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Fall Underclass Showcase: Catching Analysis

November 21, 2014

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By Rob Allison
Iowa State Director 

Prep Baseball Report Iowa held the Fall Underclass Showcase in W. Des Moines, IA  at WDM Valley High School on October 10th, 2014.  The event was for 2016 and 2017 graduates with Iowa and Wisconsin players represented. In our coverage we have broken down the prospects by their respective position.

Click here for complete event statistics.

catchers

Nick Tarney, C, Harlan, 2017
5-foot-10, 210-pound catcher. 7.38 60 time. Right-handed hitter with physical build and strength in swing. 92 mph exit velocity. Pre-set hand load with rhythmic weight shift. Strides in-line to contact. Short to contact with strength to drive through baseball. Gap to gap approach with consistent hard hit baseballs. Open stance receiving. Has ability to keep pitches in zone. Shows blocking aptitude. Late at times. Momentum coming forward and head out and over body losing control. Very quick feet on catch and throw. Short exchange and clean release with accuracy. Effectively gets ball in throwing slot creating efficient throws to second base. 72 mph arm strength with pop times ranging 2.03-2.16.

Carter Eldridge, C, Waukee, 2016
5-foot-11, 165-pound catcher. 7.45 60 time. Right-handed hitter with easy load. Good direction with stride and proper weight shift through contact. Short to contact with slight uphill finish at times. 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively one of the stand-outs of event. Shows good actions behind the plate. Is flexible and able to handle pitches to both sides of the plate. Keeps ball in zone. Has good foot quickness in blocking; holds blocking position well to deaden ball. Lower half is clean and efficient creating direction and momentum on throws to second. Ball has carry and is accurate to bag. Release is long at times. Overall plus ability for age behind the plate and high follow for program looking for catch and throw type guy.

Jake Lemar, C, Waukee, 2016
5-foot-11, 195-pound catcher. 8.18 60 time. Right-handed hitter with open stance. Strides across body into contact. Linear hitting actions. Shows ability to keep hands on top of ball producing line drives. 77 mph exit velocity. Skilled behind the plate. Shows ability to receive. Flexible lower half. Quick feet blocking baseball. Quick exchange with clean release. Throws show carry and accuracy to second base. 72 mph velocity with 2.01-2.13 pop times.

Nick Hagen, C, Burlington, 2017
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher. 7.66 60 time. Right-handed hitter with rhythm in swing. Pre-set hand load with short balanced stride to contact. Hips are explosive in swing. Shows quality hand-eye coordination; repeatedly hit ball hard in BP. 75 mph exit velocity. Shows good overall ability behind plate with minor adjustments needed mechanically. Exchange is long but arm works well. Good carry on ball to second base. 70 mph to second base with pop times in 2.22-2.41 range.

Caleb Kuennen, C/RHP, Johnston, 2017
5-foot-10, 155-pound 2-way player. 7.56 60 time. Right-handed hitter with crouched stance. Strides in-line with pitcher. Keeps hand tight to body through swing. Slight uphill bat path. Good weight transfer and separation. Behind the dish is very flexible, shows good hands receiving. Proper blocking mechanics. Late to get into position. Very good feet throwing. Clean exchange. Long release. Ball has carry and very accurate to second base. 74 mph arm strength with 2.13-2.3 pop times.

Evan Whitehead, C/IF, Milton(WI), 2016
5-foot-8, 160-pound catcher/ infielder. 7.9 60 time. Right-handed hitter with 81 mph exit velocity with short swing and good balance throughout. Behind the dish shows flexible lower half and ability to receive. Proper blocking mechanics. Somewhat late in position at times. Creates direction on throws to second. Exchange is clean with long release. Low arm slot. 67 mph arm strength to second base with pop times ranging 2.35-2.5.

Colton Feeley, C, Dallas Center Grimes, 2016
5-foot-9, 150-pound catcher. 8.09 60 time. Right-handed hitter with a minimal load and short square stride to contact. Short level swing plane through zone producing 75 mph exit velocity. Shows adequate ability to receive. Is in proper blocking position on balls in dirt. Long release on throws to second. 63 mph velocity to second base with pop times in 2.57-2.65 range.

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