Riedell Report: Top 10 College Draft-Eligible Catchers

Brooks Bryan (Troy Athletics photo)

By Andrew Riedell

As we continue our countdown closer and closer to the MLB Draft in Atlanta in a few weeks, we now move on to our starting lineup and what some may consider the heart of the field. That is the catching position, as catchers now have a more important role than their offensive skills. The catchers also play a huge role in calling pitches for the game and being the leaders on the field.

The catcher position has changed over the last 20 years, as some may consider it the least offensive position on the field, overlook their offensive need and throw them back there for the continual defensive role. One name you will not see on this list is Auburn’s Ike Irish. I project him to be more of an outfielder when he plays pro ball, an opinion I've identified in talking to scouts and coaches. Let’s jump right into it!

1. Caden Bodine (Coastal Carolina) Age: 21 Class: Junior 

The Buster Posey Award winner kicks off our list. I have watched a great amount of Bodine this year, getting to watch him up close at the Men's College World Series in Omaha, where he played an integral part in the Chanticleers' road to the CWS Finals.

Bodine being a switch hitter is very big for him, and I believe he will be a solid contact hitter. We have seen his approach develop over the last three years, and I think there is some room for some power as well. Everyone is going to be wanting him for his glove, since he is probably the best framer in college baseball and would become one of the best defensive catchers in the game when he reaches the pros. His arm strength is solid as well, thanks to his quick release, with a pop time (pitch caught to throw caught at second base) around 1.80-1.90.

2. Luke Stevenson (North Carolina) Age: 20 Class: Sophomore

The former Freshman All-American finds himself at number two on my list. He could have easily been picked in the first five rounds coming out of high school but instead found himself staying close to home and developing for two years at UNC.

Offensively, he struck out a lot more this year, and his batting average was down, but there was a power increase, hitting 19 home runs for the Tar Heels from the left side, which makes him attractive to draft early. His glove is very solid as well, and he probably has one of the best arms in the draft, solid and accurate with a pop time of 1.80-1.90. He is physical behind the plate, too, and I can see him taking leadership behind the plate very early on in his career.

3. Brooks Bryan (Troy) Age: 20 Class: Junior

Brooks Bryan is perhaps someone lesser-informed college baseball fans don't know about yet. Troy was one of my favorite teams to watch this season, and he deserves to be number three on this list. Bryan smashed onto the scene last year, hitting 18 HRs and having 85 RBIs in just 58 games last season and was a Golden Spikes Semi-Finalist.

He regressed a little this year offensively as the strikeouts went up, but he still put together a very nice season for the Trojans. And his fielding vastly improved this year, making only two errors. Some scouts believe he will continue playing the position in his pro career, mostly thanks to his development at the USA CNT last summer. Bryan rakes from the left side of the plate, and I believe he has the best power of all the catchers in this draft. His lefty swing is very smooth, and he can hit to all parts of the field. I believe he can fit in the middle of an MLB lineup pretty quickly. 

4. Easton Carmichael (Oklahoma) Age: 21 Class: Junior

This is where the group divides, with a big drop-off between the first three catchers and the rest. I believe Carmichael has the skills to be a solid catcher defensively, but I also believe he significantly the Oklahoma pitching staff and is one of the best pitch callers in the draft. His leadership behind the plate is really solid and can develop into something really special.

His offensive skills are very good, and he displayed improvement in his offensive discipline every season of his three years for the Sooners. This year, the long ball finally came for him, smashing 17 home runs this year while also improving his walk numbers each year. We also did not see any struggle adjusting from the Big 12 to the SEC this year. Carmichael could see himself transitioned into a first baseman or designated hitter if his bat continues to develop and his fielding is deemed secondary. 

5. Luke Heyman (Florida) Age: 22 Class: Junior

Luke Heyman is considered one of the players coming into the MLB Draft who might withdraw their name and go back to school for their final year. But UF has been very active in the portal, expecting one or both of Heyman and Brody Donay to get drafted. Heyman was the All-SEC First Team Catcher this past season after having a huge bounce-back season. That was unfortunately cut short due to a broken forearm, but in his 49 games, he hit .301 with 13 HRs and 44 RBIs, a year after only hitting .246 and striking out 74 times.

