Prep Baseball Report

Maryland Preseason All-State Session II: Catcher Analysis


Kyle Campbell & Jamie Naill Jr.
PBR Maryland

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Session II of the Maryland Preseason All-State featured 75 players from across the Old Line State, Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Players were put through a pro-style workout and threw bullpens in front of our PBR Maryland staff with TrackMan and Blast on hand to capture additional data throughout the event. Below are evaluations on the 11 catchers at the event. 

 

CATCHERS

(Listed Alphabetically)

James Farally C / OF / Fallston, MD / 2023

Body: 5’9’’, 160 pounds. Strong, compact build. 
Hit: RHH. Even, slightly bent stance with the hands showing controlled rhythm on the shoulder to start; utilized a short and direct, lift and replace stride initiating the swing through a flat path into the hitting zone. Held relatively high posture throughout while hitting into a stiff front side. Mostly middle of the field approach during batting practice with good early connection in the box (75% on plane efficiency). Notched a 36% line drive rate via Trackman Baseball. 
Power: 81 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Developing doubles power with a table setter approach. 
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. Developing arm strength from a short and rhythmic, high ¾ slot. 
Defense: Pop times ranged 2.25-2.43. Adequate footwork allowing the pitch to play right into the rhythm of the throw. Feel for transfers and an accurate throwing arm with slight ASR on the way down to second base. Semi-soft glove hand actions when receiving, moving the body with the catch at times. 
Run: 8.27 60-yard time.


Ben Flood C / 3B / Heights, MD / 2024

Body: 5’7’’, 185 pounds. Compact, strong frame. 
Hit: RHH. Balanced, even stance with the hands showing rhythm above the shoulder to start. Utilized a controlled toe tap stride to initiate the swing through a flat bath into the hitting zone. Short A to B direction in the stroke with ability to get on plane early in ball flight. Generated a 25% line drive rate during his batting practice round with a middle, LCF approach. Room to continue adding refinement as he matures. 
Power: 82 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Developing doubles power at the moment, hit on top of the ball at times on this date. 
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Short, high ¾ slot with a quick release. Accuracy on the bag. 
Defense: Pop times ranged 2.15-2.37. Replaced the feet well and got in line early after the catch, stayed medium with the posture coming up out of the crouch, solid releases with consistency on the bag. Soft glove hand when receiving from a traditional setup. 
Run: 8.35 60-yard time.


Alex Martinelli C / 3B / Harford Tech, MD / 2024

Body: 5’9’’, 188 pounds. Strong, durable frame with even proportions throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide, slightly upright stance to begin; utilized a hitchy toe tap stride with a quick barrel tip and go method to deliver the bat head through a flat path during batting practice. Pull side approach releasing the barrel out in front of the plate; recorded a 55% line drive rate per Trackman Baseball while notching a 66% on plane efficiency via Blast Motion pointing towards a solid base of bat to ball skills present. 
Power: 77 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Singles power at the moment with the occasional ability to barrel one into the LCF gap for extra bases.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Developing arm strength from a lengthy, high ¾ slot. 
Defense: Pop times ranged 2.28-2.40. Solid footwork with ability to get the ball from the glove hand into the throwing hand quickly on transfers, took time on the takeaway which can be cleaned up. Accurate throws with solid posture throughout the catch and throw phase; semi-soft glove hand with minor movement when receiving from traditional and one knee down. 
Run: 8.60 60-yard time.


Jack Mehler C / 1B / Wootton, MD / 2022

Body: 5’11’’, 175 pounds. Projectable, lengthy frame with some strength present. 
Hit: RHH. Wide open, slightly bent stance with the barrel showing quick rhythm positioned behind the shoulder. Utilized a leg hang stride with a barrel tip at the top of the load to initiate the swing through a flat path into the hitting zone. Quick hands at the dish with some jump off the bat to the pull-side; athleticism shines in the box with XBH abilities there to be had. Notched a 75% fly ball rate emphasizing loft in the approach, and recorded a 312 foot peak batted ball distance. 
Power: 86 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Doubles power at the moment with quality swings on pitches out over the plate. 
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. Short, over the top slot with accuracy on the bag. 
Defense: Pop times ranged 2.19-2.43. Narrow base in the crouch with above-average receiving abilities. Worked thumb up through the low pitch with subtle, quiet movements in the glove hand. Efficient straight line footwork on pop times, staying low in the legs with a quick trigger. When additional arm strength comes, the pop times should continue creeping down towards 2.00.
Run: 7.55 60-yard time.


