The Best 36 C Prospects for 2010
Showing 1 to 36 of 36. Overall SB ranking for 2010 shown in parentheses.
C, SF (#6 overall)
Not much power but a team leader with a lot of batting smarts. That's the book on Gerald 'Buster' Posey. He's got baseball grit and hustle out the yin-yang, though, so in a draft class that was rich with good catchers, he was both the first off the board and one of the most likely to see early MLB action.
More Scouting Book Info on Buster Posey >
C, NYY (#14 overall)
The Yankees are committed to Jorge Posada for another couple of years, but after that they're hoping that a fast-growing rookie can take over their young pitching staff... assuming he doesn't outgrow the position altogether. Universally regarded as the best available international free agent, Jesus Montero was signed in the summer of 2006, instantly becoming New York's best catching prospect. While some want to see him move to first base or a corner outfield spot, the Yankees are so far committed to continuing his development as a catcher and are continuing to develop his receiving and game-calling ability with that in mind.
More Scouting Book Info on Jesus Montero >
C, CLE (#18 overall)
When he was shipped to Cleveland as a piece in the Casey Blake trade of 2008, catcher Carlos Santana immediately became the Indians' top catching prospect, and the heir apparent to the Victor Martinez / Kelly Shoppach tandem. Well-regarded as a catch-and-throw man in the Dodger system, he busted out offensively last year, hitting .330 in a season split between the Dodgers' and Indians' high-A teams, and swatting 20 home runs in the process. The switch-hitting catcher with the musical name will open 2010 back in AA, where he'll likely be asked to keep sharpening his receiving and game-calling skills before he gets a shot at the Jake. He might get a late-season look in 2010 as a fill-in DH, though.
More Scouting Book Info on Carlos Santana >
C, HOU (#62 overall)
Three catchers were in the top ten picks of the 2008 draft, and Castro was one of them. An ex-teammate of fellow prospect Buster Posey, Castro is a more well-rounded athlete who also played his share of the outfield in college. He showed that he's not much of a shadow-seeker by hitting .300/.380/.446 at A and AA in his first year of pro ball, and he's jumped up the depth chart quickly enough that it looks like the J.R. Towles era might be over before it even begins in Houston. Even if both youngsters develop, Castro's a good enough ballplayer to find another place to play if necessary.
More Scouting Book Info on Jason Castro >
C, LAA (#63 overall)
He's been on the radar for a couple of years now, but this year Angels catcher Hyun Choi 'Hank' Conger (we're assuming that 'Hammerin' Hyun Choi' did not exactly roll off the tongue) has officially arrived as an elite hitting prospect.
More Scouting Book Info on Hank Conger >
C, WAS (#78 overall)
He's only 20 years old, but after putting up a full-season .300/.406/.551 line (with 23 homers) at high-A Hagerstown in 2009, catcher Derek Norris is probably already the Nationals best hitting prospect. Of course, it's not a very deep pool. Norris is a patient slugger with a perfect catcher's build who's still working on his blocking and game-calling. He already sports a powerful arm, as shown when he threw out nearly half of all would-be basestealers last season. He's one to watch for in 2011 or so.
More Scouting Book Info on Derek Norris >
C, CHW (#90 overall)
A Georgia native who many saw as the Braves catcher of the future, Tyler Flowers was part of the prospect package sent to Chicago to net veteran Javier Vazquez for the Braves in the winter of 2008. He shares a similar skill set, makeup and question marks as another ex-Braves catching prospect: Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Flowers >
C, CLE (#93 overall)
A defensively strong catcher who's made a fast rise through the system, Lou Marson went from being one of a half-dozen decent system backstops to the likely catcher of the future in Philadelphia, mainly on the back of his hard-nosed and 'Phillies-style' attitude. He was traded to the Indians at the 2009 deadline in the package that netted Cliff Lee for the Phillies.
More Scouting Book Info on Lou Marson >
C, MIN (#94 overall)
A Twins catching prospect who'll be big-league ready just in time for Joe Mauer's fourth knee operation? Sometimes the stars really do align in Minnesota. Ramos is a 21-year old who slashed .288/.346/.434 last year at high-A Fort Myers, maintaining the same offensive shine he showed at two lower levels of play. Especially promising are his power numbers: his quick, strong line-drive swing produced 13 homers in 452 at-bats last year, a 60% increase over the year before. Since he's still growing into his frame, that number could increase even more in 2009. Behind the plate he's already a plus defender, with a strong arm that gunned down 40% of baserunners last season. If the Twins decide that Joe Mauer's future isn't behind the plate much longer, expect Ramos to step up to take over the grind.
