Top Prospect - Chicago: Catcher Analysis

On June 12th, PBR Illinois hosted Top Prospect - Chicago, which provided a platform for nearly 70 of Illinois and Wisconsin’s top uncommitted players from the 2019 class. The event was a pro-style workout hosted at Joliet’s Route 66 Stadium in front of the PBR Illinois Scouting Staff as well as 50+ college programs. This week we begin to rollout an in-depth analysis, position by position, and today we look at the catchers.

Alex Powers (Prairie Ridge) claimed the top spot showcasing his aggressive bat speed and strong arm that will easily play at the next level. Colin Kalinowski (Oak Creek, WI) is a left-handed hitting backstop that had smooth swing and was fundamentally sound defensively. Rounding out the top three is Brandon Green (Kenwood). Green is a athletic, durable catcher who receives in rhythm and flashed line drive ability to the middle of the field.

Read on below to see reports on all catchers in attendance.

For a look at the previously published statistical analysis CLICK HERE.

Top Overall Catchers

1. Alex Powers, C/3B, Prairie Ridge, 2019
6-foot-1, 180-pound, right-handed hitting catcher, wiry, athletic frame. Offensively, balanced, high-elbow setup, minimal load, short stride, maintains balance. Generates pop with lower half, stays on top of baseball, aggressive bat path with extension, middle of the field approach, rhythm involved. Quick bat speed, exit velocity topped 90 mph from a tee. 7.29 runner in the 60. Defensively behind the plate, pop times ranged from 2.00-2.06. Athletic actions, flexible lower half, quick feet and transfer, hands work in rhythm. Arm plays short and loose with arm speed, true ball, accurate throws carried 83 mph to second. In the infield, quick feet, gets low, steady hands. Loose arm, throws topped 85 mph across the infield.

2. Colin Kalinowski, C, Oak Creek (WI), 2019
5-foot-11, 180-pound, left-handed hitting catcher, highly athletic frame, present lower half strength. At the plate, balanced setup, smooth back load, short stride. Loose hands, short, natural uphill bat path, gap to gap approach, line drive ability, fluidity in swing. Quick bat speed, exit velocity topped 88 mph from a tee. Defensively, pop times ranged from 2.04-2.10. Effortless actions and fundamentally sound, fluid footwork, soft hands and clean exchange, deadens ball on blocks. Arm plays short and loose, over the top slot, throws carried with accuracy, 79 mph to second. 7.24 runner in the 60.

3. Brandon Green, C, Kenwood, 2019
5-foot-7, 165-pound, right-handed hitting catcher, athletic build, present lower half strength. Offensively, balanced, relaxed setup, smooth back load, short stride, rhythm and balance maintained. Loose hands, fluid, level bat path, controls barrel in the zone, sprayed line drives to the middle of the field, easy effort. Present bat speed, exit velocity topped 85 mph from a tee. Defensively, pop times ranged from 2.11-2.20. Quick, fluid footwork, stays under control, rhythmic hands translates to clean exchange and transfer. Agile blocker, quick recovery, short, easy arm action, over the top slot, accurate throws carried 77 mph from the crouch. 7.67 runner in the 60.

Best of the rest (Listed alphabetically)

Evan Jewson, C, Crystal Lake South, 2019
6-foot-3, 185-pound, right-handed hitting catcher, well-proportioned, athletic frame. Loose pre-pitch movement, balanced setup, back drop load, long toe tap trigger. Strong hands, long, uphill bat path, pull side pop potential, can create lift through swing, rhythm and effort involved. Present bat speed, exit velocity topped 90 mph from a tee. Defensively, pop times ranged from 2.22-2.30. Compact setup, long exchange, arm plays short and over the top, throws topped 79 mph from the crouch. 7.38 runner in the 60.

Jack Jonota, C, Stevenson, 2019
5-foot-8, 165-pound, right-handed hitting catcher, athleticism in frame. Offensively, balanced setup, minimal back load, short leg kick trigger, occasionally hits off front foot. Level, compact bat path, can get uphill, flashed line drive ability, favored the opposite field, rhythm involved, exit velocity topped 80 mph from a tee. Defensively, pop times ranged from 2.12-2.21. Fluid footwork, gains ground, soft, quiet hands, quick out of the crouch, exchanges can get long. Agile blocker, quick recovery, arm plays long and loose, over the top slot. Throws carried 76 mph to second. 7.88 runner in the 60.

Kameron Laskowski, C, Sussex Hamilton (WI), 2019
5-foot-9, 180-pound, right-handed hitting catcher, athletic, durable frame. At the plate, balanced, relaxed setup, stride and load are smooth and short, maintains balance. Strong hands, repeatable middle of the field contact, line drive ability, natural uphill path with fluid rhythm involved. Present bat speed, exit velocity topped 92 mph from a tee. Defensively, quick feet and exchange, hands work, solid block with easy recovery. Arm plays short and loose with arm speed, throws topped 78 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.00-2.08. 7.07 runner in the 60.

Nathan Milianti, C, Mount Carmel, 2019
5-foot-11, 185-pound, right-handed hitting catcher, strong, durable frame. At the plate, balanced setup, short stride, drop load. Strong hands, uphill bat path, flashed pull side pop, can get steep, exit velocity topped 86 mph from a tee. Defensively, pop times ranged from 2.2- 2.39. Gains ground, arm plays short and over the top, throws topped 75 mph from the crouch. 7.46 runner in the 60.

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