By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director - Illinois

Today’s player spotlight is on TJ Marik, a right handed hitting catcher out of St. Laurence HS, graduating in 2014. Marik is currently ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2014 and one of the top 5 catchers in his class.

Marik is a strong armed catcher standing 5-foot-11, 205-pounds. Defensively, Marik is one of the better receivers in his class; he has a strong wrist and soft hands, allowing him to secure the pitch at the bottom of the zone well. He showed quick feet behind the plate coupled with a strong arm resulting in a 1.97 pop time. Marik’s arm works well behind the dish showing carry and accuracy at 80 mph.

Offensively, Marik hits from a wide stance and uses an explosive lower half showcasing an aggressive swing at the plate. Marik shows electric bat speed on a level path, showing pop to his pull side while finishing his swing with solid balance and a long high finish.

Look for Marik to have a big influence on the Viking success in 2013.