Queen City ID: Outfielder and Catcher Analysis

October 30, 2019
Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
NC Executive Director & Scouting Director

On Wednesday October 16t, Prep Baseball Report hosted an event at the impressive Ultimate Performance facility in Matthews, NC. An indoor facility, it allows for a full pro-style workout with players getting a lot of reps. With rain falling for most of the day, players were able to get the full workout with Ultimate Performance’s facility.

During the open identification, players were able to run a laser timed 30, moved indoors and to a 30 yard dash instead of a 60 due to the weather, workout at their defensive position, and go through multiple offensive stations for evaluations. The facility at Ultimate Performance allows outfielders to field through batted ground balls and make throws of up to 150 feet. Infielders and catchers are able to make full length throws, simulating positional play. Offensively, hitters worked through multiple cages, including an exit velocity cage, prior to getting to open box cage that allowed hitters and evaluators to see the ball fly off the bat.

We begin our look at the player analysis with the catchers and outfielders. Five primary catchers went through the full workout with two primary outfielders. Each uncommitted with grad years ranging from 2021 - 2023. Several follows in this group of athletes.

CLICK HERE to see the roster and statistics from the event.

Queen City ID: Outfielder and Catcher Evaluations

OUTFIELDERS

Langston Rupert OF / 2B / Charlotte Country Day, NC / 2023

Lanky, athletic frame with room to add strength at 5 foot 10, 132-pounds. Quick twitch actions and recorded a 3.90 in the 30-yard dash. Hits from the right side with a balanced setup. Short stride with quiet hands during his load. Quick hands with a direct path to the ball. Made lots of hard contact, staying through the middle of the cage. Advanced bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 84 mph. Athletic in the outfield, playing through balls with average hands. Uses a crow hop into his throws with a quick arm. Accurate arm that topped at 87 mph. Quick feet on the infield with some softness to his hands. Funnels to the belt after catch with quickness to his arm through release topping at 83 mph.

Harris Dowdy OF / RHP / Lake Norman, NC / 2021

5 foot 10, 170-pound strong build. Tall, open setup from the left side with a narrow base. Glides into the ball with an average stride. Loose hands with some lift in his swing. Feel for his barrel lining some balls to the opposite field. Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 84 mph. Plays through balls in the outfield, catching balls off his left foot with average hands. Fluid feet through his throws with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 79 mph. Recorded a 4.12 in the 30-yard dash.

CATCHERS

Jaxon Cogdill C / RHP / East Gaston, NC / 2022

Rankings StateRank: 55 / POS: 6

Strength present in 5 foot 11, 180-pound build. Hits from the right side, starting balanced with his hands above his back shoulder. Weight works back during his load with a short stride. Hands stay inside the ball with a high finish. Works to stay in the middle of the field. Some strength in the swing with his exit velocity recorded at 91 mph. Behind the plate, transfers around his waist with a short arm action, throwing from an overhand slot. Arm topped at 76 mph to second base. Some accuracy to his throws with pop times ranging from 2.12-2.29. Presents a low target with average hands when receiving during bullpens. Recorded a 4.29 in the 30-yard dash.
On the mound, fastball sat 76-82 with occasional run out of the hand. When going to the glove side the fastball did cut. Chokes the change-up a bit, but there is deception with the hand speed. Straight, the change sat at 70. Breaking ball has early, gradual tilt. Misses were to the arm side. Decent hand speed on the breaking ball at 67-68. Some effort in the delivery, working to find rhythm. Level and on-line, lands in-line and square, falling toward 1B on the finish. Long arm swing can be stiff at times working to an over-the-top slot. In the stretch, utilized a slide step. Slide step lacked a load creating a dip in velocity, sitting 76-79 in the stretch.

Mason Mozeley C / 3B / Freedom, NC / 2022

Rankings StateRank: 70 / POS: 12

Athletic build at 5 foot 10, 158-pounds. Left hand hitter with a balanced setup. Small load with his weight and hands working slightly back with a short stride. Some quickness to his hands with a flat barrel path. Hit lots of line drives during batting practice with average to above average bat speed. Exit velocity recorded at 83 mph. Quick feet with a quick exchange behind the plate. Short arm action, throwing from an overhand slot. Accurate arm that topped at 77 mph to second base. Pop times ranged from 2.04-2.18. Balanced setup receiving with average hands. Athletic on the infield with quick feet. Soft hands with an accurate arm that has carry to first base. Positional velocity topped at 82 mph. Recorded a 4.08 in the 30-yard dash.
Stable over the rubber with a leg lift to the mid-chest. Some rhythm, working level and on-line. At foot strike, the foot is open. Long, loose arm swing to a high-3/4 slot. Fastball has run at 79-83. Attacks the zone with the fastball. Change-up has arm side action at 74-76, again attacking the zone. Breaking ball has early, gradual 12/6 tilt, rolling out of the hand. Breaking ball ranged 62-64.

Jacob Gorman C / 2B / Hough, NC / 2022

Strong build at 5 foot 10, 165-pounds. Tall setup from the right side with a narrow base. Hands work back with a short stride during his load. Weight glides into the ball with a direct barrel path. Quick hands and stays through the middle of the cage with feel for his barrel. Above average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 86 mph. Feet work through his throws to second base with clean transfers, and a longer arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Accurate arm from a crouch position that topped at 72 mph. Pop times ranged from 2.10-2.26. Balanced setup, presenting a low target with average hands while receiving bullpens. Plays through balls on the infield with average hands. Funnels to the belt after catch with an accurate arm that topped at 75 mph to first base. Recorded a 4.13 in the 30-yard dash.
Some rhythm over the rubber working level with a kick to the belt area. Short arm action has some stiffness to an over-the-top slot. Lands in-line and square. Run to the fastball at 75-77. Slows the arm a bit on the change-up, occasionally pushing it. Change has sink at 66-68. Breaking ball at 61-64. Early, gradual tilt with 12/6 action.

Travis Snell C / OF / Hickory Grove Christian , NC / 2021

Strong build at 5 foot 10, 175-pounds. Athleticism is present running a 3.81 in the 30-yard dash. Strong hands and works to punish the baseball in the box. Hits from the right side with a balanced setup. Loads knee to knee in his lower half with quiet hands. Quick hands with feel for his barrel. Flat bat path staying through the middle of the cage. Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 89 mph. Quick, fluid feet behind the plate, transferring across his chest with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Arm topped at 74 mph from a crouch position. Pop times ranged from 2.19-2.36. Receives bullpens presenting a low target with relaxed hands. Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands. Longer exchange with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Some carry to his throws that topped at 83 mph.

Brady Swadley C / OF / East Lincoln, NC / 2023

Lanky frame at 6 foot 3, 143-pounds. Hits from the right side with a balanced setup and his hands starting at his back shoulder. Weight works back with his shoulder getting uphill tilt with a short stride during his load. Uphill bat path through the zone. Looks to stay through the middle of the cage with his exit velocity topping at 75 mph and should improve as the body matures. Stands up on his throws to second base with clean transfers across his chest, using a short arm action, throwing from an over the top slot. Arm topped at 62 mph to second base. Some feel for the second base bag with pop times ranging from 2.54-2.71. Low hips while receiving bullpens with his glove going to the ground before catching the pitch. Recorded a 4.38 in the 30.