This year, he cut the strikeouts in half, with only 38 Ks. It seemed like he went back to his approach from his freshman year, just seeing more pitches and driving them to all parts of the field. His glove is very solid too behind the plate, and he was a big part of why UF pitching staff succeeded. With an athletic build, a field general demeanor behind the plate, and a pop time ranging from 1.75-1.80, I think Heyman is very underrated, could find himself taken, and advance through the ranks quickly. 

6. Matt Klein (Louisville) Age: 21 Class: Junior

Some may see this as a massive overreach, but I think Klein deserves this spot after his showing at the Men's College World Series a few weeks ago. I think his maturity behind the plate, even after playing only 87 games in his college career, really got me liking his game. His Louisville teammates and coaches have stated they all believe the best is yet to come with Klein.

His bat is solid too, striking out just 16 times in his 116 plate appearances this year. He has further shown it this summer in the Cape Cod League and also runs very well for a catcher. I love his maturity behind the plate, and being able to handle a pitching staff like Louisville's is such a plus. His quick and athletic frame gives him a good ability to be physical behind the plate and to throw out base runners with a pop time in the 1.80s.

7. Grant Jay (Dallas Baptist) Age: 21 Class: Junior

The All-Time career home runs leader at Dallas Baptist University is my fifth overall catcher, although this is someone I could also see as a reposition. I think Jay projects very well offensively, with top tier power that hits 20-25 HRs a year. But, I am concerned about his glove. He had trouble blocking and receiving some of his DBU pitcher teammates, at times deployed to LF to keep his bat and arm in the lineup.

Jay also runs very well for a catcher, and every time I saw him play, I was impressed with his build and how athletic he was. I can see a team taking a shot on Jay early and trying to make it work behind the plate, perhaps assigning him to an instructional league to develop his catching skills, but I believe his bat is already close to Major League-ready. 

8. Rylan Galvan (Texas) Age: 22 Class: Junior

This is the first of my two sleepers of the group, and I believe Galvan has the potential to be a star in MLB. He has improved after going undrafted last year as a sophomore, and I project him going in the top five rounds this year because of his improvement.

Galvan's glove work receiving behind the plate stood out and is a big reason why the Texas pitching staff succeeded this year. As a bigger guy, he is athletic behind the plate and able to shut down the run game behind solid footwork, good arm strength, and a pop time usually hovering around 1.85. His bat makes him even more attractive to draft, with some really solid gap-to-gap power. He is, however, going to need to prove his bat very quickly in pro ball, with some questioning his ability to hit pro level pitching. He slugged very well against SEC pitching, so I think he will be just fine. 

9. Adonys Guzman (Arizona) Age: 21 Class: Junior

This is my second sleeper of this group, with Guzman breaking out at Arizona this year and putting himself together on both offense and defense. Guzman was fun to watch in Omaha as well, being named to the All-Tournament Team. He threw out 17 base runners this year, displaying a really good arm, really good and consistent foot work, and his pop times have been consistently in the 1.75-1.85 range this season.

He also showed good veteran leadership with some young arms on this Arizona pitching staff such as Smith Bailey, but his bat was also better developed, hitting .328 with 9 HRs and 44 RBIs. Guzman proved to be just a monster in the middle of the Wildcat lineup, showing good power to all parts of the field, and I feel confident comparing him to Jonathan Lucroy. 

10. Brody Donay (Florida) Age: 21 Class: Junior

I considered going a few different ways, but after talking to coaches about some prospects, I am opting to go with Donay for the final spot. He caught only 16 games at Florida this year, but I see an MLB team transitioning him back to catching. He was one of the top catchers in his recruiting class and has displayed a pop time in the 1.85-1.95 range, which I believe could only get better with repetition back behind the plate.

The bat for Donay this year was unusual. I considered him a mid-week bopper, but he did come through for the Gators a lot during SEC play as well. I see him as a heavy fastball hitter, but there is potential for him to become a good gap-to-gap hitter with improvement on hitting off-speed pitches.

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