GPA Games: Catcher Analysis

September 9, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The GPA Games held at brand new Rocky and Bernice Miller Park at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL spanned the course of two days, Friday August 12 – Saturday, August 13. The roster was broken into six teams, three of which reported on August 12, the other three reported on August 13. Each day consisted of position player workouts in the morning, with game play in the afternoon.

Following the event the PBR scouting staff compiled all of the notes from the two days. Over the next week we will be breaking down the event position by position, today looking at the catchers.

Below is a list of the top five catchers from the GPA Games.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Mike Massaro, C, Providence Catholic (IL), 2017
6-foot-1, 190-pound catcher, strong athletic build, sturdy catchers make up. Right-handed hitter, tall setup, smooth loading action, short stride, maintains excellent balance through contact. Quiet athletic setup, loose hands, flashes a pull side pop approach. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Went 3-for-3 in game play, barrel aware, stood out with the bat in game play. Defensively arm played short and over the top, carried to second, 77 mph out of the crouch. 1.93-2.04 pop times, easy athletic action out of the chute.

2. Ben Cameron, C, Waukesha West (WI), 2018
5-foot-11, 190-pound catcher, solid build. Defensively posted pop times at 2.02-2.12, quick exchange, showed athletic/active feet, good block and recover. Short over the top arm action, 71 mph out of the crouch. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Path works to stay on top of the baseball, line drive gap to gap approach, occasional back spin. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.55 runner down the line.

3. Diego Acosta, C, Niles West (IL), 2018
5-foot-10, 185-pound catcher, average build. Strong catch and throw defender, pop times ranged from 1.97-2.07, quick release. Arm carries, short over the top slot, 74 mph out of the crouch, played accurately to second. Right-handed hitter, slightly open setup, smooth loading action, short stride. Flashed hard pull contact, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.93 runner down the line.

4. Jake Hutchinson, C, Brother Rice (IL), 2017
5-foot-8, 185-pound catcher, strong stocky build, barrel chested. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg kick stride, slight arm bar load. Aggressive swing, bat strength hitter, flashed pull side pop. Went 3-for-4 in game play including a triple to centerfield. 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and loose, high ¾ slot, 71 mph out of the crouch. Mechanically strong blocking the baseball. Pop times at 2.08-2.16. 4.87 home to first time.

5. Jack Surin, C, Joliet Catholic (IL), 2017
6-foot-1, 200-pound catcher, strong build, solid lower half, body plays well behind the plate. Strong arm, 78 mph out of the crouch, over the top slot with carry and accuracy. Pop times ranged, 1.98-2.07. Right-handed hitter, squared setup, short stride. Swings with strength, path is level, stays flat through contact. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.79 runner down the line.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Pierce Blohowiak, C/OF, Xavier (WI), 2018
5-foot-11, 165-pound catcher/outfielder, athletic shape with good foot speed. 4.26 runner down the line. Defensively arm is loose, over the top slot, occasional carry, 84 mph from the outfield, 67 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.17-2.26. Showed ability to block, above average footwork in the outfield. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Handsy simple line drive approach. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Alex Chapman, C, Francis W. Parker (IL), 2018
Solid compact body, 5-foot-7, 170-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, leg lift stride. Average bat speed, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted pop times at 2.12-2.19. Arm action has length from the crouch, 70 mph. Got down the line at 5.11.

Gino D’Alessio, C, Pius XI Catholic (WI), 2018
Large frame, 6-foot-3, 180-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, even stance, short lifted stride, average balance. Bat path has length, level plane, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm worked short out of the crouch, 72 mph. 2.11-2.30 pop times to second, solid blocking actions. 4.76 home to first time.

Tanner Fields, C/RHP, Badger (WI), 2018
6-foot, 155-pound two-way player, lean frame. Right-handed hitter, tall balanced setup, short stride, simple pre-pitch approach. Path is level from load through contact. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, 72 mph out of the crouch. Gets out of the chute towards his glove side, sets tall at times, pop times ranged 2.11-2.19. On the mound arm played long and loose, high ¾ slot, occasionally drops to low ¾. Showed ability to control his fastball, slight action to arm side, pitched at 74-75 mph, touche 76 mph. Curveball played with depth, 11/5 plane, 62-64 mph.

Chase Gibson, C, Lutheran-St. Charles (MO), 2018
5-foot-9, 165-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, squared setup, short stride, average balance. Simple approach, flashed hard contact, 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed ability to receive and actions to block. 2.32-2.45 pop times. Arm action is loose and played at 69 mph out of the crouch.

Jack Pawlak, C, Grafton (WI), 2018
Large frame, 6-foot-2, 210-pound catcher, raw strength. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride. Showed bat strength, opposite field contact, occasionally late timing. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is loose and short, over the top slot, 73 mph out of the crouch. 2.14-2.27 pop times. Footwork can improve pop times, 5.12 runner down the line.

Bejamin Rogina, C, Joliet West (IL), 2018
5-foot-11, 175-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, slightly closed setup, loads hands back, leg kick trigger, average balance. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.73 runner down the line. Behind the plate posted pop times at 2.12-2.22, showed an ability to bounce out of the crouch. Arm action showed length, over the top slot, 72 mph.

Jack Splett, C, Wheeling (IL), 2017
5-foot-8, 160-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, tall balanced setup, short stride, average balance. Some effort, path works slightly uphill. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short from a high ¾ slot, 70 mph out the crouch. Pop times ranged, 2.11-2.25. Goes home to first at 5.42.

Owen Waunn, C, Fenwick (IL), 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Path works slightly uphill, 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively pop times ranged from 2.36-2.51. Arm played at 65 mph out of the crouch. 5.19 runner home to first.