Southern Wisconsin Open: Catcher Analysis

On Oct. 21, at STiKS Academy in Waukesha, Wis., the PBR Wisconsin team held its final showcase of 2018, the Southern Wisconsin Open. Around 60 prospects in the area made it out to the event, primarily representing the 2020 and 2021 classes. The showcase gave the area’s prospects a platform to perform in front of our staff one last time before heading into the offseason.

We’ll be breaking down the event all week, position by position, beginning today with the day’s backstops.

While there are three sophomores on the top-five ranking below, Burlington junior C Christian Brenner came away with the No. 1 ranking from the STiKS-hosted event. The left-handed hitting Brenner took one of the day’s most impressive rounds of batting practice, demonstrating hard contact up the middle of the field. He was also quiet in the crouch and showed us some quick catch-and-throw skills, too.

Sophomore C Charlie Bogue (Mount Horeb) was, statistically, arguably the top defensive backstop at the event. He tied for the lowest single pop time (2.15) and averaged the second-lowest average marks of this group. Offensively, from the right-handed batter’s box, Bogue is looking to lift the ball with smooth and balanced actions at the plate.

We have the complete reports on both Brenner and Bogue below, as well as the write-ups on all nine other catchers who took reps at the Southern Wisconsin Open last month. We previously published the Statistical Analysis from the event, which you can find here. Keep an eye out tomorrow when we examine the day’s outfielders.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. Christian Brenner, C, Burlington, 2020
6-foot-1, 195-pound catcher, athletic build with strength. Left-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short leg lift stride, average balance. Hands are loose, feel for the barrel worked the middle of the field, line drive contact, hits in rhythm. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average actions out of the crouch, feet and exchange played quick, showed soft hands. 2.18-2.28 pop times. Arm is short and over the top, 70 mph out of the crouch. 7.36 runner in the 60.

2. Charlie Bogue, C, Mount Horeb, 2021
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, smooth loading action into short stride, maintains good balance. Slight uphill path, works underneath the baseball, lifted contact in BP, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average defensive action out of the crouch, athletic and quick feet, works online, active and agile block. 2.15-2.29 pop times. Quick release, arm is short and over the top, 71 mph out of the crouch, 75 mph across the infield. Infield actions profile at a corner, hands work. 8.21 runner in the 60.

3. Sage Stellmacher, C, Markesan, 2021
6-foot-1, 170-pound catcher, lean proportional frame. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg kick stride, average balance. Gets foot down and hits off of firm front side, hands work,  occasionally drifts to font foot, gap to gap contact. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays short and over the top out of the crouch, 72 mph, occasionally accurate. 2.25-2.39 pop times clean exchange works with direction out of the chute, hands played with softness, flexible receiver. 7.57 runner in the 60.

4. Sam Holling, C, Waukesha West, 2021
5-foot-10, 145-pound catcher, lean athletic frame. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg kick load. Path works slightly uphill with effort, occasional hard contact. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensive pop times posted at 2.17-2.29, quick exchange. Hands play soft, showed ability to present pitches quietly. Arm is short and over the top, 73 mph out of the crouch.

5. Caden Crawley, C, Wauwatosa East, 2020
5-foot-9, 175-pound catcher, solid durable build. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride gets squared. Path is level with some length, bat strength present, hard contact with intent, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm is short and over the top, 70 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.30-2.43, clean transfer, throws played short but accurate. 7.91 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Kyle Breunig, C, Sauk Prairie, 2021
5-foot-7, 135-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, open stance, smooth loading action and short stride. Path worked short to the baseball showing some feel for the barrel, 68 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays over the top, 69 mph out of the crouch, 70 mph across the diamond. Pop times ranged 2.37-2.44. Showed playable infield actions and may project best there, feet work quickly to the baseball, release is quick and efficient. 7.68 runner in the 60.

Calahan Gundrum, C, Arrowhead, 2022
5-foot-8, 105-pound catcher, thin wiry frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg kick trigger. Hands load back and work loose, mostly opposite field contact, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm played short and over the top out of the crouch, 65 mph. Pop times ranged 2.51-2.62, gets tall and direction works towards third base. 7.75 runner in the 60.

Elliot Imberger, C, Wisconsin Lutheran, 2019
5-foot-11, 180-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, short toe tap stride gets back even, solid balance through contact. Favors opposite field contact in BP, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays over the top at 68 mph out of the crouch. Deliberate release from above average transfer. 2.42-2.51 pop times. 7.33 runner in the 60.

Michael Maloney, C/INF, Pulaski, 2021
5-foot-7, 188-pound catcher/infielder. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short leg lift trigger. Rotational hitter, path has some length, works level and low finish. 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm action is long and over the top, 71 mph out of the couch, 68 across the diamond. Defensively profiles best at catcher, pop times posted at 2.43-2.54. 7.86 runner in the 60.

Jason Starr, RHP/C, Sun Prairie, 2021
6-foot, 160-pound catcher, lean frame with room to fill out. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg kick stride, pre-pitch bat waggle to load. Path is slight uphill, 70 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short and high ¾, 70 mph out of the crouch. Pop times range 2.15-2.25. 7.54 runner in the 60. On the mound delivery is repeatable, works on line. Arm action is short and loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 76-79 mph, mostly straight with control. Curveball flashed sharp action on 11/5 plane, 67-69 mph. Changeup has sinking action to arm side, 73-75 mph.

Logan VanLaanen, C, Bay Port, 2021
5-foot-11, 235-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short toe tap stride to even, average balance. Path looks to work uphill with intent, showed hard contact in BP, bat strength hitter, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. 8.18 runner in the 60. Arm plays at 67 mph out of the crouch, short over the top. Pop times ranged 2.39-2.58.

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