With the 2019 MLB Draft now less than one week out, we thought it was time to start looking at each position and the top players who will be available there in this class. We have started at the infield, are continuing today with catcher, and will continue with the outfield, before getting to left and right handed pitchers in separate pieces.
Note that these pieces will not all be equal, as there are just so many more guys at certain positions that deserve to be talked about (outfield, right handed pitchers), while you have other spots where the depth is not very strong behind the top guys (first base, second base).
It’s also worth noting that if a player you are expecting to see is not listed at a particular position, they could be listed at another position. One example of this is at first base, where Michael Busch will be found- rather than the outfield.
Catcher is a tough group to evaluate this year. We have the best catcher in about a decade, another solid first round pick, then a real drop off. There are a lot of guys with some potential this year beyond the top two, but all of them have some type of questions that they will need to answer.
Top 5 Guys
- Adley Rutschman, Oregon State
The presumed No. 1 overall pick is considered by many to be the best prospect in the draft since Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg, and the best catcher in the draft since Buster Posey and Matt Wieters. Rutschman is that good.
The question here is what can’t Rutschman do? He hits, he defends, he’s a great athlete, and he’s got excellent leadership and makeup. There is no hole in his game.
The former place kicker for the Beavers football team is one of the top defensive catchers in the country, regularly posting elite pop times and handling top pitching. He’s also a very good hitter with excellent power, and has continued to get better as a hitter each year in college.
Adley isn’t dropping past one barring a decison to play with bonus pool money, and even then won’t drop very far. This is a special prospect.
2. Shea Langeliers, Baylor
In a lot of years Langeliers would be the top catcher on the board, but this isn’t a regular year. Langeliers was a possible Top 10 pick for some heading into the spring, but then suffered a hamstring injury which has effected his power.
Langeliers is one of the best defensive catchers ever to enter the draft, an excellent catch and throw guy with great framing ability. He’s got power potential, as his first two years at Baylor showed- but I doubt how much he actually hits to tap into that power.
I see Langeliers as a high floor prospect, and a guy who should go in the 13-17 range, but because college catching always rises in drafts it isn’t out of the question to see him go higher than the talent would indicate.
3. Ethan Hearn, Alabama HS
This is where things really drop off as Hearn is probably more of a third round prospect than anything. Hearn is what most teams are looking for in their catcher- a strong catch and throw defender with average to above power.
The biggest question mark with Hearn is the fact his hit tool has some questions. I can see his hit tool developing to fringy, which is more than enough to let the power play and go with his defense to be a solid catcher.
Hearn has the frame to hold up to the grind of catching, and with his makeup, power, and defense it’s easy to see why a team may like him.
4. Kyle McCann, Georgia Tech
The other catcher from the 2018 Georgia Tech team hit 15 homers with a 1.023 OPS last season. Then this year Kyle McCann took over for 2018 No. 2 overall pick Joey Bart as the Yellow Jackets full time catcher and has broken out to the point he’s hit 22 homers with an 1.161 OPS.
Sure McCann strikes out quite a bit, but this is a guy with 19 doubles and 37 homers over the past two seasons, as well as a guy who has walked 54 times this year alone. You can make a real argument that McCann is the best offensive catcher in the draft.
So why is he not ranked higher? That’s because the defense is such a question mark. Many believe that McCann can’t stick at catcher as a pro because his defense is that weak behind the plate, while others see a Kyle Schwarber type who can be an emergency catcher. It is worth noting that his defense has really improved this past year and there are some who think he has a chance to catch as a pro.
McCann is being drafted because of his bat. He may catch, and even if not it’s likely he can offer some versatility with the option to catch if needed. Either way if he did have to move to first base, the bat is loud enough that it plays at first.
5. Jonathan French, Georgia HS
Another catcher from Georgia, but this one from high school. French is a very strong defender with a big arm, receiving ability, and the ability to block balls in the dirt with his athleticism. With his easily plus pop times and all around skills, it’s not hard to imagine French becoming a plus defender at the next level.
French has some power in him, and also has more than adequate bat speed, but he’s prone to striking out often. His hit tool is one that gets mixed reviews as some are optimistic and others are on the other end. I fall into the middle of that debate.
French has a lot of potential as a two way catcher, and is arguably the best potential two way catcher in this draft outside of Adley Rutschman.
The Next 10 Names
6. Jaxx Groshans, Kansas
7. Nick Kahle, Washington
8. Hayden Dunhurst, Mississippi HS
9. Nathaniel LaRue, Alabama HS
10. Korey Lee, Cal
11. Michael Carpentier Jr., California HS
12. Carter Bins, Fresno State
13. Kurtis Byrne, Missouri HS
14. Chad Knight, Connecticut HS
15. Philip Clarke, Vanderbilt
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