Prep Baseball Report

Top Prospect Showcase: Catcher Analysis



By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Over 100 uncommitted 2017 prospects from Illinois and Wisconsin convened at Silver Cross Field in Joliet for the annual Top Prospects Showcase on June 16.

Throughout the week, we will roll out all reports from the event, starting with the catchers. This year's event featured a number of defensive minded, catch and throw prospects along with a few that profile more with the bat.

Here’s a look at the catcher's at the Top Prospect Showcase, starting with the top 10 prospects from the event:

TOP CATCHERS

1. Brian Fuentes, C/INF, Crystal Lake South (IL), 2017
5-foot-10, 178-pound catcher/infielder, solid squared build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg kick trigger, smooth loading action, good timing, solid balance. Strong bat, attacks the baseball, hard contact on long path. Aggressive approach with some pull side pop tendencies. 95 mph exit velocity from the tee. Advanced defender, showed well as a catcher/second base type prospect. Has soft hands and good footwork which works well at both positions. 6.98 runner in the 60. Arm played at 80 mph across the infield, 74 mph out of the crouch, over the top slot, short athletic arm action. Pop times ranged 1.94-2.01, quick clean transfer and solid willing blocker, agile feet behind the plate.

2. Kellen Sarver, C/3B, Champaign Centennial, 2017
6-foot-2, 200-pound left-handed hitting catcher/third baseman. Hits from a slightly open stance, slight leg lift stride, average balance. Well above average bat speed, made hard contact in BP, pull side hitter. Path has some length on slight uphill plane, showed pull side pop. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed soft hands, athletic setup behind the plate. Gets out of the chute well with a short over the top arm action, carried at 79 mph out of the crouch, 84 mph across the diamond. Pop times ranged 1.97-2.04. Ran the 60 at 7.58.

3. Garrett Gilbert, C, Westosha Central (WI), 2017
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher, athletically strong frame. Hits from a balanced stance, smooth loading action, short stride, maintains excellent balance, quiet eyes. Easy bat speed, strong hands, barrel aware, hard contact in BP. Path has some length, gets to contact quickly, strong bat with extension, gap to gap approach. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed big arm strength from the crouch, 81 mph, tends to get underneath, misses were up and arm side, arm carries. Pop times ranged 2.04-2.09. 7.1 runner in the 60.

4. Cameron Post, C, Lincoln-Way Central, 2017
Physical 6-foot-2, 205-pound catcher, strong sturdy build. Defensively arm carried well, short over the top arm action, accurate to target, 79 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.08-2.19, arm strength is there and transfer can improve. Soft hands, willing to block, above average receiver. Right-handed hitter, wide setup, balanced stance, short stride. Simple approach with strong hands, fast bat, slight uphill path. 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.2 runner in the 60.

5. Keaton Rice, C, Geneseo, 2017
Longer lean frame, projectable body type, 6-foot-2 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Plus arm strength out of the crouch, arm carries well, 81 mph out of the crouch, 86 mph from the outfield. Showed ability to receive the baseball, pop times ranged 1.94-2.01. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good balance, athletic hitter. Showed barrel control and pull side pop, well above average bat speed. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.37 runner in the 60.

6. Kyle Antos, C, Indian Trail, 2017
6-foot, 200-pound catcher, strong durable build, will hold up well behind the dish. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, smooth loading action, short stride, maintains excellent balance. Short efficient path to the baseball, stays on top, flat path, well above average bat speed. 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 77 mph from the crouch, short over the top slot, showed accuracy, average carry. Some effort out of the crouch, tends to get tall, pop times ranged, 2.00-2.05. Strong blocker, above average receiver. 7.3 runner in the 60.  

7. Michael Bieterman, C, Aurora Central Catholic, 2017
Strong physical build, 6-foot-2, 190-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, open stance, shorter stride back to even, balanced in the box. Flat path, showed a pull side approach with strength. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed arm strength out of the crouch, 78 mph, short over the top, accurate to second with carry. 1.97-2.07 pop times. 7.43 runner in the 60.

8. Kyle Kosobucki, C, West De Pere (WI), 2017
5-foot-8, 190-pound catcher, boxy build with strength, sturdy physical make-up, body should play well behind the plate. Defensively arm plays short and over the top, well above-average arm, accurate to second, showed carry, 77 mph out of the crouch. Above average defender, clean exchange, sound blocker. Gets slightly tall out of the chute, pops ranged 2.11-2.19. Right-handed bat, balanced stance, leg kick trigger, good balance through contact. Quiet, simple approach, very barrel aware. Above average bat speed, level path, on time hitter. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.71 runner in the 60.

