Future Games Trials: Catcher Analysis

October 27, 2020
Phil Kerber
Georgia Scouting Director

The Future Games Trials took place on June 30th at LakePoint Sports in Emerson, GA. The event featured 65 underclassmen. Prospects participated in a pro-style workout and simulated game play.

We begin our positional breakdown with a look at the catchers in attendance. Leading the way is C/RHP Gavin Black (North Oconee, 2022). Black has advanced pop in his bat from the left-side as he is capable of posting 90+ mph exit velocities regularly, he averaged average 92.15 from his BP round via TrackMan. Behind the plate, he has a powerful arm putting up an event best 82 out of the crouch.

Keep reading to view the rest of the top-5 and reports on every catcher in attendance, listed alphabetically.

Top Catcher Prospects

Gavin Black, C/RHP, North Oconee, 2022
6-foot-1, 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher and right-handed pitcher, athletically built, lean muscle throughout, strong lower half, quick twitch muscle, live body, ran a 7.22 laser-timed 60. At the plate, open setup, smooth rhythm throughout, hands start back and deepen on load, knee knock stride good balance. Quick hands create whippy barrel speed, swing works uphill through the zone, does damage to the pull-side, 91 exit velocity off a tee, 96.76 top exit velocity during BP. Defensively, arm works clean on the back-side with some length, very quick arm speed, ¾ to high ¾ slot, throws have carry, 82 out of the crouch. Good flexibility in his knees and hips, quick footwork and transfers, pop times ranged 1.97-2.10. Worked out on the infield and outfield as well, a good enough athlete where he can man 2B/3B or a corner outfield position at the next level. Threw 86 across the infield and 91 from the outfield. On the mound, arm action is clean and loose on the back-side, whippy arm speed, comes out of a high ¾ slot. Athletic delivery, long stride, momentum carries towards home, lands toe open, spins off quickly on follow through. Fastball sat 85-88, running action, overpowering at-times, feel for. Slider, 73-75, 11/5 shape, depth, flashed sharp action, potential swing and miss pitch.

Reid Akins, C/RHP, Evans, 2022
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher and right-handed pitcher, strong build, wide shoulders, ran a 7.31 laser-timed 60. Offensively, open setup, barrel wraps on load, short stride, good balance. Barrel path is uphill through the zone, takes a middle/pull approach, quick hands and barrel speed, 87 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, arm works short and quick to a high ¾ slot, some carry on throws, 78 out of the crouch. Flexible lower half, quick on transfers, clean footwork, moves well behind the plate, pop times ranged 1.93-2.08. Also worked out on the infield, has a longer arm swing on the back-side, loose, quick arm speed, high ¾ slot, 84 across the infield. Showed good range with quick feet, competent hands, good back hand, clean on the transfers. On the mound, arm works clean on the back-side with a full arm swing, quick arm speed, high ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, works across the mound towards first base, lands closed, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 80-82, feel for, controlled zone with. Curveball, 69-72, shape varied between 12/6 and 11/5, depth. Changeup, 77-78, sinking action.

Brennan Hudson, C, South Forsyth, 2022
6-foot-2, 205-pound left-handed hitting catcher, physical build with strength throughout frame, more to come as he fills out, ran a 7.57 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, hands start back and deepen on load, short leg lift stride, good balance. Takes a power approach at the plate, whippy, strong hands, generates hard contact gap-to-gap, also showed pull-side power, barrel works mostly uphill through the zone, 94 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, arm is short with a quick release to an over-the-top slot, kept throws low and on the right-side of the bag for the most part, 75 out of the crouch. Flexible hips, creates a large target behind the plate, quick on transfers, fluid footwork, 2.00-2.10 pop times.

Ryan Becker, C, South Forsyth, 2022
6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher, physical build with strength throughout. More to come as he continues to mature, ran a 7.34 laser-timed 60. Offensively, open setup, smooth rhythm, hands load back and drop, low leg kick timing trigger, finishes on back-side, explosive lower half. Takes a power approach at the plate, swing works mostly uphill through the zone, controlled aggression in swing, powerful hands, consistently generates hard contact, 92 exit velocity off a tee, 94.67 top exit velocity during BP. Defensively, short arm action to a ¾ slot, gets to release quickly, 74 out of the crouch. Creates a large target behind the plate, quick, smoothie transfers, clean footwork, pop times ranged 2.13-2.25.

Dylan Butler, C, Perry, 2022
5-foot-10, 160-pound left-handed hitting catcher, lean build with plenty of room to fill out, ran a 7.37 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, hands load back late, short stride, good balance, back leg gains ground. Mostly level barrel path through the zone, line drive type hitter, quick hands, 88 exit velocity off a tee, Defensively, short arm action to an over-the-top slot, kept throws around the bag, 72 out of the crouch. Athletic receiver, showed quick, smooth actions, clean on transfers, clean on footwork, pop times ranged 1.99-2.15.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Charlie Banks, C/OF, Lassiter, 2022
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher and outfielder, lean frame that has plenty of room to fill out, ran a 7.33 laser-timed 60. Offensively, open setup, high hands preloaded back, short stride inward to a balance position, good balance through finish. Short barrel path to the zone, quick hands, level barrel path through the zone, 81 exit velocity off a tee, 85.41 top exit velocity during BP. Defensively, short arm action to an over-the-top slot, 84 from the outfield and 70 from the crouch. Plays through the ball in the outfield, clean footwork and transfers. Behind the plate, flexible hips and knees, clean transfers, short footwork, pop times ranged 2.19-2.39.

