Inside the 2023 State Rankings: Catchers
May 13, 2020
PBR Staff
PBR Texas
TEXAS - With the 2023 Overall Rankings being released, we are taking a deeper dive with a look into this loaded Texas catching class. As it goes with all rankings, we as a staff take great pride in providing you the most accurate rankings we can.
Dillon Lester, C, Deer Park, 2023 Oklahoma Commit, 5-foot-10, 165-pounds, athletic catcher that moves well behind the dish. Shows a natural ability to call a game and handle a pitching staff. He has a natural feel for the game itself and an extremely high baseball IQ for such a young player. In the box, he doesn’t get cheated. He starts with a wide base and has some moving parts in the load but is able to time it well and prove he can hit. Lester is the top ranked catcher right now in a loaded catching class of 2023.
Elliott Foreman, C, New Diana, 2023 6-foot-3, 185-pounds athletic strong frame. Foreman is a big body Catcher that has the ability to present a low target and work under the low pitch well. Receives the ball with soft hands a minimal moving body parts and has proven he can handle stuff already. In the box, he has natural power to pull side, as well as the ability to drive the ball to the opposite gap, and there is plenty of room for growth still. Foreman carries himself with confidence on the field and shows the attributes that he can control a game from behind the plate. He also has the ability to run the fastball up in the upper 80’s but right now he is much more so known for his catching ability.
* Dillon Lester
Stood out behind the dish as well as in the box in the game. Mitchell has a prototypical catchers body right now with a stout lower half but moves athletically and bounces around on the field. Mitchell shows soft hands receiving and a strong accurate arm in game. At the plate was able to show some natural power and feel for the barrel driving balls to the gap. There is plenty more to come as Mitchell continues to grow and mature as a ball player.
Has the athletic ability to play OF and C. Sanders is a physical right handed hitter that has raw strength in the swing with present pull side power. He moves well for his size and has a high athletic ceiling. Sanders’ bat is his calling card right now.
Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton, 2023 Stands out behind the dish and catch a talented arm on the day we were able to see him down in Corpus Christi this spring. Mitchell showed great progress and growth as a player from the last time we saw him in the fall. Defensively he stands out with loose hips and presents a good low target with soft hands, also showed off his strong, loose arm in game.
* Nik Sanders
*Blake Mitchell
Rounds out this group of catchers showing athleticism and quickness behind the plate. Hernandez receives the ball with soft hands and works well with pitchers. His best tool behind the dish is his release and arm strength. He definitely has the ability to control the running game. In the box he has a quiet, balanced, athletic setup with some natural rhythm in his hands. Shows a compact, flat stroke with the ability to handle the barrel and creates loud contact with minimal moving parts.
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Ethan Gonzalez C / 3B / Smithson Valley , TX / 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot, 178 pounds
Hit: RH. Balanced, upright setup with a simple load and long leg kick stride. Finds the barrel well with a level bat path, hitting balls from gap-to-gap.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity off the tee
Arm: RH. C-76 mph. Short arm swing from a ¾ slot with good accuracy.
Defense: 1.94 pop time. Clean exchange with fluid footwork and good blocking skills.
Run: 7.95 runner in the 60
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Conner Bennett C / 2B / Oak Ridge, TX / 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-8, 150 pounds
Hit: RH. Balanced, athletic and slightly open setup. Short stride with a little leg kick, good explosion in the lower half. Fast bat speed that gets in/out of the zone quick with a confident approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity off the tee
Arm: RH. C-69 mph. Short, quick arm swing with good accuracy.
Defense: 2.12 pop time. Soft hands with a quick exchange and fluid footwork. Good blocker, keeps the ball in front well.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60
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