Ethan Murley C / RHP / Walt Whitman , MD / 2024

Body: 6’3’’, 190 pounds. Projectable backstop with strength throughout even proportions. 
Hit: RHH. Balanced, even stance with a slight bend in the knees; the hands showed early at the shoulder and used a barrel tip for launch coupled with a controlled lift and replace stride; initiated the bat head through a quick, flat path with tight turns in the swing. Recorded a 50% fly ball rate with loft in the approach towards the LCF gap, generating a 300 foot peak batted ball distance. Feel for the levers and getting them to the front of the plate, handled pitches well in any quadrant during his batting practice round. 
Power: 85 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Doubles power at the moment with significant burst through the hitting window, more power to come. 22 mph average hand speed (Blast Motion) plays vs. velocity. 
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Fluid, whippy high ¾ slot with no restrictions; accurate on the bag. 
Defense: Pop times ranged 2.03-2.18. Pre-catch rhythm present from a traditional setup, replaced the feet well getting the hips and shoulders towards the target in one motion, quick release with some arm strength will control the run game for years to come. Soft glove hand when receiving from a low right knee down position (hip mobility present). 
Run: 7.78 60-yard time.


Cameron Patt C / 2B / Quince Orchard, MD / 2022

Body: 5’9’’, 176 pounds. Compact, athletic frame with confidence in all phases of his game. 
Hit: RHH. Balanced, loose setup with a calmness throughout; the hands started at the shoulder and the knees in a slightly bent position. Utilized a deliberate leg lift stride with a barrel tip in order to initiate the bat head through a slightly vertical, flat path into the hitting zone. Demonstrated quality swing mechanics at the plate with a strong lower half turn leading the way, the hands worked very short (A to B) to the ball allowing for solid bat to ball skills (60% line drive rate via Trackman). Worked his way up to a near 300 foot batted ball distance as well pointing towards a developing power ceiling in the near future. 
Power: 90 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Doubles power at the moment when catching it out in front. 
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Strength in the takeaway with a likeable, quick arm stroke through a high ¾ slot on the release. 
Defense: Pop times ranged 1.95-2.06. Accurate throws on the bag with quick, replaceable feet getting in line in a hurry. Stood out as one of the top defensive catchers at the event, and the actions should project easily to game action. Solid receiving abilities from a traditional and left knee down setup; pocket awareness was evident. 
Run: 7.22 60-yard time.


Kody Phillips C / 2B / Severna Park, MD / 2024

Body: 5’7’’, 160 pounds. Lean, projectable frame with wiry strength. 
Hit: RHH. Backloaded, even stance with the hands at the shoulder to start; utilized a deliberate leg lift stride to initiate the bat head through a flat path into the hitting zone. Good feel for extension through the baseball with a mostly middle of the field approach; kept the ball in the air without rolling the wrists until the last minute. Occasional length and liked to get leveraged on pitches in any quadrant, handled the middle-outer half with extreme confidence during batting practice. Recorded a 43% line drive rate while hitting into a stiff front side. 
Power: 84 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Developing doubles power (near 300 foot batted ball distance). 
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Short, high ¾ slot with a minor pause at the top. Quick release overall with accuracy on the bag. 
Defense: Pop times ranged 2.14-2.32. Smooth straight line footwork working the hips in an “L” pattern to create efficient momentum towards the target; soft glove hand with rhythmic transfers when receiving, should have the ability to be a force in the run game down the line. 
Run: 7.73 60-yard time.