More Scouting Book Info on Wilson Ramos >
C, TEX (#101 overall)
Max is a professional hitter with a career .314/.414/.521 line in the minors. He's athletic enough to play first, third or even the outfield, but his size and skill set is still best-suited to receiving, where he has a good arm and has proven to be a reliable game-caller. He should get at least a few looks in 2010, but his real future is in 2011 and beyond.
More Scouting Book Info on Max Ramirez >
C, PIT (#111 overall)
A native of Miami, Jorge 'Tony' Sanchez is an offensive-minded catcher in the style of Matt Wieters (though with less power) or Buster Posey (but with less defensive prowess). He does show enough skill to stick at catcher, though, and his bat is legitimate: He hit .346/.443/.614 at Boston College in 2009. He's seen as nearly major league ready today.
More Scouting Book Info on Tony Sanchez >
C, TOR (#117 overall)
You have to give the Blue Jays some credit. Even with their backs to the wall and the necessity of trading away the best pitcher in franchise history, they managed to come out ahead by completely restocking their depleted farm system with high-talent players like D'Arnaud. Not to be confused with infielder Chase, Travis is an offensively gifted catcher who recently hit 13 homers in 126 games at A-level Lakewood, the Phillies Sally League affiliate. He's got above-average speed for a catcher and a developing eye for the strike zone that should allow him to hit high in a future Blue Jays batting order.
More Scouting Book Info on Travis D'Arnaud >
C, DET (#123 overall)
Plucked from the University of Alabama in the fifth round of 2008's Amateur Draft, catcher Alex Avila has been rocketing up the system so quickly that he's likely to open 2010 on the Tigers' 25-man roster, and he'll do so with some MLB experience already under his belt: after hitting .305 and .264 in A and AA ball, he ended 2009 on the Detroit bench, seeing action in 29 games and getting a taste of the big club's pitching staff. He received rave reviews from that staff as well as the Detroit management, which means he's a near-lock to spend most of 2010 in the Bigs. Avila is a contact hitter with a grounded approach to hitting, combining the ability to hit for high average with an occasional jolt of power. He won't be an everyday player for a few more years, but as even as a backup, he stands to be a very valuable roster piece.
More Scouting Book Info on Alex Avila >
C, STL (#138 overall)
He's slipped in the prospect standings over the last season or two, but the slugging left-handed catcher who hit .302 as a 19-year old A-baller and .298 as a 20-year old in AA is still seen as the catcher of the near future in St Louis. Assuming he can right himself, he should get a look late in the season, and be competing for a 2011 roster spot.
More Scouting Book Info on Bryan Anderson >
C, NYY (#140 overall)
The younger brother of infielder Andrew, Austin Romine was a two way player in the Buster Posey fashion, acting as his high school closer as well as everyday catcher. As you might expect, he has one of the best cannons to second of any catcher in the minors today. At the plate he has doubles power and an easy swing, which looks projectable to 20-30 homer power someday. He's quite a way away from Yankee Stadium, but he's a hard worker with enough raw talent to get there sooner or later.
More Scouting Book Info on Austin Romine >
C, COL (#144 overall)
A real sleeper in the Colorado system, Dominican catcher Wilin Rosario was signed as an IFA with little fanfare in 2008. He went on to destroy the Pioneer League (.316/.371.532) at the age of 19, the best performance by a PL catcher since Russell Martin's debut. He looks like he will have the acumen and temperment to handle a pitching staff, and his catch-and-throw skills are developing rapidly. If he can remain a catcher, he could be a top prospect very soon, and it's hard not to drool a little thinking about his bat reaching Coors Field in 2013 or so.
More Scouting Book Info on Wilin Rosario >
C, PHI (#147 overall)
The most-likely catcher of the future in Philadelphia, Mexican prospect Sebastian Valle is a young offensive dynamo with plus bat control and a powerful swing that should play at any level. Already holding his own against much older competitors (.307/.335/.531 at high-A Williamsport at age 18), Valle will probably touch AA ball by the end of 2010. Give him another year or two to master the intricacies of handling a top-flight pitching staff, and he should be a fixture in Philly soon enough.
More Scouting Book Info on Sebastian Valle >
C, OAK (#164 overall)
A tough, throwback-style catcher, Oakland prospect Max Stassi is one of the best defensive backstops in the minor leagues, with plus catch-and-throw skill and a work ethic that's helped him rise to the top of the prospect class. At the plate he's no slouch, either: his short, quick batting stroke gives him line-drive power to all fields, and his build and core strength are enough to help him reach the bleachers once and awhile, too. With a great knack for game calling and the leadership style to hold a team together, he's got all the makings of a major league captain... and probably a manager someday after that.