9. Zak Kosloske, C/OF, Hortonville (WI), 2017
5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed hitting multi-positional prospect. Balanced setup, smooth loading action, quite hands and eyes, short stride, excellent balance. Path stays on top of the baseball, hard line drive contact, ball jumped off bat with backspin on a line. Short path, gap to gap line drive type hitter. 95 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, well above average arm strength, 77 mph out of the crouch, 86 mph from the outfield, accuracy present. Deliberate feet out of the crouch, 7.12 runner in the 60. Pop times range 2.01-2.10.

10. Connor McCormick, C/OF, Manteno (IL), 2017
Lean, lanky frame, 5-foot-11, 155-pound catcher/outfielder. Shows a big arm defensively, short over the top action, loose and lively, carried well, 79 mph out of the crouch, 91 mph from the outfield. Pop times ranged, 2.00-2.07. Above average runner, could translate in the outfield, 7.07 in the 60, laser timed. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, reverse knee knock trigger, average balance. Path has some length, flashes sneaky pop. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically) 

Pierson Gibis, C, Wauconda (IL), 2017
6-foot, 175-pound left-handed hitting catcher, average body type. Hits from an open setup, smooth loading action, slight leg kick trigger with some length. Loose hands, path works, showed control of the barrel, some lunge, doubles type hitter with ability to work both gaps. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively pop times ranged 2.07-2.16. Gets tall out of the crouch, can gain more ground. Arm action is short and over the top, average arm strength at 74 mph out of the chute. 7.5 runner in the 60.

Dylan Horvitz, C, New Trier, 2017
6-foot-1, 190-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Behind the plate, quick exchange, fluid footwork, agile blocker. Flashed a short, accurate arm from a high ¾ arm slot; 76 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 1.97-2.07. Offensively, balanced setup, leg kick timing trigger. Long, uphill path with an opposite field approach; exit velocity clocked at 86 mph. 7.52 runner in the 60.

Jack Kraus, C/RHP, Neenah (WI), 2017
6-foot-2, 215-pound catcher, large build with some physicality. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, smooth loading action, short stride. Simple approach with bat strength. Fast bat with pop, 95 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, 77 mph out of the crouch. Showed softer hands, exchange is clean, willing blocker. Pop times registered at 2.01-2.08. On the mound delivery worked in rhythm, high ¾ slot with long arm action. Fastball is mostly straight, worked at 82-85 mph. Curveball has gradual action on 11/5 plane, 68-72 mph. Changeup showed fade, near fastball arm speed, showed control of the zone, 74-78 mph.

Michael Massaro, C, Providence Catholic, 2017
6-foot-1, 195-pound catcher, solid build with strength. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, loads hands back, short leg kick stride. Loose hands, hard lifted contact at times, hits off back side, flashed pop. Defensively arm action is short from an over the top slot, accurate arm with occasional carry, 74 mph out of the crouch. Easy actions out of the crouch, hands showed softness, athletic setup, ability to block. Pop times played at 2.04-2.11. 7.39 runner in the 60.

Gabriel Panza, C, Oswego (IL), 2017
6-foot, 185-pound catcher, strong muscular build, advanced physically, body type plays well behind the dish. Arm showed carry to second, short over the top slot, flashed accuracy, 77 mph out of the chute. Average hands, pop times ranged 1.97-2.08, quick feet out of the box. 7.14 runner in the 60, above average at his position. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, arm bar loading action. Showed bat strength, aggressive swing, showed bat speed, long path. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Jimmy Quinn, C, Lincoln-Way East (IL), 2017
6-foot-4, 220-pound catcher, large build and frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Showed bat strength, longer path with some lift, potential pull-power; 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, played with some accuracy and carry, 75 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.04-2.11. 8.24 runner in the 60.

Jake Ridgway, C/OF, Brother Rice, 2017
6-foot-2, 185 pound, multi-positional prospect. Offensively, right handed hitter, Flashed bat speed with a line drive and gap-to-gap approach; exit velocity clocked at 89 mph. Balanced setup, short stride, fluid rhythm, maintained balanced through contact. Defensively, fluid footwork behind the plate. Arm works short from an over the top arm slot. Throws clocked at 77 from the crouch and pop times ranged from 2.11-2.19. In the outfield, similar arm action, works through the baseball, throws clocked at 84 mph. 7.45 runner in the laser timed 60.

Nick Strysik, C/OF, Lockport, 2017
6-foot-1, 180-pound, strong, multi-positional prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter. Flashed bat speed, short path, gap-to-gap approach; 92 mph exit velocity off a tee. Open setup, leg kick timing trigger, maintains balance through contact. Defensively, worked out as a catcher and an outfielder. Behind the plate, fluid footwork, clean exchange. Long arm from an over the top to high ¾ arm slot; 75 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.16-2.19. In the outfield, similar arm action, throws clocked at 80 mph. 7.14 runner in the laser timed 60.

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