2011 DRAFT: - Top 13 Catchers in Draft

1. Jett Bandy -


4-7-10 from: link  - C Jett Bandy (Arizona): Bandy was a very strong-armed 6-foot-4 catcher with a cool name, and a long, strong swing out of high school. He played mainly third base as a freshman at Arizona, attesting to his athleticism. Back at catcher this spring, Bandy is hitting .450-5-27 with 15 walks and only seven strikeouts, which seems to address how he has adjusted his swing. Tools plus performance plus athleticism plus premium position . . . hard to imagine that doesn’t equal a very high draft pick.


6-12-10 from: - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/wait-til-next-year-2011-draft-preview  - Catcher - Best Player: Jett Bandy, C/3B, Arizona, .354/.444/.538. By far the thinnest position of the draft class, I don’t think there is a college catcher that will be drafted on the first day. However, Bandy has an invitation to play for USA Baseball this summer, and if the 6-foot-4 slugger proves that he can stick behind the plate, he has a chance. Bandy threw out 24-of-67 runners this year, while hitting 23 doubles and posting a 10.3 K%.


6-15-10 from: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=1830  – 2011 Mock Draft - 18. Philadelphia Phillies Jett Bandy C, University of Arizona



2. Nick Delmonico - C 1B Farragut Knoxville TN



6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702  - C-3b-SS, Nick Delmonico, Farragut HS, Knoxville TN, 6'3 190, S/R, gamer, good bloodlines, solid ML arm with carry, runs just ok, biggest concern, also gets eaten up with good inside heat, will occasionally show power when he can fully extend his arms. Solid hands.


6-14-10 from: - http://prospectinsider.com/360mock.php  - 2011 Mock Draft – 17 Detroit Nick Delmonico, SS/C -- Farragut HS



6-15-10 from: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=1830  – 2011 Mock Draft - 21. Texas Rangers Nick Delmonico C, Knoxville, Tennessee

3. C J Cron:

4-6-10 from: - link  - Utah sophomore baseball player C.J. Cron has received an invitation to the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Trials, head coach Bill Kinneberg announced today. “This is a great opportunity for C.J. to put his skills against the best players in country,” Kinneberg said. “If he makes the team, what an experience that will be for him.” Cron, who plays at both first base and catcher, currently leads the Mountain West Conference with a .429 batting average and is second in the conference with a .725 slugging percentage. He is tied for the MWC lead with seven home runs, ranking third with 32 RBI


4-7-10 from: http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/articles/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=2253  - C C.J. Cron (Utah): Cron’s father, Chris, is a former major league first baseman and currently a coach in the Chicago White Sox organization, so he has hitting genetics that he’s using to the fullest. He has surprising athleticism for a 6-4, 230-pound catcher, but it’s his bat that gets the most notice. Cron is hitting .438-9-38 this spring after an impressive .337-11-58 freshman year that included a three-hit performance off Stephen Strasburg.



6-12 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/06/11/ncbwa-announces-district-players-of-the-year  - Nine of college baseball’s finest student-athletes have been named 2010 National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America District Players of the Year, as the NCBWA announced these 11th annual awards today. One was District VIII: C-1B-DH C.J. Cron - Cron, one of the nation’s most versatile standouts, started at catcher, first base and designated hitter for the 2010 Utes. The sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., already has been selected to a pair of All-America teams while pacing Utah in virtually every category on offense. The two-time All-Mountain West performer leads the nation with 1.65 RBI (81 in 49 contests) and is fifth in slugging percentage (.817). He batted .431 with 55 runs and currently is eighth in NCAA Division I with 0.41 home runs per game. He 81 RBI total is 11th nationally, and Cron was 2010 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year as well as a MWC All-Tournament team member. He is the Utes’ first All-America choice since SS Ryan Khoury in 2006.


6-12-10 from: - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/wait-til-next-year-2011-draft-preview  - Catcher - Small School Sleeper: C.J. Cron, C/DH, Utah, .431/.487/.817. I know Utah doesn’t qualify as a small school, but it’s difficult to discern a top tier, and Cron is following his head coach Bill Kinneberg with the USA Baseball team this summer. That’s not to say it isn’t well-earned after his 20 home run season, but it will be his chance to prove his mettle against elite competition.