Jacob Black, C/RHP, Archer, 2022
6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed two-way prospect, lanky, lean frame, lots of room to fill out with strength. Offensively, balanced setup, smooth load back, short stride, good balance, finishes short with follow through. Line drive hitter, used middle/pull, fast hands help generate hard contact, flashed ability to drive the ball, 75 exit velocity off a tee, 88 top exit velocity during BP. Defensively, arm works longer than tradition for a catcher, over-the-top slot, throws are true, 68 out of the ctouch. Flexible lower half, long on transfers, clean footwork. On the mound, arms clean on the back side with a controlled full arm swing to a high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands toe open, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 72-74, touched 75. Curveball, 53-55, gradual break. Changeup, 60-62, sinking action.

Jacob Cooper, C/3B, South Paulding, 2022
5-foot-11, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher and third baseman, strong, sturdy build, ran a 7.75 laser-timed 60. Offensively, open setup, little to no load, does load weight back as he picks up to stride, short reverse toe tap stride, balanced through finish. Takes a power approach, short, mostly level swing, flashed the ability to consistently drive the ball, 89 exit velocity of a tee, 91.52 top exit velocity during BP. Defensively, from behind the plate, arm works, short to a ¾ slot, kept throws around the bag, 72 out of the crouch. On the infield, short arm to a ¾ slot, 73 across the infield. Behind the plate, creates a large target, flexible hips, clean on transfers and footwork, pop times ranged 2.15-2.30. On the infield, fields with one hand, long on transfer, clean footwork.

Connor Edwards, C/SS, Flowery Branch, 2023
5-foot-9, 159-pound right-handed hitting catcher and middle infielder, proportional build with strength, ran a 7.26 laser-timed 60. Offensively, tall, open setup, hands load back with some barrel wrap, low hanging leg kick, good balance. Level barrel path through the zone, at-times gets steep, line drive type hitter, strong hands create hard contact, 90.39 exit velocity during BP. Defensively, arm works short to a high ¾ slot, kept throws around the bag, 66 out of the crouch. Moves well behind the plate, clean transfers, fluid footwork, pop times ranged 2.29-2.35. On the infield, arm works short to a low ¾ slot, 68 across the infield, Fields position athletically, good range, fluid footwork, fields out front, clean on transfers.

William Greene, C/3B, Buford, 2022
6-foot-3, 185-pound, right-handed hitting catcher and third baseman, long, strong frame, projectable build, ran a 7.85 laser-timed 60. Offensively, wide, balanced setup, hands start back and deeped on load, short stride, good balance. Gap-to-gap type hitter, barrel works mostly uphill through the zone as he looks to elevate and do damage, 82 exit velocity off a tee, 86.1 top exit velocity during BP. Defensively, as catcher the arm works short to an over-the-top slot, throws are true with backspin, 72 out of the crouch. On the infield, short arm to an over-thet-op slot, 78 across the diamond. Behind the plate, creates a large target, sits up in position, clean on transfers and footwork, 2.18-2.27 pop times. On the infield, fields out front, clean on transfers and with footwork.

Tyler Jay Sciavicco, C/3B, Hebron Christian, 2022
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher and third baseman, lean, athletic frame, some quick twitch muscle, ran a 7.17 laser-timed 60. Offensively, simple setup, balanced, high hands load back, leg lift stride, great balance through finish. Gap-to-gap type hitter, whippy hands, barrel works uphill through the zone, elevates and drives the ball with some force, 84 exit velocity off a tee, 86.88 top exit velocity during BP. Defensively, short, quick arm action, high ¾ to ¾ slot behind the plate, 78 out of the crouch, on the infield, arm played from multiple slots effectively, 78 across the infield. Behind the plate, has controlled, fluid action, clean on transfers and with footwork, solid blocker, pop times ranged 2.19-2.35. On the infield, smooth hands while fielding, clean backhand, funnels towards midsection, clean on transfers, has range.

Grayson Vincil, C/RHP, Lenoir City (TN), 2023
6-foot, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher and pitcher, proportional build, developing strength throughout frame, ran a 7.88 laser-timed 60. Offensively, tall, open setup, hands preloaded back drop on load, leg kick timing trigger, one handed finish on back side. Mostly level barrel path through zone, line drive type hitter, did flash the ability to drive the ball pull-side, 82 exit velocity off a tee, 85.05 top exit velocity during BP. Defensively, short arm to a ¾ slot, 70 out of the crouch. Flexibles knees, clean transfer and footwork, moves well, good blocker. On the mound, short arm action to a mostly high ¾ slot, at-times will drop lower. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes on-line. Fastball sat 69-72, touched 73. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 59-61.

Caleb Wilson, C/3B, Prince Avenue Christian, 2022
6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher and third baseman, strong build, ran an 8.37 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, short hand load, crouches some on load, long stride, finishes over the plate. Line drive type hitter, uses the middle of the field, some quickness in his hands, 83 exit velocity off a tee, 87.92 top exit velocity during BP. Defensively, arm plays short to a high ¾ slot, 65 out of the crouch, 66 across the infield. Behind the plate, mostly clean transfers, can get long at-times, short footwork, pop times ranging from 2.33-2.50. On the infield, fields the ball deep, long transfers, short feet.

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