Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

PA Underclass Games Analysis: Catchers

July 6, 2015

By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

The 2015 PBR Pennsylvania Underclass Games took place on June 23-24, with 51 prospects from around the state gathering at Tambur Field on the campus of Misericordia University. Our rundown of the participants continues today with the ten catchers in attendance.

Catchers


Max Alessi, 2018, C, Honesdale
5-foot-10, 205-pound right-handed hitter. Started from an open stance and strode to slightly open. Perhaps the biggest thing offensively for Max is to ramp up his aggressiveness early in the count, so as to avoid hitting with two strikes as often as he did at this event. Ran an 8.34 60-yard dash. Showcased 78-mph exit velocity and 69-mph arm strength during workout. Posted workout pop times of 2.20-2.30. Could shave some time by getting feet started sooner, in order to sync them up with the catch/transfer process. Has some recoil at end of throws, which would pick up some carry if he got out over his front side on release.

Sam Aslansan, 2019, C, Springside Chestnut Hill
5-foot-10, 140-pound right-handed hitter. Hit from slightly closed stance with short stride and some barrel wrap in otherwise compact swing. One of youngest participants at the event, would benefit from ensuring his front heel is down on time, so that he can get the bat started on time. Ran a 7.92 60-yard dash. Showcased 75-mph exit velocity and 68-mph arm strength during workout. Posted four straight 2.28 workout pop times. Solid footwork and exchange, glove stays up and travels short distance. Showed some lateral mobility when blocking.

Michael Haley, 2017, C/RHP, Franklin Regional
6-foot, 200-pound left-handed hitter. Started from a slightly closed stance and strode to square. Routinely barreled the baseball in game action. Simple approach with ability to occasionally generate some loft. Ran a 7.93 60-yard dash and 4.97 in-game home-to-1B time. Showcased 81-mph exit velocity and 73-mph arm strength from the crouch during workout (ran FB up to 81 in game). Posted workout pop times of 2.21-2.29. Could shave some time by getting feet started sooner, in order to sync them up with the catch/transfer process.

Kollin Henneman, 2019, C, Big Spring
5-foot-8, 190-pound right-handed hitter. Has some physicality, especially relative to his peer group. Hit from slightly closed stance, rocking weight to backside with heel-raise stride. Attacks the baseball and flashes some bat speed. Front hip has a good bit of back-to-front movement with somewhat violent clearance, but it doesn’t come forward past its starting point, allowing him to hit against his front leg. Ran an 8.37 60-yard dash and 5.00 in-game home-to-1B time. Showcased 86-mph exit velocity and 73-mph arm strength during workout. Posted workout pop times of 2.20-2.28 and in-game pops of 2.37-2.50. Tries to be too quick at times, with body getting ahead of transfer, while he would benefit from improving his lower half agility and mobility.

Emmett McCauley, 2018, C, Stroudsburg
5-foot-9, 165-pound right-handed hitter. Started from an open stance and strode on his toe with a knee roll to slightly closed. Cast his hands creating some length and loop to swing. Would benefit from more fully incorporating his lower half into his swing. Showcased 77-mph exit velocity during workout.  Did not participate in the 60-yard dash or defensive evaluation portion of the event. Posted a 2.12 in-game pop time.

Hunter McGarvey, 2018, C, La Salle
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitter. Started from slightly open stance and took a short, controlled stride to square. Body comes forward some with stride, eyes stay relatively level. Lowers hands in load, creating some armbar, which led to him working around the ball. Ran a 7.37 60-yard dash and 4.84 in-game home-to-1B time. Showcased 78-mph exit velocity and 72-mph arm strength during workout. Posted workout pop times of 2.06-2.16. Quiet receiver, soft glovehand, quick exchange and footwork.

Cameron Petruso, 2017, C, McDowell
5-foot-11, 205-pound right-handed hitter. Started from an open stance, rocked weight to backside, strode on toe with front knee roll to slightly open base. Swing has some length in back and he would benefit from keep the barrel in the hitting zone longer. Ran a 7.15 60-yard dash and a 4.66 in-game home-to-1B time. Showcased 79-mph exit velocity and 73-mph arm strength during workout. Posted workout pop times of 2.15-2.26 with an in-game pop of 2.19. Accurate arm, fairly clean exchange, would like to see him receive the pitch a little more and stab at it a little less.

Mark Seibert, 2018, C, Holy Ghost Prep
5-foot-9, 160-pound right-handed hitter. Started from a square stance and strode to slightly open. Launch point can get low and, at times, he casts his hands creating some length in his swing path. Ran an 8.91 60-yard dash and 5.37 in-game home-to-1B time. Showcased 72-mph exit velocity and 66-mph arm strength during workout. Posted workout pop times of 2.35-2.54. Quiet receiver with a feel for blocking. Could shave some time by maintaining a lower center of gravity and not standing erect to throw.

Dan Stauffer, 2017, C, Elk County Catholic
6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitter. Started from slightly open stance and double-tapped his front foot to square in game (no double-tap in BP). Body and head come forward with stride, but hands are loose and work through contact well. Ran a 7.27 60-yard dash and 4.63 in-game home-to-1B time. Showcased 76-mph exit velocity and 75-mph arm strength during workout. Posted workout pop times of 2.08-2.18 with an in-game pop of 2.13. Accurate arm, good direction with feet toward target, showed some feel for blocking, could shave some time by quickening exchange out of glove.

Bobby Whalen, 2019, C, Cedar Cliff
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitter. More physically advanced than many of his peers. Starts from open stance and strides to square. Attacked ball, flashed some bat speed, although swing has length due to armbar created in load. Ran a 7.31 60-yard dash. Showcased 83-mph exit velo and 73-mph arm strength during workout. Posted workout pop times of 2.16-2.28 with an in-game pop of 2.19. Offense currently ahead of defense. Would like to see him set wider in defensive stance in order to help him get lower with his thumb underneath when receiving. With high school career not even started, has lots of time to iron out footwork and shorten release to improve throwing accuracy.

Previous PA Underclass Games News

 2015 Eastern PA Fall ReviewCreate a Free Player ProfileWestern PA Fall Review 2015