Prep Baseball Report

2019 Southern Academic Games: Catcher Analysis


Matt Payne
Associate Scout, PBR North Carolina

The 2nd annual Southern Academic Games was held at Wilson Field on the campus of Davidson College on Tuesday June 18th.  Close to 40 players, representing four states participated.  Each player was vetted academically and athletically before being invited.  With close to 10 colleges in attendance throughout the day, players went through a full workout and played in an eleven inning controlled scrimmage.

During the workout phase of the day, players were able to showcase themselves offensively and defensively.  Position players had their exit velocity measured in the cage area, prior to taking multiple rounds of BP in front of evaluators.  During the defensive portion, players were able to workout from their defensive position, fielding live ground balls, allowing evaluators to get a feel for athleticism and projection.  Pitchers were evaluated in live situations, throwing against hitters.

Our next group to evaluate are the catchers.  Nine catchers participated in the workout behind the dish.  The top pop time in the workout was 1.98 with 5 of the catcher showing a positional velocity of better than 75 mph from the crouch.   Six of the catchers posted exit velocities of better than 90 mph.  Below are the primary catchers from the 2019 Southern Academic Games.

To see the full statistical breakdown from the Southern Academic Games, CLICK HERE.

 

2019 Southern Academic Games: Catchers

 

 

 

Blaine Hartness C / OF / Alexander Central, NC / 2022

 

5 foot 8, 130-pound athletic build.  Offensively he works from the right side with a balanced setup.  Uses a leg kick during his load with his hands dropping slightly and some bat angle behind the head.  Barrel works short to the ball. Line drive approach working gap to gap with feel for his barrel. Exit velocity recorded at 82 mph.  Feel for the second base bag with pop times ranging from 2.16-2.33. Positional velocity topped at 69 mph from a crouch position, with clean transfers, throwing from an over the top slot.  Recorded a 7.14 in the 60.  


 

 

Garrett Brouwer C / OF / Southlake Christian, NC / 2022

 

5 foot 10, 125-pound lanky build.  Hits from the right side using a balanced setup.  Short stride during his load with his hands working slightly back.  Simple swing with not much movement, some length in the barrel working to the ball.  Works to stay in the middle of the field. Exit velocity recorded at 70 mph and should improve with added strength.  Transfers across his chest with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot from behind the plate. Stands up during his transfer with his pop times ranging from 2.35-2.56.  Positional velocity topped at 67 mph from a crouch position. Recorded an 8.09 in the 60.


 

 

Hank Dodson C / Northern Guilford, NC / 2020

 

5 foot 11, 175-pound strong build.  Hits from the right side with a tall, slightly open setup.  Leg kick during his load with his hands working down and back.  Barrel works level through the zone with some uphill extension out front.  Works mostly middle to his pull side with strength in his swing. Left the yard to left center field during batting practice and doubled off the wall to left center during game action.  Above average bat speed and feel for the barrel. Exit velocity recorded at 95 mph. Fluid feet behind the plate on his throws to second base, transferring across his chest with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Some feel for the bag with pop times ranging from 2.07-2.14. Positional velocity topped at 77 mph from a crouch position. Recorded a 7.76 in the 60.


 

Luke Johnson C / 2B / Southwest Guilford, NC / 2021

 

5 foot 9, 160-pound average build with room to add strength.   Sets up balanced and relaxed from the right side of the plate. Short stride during his load with his hands getting ready to attack the ball.  Loose hands, working short to the ball and keeping his barrel in the zone. Consistently found his barrel during batting practice, lining balls out gap to gap.  Has strength to his pull side with above average bat speed. Exit velocity recorded at 86 mph. Gains ground on his throws to second base with quick, fluid feet.  Quick transfers with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot with some feel for the bag. Pop times recorded at 2.05-2.06 with his positional velocity topping at 72 mph with some carry from a crouch position.  Recorded a 7.49 in the 60 and a 4.78 home to first time. 


 

Colin Ravin C / 3B / Providence Day School, NC / 2020

 

5 foot 11, 180-pound athletic build.  Offensively he works from the right side with a balanced setup, sitting in his legs.  Works smooth back during his load with a short stride and his hands getting ready to attack the ball.  Fluid stroke with loose hands and his barrel working short to the ball. Line drive approach getting extension through the middle of the field.  Some strength in his swing with better than average bat speed and barrel awareness. Exit velocity recorded at 92 mph. Higher hips in his setup behind the plate with quick feet and a quick exchange across his chest with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Pop times ranged from 2.10-2.14. Accurate arm with some carry, topping at 76 mph to second base. Recorded a 7.30 in the 60.


 

 

Nick Tyler C / OF / Corinth Holders, NC / 2020

 

5 foot 11, 180-pound strong build.  Hits from the right side with a slightly open setup.  Medium length stride with a quiet barrel during his load.  Gap to gap approach hitting several line drives to his pull side during batting practice.  Barrel works level through the zone getting extension out front. Better than average feel for the barrel with strength in his swing.  Exit velocity recorded at 91 mph. Athletic behind the plate with quick feet and a quick transfer across his chest using a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Pop times ranged from 2.00-2.18. Accurate arm to second base with some carry to his throws topping at 76 mph. Recorded a 7.44 in the 60.


 

 

Matthew Strand C / 3B / North Gwinnett , GA / 2021

 

5 foot 11, 185-pound average build.  Hits from the right side with a tall, relaxed setup using wood during his batting practice rounds.  Short stride during his load with his hands working slightly back, creating some bat angle. Fluid swing with his barrel working short to the ball.  Worked mostly middle to his pull side with some feel for his barrel. Gets his barrel through the zone with better than average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 91 mph.  Quick, fluid feet with a quick exchange and carry to his throws to second base from a high ¾ slot. Pop times ranged from 1.98-2.07. Positional velocity topped at 78 mph from a crouch position.  Plays with some rhythm on the infield with fluid feet and above average hands. Funnels to the midsection after catch, using different slots on his throws to first base. Some accuracy across the diamond with his arm topping at 83 mph.  Recorded a 7.35 in the 60.


 

 

Nathan Nygaard C / 1B / Sun Valley, NC / 2020

 

6 foot 1, 195-pound strong build.  Balanced setup from the right side.  Smooth load with a short stride and his hands working slightly back.  Looks to drive the ball with quick hands and a short swing path. Works mostly middle to his pull side with strength in his swing.  Feel for the barrel with better than average bat speed. Made hard contact on balls to center and left field during game action, Exit velocity recorded at 90 mph.  Flexibility in his hips behind the plate with quick feet and a quick, clean exchange across his chest. Short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot with some feel for the bag at second base.  Pop times ranged from 2.03-2.11. Positional velocity topped at 74 mph from a crouch position. Recorded a 7.90 in the 60.


 

 

Peter Gullo C / 1B / Ardrey Kell, NC / 2020

 

6 foot 1, 215-pound build.  Hits from the right side using a balanced setup.  Small leg kick during his load and creating some bat angle behind his head.  Barrel works level through the zone and gets extension out front. Middle of the field approach, hitting line drives to the opposite field during batting practice.  Some strength in the swing with average bat speed. Exit velocity recorded at 92 mph. Higher hips behind the plate, transferring across his chest, with a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot.  Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 77 mph to second base. Pop times ranged from 2.03-2.14. Some feel around the bag at first base with average hands and higher hips at catch. Accurate arm on the infield that topped at 81 mph.  Recorded a 7.89 in the 60.