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Madison Preseason ID: Catching Analysis

April 2, 2014

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director – Wisconsin/Illinois

At long last the positional analysis from the Madison Preseason I.D .is here. We start things off behind the plate with the catchers. Top ranked 2015 prospect Pete Schuler was the clear cut favorite at the top. The Kent State recruit’s left handed bat and projectable frame set him apart from the rest. Similarly Rudy Rott and his left handed bat played well as the Ohio commit came in just behind Schuler.

Here’s a look at our top ten.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Pete Schuler, C, St. Joseph, 2015
Kent State commit, No. 1 ranked 2015 prospect in the state. 6-foot-3, 190-pound left handed hitting catcher, highly projectable frame with a huge upside. Offensively, hits from an open stance, short stride, lower half works. Projects to be a high level left handed hitter with pop. Easily generates bat speed, hands work extremely well. 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively has a strong arm out of the crouch, 79 mph, short over the top arm action, creates carry. Hands show softness receiving the baseball, plays the game with a sense of ease. Schuler is an interesting prospect that should have plenty of pro buzz surrounding him in the future.

2. Rudy Rott, C, Aquinas, 2015
Ohio commit. Sturdy 5-foot-11, 190-pound left handed hitting catcher. High level hitter, has a strong knack for finding the barrel, controls his bat well. Hits from a slightly open stance, relaxed setup, smooth loading action, short stride, maintains excellent balance through contact. Short efficient path to the baseball, high contact hitter. Advanced approach that uses the whole field, Rott is one of the more polished hitters in his class. Defensively uses a short arm action from an over the top slot out of the crouch, played at 78 mph with carry. Pop times ranged from 2.08-2.14, improved footwork and explosiveness out of the crouch can improve pop times. Soft hands receives well within the framework of his body.

3. Jack Kinzer, C, Port Washington, 2016
6-foot, 180-pound catcher, solid build. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, short stride, lower half works, maintains strong balance. Path is shorter than most, creates hard contact, line drive type hitter, slight pull side approach. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Well above average defensive receiver, soft hands, clean exchange. Arm shows carry, 77 mph out of the crouch, short arm action, over the top slot. Posted pop times at 2.08-2.17. High follow catcher in the Class of 2016.

4. Alex Marro, C, Janesville-Craig, 2015
6-foot-1, 190-pound catcher, solid build, shows strength. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good balance through contact. Bat speed present, short path, gets extension through the baseball, slight pull side approach. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short over the top arm slot from the crouch, creates carry, 2.10-2.18 pop times.

5. Nicholas Hernandez, C, Home School, 2017
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher, athletic build. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, slight leg lift stride, maintains excellent balance throughout. Bat speed present, loose athletic hands, path is short with extension, line drive gap to gap hitter. Fluid rhythm, hard contact. Defensively showed athletic footwork out of the crouch, soft hands, receives well. 2.19-2.51 pop times. Arm plays at 72 mph out of the crouch. 4.4 runner down the line. Strong follow in the 2017 class.

6. Gannon Goldensoph, C, Oak Creek, 2016
5-foot-10, 175-pound left handed hitting catcher, solid build. Offensively hits from the left side, open stance, smooth load, shorter stride, lower half works, good balance throughout. Swing shows some effort, bat speed present, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.57 runner down the line. Short over the top arm slot, 70 mph out of the crouch, 2.20-2.45 pop times. Similar arm action on the infield, 73 mph across the diamond.

7. Zach Steuck, C/3B, Lodi, 2016
Strong build, 6-foot, 175 pound, above average strength for age. Offensively hits from the right side, open stance, short stride, partial lower half involvement, able to retain balance. Shows strength at the plate, creates extension, short to the baseball, above average bat speed, 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short arm action, over the top slot, 76 mph out of the crouch. Posted pop times at 2.07-2.19. 4.43 runner down the line.

8. Clint Ugolini, C, Lake Geneva, 2015
5-foot-9, 175-pound catcher. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride, maintains excellent balance through contact. Bat path is short, repeats it well, made consistent contact, line drive gap to gap type hitter, hits with rhythm. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively gets out of the crouch with a short over the top arm action (72 mph), clean exchange. Posted pop times at 2.17-2.32. 4.8 runner down the line.

9. Logan Michaels, C, DeForest, 2016
5-foot-9, 140-pound catcher. Defensively receives the ball well, soft hands. Arm action is short out of the crouch, 71 mph. Posted pop times at 2.11-2.22, transfer is efficient. Mechanically sound blocking the baseball. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, setup is quiet and loose. Gets extension, hits with rhythm, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.91 runner down the line.

10. Shamus Segersten, C/3B/OF, Marian Central Catholic, 2016
6-foot-1, 185-pound catcher/third baseman/outfield. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short loading action, longer stride, can get more out of lower half, solid balance. Strong swing, power potential, gets extension, above average bat speed. Defensively works with a short arm action, 81 mph from the outfield, 73 mph across the infield and 68 mph out of the crouch. Posted 2.19-2.45 pop times. 4.44 runner down the line.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Gavin Brown, C, Richmond-Burton (IL), 2016
5-foot-10, 155-pound right handed hitting catcher. Offensively hits from an open stance, moderate bat speed, 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively sets up tall behind the plate, short over the top arm action, 2.25-2.43 pop times, arm plays at 66 mph from the crouch. 4.72 runner down the line.

Jack Hinton, 1B/C, La Crosse Logan, 2017
6-foot, 185-pound multi positional player. At first base he showed solid footwork and feel around the bag. Arm works at 61 mph. As a catcher his arm works long, 68 mph with average carry. Pop times were 2.3-2.44 seconds. At the plate he hits from an open stance, front foot gets up and down with no stride, maintains balance. Swing is short and steep, with low effort. Exit velocity was 67 mph off a tee. Posted a 4.3 home to first time.

Jack Jensen, C, Tremper, 2016
5-foot-10, 175-pound catcher. Defensively posted pop times a 2.44-2.46. Arm played at 65 mph out of the crouch. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, minimal lower half. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee, slight opposite field approach.

Zak Kosloske, C, Hortonville, 2017
5-foot-8, 170-pound catcher. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, short stride, solid balance throughout. Strong swing, makes hard contact, 81 mph exit velocity, line drive gap to gap type hitter. Defensively posted 2.16-2.34 pop times out of the crouch, 69 mph arm strength out of a high ¾ arm slot.

Sean Meyer, C/OF, Oconomowoc, 2017
5-foot-8, 135-pound catcher, lanky frame. Offensively hits from an open stance, short stride. Long level path, 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively behind the plate posted pop times at 2.17-2.29, arm played at 68 mph out of the crouch. From the outfield arm played at 71 mph, long arm action. 4.92 runner down the line from the right side.

Calvin Rauls, C/3B, De Forest, 2016
5-foot-10, 155-pound catcher/third baseman, slender build. Offensively hits from the left side, wide stance, minimal stride. 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted pop times at 2.44-2.61. Arm played from a short high ¾ slot. 67 mph out of the crouch, 63 mph across the infield.

Evan Wick, C, East Troy, 2015
5-foot-8, 160-pound catcher. Offensively hits from an open stance, short stride, excess pre pitch movement. 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively sets up well behind the plate, arm action is short and over the top, clean exchange with softer hands. 68 mph arm out of the crouch, posted 2.14-2.28 pop times. 4.84 runner down the line.

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