12/14/21

Right now… the Top 7 Catchers in the 2022 Draft

 


1. Kevin Parada 

C     6-0     200     Georgia Tech 

2021 GT stat line -

52-G, 220-AB, team leading .318, 9-HR, 42- RBI, 41-K

Raw power. ++ Defense. Needs work on framing.

Mental game best in baseball.

Also could play 1B and corner outfield

Currently projects as a top 5 pick

 

2. Daniel Susac 

C     6-4     205     Arizona

2021 Arizona stat line - 61-G, 242- AB, .335/.392/.591, 12-HR, 65-RBI, 47-K

Advanced in all aspects of game.

Above average power to all sides of the field.

Excellent defensive game.

Above average arm.

Easily projects as a top 10 pick.

 

3. Logan Tanner 

C     6-2     195     Mississippi State

2021 HallState stat line:

67-G, 244-AB, .287, 15-HR, 53-RBI

Above average bat - 111 mph exit speed

20% of at-bats found barrels.

Big arm - projected to stick behind the plate.

Very few weaknesses.

 

4. Hayden Dunhurst 

                    5-11     208     Ole Miss

2021 Ole Miss stat line -

65-G, 232-AB, 44-K, 32-BB, .280, 7-HR

                    Elite arm strength - 80 grade

                    Significant raw power

                    Average hitting skills

                    Should stick behind the plate in the pros

 

5. Brady Neal

        5-10     180     IMG Academy (FL)

                    Solid average run times.

                    Well balanced swing.

                    A hit over power profile.

                    Projected to stick at catcher.

                    Can play center field and infield.

                @JoeDoyleMiLB -

                            “Industry far too low on Brady Neal”

 

6. Jonathan French (new)

        6-1     195     Clemson

2021 Tigers stat line -

31-G, 101-AB, .248, 5-HR

                    Strong, burly frame.

                    Improving actions and a strong arm.

                    Above-average to plus raw power in batting practice (has                                 yet to translate to in- game consistently).

                    Some swing and miss concerns.

                    Needs big 2022.

 

7. Jared Jones  (new)

                    6-4 230 Buford HS (GA)

                    183 games, .416-15-176, 1.238 OPS

                    Immense raw power.

                    Hits in the low-.400s every year, hits for power, and takes his                             walks.

                    Huge arm behind the plate.

                        Big body and some stiffness likely forces him to 1B or a                     corner as a pro.

Bat has enough power to play anywhere.

7 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Mack, who would you draft that we could actually get to share catching duties with Alvarez?

John From Albany said...

Nick Meyer - best defensive catcher in Mets system. He gets my vote. Still a chance he gets plucked in the Rule 5 draft by a Major League Team. Then, I guess you'd have t0 draft a catcher.

Tom Brennan said...

Such a weird time. Meyer has just 173 career minor league games and is already a Rule 5 guy. He definitely feels like he should have had another season to show if his bat can become MLB caliber. Interestingly, he has 20 career steals.

I liked watching Alvarez throw through to 2nd base in practice. He really seems to have a gun for an arm.

John From Albany said...

Alvarez does have a good arm. He just has to get better at balls in the dirt. The word is that he is a very hard worker and will do what it takes to be the best. The Mets need to prioritize getting him THE VERY BEST CATCHING COACH in baseball to work with him everyday next year. We don't need another Gary Sanchez.

TexasGusCC said...

John, if I want the best catching coach I either get Bennie Molina or I get Jeff Mathis to work with the kid. Sanchez is a DH, and the faster a team puts him there and tells him that his years of catching are over, the faster this kid can just concentrate on raking.

Tom Brennan said...

Great point, John/Gus - if getting Alvarez a top catching coach could accelerate his arrival as a MLB-capable defensive catcher by even a few months, it would be well worth it.

Nido, until proven otherwise, is a placeholder. The sooner Alvarez's bat (once it is ready) can join the Mets, the better.

Tom Brennan said...

Continuing my ramble, part of my wanting to rush Alvarez up here is the fact that catchers take a beating and generally don't stay at the top of their game as long as players at other positions. Secondly, and it is way premature, but the best way for a guy to make the Hall of Fame is to come up young. Not sure how many hitters made the majors at age 25 and stayed excellent long enough to make the Hall.

Man it would be great for the mets to come up with a home-developed Hall of Fame hitter.