2018 MLB Draft Preview: Catchers

MLB Draft Prospect, Georgia Tech Catcher Joey Bart
(Danny Karnik, Georgia Tech Athletics/Gwinnett Daily Post)

In the baseball world, the positions up the middle are considered of the highest importance and value. Obviously beginning with the pitcher on the mound, but predominantly speaking of the position players whose job it is to help the man on the mound keep runs off the board. 

Often times when mentioning the key positions up the middle of the diamond, the first thought is of the shortstop position that is so vital to a team's defense. The range centerfielders show going into the gap to dive and grab well-hit balls are shown across the highlights. Even some slick fielding second baseman are thought of, especially when possessing a gun for an arm and being a Gold-Glove caliber defensive threat like Javier Baez. 

Yet the catcher position is truly the most demanding and often the most difficult to fill for many teams in the draft. Drafting and developing a quality catcher is a lot easier said than done, as many organizations try and fail on more than a few occasions. 

When you're able to select one in the draft and develop that prospect into a viable Major League-level player, the dividends could be quite beneficial. The most obvious of those examples is San Francisco Giants Buster Posey, whose won National League and World Series MVP Awards. 

Also of the three players who received time behind the plate in the World Series, each were selected in the early rounds of the MLB Draft. Though nome remained with the team that originally selected them. 

Still the point remains, finding a quality catcher in the draft is of tremendous value whether they help you achieve your goal of winning a championship or used in acquiring assets that you believe will. 

Joey Bart, Georgia Tech

Bart is the cream of the crop at the catcher position in this year's draft, representing one of the prospects to receive serious consideration for the number one overall pick. Having been named a first team All-American, in addition to his Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) Player of the Year Award, the 6'3, 225-pound junior improved his plate discipline en route to a great season. The right-handed swinging backstop batted .359, with 12 doubles and 16 hour runs, increasing his walks from 16 in 2017 to 41 this season — to a tune of a .471 on-base percentage. 

Behind the plate, Bart has been a quality defender throughout his this year and throughout career, with a 36.4 caught stealing percentage in 2018 —which actually is the lowest in his three seasons, having thrown out over 40% of runners during his freshman and sophomore years. He's also showed his prowess as a fielder during the season, allowing only two passed balls and accounting for 42 assists. 

Making strides in his game as a complete catcher is evident by his ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award, he follows previous Yellow Jackets catchers Jason Varitek, Captain and World Series Champion with the Red Sox, and Matt Wieters, multi all-star and current veteran Major Leaguer, who provide a strong track record. 

If not chosen number one, Bart may be tabbed to be the heir apparent of current superstar catcher Buster Posey, as the San Francisco Giants hold the second overall pick. 

Nick Meyer, Cal Poly

A defensive-minded first catcher type, Meyer earned a spot on the USA Collegiate National Team for his noted glove behind the plate. The 2016 Big West Conference Freshman of the Year has plenty experience as a backstop, having started in all three seasons while at Cal Poly. 

Recording consistently above-average pop times since a teenager in high school, the college junior has an advanced feel for the game and is a quality pitch framer. He may be delegated as the eighth or ninth spot hitting catcher in his future, but Meyer does at the very least control the strike zone well and make consistent contact.

Over his 161 career games he's totaled 181 base hits and struck out only 49 times to 53 walks. Though he isn't a power threat at the present moment —three career home runs, none this year — he's shown the ability to drive the ball into the gaps with 14 doubles in 2018, doubling his career total. Help raising his slugging percentage nearly .100 points from last season to .430. 

The 6'1 righty Meyer was third in the Big West this season with a .344 batting average. He lived up to his lofty reputation behind the plate earning conference Defensive Player of the Year, in addition to being first-team all-conference. 

Throughout his career as a Mustang he's thrown out 49 attempted base stealers, while picking off another 16, exhibiting his quick and accurate arm. 

Cal Raleigh, Florida State

The 6'3 switch-hitter experienced a standout senior season of high school, batting .467 with 10 home runs, pitching to a 1.67 ERA, and winning conference Player of the Year in basketball. Going unselected in the 2015 MLB Draft, Raleigh went to Tallahassee and focused solely on baseball where he had a fabulous first season. 

As a freshman he slashed .301/.412/.511 with 10 home runs in 63 games, en route to being named a first-team Freshman All-American — also being chosen to play in the prestigious Cape Cod League following the NCAA season. 

