Top Catchers in The 2009 Baseball Draft

1. Max Stassi – (up from 4th) - 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.

2. Tony Sanchez – (down from #1) - 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

3. Josh Phegley 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…

4. Griffin Benedict - (up from #14) - 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…

5. 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

6. Wil Myers - 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…

7. Drew Robertson - (up from #10) - 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…

8. Austin Maddox - (down from #3) - 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..

9. Ryan Ortiz - (down from #5) - 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…

10. Murphy, J.R.- (unlisted) - The Pendleton School, Bradenton, Fla…. From BA: “Formerly an outfielder and third baseman, Murphy's polished bat has produced supplemental-round buzz”

11. Richard Stock – (up from #18) - Agoura HS; Agoura Hills, CA. 6′3, 185, Bats L, Throws R… 2008: power hitter… potential 30+ HR hitter… also, gap power… rifle arm, clocked at 1.85 to second… slow on the basepath.

12. Joey Lewis - Georgia … 6-4, 225, junior, R/R… 2008: .264, 6HR, 38 RBI, .979 fielding, threw out 38% of runners… started all six games at the College World Series and batted .450 (9-for-20) with two doubles, a triple and 7 RBI (6 with two outs), his .450 average ranked second overall on the club behind only Gordon Beckham (.522)

13. Tommy Joseph – (up from #12) - Horizon HS (AZ)… From BA 5/8: In a tight 6-5 victory in April over Desert Ridge High School and fellow draft prospect Jake Barrett, Joseph when 1-for-4 with a double and three RBIs as Horizon scored six times in the seventh to win. For the season, Joseph has hit .494 through 27 games with 15 homers and 34 RBIs

14. Geno Escalante – (up from #20) - Fairfield HS… 5-10, 185, R/R… Keith Law (9/08 article) had him as the 35th draft pick…

15. Andrew Susac – (up from 17th) - Jesuit HS; Roseville, CA. 6′1, 190, Bats R, Throws R… Oregon State commit… 2008: earned First-Team honors on the All-State, All-City and All-League lists and was a Perfect Game National Showcase invitee. His junior year, he batted .475 with 33 RBI, eight stolen bases, nine doubles and six home runs.

16. Cameron Garfield – (up from #21) - Murrieta Valley HS… 6-0, 190… R/R… 3.71 GPA… committed to San Diego…

17. Jonathan Meyer – (up from #22) - Simi Valley HS… 6-1, 200… 2008: .402, 34 R, 41 H, 43 RBIs, 9 HR… committed to Cal-State Fullerton… 350 with a .563 slugging percentage over 80 at-bats this season… may switch to 3B in pros…

18. Chris Henderson – (up from 39th) – 4/27: CAA player of the week: batted .640 prior week… leads league with .436… 5/18: hitting .436 with 21 doubles, 13 homers and 51 RBIs…

19. Dan Burkhart - Ohio State… sophomore… L/R… 5-11, 205… outstanding defensive catcher… 2008: ranked fifth on the team with 53 hits and fourth with 29 RBI ... played summer baseball in the Northwoods League for the Mankato (Minn.) Moon Dogs. 2009: Through 4-7: .387, named Big-10 POW… thru 5/6: .380…

20. Blake Forsythe – (up from 19th) - Tennessee… 6-2, 220… sophomore… 2008: played in 22 games with 16 starts ... threw out 11 potential base-stealers ... thru 5/6: .333/13HRs…

21. Jonathan Walsh - Coppell HS senior… 6-3, 211… S/R… above average arm… weakness is defense… some pop on ball… very good overall athlete, but known for his bat… can drive the ball gap-to-gap… excellent bat speed… committed to Texas.

22. J.T. Wise – (up from 28th) – Oklahoma… thru 5/6: .389/15HRs/48RBIs… 5/18: hitting .376 with 16 homers… 5/18: won Big 12 Player of the Year…

23. Diego Seastrunk – (up from #27) - Rice… junior… 5-10, 180, S/R… good hitter from both sides of the plate… more of a gap hitter… runs average for catcher… solid arm… a line-drive machine… great name… from Rice 5/10: “Junior catcher Diego Seastrunk first came up with a clutch three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score, he then hung-on to the ball for the final out in the game's deciding collision at the plate to close out the Rice baseball team's 8-7 victory over visiting UCF in the finale of the three-game Conference USA weekend series Sunday afternoon at Reckling Park”…

24. Carl Leaf – (up from 29th) - San Ignacio de Loyola HS, Puerto Rico… 5-11, 190, S/R… super speed… power from left side of field… major league arm… 1.91 to 2B… signed with Mississippi State…

25. Jeremy Gillan – (up from 29th) – Jacksonville… thru 5/6: .412… 5/18: hitting .403 with 18 doubles, 11 homers and 56 RBIs…

26. Billy Alvino – (up from 35th) – High Point… thru 5/6: .420… 5/18: hitting .417 with 17 doubles, three homers and 47 RBIs…

27. Jeff Farnham - New Mexico St. – 5/18: hitting .386 with 11 homers and 71 RBIs.

28. Matt Williams - Duke… .394 batting average so far this year… 3.41 grade point average…

29. Nolan Arenado – El Toro HS (CA.) – also plays SS… finished season going 8-14 in playoffs… 2009: .529, 21G, 3 HR, 14 doubles, 19 RBIs, 68 Abs.

30. Drew Beuerlein - UNLV junior… 6-0, 195… also plays 1B and DH… solid hitter… 2008: .260, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs…

31. Jack Murphy - Princeton… junior… S/R… 6-4, 230… first team all-Ivy… 2008: .391, 61 H, 156 Abs, 40 RBI, 33R, 8 HR, .628 slug %...

32. Shane Brown - Central Florida… junior… 5-10, 200… 2008: .367, 9 HR, 49 RBI… .609 slug%... .447 OBP

33. Tommy Medica – – 6-1, 190, L/L…

34. Bryce Massanari – (previously unranked) – Georgia… thru 4/6: .331/17HRs/51RBIs… 5/18: 19 homers and 54 RBIs this season

35. Eric Castro - San Diego State… as of 4/6/09: leads the team: .389/.517/.684, 6 HRs…

36. Trevor Coleman – Missouri – Junior… 6-1, 211 S/R…

37. Carlos Ramirez – Arizona State – transfer from Chandler-Gilbert CC… MVP in Northwoods league… through April 25: .307/.431/.677, 13 HRs… excellent defensively.

38. Travis Simas - Nevada… senior… hit .600 for the week that included his 10th and 11th HR of the season…

39. Steven Barron – Ferguson School (FL) – 6-0, 185… through April: .333 in 23 games..

40. Mark Fleury – North Carolina junior… 4/25: named ACC player of the week: thru 4/25: .339, 10HRs, 52 RBIs

41. Luke Bailey - 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…

42. Buck Afenir – (unlisted) – Kansas – senior… 6-1, 205… 5/18: named Big 12 player of the week…