Prep Baseball Report

MOKAN Upperclass Games: Catcher Analysis


Kevin Moulder
Missouri Scouting Director

The PBR MOKAN Fall Upperclass Games took place on Sunday, October 4th at Creekside Baseball Complex. The event featured over 50 prospects from the 2021 and 2022 classes. 

In the days following the event, we released the top statistical performers from the event. Today, we begin to roll out reports on every player from the event by taking a look at the catchers. 

Scouting reports

Listed alphabetically

Tyler Buchman C / OF / Blue Valley Southwest , KS / 2022

Athletic, solid 6-foot, 185-pound frame. The right-handed hitting catcher sets up in a balanced, upright stance using a small hand load and toe-tap load to start his swing. Level bat path through the zone with good extension and a gap-to-gap approach. Loud contact during BP with consistent line-drives and fly-balls, registering an 85 mph bat-exit velocity. Ran a 7.72 60-yard dash. Behind the plate, displays quality receiving skills and blocking ability. Quick footwork and transfers yielding accurate 73 mph throws from a short, quick arm action. Pop times ranged from 1.93-2.08 seconds.

Garrick Cloutier OF / C / Liberty North, MO / 2021

Displays a lean 6-foot-1, 155-pound frame with room to add strength. The right-handed hitter sets up in a narrow, tall stance with his bat resting on his shoulder. Uses a toe-tap and hand load before slightly crouching and striding into an uphill swing plane. Short, quick swing with consistent line-drive and fly-ball contact to the middle of the field. Registered a 79 mph bat-exit velocity. Ran a 7.78 60-yard dash. Behind the plate, shows adequate receiving and blocking ability. Made 62 mph throws from a short high ¾ arm stroke with some push in his release. Pop times ranged from 2.36-2.50 seconds. In the outfield, has active footwork to field with an average glove to field. Throws from a quick, high-¾ arm action with some accuracy at 68 mph.

Zach Ericsson C / 3B / Liberty North, MO / 2022

Athletic, proportional 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame with present strength. The right-handed hitter starts in a wide, tall stance initiating his swing using a leg lift and hand load into a short stride and toe-tap. Short to contact with a slightly uphill bat path through the zone. Mainly line-drives and fly-balls to his mid/pull side during BP. Shows some hand speed, recording an 86 mph bat-exit velocity. Ran a 7.51 60-yard dash. The primary catcher shows good blocking ability and receiving ability. Made accurate 72 mph throws from behind the plate using quick footwork and transfers, throwing from a ¾ arm stroke. Pop times ranged between 2.02-2.08 seconds.

Joshua Herget C / 1B / Seckman, MO / 2021

Athletic, projectable 6-foot, 180-pound frame with present strength. The right-handed hitter sets up in a tall, balanced stance with some rhythm in his hands. Uses a hand load and small body load to create a strong uphill swing plane through the zone. Shows feel for the barrel with a gap-to-gap approach, flashing pull-side power and loud contact during BP. Gets good extension through swing. Recorded an 88 mph bat-exit velocity. Ran a 7.64 60-yard dash. Behind the plate, the primary catcher shows refined receiving skills and good blocking ability. Has quick footwork and clean exchanges, making accurate 79 mph throws on the bag with pop times ranging between 1.97-2.01 seconds. One of the top uncommitted catchers in the Missouri 2021 class.

Ethan Lindemann C / 3B / Rockwood Summit, MO / 2021

Physical, projectable 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame. The right-handed hitter starts in a tall, balanced stance with active hands. Short stride and hand load into a level swing path through the zone. Short to contact with line-drive and fly balls to the middle of the field. Recorded a 91 mph bat-exit velocity. Ran a 7.58 60-yard dash. Behind the plate, shows the ability to block with soft hands when receiving. Quick footwork and exchanges on throws with a longer release. 73 mph throws from a high-¾ arm action yielding pop times ranging from 2.04-2.19 seconds.

Sam McAleer C / 3B / Blue Valley, KS / 2022

Athletic, projectable 6-foot-2, 200-pound build. The right-handed hitter has a balanced, athletic stance with a leg kick load and square stride. Uses his lower half well to generate power to the gaps. Ball jumps off barrel with consistent hard line-drives and flashes of pull side pop. Shows solid bat speed with an 88 mph bat-exit velocity. Behind the plate, shows refined receiving skills and blocking ability. Has quick, fluid footwork with clean exchanges making accurate 78 mph throws from a short over-the-top arm slot. Pop times ranged between 1.93-2.00 seconds. One of the top uncommitted prospects in the Kansas 2022 class.

Frank Palma C / 2B / Liberty North, MO / 2022

Lean, athletic 5-foot-9, 165-pound frame with room to add strength. Right-handed hitter sets up in a tall, balanced stance with a toe-tap load and short stride. Level bat path through the zone with some feel for the barrel. Sprayed line-drives to all fields with an 80 mph bat-exit velocity. Ran a 7.45 60-yard dash. Behind the plate, shows soft hands when receiving with average blocking ability. Quick footwork and exchanges on 70 mph throws down to second base from a short high-¾ arm action. Pop times ranged from 2.00-2.19 seconds. In the infield, works around to field, funneling the ball into his body. Some glove stiffness. 74 mph throws across the diamond with average accuracy.

Ethan Taylor C / 1B / Ladue, MO / 2022

Strong 6-foot-2, 200-pound build. The right-handed hitter sets up in a balanced, wide stance with active hands. Leg kick and hand load into a level swing path through the zone. Looks to elevate the ball, collapsing his backside during his swing. Showed some power to the gaps with loud line-drives and fly balls. 93 mph bat-exit velocity. Ran a 7.75 60-yard dash. Behind the plate, the primary catcher shows solid blocking ability and strong receiving skills. Has clean transfers and footwork, making accurate 75 mph throws down to second base with pop times ranging between 2.06-2.08 seconds.

Morgan Wilkins C / 3B / Lee's Summit North, MO / 2022

Stocky 5-foot-8, 180-pound build with present athleticism and a strong lower half. The right-handed hitter sets up in an open stance with active hands. Toe-tap load and long stride into a quick, uphill swing path through the zone. Gap-to-gap approach with loud contact and hard line-drives during BP. 86 mph bat-exit velocity. Ran an 8.00 60-yard dash. Behind the plate, shows above average flexibility with good receiving skills and blocking ability. Quick, clean exchanges and footwork, making accurate 77 mph throws with pop times ranging between 1.94-1.97 seconds. 

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