Top 10 Catchers in Draft - Updated

1. Josh Phegley

(up from 3rd) - Indiana… Junior… 5-11, 215, R/R… 2008: Was named a second team All-American by Collegiate Baseball News, the American Baseball Coaches Association, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America and Ping!Baseball… .438/.507/.756, 34 BB/22K, 37 extra base hits in 224 at bats… .522 wOBA*, .329 IsoP, 16.5% BB, 13.6% K… having a big year in 2009 at the plate… currently considered one of the two (Tony Sanchez) top college catchers available in the draft. Could possibly be moved out of position long term… mixed reviews on defensive ability… thru 5/6: .368/13HRs… 5/18: hitting .362 with seven homers and 62 RBIs… 5/18 from MiLB: There's little question about the Hoosier backstop's ability to hit, and he showed it in a weekend series against Michigan. Phegley went 6-for-11 with a pair of home runs in that three-game set. For the season, he's batted .354 and slugged .672 with 17 homers and 62 RBIs…. From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #14 (top catcher on list) - Josh Phegley Offensive first catcher, .354/.470/.672 with 42 BB and 29 K, will lose a lot of value if not C… year: 21.2


2. Max Stassi –

Yuba City… 5-10, 190… excellent defense… strong arm… power potential… hit three home runs in his first two games this season…18 years old… verbally committed to UCLA… a baseball rat… excellent plus plus defensively… great catch and throw skills… line drive hitter… good speed for a catcher. 2009: As of 4-7: 14-22, 7 doubles, 7 HRs… a baseball rat… rocket arm… from realsportsblooger, who picked Stassi first catcher drafted: The best statistical prep hitter among the catchers, Stassi is probably the most complete catcher of the prep class in this draft. He has a highly advacned approach to the plate and should hit for a quality average and decent power. He’s been fairly durable and is a capable defender with a cannon for an arm. Overall, he’d be a steal here for the Twins, who could not only get great value here, but an eventually successor to Joe Mauer, whom I think will wind up at third base at some point in the future… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #16 (2nd catcher on list) Polished defensive C with strong arm, good approach at plate, power potential age: 18.1


3. Tony Sanchez –

Boston College… 5-10, 210… hit .410/.505/.710 through first 78 at-bats this season… Sanchez hit .313 during BC's 2008 season and led the Eagles in most major offensive categories, including hits (66), RBI (45), total bases (109) and home runs (9)… 4-6-9: named ACC pow, for 2nd time in 2009: has 12 HRs so far this season… through 4-7: .381/.475/.763. Current scouting consensus has him first catcher drafted. Is projected to remain behind the plate for his entire career. Thru 4-25: .366/.459/.686, 153 Abs… thru 5/6: .358/14HRs/41RBIs… for season: .362 with 14 homers and 43 RBIs in 49 games… hitting .362/.465/.676 through first 188 at-bats… 5/18: hitting .356 with 14 homers


4. Wil Myers -

(up from 5th) - Wasleyan Christian Academy… also plays 3B… hit .625 through March this season… rated No. 13 best high school player in the country by PG Crosschecker as well as the No. 1 best high school player in the state of North Carolina… rated No. 14 best high school player in the country by Baseball America, as well as the No. 27 best prospect in the nation for the 2009 MLB Draft … named by Baseball America as one of the top 10 hitters at the 2008 World Wood Bat Championships. Committed to Univ. South Carolina… 11 HRs in first 11 games… considered more valuable if he stays behind the plate… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #18 (3rd catcher on list) Athletic versitile defender, strong arm, power potential, great offensive potential at C – age: 18.4


5. Luke Bailey -

(up from 40th) - Troup HS (GA)… 6-0, 195, R/R… top prep catcher… also plays 1B… committed to Auburn… has power and a very good arm… rated top high school catcher… some concern about his weight. – 5/1 update: out – strained ulnar collateral ligament while pitching – scheduled for TJS… from BA 5/8: Bailey was near the top of a pretty long list of high school catchers in this Draft class until he underwent Tommy John surgery last week. This report comes from a game a month ago and teams might still be interested in his catch-and-throw skills… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #25 (4th catcher on list) Now injured but the tools won't leave, sweet swing, plus power, should be good defender – age: 18.1


6. Griffin Benedict -

Georgia Southern… senior… 6-0, 185…hitting .407 with an on-base percentage over .520… 2008: Named Third Team Preseason All-America by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association... Second Team All-Southern Conference... ranked 61st nationally in RBI per game (1.14)... thru 5/6: .412… 5/18: hitting .414 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs…


7. Mike Zunino -

Mariner HS; Cape Coral, FL. 6′2, 185, Bats R, Throws R… verbally committed to Florida… ranked No. 12 in the state of Florida according to Prospectswire.com, No. 2 C … ranked No. 50 on Baseball America's list of Top 100 High School Prospects… ranked No. 60 on PG CrossChecker.com list of Top High School Prospects… batted .457 with 32 RBI, an .897 slugging percentage and a school-record 10 HR


8. Drew Robertson -

Middle Tenn St…. 6-3, 165… hitting .460 so far this season and has a .535 on-base percentage. 2008: played only in 38 games and batted .175…. thru 5/6: .355/3HR…


9. Austin Maddox -

Eagle’s View Academy (FL)… 6'4" 220, RR … raw power… tremendous arm…17 years old… can punish the ball… well below-average runner… arm is plus plus… possibly best arm in draft… tree truck thighs… finalist for the Jackie Robinson Award as the 2008 National High School Player of the Year… ranked No. 4 in the state of Florida according to Prospectswire.com, No. 1 C… ranked No. 14 on PG CrossChecker.com list of Top High School Prospects … ranked No. 18 on Baseball America's list of Top 100 High School Prospects… member of the 2008 USA 18-U National Team… first-team Class 1A all-state selection as a catcher in 2008… batted .515 with 67 RBI and 12 homers at Eagle's View Academy last spring… batted .491 with 41 RBI and five homers and was a first-team all-state pick as a sophomore… 1.76 pop time… arm clocked in the mid-90s… committed to Univ. of Florida…. 5/17 BA: lacks fluidity… rest of prep catchers have past him by..


10. Ryan Ortiz -

Oregon State… junior… 6-3, 205, R/R… no home run power… below-average speed… average arm but quick release… won Pac-10 pow 4-6-9: 6-12 week before, .500, .667 slug%, .571 OBP… plays 1B also…