6-14-10: Named to 1st Team NCBWA 2010 All-America Team - C J Cron: - .431, 55-R, 20-HR, 81-RBI





4. Mac Doyle:


5-10-10 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/10/southern-conference-players-of-the-week-6  - Wofford catcher Mac Doyle has been named the Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Week.Doyle batted .462 (6-for-13) in four games last week while leading Wofford to a Southern Conference series win over visiting Samford. The Terriers’ sophomore backstop collected a pair of hits in each of the team’s first three games last week, totaling six RBIs and seven runs scored. Doyle also recorded a pair of doubles against East Tennessee State on Wednesday and blasted his 16th home run of the season in Friday’s game one win over Samford. In addition to his hits, Doyle drew six walks and was hit by a pitch to register a .650 on base percentage in 20 plate appearances.





5. Peter O’Brien:


6-12-10 from: - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/wait-til-next-year-2011-draft-preview  - Smaller School Sleeper: Peter O’Brien, C, Bethune-Cookman, .386/.445/.748. The MEAC Conference MVP, I can’t give you a lot of background on O’Brien. He’s said to have a big arm, clubbed 20 home runs, and earned an invitation to the Cape Cod League for the summer. That’s good enough for me.



6. Justin Kline:


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702  - C, Justin Kline, North Dakota St, 6'2 190, R/R, solid arm strength and set up, as hitter has compact line drive swing and good eye hand coordination, have only seen on film, been told, he's definite follow for 2011 and this summer.





7. Jeremy Rodriquez:


5-12-10 from: - http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/05/11/cb360-primetime-performers-12-may-11  - Cal State Bakersfield sophomore catcher Jeremy Rodriguez is the Primetime Player of the Week. Rodriguez – a key top-of-the-lineup switch-hitter (#2/#3 spot) – batted 7-for-12 while factoring into 14 of Bakersfield’s runs (9 RBI, 5 R) and reaching base 12 times (5 BB; also had pair of doubles) during the Roadrunners’ series win at #21 Arizona (7-1 in 11 innings/6-17/22-5).





8. Jeremy Schaffer:


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702  - C, Jeremy Schaffer, Tulane, 6'1 195, R/R, solid bat, ave arm with 1.9 pop, should hit enough to get into ML lineup or be suitable backup at ML level.





9. Andrew Susac:


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702  - C, Andrew Susac, Oregon St, 6'2 205, R/R, solid receiver, one of top catching prospects for 2011, another question on consistency, release points range, 1.85 to 2.2. Too much action during exchange from glove to hand to release.





10. Chad Carman:


6-15 from: - http://www.ocusports.com/  - Chad Carman was named an NAIA baseball all-American. Carman, a sophomore catcher from Midwest City, Okla., became an honorable-mention selection. Carman led the team with a .412 average to go with 22 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 56 RBIs. In the NAIA Championship Opening-Round Group 5 Tournament, Carman hit .538 with three homers and seven RBIs. He went 2-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs against Northwestern (Iowa) on May 18. In the postseason, Carman hit .388 with three doubles, six homers and 14 RBIs. Carman also made first-team all-SAC.



11. Brandon Sedell - C 3B/1B American Heritage Cooper City FL
 

12. Kevin Cron:



6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702  - C-1b, Kevin Cron, Mountain Pointe HS, AZ, 6'4 220, R/R, abv ave power, more than Kris Bryant, solid stroke, lacks position he can stick to, best advice would be to play 1b or move to LF. Doesn't run bad either.





13. Parker Brunelle:


6-21-10 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com - 2011 MLB Draft Players to Know  – Florida State - JR C Parker Brunelle (.222/.297/.395; 8/13 BB/K; 0/1 SB; 81 AB) - Brunelle, a top high school prospect way back when, has disappointed since enrolling at Florida State. He’s still an outstanding athlete with a line drive swing, so there may still be some hope he’s another late blooming catching prospect. Unfortunately, the lack of power and an average at best throwing arm represent two major strikes against him.