Top Catching Prospects – April 2020

POS–RankName–Org–Age–Level–B–Height–WeightNotes–Video
119Adley RutschmanBAL21AS6′ 2”216Plus hit and power. Best catching prospect in many years but not “best prospect since Bryce Harper” good.YouTube Twitter
271Joey BartSF22AAR6′ 3”235Nice power. Contact issues. Higher on real-life lists that care about defense.YouTube Twitter
392Daulton VarshoARI23AAL5′ 10”190Good contact. Good speed. Average power. Terrible defense. Typically I wouldn’t care but he’s not going to be a long-term catcher.YouTube YouTube
4105Luis CampusanoSD21AAR5′ 10”215Hit for solid power and walked nearly as much as he struck out in A+ last year.YouTube YouTube
5123Sean MurphyOAK25MLBR6′ 3”232Old. Always hurt. Managed just over 1000 AB over the last four seasons. Launch angle isn’t going to result in many HR. Don’t care about his great defense.YouTube YouTube
6156Ronnier QuinteroCHC17RKL6′ 0”175#6 2018 IFA signed for a hefty $3 million bonus. Has never had a professional at-bat but per reports has plus raw power and could possess average contact skills.YouTube
7171Francisco AlvarezNYM18AR5′ 11”220Looked great at 17 in rookie ball last year. Hit for power and contact. Still a catcher unfortunately.YouTube YouTube
8172Ryan JeffersMIN22AAR6′ 4”230Has hit for power and contact since being drafted in the second round in 2018.YouTube YouTube
9173Miguel AmayaCHC20AAL6′ 1”185Above average contact. Might be able to develop average power one day. Really developed for a 20 year old at A+.YouTube YouTube
10268Bo NaylorCLE19AL6′ 0”195I see an average hit tool with above-average power. Everyone sees it the other way. Much more athletic than his big brother. May steal a few bases as a bonus.YouTube YouTube
11269Keibert RuizLAD21AAAS6′ 0”200Great hit tool for a catcher. Hasn’t shown the ability to consistently hit for extra bases. Prospect star has faded.YouTube YouTube
12270Ivan HerreraSTL19A+R6′ 0”180Has an average hit tool. Supposedly has underwhelming power but showed surprise thump at levels he was a bit young for last year. Reported 109 MPH exit velo so the power is there somewhere.YouTube YouTube
13271Gabriel MorenoTOR19A+R5′ 11”160Very similar to the player above. Supposed below-average power. Had 34 XBH with 12 HR in 341 PA last year. Only struck out 11% of the time.YouTube YouTube
14272Tyler StephensonCIN23AAAR6′ 4”225Large catcher with decent power and a questionable hit tool. 2015 first rounder. Has cut down on the strikeouts over the last few years.YouTube YouTube
15273William ContrerasATL21AAAR6′ 0”180Average contact ability. Hasn’t hit for any power yet but should be able to get it to average. Still young and at a high level. Will stay behind the plate.YouTube YouTube
16274Diego CartayaLAD18RKR6′ 2”199Displayed decent hit and power in the rookie leagues at 17 last year. A long way from the MLB.YouTube YouTube
17275Heriberto HernandezTEX20A-R6′ 1”180Plus power. Probably has a below-average hit tool at the moment but it could get to average.YouTube
18320Ronaldo HernandezTB22AAR6′ 1”1852019 power regression was a drag. He’s never struck out more than 16% of the time and despite the down year. I still think he has average power.YouTube YouTube
19383Luis TorrensSD23AAAR6′ 0”175Catcher with an average hit tool and average power that could play in the MLB today. Not very projectable.YouTube
20405Connor WongLAD23AAR6′ 1”181Has shown good power throughout his minor league career but doesn’t make enough contact.YouTube YouTube
21430Cal RaleighSEA23AAS6′ 3”215Destroyed A+ last year before being overmatched at AA. Below-average hit tool will make it tough for him to tap into his above-average power.YouTube YouTube
22431Sam HuffTEX21AAR6′ 4”230Huge. Hits highlight reel home runs. Strikes out a ton and is awful behind the plate.YouTube YouTube
23432Alejandro KirkTOR21AAR5′ 9”220No way this guy is actually 5′ 9”. Has defensive issues and may lack the size to stay behind the plate. Great contact hitter. Value would plummet with a move away from catcher.YouTube YouTube
24433Shea LangeliersATL22AR6′ 0”190The #9 overall pick disappointed in his first year of pro ball. Has an average hit tool and should get to average power. Didn’t show any power last season.YouTube
25434Mario FelicianoMIL21AAR6′ 1”195Possible above-average power tool. Displayed a good feel for the strike zone in the lower levels but struggled a bit at A+. 48 XBH in 116 games in his second try last year.YouTube YouTube
26435Endy RodriguezNYM19RKS6′ 0”170Catcher with a good hit tool. Has hit for power without hitting HR with 27 XBH in 217 career AB.
27436Yoandy ReaDET19AR6′ 0”16537:21 K/BB for his career. Hit five HR in the GCL in only 95 AB before being promoted to low-A last year.
28487Andrew KniznerSTL24AAAR6′ 1”200Above-average hit tools are tough to find at the catcher position. His power is below-average but was coming around at AAA last year. Only a (37 year old) Yadier Molina injury away from starting for the big league team.YouTube YouTube
29488Jake RogersDET25MLBR6′ 1”205Decent power but has struck out too much since the lower levels. Plays good defense and will stay at catcher.YouTube
30489Zack CollinsCHW24MLBL6′ 3”220Plus power. Strikes out way too much. Also walks a lot. Liability on defense. Nearly 25.YouTube YouTube
31490Korey LeeHOU21AR6′ 2”205I didn’t understand this first round pick by the Astros. Below average hit tool. May get to average power one day.YouTube YouTube
32491Yermin MercedesCWS27AAAR5′ 11”225Older prospect. Created some buzz by hitting some bombs in spring training (see videos). Solid hit tool. Has never struck out more than 19.1% at any level and draws walks as well. Hit 23 HR and 42 XBH in only 95 games (354 AB) over two levels last season but was also a grown man.YouTube YouTube
33525Rafael MarchanPHI21A+S5′ 9”170Small frame. Currently zero power. Has never hit a professional home run in his four seasons. Praised for his hit tool and defensive capabilities. Career K rate under 10%. Career 4:3 K/BB. Will need power to be a big league regular.YouTube YouTube
34533Bryan LavastidaCLE21AR6′ 0”200Catcher with a good hit tool. No power or speed yet but it’s a good start given the position.YouTube
35552MJ MelendezKC21A+L6′ 1”185Terrible contact issues. Has struck out 30%+ every year. Good power if he does manage to hit the ball.YouTube YouTube