Prep Baseball Report

West Milwaukee Preseason ID: Catcher Analysis


By: Wisconsin Staff

On Feb. 19, PBR Wisconsin hosted the annual West Milwaukee Preseason ID at STiKS Academy in Waukesha, Wis. Nearly 80 players made it out to this event, providing us with updated looks and a new list of prospects to follow in an area of Wisconsin that regularly produces some of the state’s top talent.

In the week that followed this event, we produced post-event analysis that includes performance highlights inside of our Quick Hits story, a look at the traditional stats measured within our Statistical Analysis piece, batted-ball and pitch data compiled in TrackMan Files, swing metrics captured on the Blast Motion Board, and sight scores from an athletic perspective tracked on the Vizual Edge Scoreboard.

You can learn more about the state-of-the-art technologies featured at our showcases within the hyperlinks above. Today we’ll begin our post-event process by rolling out the individual scouting reports of the day, starting with the catcher position while working our way across the diamond as the week continues. 

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Dominic Kibler, New Berlin West (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-8, 180-pounds. Compact frame with strong build.
Hit: LHH. Tall, narrow, balanced and square. Quality athleticism. Compact swing with athleticism and swing plane adjustability.
Power: 98.1 max exit velocity, averaged 92 mph. 360’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Improved arm action and carry on throws down.
Defense: 2.00-2.15 pop times. Marked significant improvement to defensive fundamentals and aesthetic. Clean mitt receiving from below with feel for sticking pitches. Quick exchanges, clean footwork on improved pop times. Both one knee down and athletic standard posture.
Run: 7.05 runner in the 60. Above average runner.

2. Hunter Szymborski, Brookfield Central (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 185-pounds. Thick strong lower half.
Hit: LHH. Balanced toe tap from a crouched setup. Hands close to neck.  Compact stroke while crowding the plate. More of a vertical plane with upper half posture tilt. Works short to long and stays through impact long. Hard contact to all fields. Clean when synced up.
Power: 94.1 max exit velocity, averaged 86.7 mph. 323’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Carry and accuracy from a quick release. Clean.
Defense: 2.00-2.06 pop times. High end defensive skill and reliability. One knee down receiving from below the pitch. Easy small moves with the mitt.
Run: 7.58 runner in the 60. 

3. Ryan Dummer, Burlington  (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds. Thick, strong throughout.
Hit: RHH. Tall, open setup. Striding closed with an aggressive leg kick and plant.  Short to the ball, tight turn, hard entry. Hard contact to the pullside with backspin. Strong mover.
Power: 92.1 max exit velocity, averaged 81 mph. 352’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Quality arm strength and carry through the bag with high end accuracy.
Defense: 2.15-2.34 pop times. Average actions behind the dish. Average footwork tempo.
Run: 7.03 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY) 

Marek Bolson, Oconomowoc (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 145-pounds. Lean wiry frame.
Hit: LHH. Tall, narrow, open setup. Hands high and tight landing balanced and square.  Short to the ball. Direct with the knob with a high to low barrel path. Hard low consistent backspin ball flights.
Power: 85.2 max exit velocity, averaged 78.7 mph. 270’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Smooth exchange and throwing action.
Defense: 2.25-2.31 pop times. One knee down receiving. Soft mitt.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. 

Gavin Bucholtz, Muskego (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, high handset. Aggressive loading and plant.  Aggressive, direct attack from inside on top. Working high to low aftering getting into his plant leg aggressively. All fields hard contact.
Power: 95.2 max exit velocity, averaged 85.4 mph. 312’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. OF - 75 mph. Long arm action out of sync at times. Average strength and carry.
Defense: 2.06-2.19 pop times. Staggered out of sync footwork. Quick exchange.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60. Stays low through first steps.

Eli Goldstein, Grafton (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Athletic proportions.
Hit: RHH. Wide, closed setup. Closed stride with dead hands. Strong legs.  Direct to impact. Inside on top attack with aggressive barrel delivery. Hard backspin flights using the middle to backside of the field.
Power: 85.6 max exit velocity, averaged 81.6 mph. 271’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Longer arm action.
Defense: 2.15-2.37 pop times. Average footwork and glovework
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. 

