With the draft inching closer and closer I thought it would be time to unveil my top 5 (high school and college) draft prospects at each position. Top 10 for left handed and right handed pitchers, and outfielders. We have ourselves an excellent crop of catchers, particularly the high school crowd in this years draft, and I’d consider the top three all clear first round talents. Ultimately I decided to lean toward my Gamecock bias, and place South Carolina native Nick Ciuffo at the top of my board for the catching draft class.
Top 5 Catchers – The High School Crowd
1) Nick Ciuffo – Lexington HS (South Carolina)
Height: 6’1″ Weight: 195
Bats: L Throws: R
Age: 18 College Commitment: South Carolina
Draft Projection: Mid-1st Round
Ciuffo brings a left handed bat with excellent bat speed and 20 HR power potential. He looks the part of a catcher with a strong, thick lower half, a cannon arm, and quick reactions behind the plate. He’s the most well rounded catcher in this draft, with no glaring weaknesses defensively or offensively and solid tools across the board. I expect nothing less from a South Carolina recruit even if he won’t ever set foot on campus once he’s selected in the first round on June 6.
2) Jon Denney – Yukon HS (Oklahoma)
Perfect Game doesn’t miss premier talent
Bats: R Throws: R
Age: 18 College Commitment: Arkansas
Draft Projection: Mid-1st Round
According to multiple sources, Denney has the necessary defensive skills and arm strength to stick at catcher but could end up moving off the position down 2-3 years down the road. As a hitter, Denney possesses an outstanding feel for consistently barreling up the ball and has good power potential. Matt Garrioch mentions Wil Myers in his draft profile on Denny, stating that Denny’s swing is better than what he saw from Myers in high school. That’s high praise and leaves me feeling pretty good about this kid’s chances of developing into an impact player. I still give a small, small edge to Ciuffo, who I’m confident will become an great defensive catcher, but Denny arguably has the best bat in the catching class. He could be in contention for the Orioles first pick at no. 22 overall.
3) Reese McGuire – Kentwood HS (Washington)
Height: 6’1″ Weight: 190
Bats: L Throws: R
Age: 18 College Commitment: San Diego
Draft Projection: Mid-1st Round
McGuire brings a very similar profile as Ciuffo. While McGuire lacks the physicality you see with Ciuffo (and perhaps even the power potential) he is an outstanding athlete with plenty of room for growth. He has an excellent lefty swing but I have questions about his ultimate power upside. However, he should be a decent hitter for average and has the outstanding skills you look for in a young catcher: strong arm, quick release, blocking ability. He has a high ceiling if the bat shows steady progress and doesn’t stagnate at any point during the minors. Like Ciuffo, he’ll also likely be a first rounder.
4) Chris Okey – Eustis HS (Florida)
South Carolina > Clemson, Ciuffo > Okey
Height: 6’0″ Weight: 175
Bats: R Throws: R
Age: 18 College Commitment: Clemson
Draft Projection: 2nd Round
Okey is a little on the small side for a catcher and doesn’t offer big power potential. However, he is an excellent athlete with fluid actions, an above average arm, and projects as solid defender as a catcher. His bat doesn’t wow you, but he possesses above average bat speed and has intriguing longterm potential IF he continues to grow and put on more weight.
5) Tyler O’Neill – Garibaldi SS (California)
Height: 6’1″ Weight: 215
Bats: R Throws: R
Age: 18 College Commitment
Draft Projection: 2nd-3rd Round
I’d have O’Neill rated higher than Okey if I were confident he’d remain at catcher. He’s a good enough athlete that he could project as an average defender there but many expect a move to the OF. He has a compact muscular build, shows great bat speed, and has 20-25 HR potential.
Other Names You Best Be Knowing Too:
– Dominic Nunez – Elk Grove HS (California)
(Height: 6’0″ Weight: 175, Bats: L, Throws: R, Age: 18)
Converted shortstop. Good athlete with strong arm. Could go early to someone who likes his longterm projection. Should stick as a catcher but the bat is far away from major league ready.
– Jeremy Martinez – Mater Dei HS (California)
(Height: 5’11” Weight: 200, Bats: R, Throws: R, Age: 18)
Recognize that high school name? Yea, it’s an athletics powerhouse most recently known for produce talents like Matt Barkley. Martinez draws rave remarks for his character and leadership which can’t be overlooked, especially at a demanding catching position despite his limited offensive upside and lack of projectability.
Top 5 Catchers: College Edition
1) Zane Evans – Georgia Tech
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 220
Bats: R Throws: R
Age: 21 Previously Drafted: No
Draft Projection: 2nd-3rd Round
You’ll see Andrew Knapp rated the top college catcher in the draft by most others but I give the edge to Evans due to his strong defensive ability, blazing arm strength, and above average power potential – even if Knapp has the longer track record with scouts. Baseball America rated him the preseason top defensive catcher in the ACC and his .364/.430/.618 slash line with 14 home runs makes him arguably the best offensive performer amongst catchers in college baseball this season. I like his chances of becoming the next in line of great Georgia Tech catchers. If I’m terribly wrong, he still has a chance to become an MLB reliever with his mid 90’s fastball off the mound.
2) Andrew Knapp – California
Kinda looks like Mark Wahlberg
Height: 6’1″ Weight: 195
Bats: S Throws: R
Age: 21 Previously Drafted: 42nd Round, 2010 by Athletics
Draft Projection: 2nd-3rd Round
Knapp has been the lone bright spot on a garbage Bears team, leading the hitters with a .350 AVG and 8 HR. Knapp has good offensive potential (Best case scenario .260/.320/.410 with 10-15 HR) for a catcher. He also has the requisite arm strength you look for in a catcher, although his receiving skills could use some work according to Christopher Crawford of MLB Draft Insider. He should go off the board in the 2nd or 3rd round and at worst should make a nice offensive minded backup, maybe a Ryan Hanigan type.
Pride of Ole Miss
3) Stuart Turner – Ole Miss
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 220
Bats: R Throws: R
Age: 21 Previously Drafted: No
Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round
Stu Turner is a big guy who hit the crap out of the ball this year (.381 AVG, 5 HR, 27 BB, 33 K) and is arguably the best catcher in the SEC. He shows a great feel for driving the ball to all fields and may have more in game power down the road than what he’s shown so far. Strong arm aside, his defensive skills are average at best but he could be a nice value pick in the 3rd or 4th round.
4) Victor Caratini – Miami Dade (Juco)
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 205
Bats: S Throws: R
Age: 20 Previously Drafted:
Draft Projection: 4th-5th Round
Interesting case. Had to transfer to junior college after being ruled ineligible at Southern. He has good size and durability for catcher where his defensive projects as major league average. He switch hits and can hit for modest power from both sides of the plate.
Watch out for the Lobos in the tournament
5) Mitch Garver – New Mexico
Bats: R Throws: R
Age: 22 Previously Drafted: No
Draft Projection: 4th-7th Round
All he does is hit, hit, hit. The Lobos were the nation’s top offense and Garver played a key role (.391 AVG, 4 HR, 27 BB, 32 K) in that. Not a bigtime upside but he’ll be taken early as a senior who will sign for below slot money and has a chance to develop into an offensive minded backup with AAA depth being his likely scenario.
Other Names You Might Want To Know:
– Spencer Navin – Vanderbilt
– Elvin Soto – Pittsburgh
Slade's Top Orioles Prospects 