Prep Baseball Report

Kenosha Preseason I.D.: Catching Analysis



By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Wisconsin/Illinois

The Kenosha Preseason ID kicked off our Preseason ID tour on January 28. We’ve started our coverage with some Quick Hits and a look at the Stats Posted. Today we start our positional analysis as we roll out scouting reports from the event, kicking off with catchers.

Jacob Kaiser led all catching prospects as the physical 6-foot-4, 215-pounder showed off a big arm and a strong bat. Here’s a look at the top catching prospects.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Jacob Kaiser, C, Catholic Memorial, 2018
Strong, physical, 6-foot-4, 215-pound catcher, plus build for his age. Defensively posted event best pop times at 1.94-2.04. Arm showed carry at 81 mph out of the crouch, short over the top slot. Transfer of the baseball is clean. Offensively hits from the right side, open setup, leg kick trigger, lower half works linearly, strong balance. Fast bat with bat strength, path has some length with pull side power, also showed ability to go gap to gap on a line. 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.57 runner down the line.

2. Nick Zeeveld, C, Indian Trail, 2018
Physical catcher with advanced strength, 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. Offensively posted the top exit velocity of the showcase at 94 mph. Hits from the right side, slightly open stance, short stride, aggressive lower half, solid balance. Short, uphill path. Advanced bat strength, made loud contact, quick twitch hands produced explosive bat speed. Posted pop times at 2.10-2.18, quick exchange. Arm action is short and over the top, 77 mph out of the chute. 4.76 runner down the line.

3. Stephen Schmidt, C, Tremper, 2018
5-foot-11, 180-pound catcher, sneaky raw strength. Right-handed hitter, slightly closed setup, short stride. Can get more out of lower half, showed bat speed with hands, occasional pull side power, flashed hard contact. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, 76 mph out of the crouch. Quick exchange, 2.07-2.19 pop times.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Jack Chestnut, C, Indian Trail, 2019
5-foot-10, 142-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Balanced stance, hands drop into load, short stride, average balance. Path shows some length, hands work away from body. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. 2.33-2.44 pop times. Arm action is short and over the top, 68 mph out of the crouch. 4.61 runner home to first.

Robbie Covelli, C, Tremper, 2017
6-foot, 200-pound catcher, average solid build. Right-handed hitter, taller and even setup, short lifted stride, sinks into load. Worked the middle of the field in BP, slight tendency to pull side, flashed line drive contact, some strength. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 74 mph out of the crouch, short and firm, over the top slot. Pop times ranged 2.20-2.36. 4.84 runner down the line.

Jacob Danielsen, 2B/C, Stevens Point, 2017
5-foot-10, 155-pound catcher, wiry frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup with slightly open stance, short toe tap trigger, average balance through contact. Short uphill path, made opposite field contact on a line in BP. 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively worked out on the infield and at catcher. Projects best on the infield with some actions and the ability to play through the baseball, with playable hands. Arm action was loose, 73 mph across the diamond, 67 mph out of the crouch. Posted pop times at 2.47-2.58. 4.86 runner down the line.

Tanner Fields, C/RHP, Badger, 2018
Lean athletic body type, 6-foot-1, 165-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitter, open stance, bat wrap load, leg kick back to square. Mechanically sound approach, gap to gap contact with opposite field tendency. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.80 runner down the line. Arm plays from a short high ¾ slot, 71 mph. 2.19-2.37 pop times. Arm works out of same slot on the mound with more length. Uses slide step out of the stretch, delivery is on line. Fastball showed cut action, 72-74 mph, touched 76 mph. Curveball has 10/4 shape with short break, showed feel for the zone, 62-64 mph. Changeup is straight with slight arm side action, thrown with fastball arm speed, 66-69 mph.

Conlan O’Brien, C, Sun Prairie, 2019
Lean build, 5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance with wider base, shorter stride, hits off firm front side. Line drive gap to gap type hitter, path is short to the baseball, 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, 71 mph. Quick exchange, pop times ranged 2.26-2.37. Blocks and recover well, quick to his feet. 4.69 runner home to first.

Carter Perusich, C/2B, Indian Trail, 2019
5-foot-8, 140-pound catcher/infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Path is short with some lift on uphill plane, average bat speed for age, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played best across the infield at 77 mph, 70 mph out of the crouch, short over the top slot. Pop times registered at 2.25-2.35. Played best on the infield when on the move, tends to get static on ball s at him, showed body control. 4.44 runner down the line.

Omar Wright, C/OF, South Milwaukee, 2020
5-foot-6, 130-pound catcher/outfielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, no stride, slight lift and replace, good balance through contact. Line drive contact, used a short path to the baseball, occasional lift. 67 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 64 mph out of the crouch, 68 mph from the outfield, arm works shorter out of the chute, longer in the outfield, over the top slot. Pop times played at 2.43-2.56, feet worked well out of the crouch, occasionally gets long. In the outfield worked through the baseball with two hands. 4.73 runner down the line.

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