Connor Harvie, Waterford Union (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Average build, solid lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slightly crouched, loose hands drop into loading position. Short to the baseball, pull side tendency, flashed hard above average contact for his age.
Power: 87.6 max exit velocity, averaged 82.1 mph. 315’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Quick arm action with a top shelf action. Quick to exchange, and feel for spin down to second. Fast pops.
Defense: 2.05-2.25 pop times. Quality defensive actions all the way through. Works from below, sticks all types. light feet adjusting to location.
Run: 7.76 runner in the 60.

Ethan Heintzelman, Craig (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Lean.
Hit: RHH. Stock setup. Slow load. aggressive towards the ball.  Low flights approach.
Power: 84.3 max exit velocity, averaged 76.5 mph. 214’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. OF - 70 mph. High slot with sporadic ball flight.
Defense: 2.45-2.63 pop times. Gains ground on the ball, rough transition with tempo.
Run: 7.61 runner in the 60. 

Camden Hoier, West Bend East (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-2, 200-pounds. Solid build with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Stock setup, relaxed and simple rhythm. Controlled stride.  Soft entry, enters deep in the zone connected to the hip. Stays through the zone to the middle of the field repeating hard and low flights. Loose barrel quality with lag.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 81 mph. 319’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. High and tight action.
Defense: 2.10-2.28 pop times. Average footwork tempo, long replace. Clean mitt and exchanges. Room to shave time on the transition.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60. 

Brady Johnson, St. Thomas More (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Projectable athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Stock tall setup, preset barrel action. Large negative move, large forward move. Vertical tip.  Working inside on top while staying through the zone. Down turns to up through impact on the low ball. Some leverage and bat speed. Hard contact to all fields with backspin.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 83.6 mph. 330’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Quick exchange, stays in the top shelf on his break. Short action with quickness.
Defense: 2.00-2.15 pop times. Natural, easy feel for his mitt. Shrinks his height in receiving working from below the ball. Sticks pitches with control and ease. Accepts the incoming pitcher vector with ease. Advanced receiver. Clean exchanges down to second for pops.
Run: 7.33 runner in the 60.

Maverik Moore, Brookfield Central (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-7, 165-pounds. Lean, strong lower.
Hit: RHH. Stock setup with tight hands and a rhythmic wiggle.  Knob to the ball with a grounded swing throughout his move. Short path with some vertical tilt. Producing consistent line drives throughout the round.
Power: 84.2 max exit velocity, averaged 73.9 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short action staying in the top shelf.
Defense: 2.16-2.32 pop times. Average footwork and glovework
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60. Stays low through first step.

Matthew Ortin, Arrowhead (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Lean, room to grow.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, striding very short. Hangs back.  Rotational unwind. Long barrel path inside underneath. Lifting from around to all fields. Some quickness.
Power: 88.1 max exit velocity, averaged 82.9 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Average arm action and arm strength.
Defense: 2.28-2.38 pop times. One knee down receiving from below the pitch.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60. 

Peyton Ryback, Nathan Hale (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. Sloped shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Wide, open stance, large coiling load.  Rotational delivery. Vertical tip. Lays flat through the zone with deeper points of contact.
Power: 90.1 max exit velocity, averaged 83.2 mph. 258’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Clean, high and tight arm action. Accurate.
Defense: 2.05-2.19 pop times. Athletic footwork adjustments behind the dish. Quick replace, quick exchanges.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60.

Chris Schaefer, Catholic Memorial (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 145-pounds. Lean, thin.
Hit: RHH. Stock setup, vertical posture, deep load. High handset with stiffness.  Direct to the ball over the top with the entry. Low flights through the gaps. Feel for creating line drives.
Power: 82.6 max exit velocity, averaged 78.9 mph. 247’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Quick arm action, 3/4 slot with accuracy to the target and carry that plays above speed.
Defense: 2.03-2.13 pop times. Explosive athlete gaining ground on the ball well with clean footwork. Capturing more momentum into the throw than in previous looks.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60. 

Noah Vernon, Sussex Hamilton (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Stock setup, tight hands. Square stride with fixed hands.  Quick turn out of an aggressive forward advance. Tight turn with lift through impact, favoring the pullside.
Power: 91.9 max exit velocity, averaged 81.5 mph. 312’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph.  Average arm strength and action.
Defense: 2.25-2.34 pop times. Average actions.
Run: 7.50 runner in the 60.

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