2025 Draft Prospect # 98 - C - Trent Grindlinger - Huntington Beach (CA)

 

On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending with the pick for 1.1

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/ -

#98                 C          Trent Grindlinger              Huntington Beach (CA)

18/yrs old                LH thrower              6' 2"               195

COMMITTED:  Mississippi State 

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45 

California high school power Huntington Beach has produced some impressive prep catching prospects over the years, from 2006 first-rounder Hank Conger all the way up to 2023 first-round pick Ralphy Velazquez. While some of them ended up not profiling well behind the plate, it’s looking fairly certain that the most recent Oilers backstop, Grindlinger, will stick after showcasing his talents throughout the summer showcase circuit and catching for Team USA in the 18U World Cup qualifier in Panama.

Grindlinger is a strong, physically mature right-handed hitter at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. He has a ton of bat speed and some serious raw power, and when he’s on time, he’s shown the ability to drive the baseball with a strong sense of the strike zone. With a longer stride and big movement with his upper half and load, he can get off balance at times and doesn’t find the barrel as consistently. He’ll have to tone his aggression at the plate down a bit to tap into that power at the next level.

His skills behind the plate are much more polished. He has plus arm strength and despite his size, he moves well defensively with advanced timing and footwork for a prepster. He’s shown he can handle big stuff from the best arms in the high school class and really slows the game down, providing excellent leadership and not shying away from big moments. The right-handed-hitting high school catcher demographic is a risky one, but Grindlinger’s glove give him a high floor and teams that believe the Mississippi State recruit’s bat will catch up will be interested in the first few rounds.

 

https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/Playerprofile.aspx?ID=690449 –

2024 National Showcase 

Trent Grindlinger is a 2025 C/OF with a 6-3 195 lb. frame from Huntington Beach, CA who attends Huntington Beach. Big and strong athletic build. Right handed hitter, starts from a wide base with a big leg raise trigger, gets his foot down on time, has outstanding raw bat speed, low effort tension free swing, big raw power to all parts of the field, mostly 105-109 exit velocities in batting practice, can get into his lower half and stay connected even more in the future but elite level bat speed right now. 7.19 runner in the sixty. Primary catcher on defense, sets up with one knee down, gains ground on his throws, clean exchange and release, big arm strength with plus on line carry. Has all the tools you want to see in a catcher. Good student, verbal commitment to Mississippi State. Selected to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

 

https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/CA/Uncommitted-Spotlight-Trent-Grindlinger-3608571429 -

'25 C Trent Grindlinger shows high potential in multiple categories and his ranking reflects that. Sitting at #13 in the state, Grindlinger is the second catcher in the '25 rankings. A high leverage swing that produces nothing but line drives and deep fly balls to all fields. He shows off quick hands and a quick bat that allow complete coverage of the plate. From behind the plate, Grindlinger popped a 1.91-2.01 with the throw being 83 mph.

2025 MLB Draft: Top 30 Prep Prospects

link –

29. C Trent Grindlinger, Huntington Beach (CA)

 

Height: 6’3

Weight: 195

b/t: R/R

Draft Day Age: 18 YR 11 MO

Commitment: Mississippi State

Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA

Grindlinger has quietly had one of the better summer circuits of anyone in the class, hitting at every stop he's been at. A physical catching prospect from Huntington Beach, Grindlinger is one of the best catch-and-throw guys in this class. He has solid athleticism and moves well behind the dish with a very strong arm, throwing out would-be base stealers with ease on numerous occasions. He's a near-lock to stay behind the plate long term. At the plate, he does expand the zone a bit, but he does a great job of fighting off strikeouts. 

It's a powerful swing with solid bat speed and he's shown an ability to adjust to off-speed pitches, handling them well this summer. He'll pepper the gaps with line drives and there's considerable raw juice in the bat during his BP rounds, primarily targeting his pull side. It's a fun profile to dive into. He'll be on the older side, as he'll turn 19 during All-Star Weekend in 2025, though he's got the tools to be signed away from his Mississippi State commitment.