Michael
Easter

Body: 6-foot, 180 pounds. Left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower. Large frame with proportional strength throughout, current frame has room for more. Ability to pitch, catch and play first base shows that he has baseball athleticism. 

Hit: Looks hitterish at the plate from the left-side. Coiled pre-pitch load; open stance with some knee bend, toes pointed inward, leg lift load. Bat speed averaged 70.5 mph and rotational acceleration average of 15.4g, according to Blast Motion. These two metrics show that Easter currently possesses the ability to move his bat through the zone at the same speed average as a minor league baseball player and has the current ability to reach his peak bat speed at the same average of a minor league baseball player. Easter struggled getting his bat on plane, where he posted an on plane efficiency percentage of 51%, below the 70% ideal average. This metric shows that Easter is below average in making consistent contact with the barrel of the bat. 

Power: Trackman data shows that his average exit speed is 80.39 mph, with exit speed contact to inside pitches at a higher average than outside pitches, particularly up-and-in on the strike zone at an average of 90.33 mph. Easter hit three line drives to right-centerfield 310, 312, 313 ft in 16 recorded swings. Personal best exit speed of 94.90 mph with a launch angle of 9.25°. 

Field: Showed well at first-base as his feet around the bag were natural and smooth. Fielded at an average clip; limited laterally but sufficient. Made his throws to second at a low arm angle and was able to get rid of the ball quickly. Looked comfortable behind the plate; received very well, drop knee style catcher with a low target. Caught well in-game, blocked two balls in the dirt and looked like a college catcher in doing so. Passed the eye test defensively. 

Arm: Catcher arm velocity of 71 mph, 9th out of 10. Showed a quick release and good throwing mechanics. Throws were on target and posted a pop time average of 2.01-2.11. However, many of the throws were long hops and did not show carry through the second baseman when the throws did make it to the bag. His ability to position himself well and release the ball quickly helps hide his below-average arm. Will have to improve arm strength. 

Run: 7.40 60 yard dash.

Summary: The uncommitted Easter current offensive positives are his average minor league bat speed and rotational acceleration metrics. Defensively can play formidable first-base and possesses the catchers skills of receiving and blocking at a high level. Easter will have to improve his ability to get his bat on plane and improve his arm strength velocity to make the next step. The uncommitted Easter projects as a division 1 catcher. 

Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 175-pounds. Large frame with proportional strength throughout the body from his squared shoulders down to his thick thighs. Frame projects to grow and add more strength. Played first base with catcher being his natural position while being able to play shortstop as well where he’ll likely end up next year after the graduation of a senior. Shows athletic movements you’d expect from a shortstop while playing first base. Has the ability to pick balls out of the dirt and his arm showed some strength during pregame. It’s at the plate where he really projects thanks in part to the power in his left-handed swing. Shows a very good understanding of the strike zone and a knack for laying off bad pitches that belies his age. Starts upright with hands high at his shoulder using a leg lift trigger and medium stride to drive his hands and back hip into the ball. Has some present bat speed while maintaining the barrel on plane through the zone for the length of the swing. Is short to the ball and long through it getting extension after contact. Looks hitterish in the box with present gap power that should continue to develop as he matures physically. Also pitched where he showed some feel for the position. There’s effort in his delivery with fair arm speed. Curveball was sharp, a true two-plane pitch.