good balance through contact. Mechanical approach, average bat speed, level path. 75 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Jacob Ryan, C, Chatham Glenwood, 2017
5-foot-11, 190-pound catcher, strong lower half. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, open stance, stride is short and back to even, average balance. Bat strength guy, hard barrel contact, pull side approach at times with pop. 95 mph exit velocity from the tee, Path is short and level, stays on top of the baseball. Defensively arm plays over the top, short arm action, 75 mph out of the crouch. 2.08-2.18 pop times, stays low, occasionally gets underneath the baseball and works uphill. 7.71 runner in the 60.

Nickolas Strysik, C/OF, Lockport, 2017
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher/outfielder, shows some physicality. Offensive minded catcher, strong bat. Hits from a tall open stance, longer stride. Aggressive swinger, hard contact guy, pull side power approach, longer path, strong bat, 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively pop times posted 2.11-2.15, longer arm action, 77 mph out of the crouch. In the outfield profiles at a corner spot, 80 mph, moves well plays through the baseball. 7.12 runner. May profile best in the outfield at the next level, bat will play.