Prep Baseball Report

2018 Top Prospect Games: Catching Analysis



By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

This week we start rolling out our analysis of the 2018 Top Prospect Games at University of Illinois-Chicago. This year again, several of the top prospects throughout the state of Illinois and Wisconsin were on hand to show off their skill set.

We start things off with the catchers, Wisconsin products Jacob Campbell and Stephen Lund took the top spots as two of the best catch and throw prospects in attendance. Projectable switch-hitter Anthony Calarco impressed with his bat from both sides of the plate.

Here’s a look at the top catching prospects.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Jacob Campbell, C, Janesville Craig, 2018
Muscle bound, 5-foot-10, 180-pound catcher, physical build, typical catcher’s body composition. Advanced defensive catcher, short over the top arm, carries well with accuracy, stays on line, 75 mph from the crouch. Hands are soft, quick athletic footwork, gets out of the crouch well with natural catcher actions. Some of the best pop times at the event, ranged 2.01-2.09.  Physical bat, balanced setup, wide stance, short stride, good balance. Bat strength, produces hard contact, occasional pop, can get more out of lower half, gap to gap type hitter. 93 mph exit velocity from the tee.

2. Stephen Lund, C, Verona Area, 2018
6-foot, 183-pound catcher, solid thick build, good catcher’s frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, uses lower half, maintains strong balance, highly repeatable swing. Shows a knack for finding the barrel, athletic hands, able to adjust. Path stays through the hitting zone, good extension, hits with rhythm, bat plays in game. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed well above average catch and throw skills, arm plays short and over the top, typical catcher’s arm action, showed accuracy and carry to second base, 77 mph out of the crouch. Clean exchange, handles the ball well, 2.03-2.15 pop times in workout. High follow 2018 prospect.

3. Anthony Calarco, C, New Trier, 2018
Projectable 6-foot-3, 190-pound switch-hitting catcher, athletic build. Offensively hits from both side of the plate, balanced stance, short stride, good balance through contact. Present bat speed from both sides, shows the ability to repeat swing on both sides, loose whippy swing, looks to have slightly more pop from the left side. 88 mph exit velocity from the left and right sides. Defensively has a long arm action, high ¾ slot, arm showed carry, 77 mph. Release has length, clean transfer, feet work. Pop times ranged 2.11-2.17. High follow 2018 prospect.

4. Niko Pozzi, C, Mount Carmel, 2018
6-foot, 185-pound catcher, solid build. Hits from a slightly open stance, athletic setup, leg lift trigger, loads knee to knee, good balance. Loose quick hands, showed bat speed, confident approach, line drive gap to gap type hitter. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively has a traditional catchers arm action, short and over the top, arm showed carry, 73 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.03-2.12 from the crouch. 4.79 runner down the line.

5. Will Pudik, C, Peoria Notre Dame, 2018
5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher, solid build, shows strength, projectable body. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, can get more from lower half. Flashed pull side pop, aggressive hacks, slight uphill plane, lifting swing with pop. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played with some accuracy, over the top slot, 74 mph out of the crouch. Quick release and exchange, slightly erratic but quick transfer. 2.00-2.12 pop times. 4.51 runner down the line.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Pierce Blohowiak, C/OF, Xavier, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound catcher/outfielder, average lean build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, back side collapses, average balance. Path shows some length on uphill path, lower half can stay taller, lifting contact with topspin. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses a short over the top arm action, 69 mph out of the crouch, 77 mph from the outfield. Can cut footwork down out of the chute, long strided, posted pop times at 2.09-2.21. Ran a 4.36 down the line.

Ben Cameron, C, Waukesha West, 2018
5-foot-11, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Hits from a balanced stance, short minimal stride, loads hands back, stays on top of the baseball. Bat strength, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee, path gets extension. Defensively showed strong catch and throw abilities, short arm action, over the top slot, 72 mph out of the crouch. 2.19-2.33 pop times in workout. 4.69 runner down the line. Overall 2018 follow.

Andrew Erickson, C, Tuscola, 2018
Thick build, 5-foot-9, 165-pound catcher with strength. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride, average balance through contact. Strong bat, power potential, pull side approach, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted pop times at 2.14-2.22, clean exchange with a quick release, footwork can improve to poste even better pop times. Arm payed at 73 mph from the crouch, short arm action.

Ryan Hampe, C, St. Laurence, 2018
5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher, strong solid build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, reverse toe tap stride, lower half works, maintains balance. Showed bat strength, level path, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short and over the top, showed occasional carry, 74 mph. 2.07-2.19 pop times, exchange is clean, showed softness in hands.

Alan Roden, C, Middleton, 2018
5-foot-11, 175-pound left-handed hitting catcher, solid build with strength, solid lower half. Offensively hits from a tall narrow setup, stride gets into good hitting position, good balance throughout. Pull side approach in BP, showed bat speed, flashed easy pop. Hit home run to pull side in game play, bat will continue to play well. Defensively plays with a short over the top arm behind the plate, 72 mph out of the crouch. Posted pop times at 2.12-2.26 in workout. Also showed better than average abilities at a corner outfield spot in game play. 4.69 runner down the line.

Justin Ruehl, C, Notre Dame College Prep, 2018
5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively arm plays over the top, flashed occasional carry, 75 mph out of the crouch. Longer exchange, pop times ranged 2.26-2.35. Offensively hits from a tall setup, short leg lift stride, average balance. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Flatter path, works to stay on top of the baseball.

Trey Torain, C, Loyola, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound catcher/first baseman, projectable frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Made consistent contact, loose strong hands, path works and showed bat speed. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short arm action, over the top slot, 70 mph out of the crouch. 2.19-2.29 pop times.

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