North Texas Underclass Games: Catching Analysis
September 19, 2018
DALLAS, TX - On Monday, July 23rd, some of the top underclass talent from North Texas Underclass Games at Dallas Baptist University. Here is the catching analysis from that event.
CATCHERS
Hudson White, C/SS, Byron Nelson HS, 2021
Oklahoma State commit. White is a dynamic, all-around athletic “Baseball Player” that can play multiple positions at a high level. His performance at the NTX UC games vaulted him to the No. 12 spot in the 2021 Texas Class Rankings. At 5-foot-11, 175-pounds, White is a long stride runner with a lean-muscular frame, and posted a 7.25 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter then launched balls deep to the gaps, including a home run to left field. He loads back early before striding forward, staying in a slightly crouched position, getting the barrel in the zone and working on an upward plane through contact, creating lift and leverage with a top exit velocity of 90 mph. On the infield, White plays low with rhythm in his footwork, soft hands out front, and a clean exchange into an elbow dominant arm stroke that works from different angles and transitions to multiple positions. Behind the plate, he threw 79 mph from the crouch and posted pop times ranging from 1.86-2.01. On the mound, the right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a clean arm stroke, drop-and-drive delivery, and lands across his body. His fastball ranged from 82-86 with feel to both sides of the plate, and he mixed in a 71-72 mph curveball with 11/5 shape and good depth. Whether he is on the mound, behind the plate, or on the infield, White’s natural baseball actions and athleticism make him a coveted recruit in the 2021 class.
Nathaniel Price, C/OF, Mansfield Legacy HS, 2020
Price has a quick-twitch, muscular frame at 5-foot-9, 170-pounds. Posted some of the best pop times of any PBR Event from the summer with 1.86-1.93 and a velocity from the crouch of 79 mph. Ultra-fast exchange with quick footwork, arm works clean with a short swing and natural release with regular effort. Athletic defender with good mobility. The right-handed hitter packs a punch at the plate with a simple swing that starts from a tall, balanced setup with high hands. Smooth load as he lifts his front leg, taking a short stride as he triggers his hands back, landing square before rotating his lower half to transfer weight. Gap type power with a 93 exit velocity, flashes carry to the pull side.
Aidan Gebhart, C/3B, Frisco Heritage HS, 2020
Gebhart has a lean-muscular frame at 5-foot-11, 175-pounds. The right-handed hitter has quick twitch hands that produced an exit velocity of 92 mph. Barrel stays in the zone a long time, makes hard contact through the middle of the field and provides good leverage with quick hips as he transfers his weight through contact. Behind the plate, he threw with a top velocity from the crouch of 76 mph and pop times ranging from 1.97-2.19.
Devin Goins, C, Taft HS, 2020
Goins has a strong, high-waisted frame at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. The left-handed hitter starts from a tall, relaxed stance with his hands held low. Simple load back as he triggers his hands up and glides froward, landing balanced with good separation. Short, direct path gets the barrel out front with natural lift, strength at contact and a high finish. Made hard contact during BP with a top exit velocity of 99 mph. Behind the plate, Goins has good lower half mobility, throwing with a top velocity from the crouch of 73 mph and pop times ranging from 2.07-2.11. Athletic footwork when fielding bunts and bouncing on dirt balls.
Dillon Flores, C/3B, Lewisville HS, 2020
Flores has a projectable frame and young face for a backstop at 6-foot, 180-pounds, with more room to add strength as he continues to develop. Quality receiver with soft hands, moves easy and efficiently behind the dish. Clean arm stroke, quick exchange, simple gather with rhythm in his footwork, arm works well out front with a top velocity from the crouch of 76 mph and pop times ranging from 1.93-2.15. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance with his weight evenly distributed before he pushes back using a reverse leg lift and triggers his hands, cocking the barrel forward. His hands work well through the zone on a flat path to contact and a loose finish. Middle of the field approach, good barrel awareness with line drive power and an exit velocity of 85 mph.