More Scouting Book Info on Max Stassi >
C, NYM (#165 overall)
A squat, strong catcher who looks like a long-term asset in New York, Josh Thole is on the cusp of major league regulardom. He hit .328/.395/.422 at AA Birmingham in 2009, and showed he could handle major league pitching during his September callup. While his power hasn't developed (yet), he's still very young for a catcher, so it could come soon enough. Thole already shows advanced hitting for average, with decent pop from gap to gap. Behind the plate, he's reliable enough that the Mets have to be thinking about handing him the job to open 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Josh Thole >
C, MLW (#169 overall)
The Brewer's top catching prospect, Jon Lucroy is a well-rounded player with MLB-level skills on offense and defense. In addition to hitting .267/.380/.418 in his first taste of AA, he also threw out an impossible 40% of would-be base-stealers while posting a .991 fielding percentage.
More Scouting Book Info on Jonathan Lucroy >
C, TOR (#171 overall)
Until Travis D'Arnaud arrived, JP Arencibia looked like Toronto's clear-cut catcher of the future. Now that he has some competition, he'll need to step up his game to stay ahead.
More Scouting Book Info on J.P. Arencibia >
C, KC (#177 overall)
Nobody noticed in all the hubbub about Aaron Crow, but KC's third round pick in 2009 was another steal: the high-potential catcher William (Will) Myers. 'Wumbly' is a hard-nosed grinder who some call a throwback to a dirtier era, a ballplayer's ballplayer who can perform well at almost any position. He's being treated as a catcher so far, and he certainly has the smarts for it, but it's possible he moves to a position of greater need for a future Royals manager. If the projectability of his 6-3, 190lb body is worth anything, we can predict that he won't steal many bases, but he will launch a few moonshots in the years to come.
More Scouting Book Info on Wil Myers >
C, SEA (#183 overall)
A big, strong catcher drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the sixth round of 2006, Adam Moore is the proud owner of a lifetime .301 average across four minor league seasons and five levels of play. While his cup of coffee with Seattle in 2009 wasn't all that hot and fresh (.217, seven strikeouts in 23 at-bats), his long term future is sound. The obvious successor to Kenji Johjima, he's won't be winning any MVP awards, but he should provide decent production from a weak position, and he won't hurt the Mariners much. He's penciled in as Rob Johnson's backup for 2010, though another year of daily reps in AA or even AAA might be better for his long-term development.
More Scouting Book Info on Adam Moore >
C, STL (#194 overall)
A converted pitcher, Robert Stock is getting a chance behind the plate for the Cardinals in order to mainstream his plus batting eye and lefthanded power bat, so that's how we'll treat him for now.
More Scouting Book Info on Robert Stock >
C , MLW (#217 overall)
A compact, powerful catcher with an explosive short swing, Brewer prospect Angel Salome could be the team's long-term answer behind the plate if he can sharpen his game-calling skills. He's already adept at blocking the plate and has a very strong throwing arm, and his bat keeps working at every level he touches. Most recently, he posted a .286/.334/.413 line in 82 games for AAA Nashville. Jon Lucroy is probably still the long-term answer, but thanks to his advanced skills, there's not much keeping Salome from putting on a Brewer-blue chest protector right now.
More Scouting Book Info on Angel Salome >
C, ATL (#239 overall)
Signed as a sixteen year old out of Panama back in 2008, catcher Christian Bethencourt is a toolsy ballplayer dripping with all-around talent. Competing with much older players in 2009, the 17-year old posted an OPS of .819 at Rookie Level Danville, showing flashes of power and above-average speed to complement his advanced bat control skills. Since he's a catcher with the entire universe of game calling and defense to master, he's many years away, but he's such a shining star that he's a near-lock to rise through the prospect ranks every year for the next four or five before taking over in Atlanta. He's just that talented.
More Scouting Book Info on Christian Bethancourt >
C, TEX (#299 overall)
One of Detroit's most promising righthanders before being shipped to Texas for Gerald Laird, pitcher Guillermo Moscoso first attracted attention when he threw a perfect game in a NYP-league game in July, 2007. Last year, he went 5-4 in 12 starts with a 2.70 ERA between high-A Lakeland and double-A Erie. Perhaps most impressively, though, he struck out 122 while walking only 21 in 87 innings. A power righty who gets plus movement on his 92mph runner, some scouts prefer him as a late-inning reliever due to endurance and workload worries (he's never thrown 100 innings), and so he can maximize the effectiveness of his strikeout pitch.
