Prep Baseball Report

Open ID Showcase Analysis: Catchers



By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

The summer rush of PBR events in Pennsylvania and West Virginia kicked into high gear in June with the PA Top Prospect Games (June 17-18), Shenandoah Valley College Prospect Showcase (June 23) and the PA Underclass Games (June 24-25) all offering college coaches a glimpse at some 175 prospects in a short period of time.

This past week two Open Identification Showcases were held with an additional 75 prospects demonstrating their abilities. Over the course of the next several days we will be analyzing the prospects that performed by position at both events. Today we take a look at the catchers in attendance.

PA Open ID SHowcases: catchers


Top Prospects

Adam BankovichAdam Bankovich (DuBois Area), 2016

Bankovich is a physical 5-foot-10, 195-pound junior that showcased sound receiving and blocking skills. He displayed a quick transition on pop times of 2.01-2.07 on throws of 74 mph from the crouch. Bankovich is a right-handed hitter that starts from a square stance with a bit of a squat. He demonstrated good balance and a short swing path allowing him to stay inside the baseball during a solid round of batting practice. Bankovich wore out the middle of the field with a bat exit velocity of 87 mph. The athletic backstop ran a 7.50 60-yard dash and will be displaying his game skills at the PBR Mid-Atlantic Border Battle next week.

Eric LoucksEric Loucks (Hempfield Area), 2015

Loucks showed well in all facets of the game. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound uncommitted senior ran a 7.50 60-yard dash and showed athleticism behind the plate with pop times of 2.02-2.08 on throws of 74 mph from the crouch. The right-handed hitter showcased some pop to the pull side from a square stance with a lift and replace stride foot. Loucks registered a bat exit velocity of 82 mph and hit two runs during his round of batting practice while consistently driving the ball to left field.

Scott ThompsonScott Thompson (Blairsville), 2015

Thompson is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound uncommitted senior with a good deal of athletic ability. He showcased a well-rounded skill set with improvements likely in all areas as he continues to develop. Thompson ran a 7.21 60-yard dash and flashed good carry on throws of 73 mph from the crouch. His pop times of 2.05-2.12 could be improved quickly with a few minor adjustments to his transition work. Thompson showcased the top bat exit velocity at the Western PA Open ID Showcase (94 mph). Thompson displayed gap power during his round of batting practice barreling most baseballs from an open stance. He has a lot of moving parts in his right-handed swing but the baseball jumps off his bat when it is squared.

 

Best of the Rest (alphabetical)

Hunter Alexander (Blackhawk), 2015

Alexander is a solidly built 5-foot-6, 160-pound backstop that showcased pop times of 2.12-2.22 on throws of 68 mph from the crouch. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly closed stance and displayed a short swing path with the ability to make consistent hard contact. Alexander registered a bat exit velocity of 80 mph and ran a 7.69 60-yard dash.

Branson Auckerman (Hempfield Area), 2016

Auckerman is a 6-foot, 170-pound right-handed hitter that hits from a square stance with not stride. He displayed a high hands load with a 76 mph bat exit velocity and the ability to barrel most baseballs in his round of batting practice. Auckerman showcased pop times of 2.25-2.32 on throws of 67 mph from the crouch and ran a 7.84 60-yard dash.

Jesse Crammer (Greensburg Salem), 2015

Crammer is a right-handed hitter that demonstrated the ability to consistently barrel the baseball with a bat exit velocity of 81 mph. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder showcased pop times of 2.20-2.28 on throws of 68 mph from the crouch. Crammer finished his day by sitting 77-78 from a high 3/4 arm slot while also commanding a 72 mph changeup.

Dillon Curtin (The Linsly School, WV), 2015

Curtin displayed good tempo to his swing out of a square stance with a lift and replace stride foot while showcasing a bat exit velocity of 82 mph. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitter routinely barreled the baseball during his round of batting practice while showing the ability to use all fields. Curtin flashed some of the top pop times of the day at 2.05-2.12 on throws of 67 mph from the crouch. He is a sound receiver and blocker and flashed good feet with a quick transition on his throws.