With a father, Todd, who both played and coached in college at Western Tennessee, then later at Tennessee, Raleigh has a professional-like approach to the game — showing the ability to make adjustments. One season after his slash line slumped down to .227/.330/.398 as a sophomore, the 2018 ACC Tournament MVP has seen a jump up as junior with an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) over 1.000.

This season, in 59 games, he set career highs in walks (51), hits (72), extra base hits (30), and home runs (13), to a tune of robust slash-line .335/.461/.600. 

Raleigh still has work to do determine his deciding factor as a defensive player but he possess plenty of attributes, specifically hit slugging switch-hitting ability, which should entice teams to continue to develop him as a catcher until given reason otherwise. 

JJ Schwarz, Florida 

The man whom Anthony Siegler may potentially follow, should he follow through with his commitment to Florida, JJ Schwarz has experienced as storied a career as any Gator — with a school-record 262 starts. The 6'2 team captain was having an excellent senior season before he endured a broken hand prior to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament. 

Showcasing power to all fields from the right-handed batter's box, Schwarz is batting .325 with 12 home runs in 55 games, an on base percentage of .400 and slugging over .600. The 2018 first team All-SEC selection, has shown a resurgence in 2018 after batting under .300 and slugging .456 and .444, respectively, during his sophomore and junior seasons. 

Viewed as a seasoned vet, he has regained some of the stimulation surrounding his name in 2015 when he was selected Freshman All-American and overall Third Team All-American. When he hit .332, with 16 doubles, 18 home runs, and 73 runs batted in, with a slugging percentage of .629 over 70 games. 

Moreover, he's done well in establishing himself as a catcher prospect worthy of staying behind the plate, catching 54 games this season. After being behind the plate defensively only 18 times in his 69 games during his junior year. 

Should he make a move over to first base as a professional, Schwarz has the bat and experience, having previously spent time at the position, primarily playing there in 2017 with 44 games. 

Josh Breaux, McLennnan JC (TX)

Selected in the 36th round by the World Series Champion Houston Astros, Breaux help lead his McLennan club to the Junior College World Series as a freshman. The powerfully built 6'1, 220-pound prospect returned for his sophomore season as the top ranked JuCo player in the country, boasting both a potent bat and arm. He has hit 18 home runs this season, after establishing himself as one of the top power threats in the country last season with 19. 

When facing a collection of the best players in college baseball last summer in the prestigious Cape Cod League, he was fifth with six shots that left the field of play. Missing some time during the spring of 2018 due to elbow soreness, Breaux is captivating when healthy. Touching triple digits on the radar gun, and striking out eight batters in the four inning he spent on the mound, not allowing any runs. 

There are some skeptics of his longterm viability behind the plate defensively, but continued development and experience throughout the season has given a glimpse of what is to be worked with. Including some already undoubted tantalizing tools.

Having another solid if not spectacular season, Breaux will likely be drafted reasonably higher than he was selected last year. Should he feel uncomfortable with where he is chosen, the option remains for him to continue his collegiate career at Arkansas on scholarship and replace another catcher to chosen in the 2018 MLB Draft, Grant Koch. 

At which point he'd have the opportunity in the future to be selected in the MLB Draft for a third time.

Will Banfield, Brockwood HS (GA)

Long considered one of the top prospects in the Class of 2018, the Georgia-product has been on the radar of MLB scouts for some time. Described as having the highest defensive ceiling of any catcher in the draft, Banfield has shown skills behind the dish which have been lauded by many. 

While he is efficient in all aspects as a catcher including blocking and receiving, Banfield is most impressive with his quick transfers and throwing ability. Showcasing an equally strong and accurate arm, recording outstanding pop times of 1.74 down to second base. Results that rival the elite at the Major League-level. 

Though there are some questions about his consistency and competency at the plate, being considered a glove-first catcher, Banfield has shown some success with the bat. With a solid and athletic build already at 18 years old, being listed 6'1, 200-pounds, the right-handed batting Vanderbilt-commit provided flashes of power with the potential to tap into more as he continues to fill out and mature physically. 

He's hit .409 with 15 doubles and nine home runs during his senior season, quieting some of the questions that elicited from scout when he struggled against some of the top elite pitchers using wooden bats. Should he be selected in the first round he may be getting used to playing with wooden bats, possibly forgoing a collegiate career for the powerhouse Commodores. 