More Scouting Book Info on Guillermo Moscoso >
C, OAK (#305 overall)
Chicago's first supplemental round pick in 2007, Josh Donaldson is a converted third baseman, which means he has a plus arm from behind the plate. Overshadowed by Matt Wieters in that draft class, he's only a notch behind the Georgia grad when it comes to actual tools. Josh is an offensive force with both pull and opposite-field power: he's a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat. He's still learning the ins and outs of game calling, though, so unlike the all-around Wieters, Donaldson is a couple of years away from having any impact.
More Scouting Book Info on Josh Donaldson >
C, SF (#308 overall)
A high-school catcher with a tantalizing power bat (15 homers in 27 games in his senior year), the double-named Tommy Joseph was scooped up by the Giants out of Tim Alderson's old high school in 2009. In addition to his terrific raw power, ToJo displays a very strong throwing arm and shows signs of excellent leadership and discipline on the field. While the catcher's position in San Francisco would seem to be locked up for the foreseeable future, Joseph can also play a reasonable first base, and is athletic enough to learn third if necessary. He's some way away from the big leagues, but he shows every sign of being well-equipped to get there eventually
More Scouting Book Info on Tommy Joseph >
C, Japan (#309 overall)
A strong offensive catcher in his last year of commitment to Japanese baseball, Tasuku Hashimoto slashed .311/.404/.536 for Bobby Valentines Chiba Lotte Marines last season. He's thought to be considering a move to MLB next season.
More Scouting Book Info on Tasuku Hashimoto >
C, FLA (#330 overall)
Buster Posey got a lot of attention in the 2008 draft, but Skippy might be a better bet, at least offensively. A left-handed and more power-hitting type of catcher, he lags behind Posey in the defensive and especially game-calling parts of the game, which means he might end up a bigger producer, but not right away. Of course, if his bat stays as hot as it's been in recent years, it'll be impossible to keep him in the minors for long.
More Scouting Book Info on Kyle Skipworth >
CF, BAL (#353 overall)
A pure tools selection by the Orioles in the 2008 draft, high school centerfield star Xavier Avery will probably be the fastest player in baseball if his bat can get him there. We won't know for quite a while, though, which is probably good, since we'll need practice saying his name quickly without hurting our tongues.
More Scouting Book Info on Xavier Avery >
C, MLW (#391 overall)
A smart, careful student of the game, Kottaras is an offensive catcher with very good plate discipline and 20-homer potential. His body is still filling out, but he's expected to be able to perform to MLB levels while remaining behind the plate.
More Scouting Book Info on George Kottaras >
C, DET (#406 overall)
One of the best hitting youngsters in the Tiger system, Ryan looked good in a September 2008 callup. He'll have to wait, though, as the Tigers signed Gerald Laird to be their everyday catcher for 2009. Expect Ryan's low-average, high-power bat to join the team as an injury fillin, part-time C/1B/DH later in the year.
More Scouting Book Info on Dusty Ryan >
CF, HOU (#422 overall)
A raw high-school outfield prospect who looked good in low-A ball but is still a few years away from becoming a known quantity, 2008 second-rounder Joseph 'Jay' Austin is part of Houston's long-term plan to consolidate good Texas puns on their roster. Trades for Huston Street and Dallas Braden are probably in the works, too.
More Scouting Book Info on Jay Austin >
C, CHC (#428 overall)
Already considered the best defensive catcher in the Cubs' system, Castillo has recently jumped into prospect spotlight thanks to his developing bat. While he might be idling awhile as Geovany Soto settles into his full-time job in Wrigley, Castillo has enough raw talent to push his way onto the roster anyway, even if it's in a part-time role.
More Scouting Book Info on Wellington Castillo >
1 to 36 of 36
1. Buster Posey
2. Jesus Montero
3. Carlos Santana
4. Jason Castro
5. Hank Conger
6. Derek Norris
7. Tyler Flowers
9. Wilson Ramos
10. Max Ramirez
11. Tony Sanchez
12. Travis D'Arnaud
13. Alex Avila
14. Bryan Anderson
16. Wilin Rosario
17. Sebastian Valle
18. Max Stassi
19. Josh Thole
20. Jonathan Lucroy
22. Wil Myers
23. Adam Moore
26. Christian Bethancourt
30. Tasuku Hashimoto
31. Kyle Skipworth
32. Xavier Avery
36. Wellington Castillo