Nick Pratt C / OF / Indian Creek School, MD / 2023

Body: 6’0’’, 185 pounds. Projectable, uber-physical frame with feel present. 
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic setup slightly favoring a bent backside with a strong hand start at the shoulder. Utilized a leg hang stride while holding hip coil over the back right leg, creating stretch at the land position before launch; initiated the bat head through a lightning, flat path into the hitting zone with minor lift after impact. Recorded a 50% line drive rate with obvious bat to ball skills present (70% on plane via Blast Motion). A 42% hard hit rate (batted balls over 90 mph) plays admirably into a line drive approach all over the middle of the field. Should continue hitting at a high level throughout his high school career; a quality middle of the order bat to keep tabs on as he matures. 
Power: 96 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Home run power on occasion with a mostly gap to gap approach and XBH abilities. 
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Strong, high ¾ power slot with a short, quick takeaway. 
Defense: Pop times ranged 2.00-2.10. Above-average defensive skills behind the dish; athleticism shows getting up out of the crouch with fluidity and into a seamless straight line setup in one motion, can handle the run game at a young age. Obvious pocket awareness when receiving from a one knee down and traditional look. 
Run: 7.55 60-yard time.


Andrew Purcell C / 3B / Urbana, MD / 2023

Body: 5’9’’, 195 pounds. Strong, durable, and compact frame. 
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly-bent setup in the knees with the hands showing minor rhythm above the shoulder to start. Utilized a leg lift stride to initiate the bat head through a flat path into the hitting zone; quick hands displayed some burst on the middle-in quadrant. Recorded an impressive 43% line drive rate per Trackman Baseball giving way to a 310 foot peak batted ball distance. Pounded the pull-side consistently with tight turns producing repeatable hard contact during batting practice. Projects to slot into a middle of the order role moving forward with a swing that should play admirably in game. 
Power: 89 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Doubles power at the moment with ability to run it out of the yard when catching it right on the barrel. 
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Quick, high ¾ slot with a short, repeatable takeaway. Accurate on the bag on throws. 
Defense: Pop times ranged 2.08-2.20. Strong lower half move out of the crouch for direction towards the target, kept the feet in line with a good drive off the backside to finish throws, the transfers worked. Soft glove hand when receiving from a low crouch with good hip mobility present behind the dish. 
Run: 8.33 60-yard time.


Ashten Snelsire C / 1B / Stephen Decatur, MD / 2022

Body: 6’2’’, 215 pounds. Strong, projectable frame with power throughout (advanced feel). 
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly bent and open stance with the hands starting loose next to the ear. Utilized a methodical lift and replace stride initiating the bat head through a flat path with some jump through the middle of the field. Hit into a stiff front side from a wide landing position, allowing for good athleticism and usage of ground power throughout the swing; recorded a standout 50% line drive rate via Trackman Baseball while crushing baseballs when delivering the barrel out in front (354 foot peak batted ball distance). The hit tool is above-average for his age with room for more. 
Power: 93 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Doubles power with consistency (36% hard hit rate). Feel for either gap on pitches spanning from the inner third to an inch off the outside corner. 
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Strong, powerful high ¾ slot with good wrist strength on the release. 
Defense: Pop times ranged 1.96-2.13. Above-average footwork with quickness in the transfers; was able to get downhill with the chest on the finish creating some violence (whip). Advanced receiver from a traditional setup; good pocket awareness and creates good angles to the pitch. 
Run: 7.47 60-yard time.


Andrew Steinbacher C / 3B / Towson, MD / 2022

Body: 5’6’’, 190 pounds. Stocky, durable frame with compact proportions.
Hit: RHH. Upright, open stance with the hands starting at a 45 degree angle over the head. Utilized a lift and replace stride to initiate his swing through a slightly vertical path with lift after contact. Recorded a 55% fly ball rate mostly through the middle of the field while hitting into a stiff front side. More intent to be had in the rotation, but put forth a solid 46% line drive rate via Trackman Baseball as well showing feel present for the barrel. 
Power: 76 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Singles power for the moment with ability to plug the pull side gap on occasion. 
Arm: RH. C - 62 mph. Short takeaway with an adequate release through a high ¾ slot.
Defense: Pop times ranged 2.38-2.59. Developing defensive abilities with a moderately soft glove hand when working down to one knee while receiving. Average straight line footwork getting in line towards the target, stood up at times losing strength from the base to throw off of. 
Run: 8.61 60-yard time.

 


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