2026 Florida Preseason All-State: Catcher Analysis

Charlie Acierno C / OF / Stoneman Douglas, FL / 2028

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-1, 222-pounds. Strong athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Slightly wide setup with rhythmic hands. Lifts front foot during load. Compact level path with quick hands through the zone. 74.2 mph bat speed with 10 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 99 max exit velocity, averaged 88.4 mph. 347' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-77 mph. OF-87 mph. Above average arm strength.
Defense: 1.97-2.05 pop times. C: Gets out of the crouch with a quick transfer. OF: Fields out infront and moves well through the ball.
ATH: 7.27 runner in the 60. 1.64 and 3.96 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 19.80 max vertical. 

Dante Caridi C / 3B / IMG Academy, FL / 2027

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 202-pounds. Physical build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with high rhythmic hands. Controlled leg kick during load. Short level path through the zone. 61.2 mph bat speed with 18 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 81.3 mph. 304' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-74 mph. Average arm strength.
Defense: 1.97-2.08 pop times. Gets out of the crouch with a quick transfer.
ATH: 7.33 runner in the 60. 1.69 and 4.01 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 20.80 max vertical.

Jacob Collins C / 3B / Tocoi Creek, FL / 2028

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 179-pounds. Physical build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with rhythmic hands. Short stride during load. Level path through the zone. 64.7 mph bat speed with 9 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 78.9 mph. 312' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-80 mph. Advanced arm strength with high effort.
Defense: 1.91-2.04 pop times. Quick transfer and clean footwork.
ATH: 7.30 runner in the 60. 1.73 and 4.01 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 21.10 max vertical.

AJ Cuasay C / 3B / Jesuit, FL / 2029

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 186-pounds. Strong athletic build.
Hit: SH. R: Weight on backfoot with rhythmic hands. Short stride during load. L: Balanced setup with rhythmic hands. Short stride during load. R: Slightly uphill path through the zone. L: Compact uphill path with quick hands through the zone. 59.6 mph bat speed with 10 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 78.9 mph. 289' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-67 mph. Average arm strength.
Defense: 2.25-2.37 pop times. Clean footwork and smooth transfer.

Crew Elrod C / 1B / IMG Academy, FL / 2029

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 228-pounds. Physical build.
Hit: LHH. Open setup with low rhythmic hands. Short stride during load. Short downhill path through the zone. 66.1 mph bat speed with 16 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 89.8 mph. 358' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-77 mph. Average arm strength.
Defense: 2.02-2.09 pop times. Smooth transfer with clean footwork.
ATH: 8.09 runner in the 60. 1.78 and 4.38 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 18.30 max vertical.

Clayton Gerrell C / OF / South Walton, FL / 2028

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-11, 168-pounds. Lean athletic build. Still room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Slightly wide setup with rhythmic hands. Short stride during load. Compact level path through the zone. 65.9 mph bat speed with 6 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 86.3 mph. 323' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-77 mph. OF-89 mph. Above average arm strength with high effort.
Defense: 1.94-2.01 pop times. C: Gets off the knee with a smooth transfer. OF: Fields out infront.
ATH: 7.26 runner in the 60. 1.74 and 4.05 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 20.30 max vertical.

Damin Hwang C / 3B / TNXL Academy, FL / 2028

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 202-pounds. Strong athletic build.
Hit: SH. L: Rhythmic balanced setup with high hands. Short stride during load. R: Balanced setup with rhythmic hands. Long stride during load L: Slightly uphill path through the zone. R: Compact level path through the zone. 68 mph bat speed with 5 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 88.4 mph. 337' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-73 mph. Average arm strength.
Defense: 1.96-2.08 pop times. Gets off the knee with a quick transfer.
ATH: 7.89 runner in the 60. 1.80 and 4.29 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 17.60 max vertical.

John Parkinson C / 3B / The First Academy, FL / 2027

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 184-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Slightly closed off setup with rhythmic hands. Controlled leg kick during load. Short level path with quick hands through the zone. 73.1 mph bat speed with 27 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 93.1 mph. 361' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-73 mph. Average arm strength.
Defense: 1.98-2.11 pop times. Gets out of the crouch with a quick transfer.
ATH: 7.55 runner in the 60. 1.74 and 4.16 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 17.40 max vertical.

Davontae Raiti C / 1B / Dunedin, FL / 2028

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-10, 176-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with rhythmic hands. Long stride during load. Slightly uphill path through the zone. 63.1 mph bat speed with 7 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 84.4 mph. 280' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-74 mph. Average arm strength.
Defense: 2.03-2.11 pop times. Smooth transfer and clean footwork.
ATH: 7.48 runner in the 60. 1.70 and 4.06 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 18.60 max vertical.