Eric Gross (Central Bucks South), 2017

Gross is a 5-foot-8, 165-pound sophomore that showcased pop times of 2.07-2.13 on accurate throws of 70 mph from the crouch. He exhibited solid footwork and a quick exchange while consistently putting the baseball on the bag at 2B. Gross is a right-handed hitter that starts from a square stance. He gets through the baseball to extension well and displayed the ability hit the baseball to all fields with a bat exit velocity of 75 mph.

Sean Kelly (Archbishop Wood), 2016

Kelly showed athletic actions, running a 7.10 60-yard dash, and a strong arm behind the plate (78 mph). He displayed pop times of 2.13-2.21 with very quick feet, but a bit of a long arm throwing motion. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound junior barreled the baseball routinely during his round of batting practice from a square stance with a toe tap stride foot. Kelly showed some gap power potential and a bat exit velocity of 84 mph.

J.P. Lenker (Line Mountain), 2015

Lenker is a right-handed hitter that showcased a bat exit velocity of 87 mph from a closed stance. He displayed the ability to square the baseball to all fields during his round of batting practice with no stride. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound backstop flashed pop times of 2.13-2.19 on throws of 69 mph from the crouch and ran an impressive 6.85 60-yard dash.

Alex Martynuska (Altoona Area), 2015

Martynuska is a 5-foot-8, 205-pound uncommitted senior that showcased pop times of 2.18-2.22 on throws of 64 mph from the crouch. The physical right-handed hitter registered a bat exit velocity of 80 mph from a slightly open stance. Martynuska creates barrel whip with a strong lower half and a decided weight shift from a high hands load. He displayed some gap power potential and barreled the baseball frequently during his round of batting practice.

Brandon Olszewski (Hampton Area), 2015

Olszewski ran a 7.63 60-yard dash and flashed pop times of 2.09-2.15 on throws of 70 mph from the crouch. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed hitter displayed a flat swing path through the zone and barreled the baseball frequently from a square stance with a toe tap stride. Olszewski registered an 86 mph bat exit velocity and showed the ability to use all fields during his round of batting practice.

Dan Robinson (Christian Brothers Academy, NY), 2015

Robinson is a 6-foot, 165-pound uncommitted senior that showcased pop times of 2.25-2.35 on throws of 67 mph from the crouch. Robinson displayed sound receiving and blocking skills and a very accurate arm during defensive evaluations. The right-handed hitter hits from a square stance with no stride. He displayed the ability to frequently square the baseball during his round of batting practice with a bat exit velocity of 76 mph.

RHP/C Richard Ross (Ligonier Valley), 2015

Ross is a 6-foot-1, 225-pound righty that sat 73-74 from a 3/4 arm slot. He has a long arm motion that creates some deception. Ross also commanded a 66 mph 11/5 breaking curveball and a 67 mph split-change that displayed some late sinking action. The right-handed hitter barreled the baseball routinely from a square stance during his round of batting practice with a bat exit velocity of 83 mph. Ross showcased pop times of 2.25-2.35 on throws of 64 mph from the crouch during defensive evaluations.

Anthony Rota (Boyertown), 2017

Rota is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound sophomore that showed athletic actions running a 7.12 60-yard dash. He also showed quick feet and an accurate arm from behind the plate. Rota registered pop times of 2.13-2.22 on throws of 70 mph from the crouch. The right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and flashed a bat exit velocity of 84 mph.

Zack Skatell (Greensburg Central Catholic), 2016

Skatell is a 5-foot-10, 205-pound right-handed hitter that showcased a balanced, fluid swing from a square stance with a bat exit velocity of 85 mph. The junior barreled the baseball routinely during a solid round of batting practice. Skatell displayed pop times of 2.30-2.35 on throws of 64 mph from the crouch.


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