Mack – Top 5 Catchers in 2019 Draft

Good morning.

Here, in my opinion, are the current top catchers in the next draft. Many, if not all, should be still on the board when the Mets pick:

          Adley Rutschman – Oregon State – 6-2, 216 –

2080 Baseball  - Rutschman has been a standout this spring for one of the better offenses in the country, slashing .380/.479/.577 over 262 plate appearances for the Beavers. The Oregon State backstop brings to the plate a simple, balanced set-up with quick hands, an advanced approach and excellent feel for the barrel, regularly squaring up the ball. His medium-wide, strong build plays well in the box, as Rutschman displays easy pull power already with a chance to grow into at least average in-game pop at maturity. He generates high-impact swings from a strong core and firm wrists that generate above-average bat speed to go with good natural strength.

Behind the dish Rutschman moves well, displaying solid side-to-side movement and athletic actions. He has soft, strong hands that allow him to excel at presentation, sticking the corners and the low strike with impressive regularity. He’ll join Baylor standout Shea Langeliers this summer in handling an impressive Collegiate National Team staff, with a strong performance likely to lock him in as an early-round target for next spring.

          Shea Langeliers – Baylor – 6-0, 200 –

The Grind - Background:  Langeliers was drafted out of high school in 2016 by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 34th Round but elected to honor his commitment to Baylor, where he was the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2017 and earned several Freshman All-American honors after slashing .313/.388/.540 with 10 home runs.  The underclass backstop logged 34 regular season games for Chatham this summer, slashing .234/.324/.469 with over half of his 30 hits going for extra bases (six home runs, two triples, and eight doubles).

Notes: Strong, compact, well-proportioned frame; average athlete; good swing mechanics and swing path, good bat speed and ability to get the barrel out; makes good, consistent, hard contact; has strength, loft and leverage to his swing; projects to above-average hit tool (.275 average at maturity) with plus power (25-plus home runs per year); good receiving actions with average hands and average shifting ability and mobility; average-to-plus arm with good carry.

          Cooper Johnson – Misissippi – 6-0, 205 –

Chicago Tribune - The kid was a bit on the chunky side with a bazooka for an arm, the type that gets thrown behind the plate on a youth team without a catcher.

That was Cooper Johnson's introduction to the position the summer before he entered Carmel High School in Mundelein.

The squat that came naturally to him was unorthodox, lower than normal, and he was resistant to change what felt comfortable. Johnson still sets up that way, save for a tweak here and there, but nobody tries to mess with him anymore.

Being better than every one of your contemporaries at something tends to mean you get to call the shots.

Four years after donning the so-called tools of ignorance for the first time, Johnson is expected to be selected in the first couple of rounds of the Major League Baseball draft, which runs from Thursday through Saturday.

          Jonathan  French – Parkview HS (CA) – 5-11, 215 –

Baseball Factory - 06/05/2018 - 2018 Under Armour Showcase: Baseball Factory's National South - Perhaps the most complete all-around catching prospect in the class, Jonathan checks many of the scouting boxes for the position. He has a strong, durable frame with flexibility and solid receiving and blocking skills. He also has a quick release and a strong, accurate arm that shuts down the running game. At the plate Jonathan has a rhythmic, natural RH stroke with flashes of power and an excellent feel for the barrel. Add in a 6.87 in the 60 and there is athleticism to go with the skills.

          Ethan Hearn – Mobile Christian (AL) – 6-0, 195 –

Perfect Game - Ethan Hearn is a 2019 C with a 6-0 190 lb. frame from Mobile, AL who attends Mobile Christian HS. Solid athletic build with good present strength. Has quick feet behind the plate, 7.09 runner, very good arm strength, 1.80 with game actions in drills, blocking skills developing but has all the tools to be a front line catcher. Left handed hitter, hits from a spread and open stance, big hand load, has some strength in his swing especially when pulling the ball, line drive contact. Good student, verbal commitment to Mississippi State.