Waco Preseason ID: Catching Analysis

WACO, TX - Following a great trip to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Convention, Prep Baseball Report hosted the second Preseason ID Event of the early spring at Waco ISD Stadium. Cool and rainy weather cleared the way for sunshine and breeze to host forty players for a great day of baseball. Here is the catching analysis from that event.

CATCHERS

Chanden Scamardo, C, College Station HS, 2021
Scamardo is already strong for his class with at 6-foot, 195-pounds. The right-handed hitter has simple strength with natural lift that comes from a short path to contact with great extension and fairly loose finish. He hammered the ball around the yard during BP, posting a top exit velocity of 88 mph, driving the ball deep to gaps, and homering to left-centerfield. He posted a top velocity from the crouch of 80 mph four out of the five throws to second base with his best pop time of 1.94, and multiple 2.01’s. Moving forward, I would expect Chanden to get significant attention because he is an offensive catcher.

Carter Pool, C, Keller HS, 2020  
Pool is an athletic defender behind the plate, standing 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. The uncommitted junior has caught our eye on multiple occasions with his actions and soft hands behind the plate. Threw strikes to second base with pop times ranging from 2.07-2.19 and a top velocity from the crouch of 75 mph. Clean footwork with a quick exchange and easy arm swing. His lower half mobility allows him to receive at a high level along with soft hands and quiet sway. The right-handed hitter laced balls through the middle of the field with a line drive approach and a top exit velocity of 90 mph. Simple stride with loose hands, he glides forward to transfer his weight, and shows feel for the barrel.

Patrick Baca, C, Vandegrift HS, 2020
Baca is not even close to filling out his young frame at 5-foot-9, 140-pounds, but he can really play catch with athletic actions at both shortstop and behind the plate. He is an elite receiver with soft hands and good mobility, allowing him to do a nice job on the low strike. Accurate throws to second, posting pop times of 2.0, 2.01, 2.08, 2.08, and 2.14, as well as running a 7.02 60-yard dash. The movement patterns, arm swing, and quick footwork suggest that Baca is going to continue to catch the eyes of recruiters moving forward as he can play in the middle of the field. Offensively, the right-handed hitter starts from a balanced setup with flex in his lower half. Smooth load into a short stride, flat path through the zone with looseness in his hands, line drive approach and top exit velocity of 80 mph. On the infield, his quick feet and ability to throw from different slots and play on the run standout to the scouting eye. He threw with a top velocity across the diamond of 79, the arm works easy with accurate throws from a midline exchange.

Johnny Follett, C/RHP, Hebron HS, 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pounds. On the mound, the right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with high leg lift at the top before using a drop and drive delivery down the mound. Late hand separation with a long arm swing creates some deception. His fastball flashed some sink at the bottom of the zone at 78-80 mph. Curveball had early 11/5 break at 66-69 mph. Changeup came in at 74-76 mph. Behind the plate, Follett has tons of carry in his arm with a top velocity from the crouch of 77 mph and posted pop times of 2.05-2.26 seconds. The right-handed hitter also has an aggressive hack and throws the barrel through contact. Starting from a wide base then loads back deep into his back leg as he triggers his hands down and cocks the barrel over the plate. Quick-twitch hands get through the zone on a slightly up hill plane with a loose finish as he drove the ball well to the pull side of the field and posting an 82 mph exit velocity.

Andrew Cates, C/RHP, Midway HS, 2020
Cates has a strong, thick frame at 6-foot-1, 1230-pounds. The right-handed hitter can really accelerate the barrel through the zone with strength at contact and lift to finish. Showed gap power with a short path and top exit velocity of 95 mph. Behind the dish, he posted pop times of 2.0-2.19 with a top velocity from the crouch of 75 mph. Quick exchange, directional footwork, high exchange into a short, over the top arm swing.

Nathaniel Blachowicz, C/OF, Argyle HS, 2020
5-foot-11, 185-pounds. The right-handed hitter has relaxed hands that allow for early rhythm as he triggers his hands down and back, combined with a reverse leg lift to create separation. Solid timing in the box, he was on the barrel with lift through the zone and top exit velocity of 79 mph. Behind the plate, he threw 72 mph from the crouch and posted pop times of 2.26-2.36.

Cooper Petty, C/1B, Robinson HS, 2021  Petty has filled out his 6-foot, 185-pound frame with strength since we saw him last. The right-handed hitter made hard contact during BP (84 mph exit velocity) with an inside out path and rotational hack. Triggers his hands back and down as he cocks the barrel forward and uses a controlled leg kick for timing, landing with separation. Behind the plate, he has a clean exchange into a short arm stroke from an over the top slot. Threw 69 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging from 2.36-2.44.

Caden Davis, C/2B, Waxahachie HS, 2021
5-foot-11, 155-pounds. The right-handed hitter drove the ball through the gaps during BP, making hard contact as his barrel stays in the zone, and on plane through contact. Loads back smooth as he triggers his hands, short stride, quality weight shift, slight lift, and quickish hands. Behind the plate, he threw with a top velocity from the crouch of 68 mph, posting pop times of 2.36-2.5.

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