By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Illinois/Wisconsin

This week we begin our analysis of the Underclass Showcase from October 23. The Underclass Showcase was an open event to all 2019 and 2020 graduates. Throughout the week we will break down the event by position, featuring scouting reports and highlighting the top prospects at each position.

Catchers kick things off as Lake Zurich sophomore Tyler Snep leads the way. Snep profiles well behind the dish - big athletic frame, left-handed bat and strong arm. Snep also saw some time on varsity last season as a freshman and clearly proves he has the tools to play.

Here’s a look at the top catching prospects.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Tyler Snep, C, Lake Zurich, 2019
6-foot-2, 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher, athletic projectable build. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, carried to target, 76 mph. Athletic receiver, moves well, agile, gets out of the crouch quickly, showed soft hands. Pop times ranged 2.11-2.25. Offensively hits from a tall setup, short lifted stride. Quiet easy approach, hands stay back, showed bat strength and made loud contact. Path is slightly uphill, favoring pull side, fast bat. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran a 7.50 60 yard dash. High follow 2019 prospect.

2. Alex Powers, C, Prairie Ridge, 2019
6-foot, 165-pound catcher, lean athletic frame that projects well. Strong armed catcher, loose lively arm, over the top slot, carries well to target, 77 mph. Athletic setup, quiet and loose behind the dish, hands are soft, exchange has some length, quick bounce out of the crouch. 2.01-2.2 pop times. Ran a 7.43 in the 60. Right-handed hitter, slightly open setup with wider base and athletic crouch, stride is short, maintains strong balance. Loose fast bat, works on level path, gap to gap contact with occasional hard pull contact. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.

3. Kyle Crawford, C, Dixon, 2019
5-foot-9, 155-pound catcher, lean frame with strength. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg kick trigger, stays balanced through contact. Raw bat strength, strong hands generates big bat speed. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Made loud, hard contact, slightly uphill path, occasionally lifts with topspin. Defensively showcased a big arm, 79 mph out of the crouch, loose arm from a ¾ slot. Pop times ranged from 2.04-2.15. 7.66 runner in the 60.

4. Brandon Green, C, Kenwood, 2019
5-foot-6, 145-pound catcher, small strong build. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, short stride, average balance. Bat strength, quick hands produced bat speed. Some top spin contact, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee, gap to gap approach. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, accurate and flashed carry, 70 mph. Hands are soft, receives well, athletic out of the crouch with clean exchanges. 2.18-2.29 pop times. 7.91 runner in the 60. 

5. Jason Volpe, C, Lakes Community, 2019
6-foot-1, 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher, athletic frame with present strength. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, short stride, static load. Bat strength present, occasional hard pull side contact, uphill path, showed ability to work gap to gap in BP. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, over the top slot, average arm strength, 70 mph out of the crouch. Clean exchange, blocks well, active behind the plate. 2.18-2.34 pop times. Well above average runner, 7.18 in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Angelo Cantelo, C, Marian Catholic, 2019
6-foot, 205-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, tall setup, leg kick trigger, upright throughout. Showed bat speed, path is short and steep to the baseball, has bat strength. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action was short, played from a high ¾ slot, 75 mph out of the crouch. Pop times played at 2.22-2.37. Ran a 8.13 in the 60.

Lucas Danielwicz, C, Deerfield, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pound catcher, athletic frame with some strength. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Showed bat strength and hard contact in BP, ability to barrel the baseball. Slight pull side approach with lift, flashed pop, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 71 mph arm strength, played well. Pop times ranged 2.18-2.29. 7.45 runner in the 60.

Ryan Earp, C, Hobart, 2019
6-foot-1, 185-pound catcher, strong build. Right-handed hitter, open stance, arm bar load, short stride. Showed bat strength, occasional hard contact in BP, uphill path, showed bat speed. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is firm, over the top slot, 65 mph exity velocity from the tee. Pop times ranged, 2.25-2.37. Ran a 7.75 in the 60.

Lucas Hansen, C, St. Joseph, 2020
5-foot-11, 170-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride, average balance. Chokes up off the knob, path has length, uphill path, opposite field contact in BP. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and works over the top, 67 mph out of the crouch. Average hands, low effort, pop times ranged 2.30-2.44.

Ryan Maloney, C, Providence Catholic, 2020
6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher, athletic and strong build for his age. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, arm bar load, leg lift trigger. Bat strength for age, slightly favored pull side in BP. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, over the top slot, 69 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.19-2.26, solid actions out of the chute. 8.01 runner in the 60.

Jake McKendry, C, Providence Catholic, 2019
6-foot-2, 175-pound catcher, lean frame. Above average arm strength for his age, 76 mph arm strength out of the crouch, short over the top action, accurate to the bag. Pop times ranged 2.19-2.35. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Path has length on uphill plane, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran a 7.64 in the 60.

Jonathan Mroz, C, Hampshire, 2019
5-foot-11, 200-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride, loads well, on time pre-pitch. Long path, uphill plane, average bat speed. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, over the top slot, 68 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.26-2.44. Ran the 60 at 8.53.

Nathan Sanchez, C/INF, Mount Carmel, 2019
5-foot-7, 138-pound catcher/infielder. 7.86 runner in the 60. Left-handed hitter, balanced setup, heel lift load. Average balance, line drive gap to gap hitter, 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, high ¾ slot, played at 70 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.22-2.30. Showed best defensively on the infield. Fields athletically, flashed soft hands, fluid footwork and a clean transfer. Clocked at 77 mph across the diamond.

Tyler Struck, C, Providence Catholic, 2019
5-foot-9, 170-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, open stance, shorter stride, average balance. Occasional inside out path, opposite field contact, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, 76 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.11-2.35. Ran the 60 at 7.58.

Zachary Taylor, C, Stevenson, 2020
5-foot-11, 145-pound catcher, slender frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, loose hands. Big loading action, some lunge. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively pop times registered at 2.43-2.55. Arm is 64 mph out of the crouch, over the top slot, short arm action. Ran the 60 at 8.02.

Christian Tellez, C, Brother Rice, 2020
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride to even, good balance through contact. Average bat speed, path is short to the baseball, level through contact, easy swing. 69 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted pop times at 2.50-2.63 exchange has some length. Arm plays with length from an over the top slot, 65 mph arm strength from the crouch. 7.67 runner in the 60.

Chase VanDerGinst, C/OF, Rock Island Alleman, 2019
Left-handed hitting catcher, 6-foot-1, 170-pounds, lanky frame. Balanced setup, loads hands back, leg lift stride. Worked middle of the field, loose bat, lower half gets off back side. Fast bat with slight uphill path, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and firm, gets under and works uphill at times. 72 mph out of the crouch, 79 mph from the outfield. Pop times ranged 2.32-2.44. Ran a 7.38 in the 60.

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