Name:
Adam Ehrlich
DOB:
12/13/1992
Birthplace:
North Hollywood,
California
HT/WT:
6-foot-1/200 pounds
Bats/Throws:
L/R
Position:
C
Body
Type:
Athletic,
thick 6’1” frame. Has put on a lot
of muscle over the past year, originally listed at 180-185 lbs and is now just
south of 200. Ehrlich is growing well into his body as his top half continues to
mature. Bottom half provides a set of strong legs. Also has a set of big, tough hands that
can already handle professional velocities. Body comparison to Milwaukee’s Jonathan Lucroy.
Abilities:
Using
a slightly open stance, Ehrlich has a long, flat swing plane with a balanced
stride. He has the power to drive
the ball, but won’t be your perennial home run threat (think plus gap power).
Can take the ball to any part of
the field, but his strength lies in lefty-pull power. Could become a doubles machine. Great plate discipline with pitch
recognition skills. His baserunning
speed is above average for a catcher, but by being a catcher, it’s unlikely
he’ll swipe bags at the big league level. Keeps a focused field awareness, both on
defense and on the basepaths. Rarely turns his attention
elsewhere.
Behind
the dish, Ehrlich is a natural defender. He has some time at first, but will not
be leaving the backstop anytime soon. His durability at such a young age is his
best attribute, with a surplus of stamina to “catch all day long and make it
look easy and graceful.” (BaseballBeginnings.com). His catching game is fluid, effortless,
and with more instruction, could essentially be flawless. Has strong average arm strength with the
projection of a plus arm as his throwing mechanics improve. Thanks to his quick feet and an even
quicker release, his outstanding POP times have been listed in the 1.85 to 2.00
second range. He projects to POP closer to 1.80-1.90 once he perfects his
footwork. Called games his senior year at Campbell Hall, not something you see
from most high school catchers.
Ehrlich
already has a tremendous knowledge of the game and continues to work hard to
refine his baseball skills. Has a
willingness to do the little things, and won’t question getting dirty. His ability to receive and adjust a
pitcher’s game plan is far surpassed what his age group would usually show.
Maturity is coming along nicely for the 18-year old.
Weaknesses:
Hitting
skills are still raw. His long
swing plane mentioned before can work against him. His elbows usually stay close together,
but when they begin to separate, his swing becomes even longer than it already
is. Ehrlich’s plane should be
shortened to create a more compact swing. His leg kick is inconsistent and can be
very high during the load. Has a
slow pivot out of the batter’s box, which doesn’t match up with his quick feet
on defense. Lacks trust in his ability to use his natural power. He attempts to take the ball the other
way when he should be pulling inside pitches. He must become assertive with pitches on
the inside part of the plate. Also,
he is too patient at times. While
he was pitched around on multiple occasions his senior year, Ehrlich would watch
hittable pitches go by.
Defensively,
his arm strength is still developing. He occasionally rushes himself with an
aggressiveness to catch runners stealing. Has trouble fielding well-placed bunts.
His receiving skills are above
average for a young catcher (glove beats pitches before they hit the strike
zone, keeps hands steady to secure a strike), but he has a tendency to stab at
the ball. Could use some work on blocking pitches, especially breaking balls in
the dirt. He’s been game-calling
for just over a year, but those skills are relatively underdeveloped. Still has confidence to communicate with
his pitchers.
Conclusion:
It’s
rare to find high school catchers that are as defensively sound as Ehrlich is.
However, he cannot rest on his
laurels. As he strives for
consistency, his abilities as a natural catcher could lead him to the big
leagues. Offensively, his hit tool
is far from polished, but does show promise. Ehrlich has multiple mechanical issues to
iron out, including his swing and stance, and must learn to trust his own
talent. If he can hone his skills
at the plate, I can project a future .255-.260 hitter at his peak, 8 to 10 home
runs a year. Not out of the
question for him to hit 20+ doubles during a full-length season. Having only played at the high school
level, it should take Ehrlich four to five seasons before he reaches the Majors.
It’s possible his value can exceed
his status as a sixth-round pick up.
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