Mason Ryder C / 3B / Jupiter, FL / 2028

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 186-pounds. Strong athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Weight on backfoot during setup with quiet hands. Lifts front foot during load. Short level path through the zone. 71.5 mph bat speed with 17 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 89.7 mph. 332' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-78 mph. Above average arm strength.
Defense: 1.87-2.00 pop times. Gets out of the crouch with a quick transfer.
ATH: 7.65 runner in the 60. 1.77 and 4.20 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 18.00 max vertical.

Frankie Sekelsky C / 2B / Nature Coast Technical High, FL / 2029

Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 162-pounds. Lean athletic build. Still room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Narrow setup with high hands. Double taps front foot during load. Short slightly downhill path through the zone. 59.9 mph bat speed with 12 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 79.6 mph. 284' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-71 mph. Average arm strength.
Defense: 2.20-2.31 pop times. Clean footwork with a smooth transfer.
ATH: 7.70 runner in the 60. 1.78 and 4.20 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 15.80 max vertical. 

Easton Stegbauer C / 1B / Osceola Fundamental, FL / 2027

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 187-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: LHH. Wide setup with quiet hands. Lifts front foot during load. Uphill path with quick hands through the zone. 68 mph bat speed with 13 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 99 max exit velocity, averaged 92.1 mph. 354' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-80 mph. Advanced arm strength.
Defense: 1.86-1.94 pop times. Gets out of the crouch with a quick transfer.
ATH: 6.97 runner in the 60. 1.63 and 3.87 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 24.60 max vertical.

Delivery: Stretch only with a tall and fall delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Full oval shape backswing that hooks into a 3/4 release.
FB: T87, 86-87 mph. Generates slight rising action. T2495, 2458 average rpm.
CB: 74-75 mph. 11/5 movement with tight rotation and late action. T2608, 2572 average rpm.
SL: 79-79 mph. Natural shape out of hand that generates more sweep than depth. T2461, 2406 average rpm.
CH: 82-82 mph. Maintains arm speed with armside run. T1768, 1745 average rpm.

Chaz Templeton C / OF / Braden River, FL / 2027

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 173-pounds. Strong athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with rhythmic hands. Short stride during load. Compact level path through the zone. 67.3 mph bat speed with 12 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 88.5 mph. 300' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-76 mph. Average arm strength.
Defense: 1.89-1.94 pop times. Gets out of the crouch with a quick transfer.
ATH: 7.14 runner in the 60. 1.63 and 3.90 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 18.80 max vertical.

Justin Travieso C / 3B / True North Classical Academy, FL / 2027

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 176-pounds. Lean athletic build. Still room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with rhythmic hands. Short stride during load. Short level path through the zone. 66.1 mph bat speed with 6 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 85.5 mph. 322' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-77 mph. Above average arm strength.
Defense: 1.94-2.00 pop times. Gets off the knee with a quick transfer.
ATH: 19.30 max vertical.

Braxton Wilken C / RHP / Bloomingdale High School, FL / 2027

Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-4, 204-pounds. Lean athletic build. Still room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with quiet hands. Short stride during load. Slightly uphill path through the zone. 68.3 mph bat speed with 8 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 85.2 mph. 337' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-80 mph. Advanced arm strength.
Defense: 1.97-2.04 pop times. Gets off the knee with a quick transfer.
ATH: 7.94 runner in the 60. 1.83 and 4.37 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 16.50 max vertical.

Delivery: Stretch only with a drop and drive delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Compact arm in the backswing into an 3/4 release.
FB: T87, 83-87 mph. Generates riding action with armside run. T2290, 2206 average rpm.
CB: 71-71 mph. 11/5 movement with equal sweep and depth. T2019, 1994 average rpm.
SL: 74-76 mph. Natural shape out of hand that generates more sweep than depth. T2095, 2055 average rpm.
CH: 74-77 mph. Maintains arm speed with armside run. T1658, 1577 average rpm. 

Jovani Zara C / 3B / Miami Springs Senior High School, FL / 2027

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Lean athletic build. Still room to fill out.
Hit: LHH. Narrow setup with quiet hands. Long stride during load. Compact uphill path through the zone. 70.2 mph bat speed with 8 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 91.1 mph. 346' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-79 mph. Above average arm strength.
Defense: 1.96-2.00 pop times. Gets off the knee with a smooth transfer.
ATH: 7.38 runner in the 60. 1.65 and 4.01 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 19.20 max vertical.

Andrew Zimmerman C / 3B / Robinson High School, FL / 2026

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 170-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Open setup with high hands. Short stride during load. Short uphill path through the zone. 67.1 mph bat speed with 12 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 83.1 mph. 310' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-71 mph. INF-76 mph. Average arm strength with short action.
Defense: 1.94-2.01 pop times. C: Gets out of the crouch with a quick transfer. INF: Fields out infront with sure hands.
ATH: 7.62 runner in the 60. 1.73 and 4.16 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 20.60 max vertical.