Pages

10/28/20

Scouting Report - C - Ian Moller

 


Ian Moller

 

C 6-1 201 Wahlert HS (IA)

 

Fish Striped   -

 

2. C Ian Moller, Wahlert Catholic High School (IA)

 

The Marlins are in need of catchers and Ian Moller is the top prep catcher in the country. Moller is a 6’1” 200 pound catcher out of Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque, Iowa.

 

On Perfect Game, Moller is the third-ranked prospect and the #1 ranked catcher in the country. He’s also the top ranked prospect in the state of Iowa. Moller was selected to play in the 2020 Perfect Game All-American Classic.

 

Moller has the tools to be one of the top players coming out of the draft. He’s a great defensive catcher with a high ceiling as a hitter. Perfect Game has Moller’s best pop time clocked at a 1.80 but is closer to a 1.9 in games. He’s a great leader and plays the game with lots of passion.

 

He has fully developed as a hitter but the tools are there for him to a good hitter at the next level. Moller has very good power as his exit velocity has been clocked at 99 mph and has good bat speed. Moller is currently a verbal commit to the LSU Tigers.

 

The Marlins need to get a quality catcher in the 2021 MLB Draft. Will Banfield is a work-in progress and Jorge Alfaro hasn’t produced the way the Marlins would have liked. Moller might be a reach at #16 unless University of Miami catcher Adrian Del Castillo is available.

 

Talking Chop -

 

Ian Moller, C - This wasn’t the best I’d seen of Ian Moller, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t tell why this kid is special. Moller turned in some of the best batting practice rounds both days, nearly taking a ball out of Fenway Park completely- only to have it stay in because it hit hard off a sign behind the green monster. Moller is normally a very solid defender, but struggled with his receiving and blocking as well as making some throws that were offline. In game he had some swing and miss, more than what you would normally see from him- but he did impact a few balls well. Moller is a high character kid and a leader, and you could see that with his interactions with his teammates during the weekend. This performance does nothing to drop a kid who has consistently been among the top performers in the country against elite competition.

 

Prospect Worldwide -

 

Ian Moller – C: It’s not often you see a Catcher who possesses one of the better bats in the class, (50 Hit, 60 Power) with the ability to stick at Catcher long-term. Showing strong catch and throw ability, and improved overall game behind the plate. Built to last at the position, with a middle of the order bat that can rival most in the class and seems more than capable of handling a pitching staff as he moves into the higher levels. High School Catchers are generally a very risky investment as high as Ian is projected to go, but the toolset is something not many catchers if any have shown at this level in recent years.

 

Diamond Digest -  

 

7) Ian Moller, C, Wahlert HS (IA)

 

Moller really popped at the Perfect Game National Showcase, where his power and solid barrel skills played well. He has a quiet setup and load before unleashing a beautiful swing with bat speed and beautiful upward bat path. That bat path is perfect for today’s game in which hitting the ball in the air is so important. He generates line drives and fly balls, and his fantastic rotational ability gives him his big time power potential. Moller also generates good hip/torso separation at foot strike. All of these elements make him a threat to hit 20 homers a year. Defensively, he projects to stick behind the plate. He is an athletic catcher who moves well behind the plate, especially laterally. That lateral movement helps him when ball blocking, which is an area where he excels. His quick feet have given him quick pop times and he has good raw arm strength, allowing him to be a force in the run game. He folds up nicely behind the plate and shows solid flexibility, and he has shown the ability to be a calming presence behind the plate. Moller is impressive physically, possessing a strong frame with good lower-half strength that can definitely withstand the rigors of catching. Moller is a really solid all-around player whose only negative are some occasional swing-and-miss-issues and an extremely risky prep catcher demographic to which he belongs, but he has the tools to overcome the odds against players like him. Moller is committed to LSU.

 

PG -

 

Ian Moller is a 2021 C/3B with a 6-1 201 lb. frame from Dubuque, IA who attends Wahlert. Strong athletic build, pretty mature physically. Right handed hitter, hits from a narrow stance with a wrapped barrel load, has rhythm to his load and swing, calm overall approach, creates very good raw bat speed and easy lift and jump, ball comes off the barrel hard, always seems to be timed and on the ball in games, very high level offensive ceiling for his position. 7.22 runner, athletic actions behind the plate defensively, blocks and receives cleanly and with confidence, very strong arm with a clean release and good accuracy. Highest level catching prospect who would be a top prospect at many positions on the field.

 

Prospect Worldwide -

 

Ian Moller – C: It’s not often you see a Catcher who possesses one of the better bats in the class, (50 Hit, 60 Power) with the ability to stick at Catcher long-term. Showing strong catch and throw ability, and improved overall game behind the plate. Built to last at the position, with a middle of the order bat that can rival most in the class and seems more than capable of handling a pitching staff as he moves into the higher levels. High School Catchers are generally a very risky investment as high as Ian is projected to go, but the toolset is something not many catchers if any have shown at this level in recent years.

 

Prospects Live -

 

Ian Moller - Our top backstop in a suddenly strong catching group at the top, Moller continued to make his presence known. Hitting a loud double off the bat, and working a walk in a late game battle versus Irv Carter. Few bats at any position in the class are as leveraged for power as Moller. He continued to murder fastballs in game and show good pitch recognition skills working deep into counts. He struggled with a few tough plays behind the dish early, but settled in and showcased his notorious defensive chops. As he handled some tougher arms to catch with relative ease. Check out our interview with Ian following PG National. 

Click here for the full list of Mack's Scouting Reports.

No comments:

Post a Comment