Kameron Guangorena, St. John Bosco HS (CA)

Guangorena may not have the gaudy numbers some other prep prospects put up, but he shows plenty of positives and produces in, and against, one of the nation's most-talent laden areas. Noted for his athletic ability, the 6'1 lefty swinging SoCal kid is a plus runner overall and which is even more impressive for a catcher. He has a swing at the plate that is conducive to consistent contact and flashes a strong arm when silencing the opponent's run game. 

Having assumed his stepfather's name, the prospect formerly known as Kameron Ojeda has been in the eyes of scouts for four years now dating back to 2015. Specifically, shining and standing out in the summer circuit of 2017 against elite competition from around the country. He's grown and improved in many aspects and will continue to progress in his pitch-framing and blocking ability. 

In 120 career games at St. John Bosco he hit 11 home runs and 27 doubles, with 130 total base hits — playing in a Trinity League that has produced former and current big league stars Nomar Garciaparra and Evan Longoria, respectively. In addition to current Chicago White Sox outfielder Tracy Thompson and his brother Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson. 

Guangorena has the overall set of tools and potential that can rival any catcher at the prep level and it will be interesting where he is selected among the various prospects. Should he decide to not sign a professional contract upon being selected, he'll have a tremendous opportunity to continue his education and baseball development at Cal State Fullerton — one of the top college baseball programs in the country.

Noah Naylor, St. Joan of Arc HS (CN)

Having a brother in Josh who was selected 12th overall by the Miami Marlins in the 2015 MLB Draft, Noah will look to join his elder sibling as a first round pick in this year's event. A product of Ontario, Canada, Naylor showed off his power stateside, last year when he hits the most balls out during the High School Home Run Derby at Marlin Park — participating in the festivities that preceded the most recent MLB All-Star Game. 

Listed at 6'1, 195 pounds the lefty-swinging catcher is an active athlete behind the plate with the a strong arm, who could also potentially play third base, given his ability at the plate and throwing ability. 

The Texas A&M commit will be counted upon to continue to develop defensively as a catcher. Specifically, his receiving ability. Still he's shown some solid pop times, being clocked as quick as 1.78 seconds down to second base. 

However, with the potential to be a sound hitter, for both power and average, paired with the chance to be a plus behind the plate, practicing patience, Naylor may see the next phase of his career take shape at the professional level —depending where he is ultimately selected.

Anthony Siegler, Cartersvile HS (GA)

Not only one of the top catching prospects, Siegler is for all intents and purposes the most unique player in this year's draft. The 5'11 switch-hitter is a special athlete, also ambidextrous as a thrower, having pitched with both arms. 

A sound contact hitter with a solid feel at the plate, Sigeler is also capable at multiple positions in the field, including being a sure-handed second baseman. The Florida-commit started at catcher for the USA 18 and under World Cup team last summer that won gold. 

Siegler has shown an increase in power during a special senior season with 13 home runs, including five in the state tournament against quality competition. He added 26 extra base hits in total accounting for more than half of his 45 base hits in total, while batting .421. 

Behind the plate he significantly controlled potential base stealers striking down more than half of attempts against him, with 12 of 21. He too, was a force on the bases, himself, successfully swiping 16 bases in 19 attempts. 

A true triple-threat, he saw himself to a superb 1.09 ERA on the mound in 25.2 innings, with 29 strikeouts to six walks. The switch-pitcher showed up on radar guns in the upper 80s when starting as a southpaw, and has reached 90 mph as a right handed reliever. He'll likely be a first round pick. 

Austin Wells, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)

While it's often Nolan Gorman who receives the majority of attention, with the distinction of having the most raw power in the Class of 2018, it was Wells who won Nevada's Gatorade State Player of the Year in the baseball-talent rich area in 2017 as a junior. The lefty swinging catching prospect follows in the footstep of current big leaguer Joey Gallo in attending his alma mater who has also produced NFL and NBA talent. 

Committed to Nevada, Wells batted over .500 for the last two seasons, with a productive yet patient approach at the plate, that highlights his profile as a player. He's an adequate defender at catcher, with quality enough skills as a young catching prospect to develop into a potential regular, everyday option in the future. 

Wells has shown a representable combination of receiving and throwing ability behind the dish with a valid pop time of 1.91. Standing 6'1, the 18 year old played first base in this his senior season, after suffering an elbow injury that prevented him from catching at all during 2018. 

It didn't prevent him from proving himself at the plate, as he batted .527 with four home runs and 19 doubles. With that being said, it remains to be seen how him being unable to catch during the season may effect Wells' draft status. And if it shall persuade him to go to college, instead of signing to play professionally.