Prep Baseball Report

Fall Review West: Catcher and Outfield Analysis


John Nolan
Virginia Assistant Director & Content Manager

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Fall Review West: Outfielder and Catcher Analysis

In mid-October, the PBR VA/DC staff hosted the Fall Review West at James Madison University. The event featured players from four classes and all corners of the Commonwealth on a beautiful day in the Shenandoah Valley. Below is the first of our more detailed analysis from the event with a focus on the outfielders and catchers. Look for another post on infielders later this week and the pitchers early next week. 

John Barrie C Paul VI Catholic 2019
Barrie is 5-11 with an athletic frame, hits from the right side from a balanced athletic stance. Leg kick stride on line, loads back to an arm bar, some rhythm to his swing. Hips fully rotate with some explosion, some balance to his swing too. Short to ball, level when working middle of field, gets uphill to pull side, extension through the ball, line drive swing, exit velocity was 77. Behind the plate, reaches for ball, clean exchange with some quickness, throws from high three-quarters arm short, short arm action, position velocity was 70. Pop times were 2.16-2.27, showed some accuracy on his throws. Quiet receiver, shows some sway when presenting pitches.

Nikolas Branch OF Massaponax 2019
Branch is 5-10 with a lankier athletic frame, hits from the right side from an open upright balanced stance. Strides on line, short load back, some rhythm to swing. Short slightly uphill swing path, pull preference, exit velocity was 73. In the outfield, good footwork, gets behind and plays through it well, fields with average hands, clean exchange. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a shorter arm action, position velocity was 74.

Jack Carey OF Miller School 2019
Carey is 6-5 with a strong athletic frame, hits from the left side from an open athletic stance. Short stride on line, short load back, some rhythm to swing. Explosive lower half, good balance through swing. Quick to the ball, uphill swing through it with good extension and a pull fly ball approach, exit velocity was 92 and power was present with potential for more. In the outfield, gets behind the ball and plays through it well, clean exchange. Throws from a higher three-quarters arm slot, shorter arm action, ball has some carry, position velocity was 86. Showed some accuracy as well.

Drew Franchok OF Sherando 2021
Franchok is 5-8 with an athletic frame, he hits from the left side from an athletic stance. Short stride on line, short load back, arm bar. Lower half rotates, gets on back side, some balance to swing. Works uphill, pull approach to his swing, exit velocity 71. In the outfield, gets behind the ball and fields it with above average hands. Throws from lower three-quarters arm slot, outfield velocity was 71.

Eddie Gimbel OF/RHP Highland 2019
Gimbel is 6-0 tall with a lankier athletic frame, he hits from the right side from a wide, balanced athletic stance. Short stride on line, smooth load back, some rhythm to swing. Explosive lower half, good balance to swing. Short to ball, stays inside, level swing that gets uphill to pull side, line drive guy that lifts a bit to pull, exit velocity was 82. In the outfield, good footwork, gets behind ball and fields with above average hands. Quick clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Short arm action, ball had some carry and accuracy, outfield velocity was 84. Ran a 4.45 home to first.

Becker Kaufman OF Tuscarora 2019
Kaufman is 5-7 and has a lanky frame, he hits from the right side from an open athletic stance. Leg kick stride on line, no load, hands high. Very short swing, level, gap to gap approach, stays inside well, line drive hitter, exit velocity 74. In the outfield, quick clean feet, gets behind ball and plays through it, fields the ball with soft hands. Quick clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, outfield velocity was 74. Ran a 4.59 home to first.

Clayton Long C South Lakes 2019
Long is 6-2 with an athletic frame, he hits from the right side from an open athletic stance. Leg kick stride on line, short load back, slight wrap. Explosive hips, good balance throughout the swing. Quick to ball, slightly uphill swing path, pull preference, exit velocity 85, some power potential left. Behind the plate, wide deep stance, has some sway when receiving, quick drop down into block. Clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action. Pop times were 2.12-2.28, catcher velocity was 72. Showed the ability to play first as well, with some feel around the bag, average hands and an infield velocity of 70.

 

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