Prep Baseball Report

Class of 2016 Games: Catchers Analysis



Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

On Tuesday, June 9, Prep Baseball Report-Missouri hosted the Class of 2016 Games at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri.  Fifty-six uncommitted players from the 2016 class participated, with several players earning All-State honors.  The group was divided into two sessions with a morning workout and game followed by an afternoon workout and game.  Profiles have be updated with times, velos and videos.  The games portion of the event can still be viewed on STL Sports Productions.  

Today we will start with with the Catchers Analysis from both groups.  The catchers are listed in alphabetical order. In the days to come we will break down Middle Infielders, Corner Infielders, Outfielders and Pitchers. Overall rankings will be updated shortly after the analysis of each position.

CLICK HERE, to see the spreadsheet of times and velocities in printable PDF format.

Class of 2016 Games: Middle Infield Analysis
Class of 2016 Games: Corner Infielder Analysis
Class of 2016 Games: Pitchers Analysis
Class of 2016 Games: Outfielders Analysis

Catchers 

Aaron Easley, C, Liberty, 2016
Easley is a solid 6-foot-2 215-pound right-handed hitting catcher, top catcher velos at 78 mph, pop times between 2.07 and 2.27, mostly accurate throws, over-the-top release, quick feet, fluid exchange.  At the plate, loads with toe top, strong hands, uses middle of the field during batting practice, line drive type hitter with good balance throughout swing, 7.31 60 time, 82 mph exit velo, 4.60 home-to-first.

Paul Hilbert, C, Joplin, 2016
Hilbert is a lean 6-foot-2 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher and right-handed pitcher.  Hilbert runs a 7.78 60, has an 83 mph exit velo, and an 75 mph velo from behind the plate. He has a smooth load, early/short stride, slightly uphill, line drive approach to middle of field, ran a 4.60 home-to-first during game action.  Defensively, clean exchange, momentum towards second base, soft hands, 2.22 to 2.37 pop-times, mostly accurate throws.  On the mound, has an over-the-top release, controlled delivery, regular effort, repeatable, athletic finish, touched 82 mph with fastball, working 76-81 mph, slight run, breaking ball at 60-62 mph, 11-to-5 shape, late action, showed 67 mph splitter.

Caleb Lauvetz, C, Rockhurst, 2016
Lauvetz is a 6-foot-2 215-pound right-handed hitting catcher.  He recorded pop-times between 2.03 and 2.19, quick catch and exchange, with accurate throws with top velo of 75 mph.  Lauvetz ran a 7.23 60, and has an 86 mph exit velo.  At the plate, he had a gap-to-gap approach during batting practice, uses a toe tap to load, flat bat path to extension. 

Justin Lockwood, C, Fort Zumwalt South, 2016
Lockwood is an athletic 6-foot 175-pound left-handed hitting catcher.  Lockwood showed the ability to use both gaps during batting practice, starts from an open stance, good use of lower half, path is level to extension, consistent contact during practice, 86 mph exit velo, 7.22 60, 4.52 home-to-first during game action.  Behind the plate, recorded pop times between 2.00 and 2.11, 76 mph velo, quick exchange, accurate throws, momentum to target, soft hands.

Spencer Prichard, C, Blue Springs South, 2016
Prichard is a 6-foot-1 200-pound right-handed hitting catcher.  Prichard ran a 7.38 60, and had an 85 mph exit velo.  At the plate, Prichard has a smooth load, lands square with front foot, loose hands and level path to extension.  He has a middle-to-pull approach, and produced consistent line drives during batting practice.  Defensively, he had pop times between 2.10 and 2.16, accurate throws, quick exchange, soft hands, quick feet, 71 mph velo from the crouch.

Ethan Staskewicz, C, Fort Zumwalt West, 2016
Staskewicz is a well-built 6-foot 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher with pop times between 2.25 and 2.35, accurate throws, clean glove-to-hand exchange, quick feet working with hands., 75 mph velo from croutch. At the plate, simple load with no wasted movement, pull to middle during batting practice, loose hands, fluid rhythm. Runs 7.00 60, ran 4.63 home-to-first during game action, and 85 mph exit velo.

Trynton Tompkins, C, Greenville, 2016
Tompkins is a 5-foot-10 205-pound right-handed hitting catcher.  Tompkins posted one of the top exit velos of the day at 90 mph.  He has as smooth load, with slight rotation, short stride, quick bat, strong top hand, line drive approach to middle-pull side, collected a pair of hits during game action and ran a 7.30 60.  Behind the plate, fluid glove-to-hand exchange with momentum towards second base, pop times between 1.90 and 2.10, best times of the day, 75 mph velo as a catcher.

Alex Wheeler, C, Stockton, 2016
Wheeler is an athletic 6-foot 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher.  Wheeler had pop times between 1.93 and 2.05, among the best of the day.  He also ran a 6.84 60 and had a 90 mph exit velo, both among the event’s best.  Behind the plate, quick actions with feet and hands, momentum towards second base, soft hands, 73 mph velo, mostly accurate throws.  At the plate, starts with feet closed, slight hand load, power to pull gap, level bat path, quick bat speed, solid single in game action, runs 4.52 home-to-first.

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