Justin McMahan, C/SS, Forney HS, 2020
McMahan is an athletic back stop with a quality feel for the position. Receives at a high level with strong hands, blocks well from side to side, and has quick footwork on throws to second base. His pop times ranged from 1.97-2.26 with a top velocity from the crouch of 77 mph. Clean exchange into a slightly longer arm swing with regular effort. At the plate, McMahan starts from an open stance with his feet set flat, then loads back as he picks his hands up and strides closed, transferring his weight to his front foot. Leveraged hack with gap power and lift, the right-handed hitter gets the most out of his 6-foot, 170-pound frame, creating a top exit velocity of 89 mph.
Quaid Tschetter, C/OF, Byron Nelson HS, 2021
Tschetter has a lean-muscular frame at 5-foot-9, 155-pounds. Started the day by posting a 7.02 60-yard dash, and was then on the barrel through the middle of the field during batting practice. The right-handed hitter starts from wide base before he triggers his hands and loads back smooth. Short stride, lands slightly closed, hits off his front foot, barrel stays in the zone a long time, inside-out path, hard contact through the middle of the field with an exit velocity of 87 mph. Behind the dish, Tschetter has an accurate arm with carry and a top velocity from the crouch of 76 mph. In line footwork with pop times that ranged from 2.01-2.12.
Tanner Benson, C/1B, Lone Star HS, 2020
5-foot-10, 165-pound frame. Benson starts from a tall, open stance before turning his front knee in as he triggers his hands, and cocks the barrel over the top of his head. Simple weight transfer and loose hands allow him to throw the barrel and flash gap power to the pull side with an exit velocity of 85 mph. Behind the plate, Benson has a quick exchange to force his hands into a high position and uses directional footwork. Gets the ball in and out quickly, posting a top velocity from the crouch of 72 mph with pop times ranging from 2.07-2.27
Weston Peninger, C/3B, Flower Mound HS, 2020
Peninger has a long-limbed, projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, open stance before picking up his front foot and shifting his hands back, turning to stride close. There is strength in his hands as he does a nice job of throwing the barrel through contact with a top exit velocity of 88 mph. Creates natural lift with an uphill path the slots the barrel early. Behind the plate, Peninger has a clean, quick exchange to go with light feet before he throws from a ¾ slot with a top velocity of 78 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging from 2.0-2.22.
Brett Harper, C/3B, Allen HS, 2020
Harper has a strong frame at 5-foot-9, 155-pounds, and certainly knows his way around the weight room. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall stance, then loads back smooth as he slides his hands to his back shoulder and strides forward, landing with good separation. Quick bat through the zone on a slightly uphill plane creates natural lift and strong contact to the pull side with a top velocity of 84 mph. Behind the plate, Harper has a quick exchange as he replaces his feet and throws from an over the top slot with a top velocity from the crouch of 75 mph and pop times ranging from 2.0-2.07.
Matthew Gustafson, C/OF, Drippings Springs HS, 2020
Gustafson has a lean-athletic frame at 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from wide, slightly crouched stance before loading down and back using a leg kick as he triggers his hands. Works on an uphill plane as he rotates to contact then finishes high with a top exit velocity of 82 mph. Behind the plate, Gustafson has a quick, clean exchange before he throws from a ¾ slot with a top velocity from the crouch of 76 mph with pop times ranging from 1.97-2.14.
Jason Hawkins, C/3B, Plano Senior HS, 2021
6-foot-1, 170-pound frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a square, stacked stance with his weight evenly distributed. Simple timing mechanism with a smooth load back before he takes a short stride. Clean, direct path to contact as he rotates his lower half and transfers his weight. Line drive power with a middle of the field approach and an exit velocity of 82 mph. Behind the plate, he throws from a short arm stroke with directional footwork, a top velocity from the crouch of 73 mph and pop times ranging from 2.07-2.22.
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