Casey
Opitz

An even-keeled leader behind the plate who expands the black and steals strikes, especially the low pitch. He’s also one of the few college backstops who calls his own game. The switch-hitter is much more productive from the right side and projects to be a backup at the Major League level.

4-11-16
5-foot-11, 170-pound switch hitting catcher.  Level swing path with good extension.  From the left side he is square with a good level path to the ball. Was 4 for 5 on the day with 2 RBI's. Kept turning on inside fastballs and drove them hard through right side of infield.  Behind the plate he shows quick actions on balls in the dirt and soft hand while receiving.  Completely shuts down running game. Made a blocked ball in the dirt and throw down to third to nail runner by 3 feet so easy. On the season Opitz is hitting .436.

3-7-16
5-foot-11, 170-pound switch hitting catcher.  Ran a 7.13 60. From the left side he stands open with a short stride to come square.  Level swing path with good extension.  84 MPH exit velocity.  From the right side he is square with a good level path to the ball with same exit velocity.  Behind the plate he shows quick actions on balls in the dirt and soft hand while receiving.  He showcased a 79 mph accurate arm with pop-times of 1.81-190. Also plays shortstop. Will be interesting to see if he signs as a catcher or MIF. Could end up being an "elite" second basemen at the next level, but has D1 catching skills as well.

6-15-15
A 5-foot-11, 155 pound junior who burst on the scene this spring catching for the Eagles.  The 1.91 pop-time in the game we saw made him one of the top catchers in the Centennial State Games.  Opitz is quiet behind the plate and blocks balls in the dirt very well.  A switch hitter who hit from both sides of the plate in the game we saw, uses a short path to the ball with good gap to gap power.

4-8-15
No. 4 2017. At 5-11, 145 lbs  Opitz is still growing but shows great action and potential behind the dish and has a mature approach at the plate. Has a very good arm and quick release on throw downs but tends to fly a little open causing ball to sail right of bag with 1.9 pop time, however came away impressed with the young catcher. Started game at SS and showed range deep in hole and strong arm across diamond. Fundamentally sound with blocking. At the plate bats left. Keeps hands inside the ball and has opposite field line drive swing. On the day was 1-2 with 2 walks. Created a run by himself late in the game to cut Jaguar lead to 6-5 with single, stolen base, overthrow, and scored on wild pitch. Hits in the 2-hole, and is hitting .368 and is leading the Eagles with 14 hits, and 5 stolen bases. High follow.

At 5-11, 145 lbs  Opitz is still growing but shows great action and potential behind the dish and has a mature approach at the plate. Coming from a talented baseball family where his two older brothers Jake and Shane who were both middle infielders and both drafted, Casey takes on the catching position and has a great chance to follow in his brother's footprints at Heritage.

2020 DRAFT:A Colorado prep, Opitz is a switch-hitting catcher who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 205 pounds. He has average raw power from the left side, solid average arm strength with good carry and strong receiving skills as his top tools. He threw out three of eight base runners attempting to steal with game POP times in the mid-1.9s last summer during the USA CNT Trials. Even more impressively, he shows the ability to make quick, accurate throws on tough pitches...he backhanded a low curveball, catching it almost while standing, making a quick transition then delivering a strike to the second base bag. Opitz also receives the low pitch really well, beating it to the spot down and lifting it back into the zone to steal an occasional strike. Currently offering more defense than offense, he was off to a solid start at the plate with a .302/.361/.509 slash this spring, likely enough to lift his value into the top five rounds this summer.

7/1/19:A switch-hitting catcher who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 205 pounds, Opitz was solid overall with above average raw power from the left side and solid average arm strength with good carry as his top tools. Threw out three of eight base runners attempting to steal with game POP times in the mid 1.9s. Showed the ability to make quick, accurate throws on tough pitches...backhanded low curveball, catching it almost while standing, making a quick transition while delivering a strike to the second base bag. Also received the low pitch really well, beating it down and lifting it back into the zone to steal an occasional strike.Currently offering more defense than offense, a good season at the plate next spring in the SEC could vault Opitz into early round consideration next June. (Seifert)