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Comments
In addition to his defensive versatility, Utech showed plenty of aptitude at the plate across the workout day and 3 games of action. He gets high marks for his strike zone discipline and ability to recognize spin, as he drew 3 BB while only striking out once. Sets up in the box with direct alignment towards the pitcher in both his upper and lower half. Hands start above back shoulder and shift into a lower hitting position during forward stride. Easy, low effort swing with classic left-handed loft. Does a solid job letting the ball travel and works towards the big part of the field when he goes after something to hit. Head stays quiet throughout and he stays in his legs after contact. The left-handed swing plus his ability to handle both catching and INF duties give Utech a unique profile and allow him to handle a lot of responsibilities on the diamond.
Utech had a strong showing at the Oregon Top Prospect showcase in June. Flashing a simple, balanced stroke from the left-side that consistently produced line-drive contact. Projects to hit for gap-to-gap type power as he continues to mature. Defensively he’s a polished receiver who presents a quiet, compact target. We’ve seen him pop as low as 1.94 and peak with an 80 mph arm from behind the plate. As an INF, Utech is more than capable of holding his own on the dirt. He controls his body & maintains a soft glove hand. Arm plays well from both spots with reliable accuracy.
Left-handed hitting catchers are always an ideal profile to find in a player. Utech fits that mold and will likely only continue to get better behind the dish as he gets more seasoning. Early on we saw him flash quality defensive actions in the INF but catching adds an additional layer to his versatility. Offensively, he shows a level, contact stroke capable of spraying consistent hard contact. Flashes more lift to his pull-side. Stays in his lower half thru contact while finishing against a posted front side. Quality approach at the plate with strike zone discipline.