DRAFT NOTEBOOK (May 26)
BY Jerry Ford, Perfect Game
High School Catchers
Not often do we see a large number of the most talented prep catchers creating a ton of interest in the draft. There are several reasons why many talented catchers end up going to college rather than Pro ball. Probably the #1 reason is to develop the necessary skills at a high level. What is the surest bet (the college or the high school catcher) to take in the first round?
Jeff Clement was selected with the 3rd overall pick last year out of Southern Cal. The same Jeff Clement was selected by the Twins (362nd pick) as a senior in high school. On the other hand the Atlanta Braves signed Prep catcher Brian McCann in the 2nd round that year and he’s already the Braves starting catcher in his 2nd season with the Big League club. The Braves also took prep catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia as a supplemental 1st rounder the next year. He has become one of the Braves top prospects in their organizations.
Looking over the past five drafts you won’t find a lot of first round catchers.
In 2001 the first overall pick was high school catcher Joey Mauer. Later in the supplemental first round (33rd pick) the Angels selected prep catcher Jeff Mathis. Both have been in the Big Leagues and Mauer is the Twins starting catcher.
In 2002 Jeremy Brown was a sandwich pick by the Athletics. The A’s picked him as a catcher out of the university of Alabama.
In 2003 we saw catchers Daric Barton from Marina HS (CA) to the Cardinals and University of Toledo’s Mitch Maier to the Royals, go in the first round and one in the supplemental 1st round, the aforementioned Saltalamacchia to the Braves. Maier is no longer catching.
In 2004 the first catcher selected was a prep also, Neil Walker out of Pine Richland HS (PA). Landon Powell was also a first round selection out of the U of South Carolina. Jon Potterson prep catcher out of Chandler HS (AZ) was a sandwich pick by the Yankees.
Then in 2005 Jeff Clement out of USC was the third overall pick and Brandon Snyder out of Westfield HS (VA) went with the 13th pick to the Orioles.
Looking over that five year span there were 8 catchers selected in the first round and another 4 went as sandwich picks. Of these 12 catchers 7 were signed out of high school. Adding second rounder Brian McCann to Mauer and Mathis you have three who have already been in the Big Leagues and two of the three are the #1 catchers on their Big League teams. Also when looking at the top prospects in each organization the names Barton, Walker, Snyder and of course Saltalamacchia are ranked very high. At least one of the college 1st round catchers is no longer a catcher in pro ball.
One could assume by looking at the names above that professional baseball is either picking the right catchers out of high school or these young catchers are learning their position better in professional baseball. Following the past five drafts it looks like if you want the top catchers start gluing in on the high school kids!
That leads us to this year… What will happen to the top catchers this June? Here’s one persons take on it.
First catcher selected should be a high school player, Hank Conger from Huntington Beach HS (CA) The Aflac All American slugger with a strong arm is likely to go in the top half of the first round.
While he may or may not be the next catcher selected, my pick would be another prep catcher, Max Sapp from Bishop Moore HS, (FL) Another Aflac All American with a strong arm and power bat.
The one catcher who I’m afraid could get overlooked, at least in the top couple rounds, is the best defensive catcher in the draft, Torre Langley Alexander HS (GA) who is yet another Aflac All American. Langley is the quickest, has the best arm, and can hit. However, at 5’9/180 he doesn’t always get that “wow” factor working in his favor. I truly believe Langley will play in the big leagues.
The other Aflac All American catcher last year was Robbie Alcombrack from Bear River HS (CA). Conger and Sapp are regarded two of the top power hitters in the nation, but Alcombrack won the Aflac Home Run Contest last year and sure enough, little Torre Langley finished second! Alcombrack a highly skilled catcher and hitter will probably head to Arizona State and could be a premium draft pick coming out of there.
The top college catcher eligible for this year’s draft appears to be Chad Tracy out of Pepperdine. He’s the son of former Dodger skipper Jim Tracy. He has the tools and a polished bat. There has been some first or supplemental round talk. Should be one of the first 3 catchers selected.
Brian Jeroloman out of the University of Florida should be drafted in the first couple rounds. He’s exceptional (one of the best) defensively. The question marks will revolve around how high his hitting ability is valued.
Jordan Newton out of Western Kentucky is another college catcher who could draw top 5 round interest. Mitch Canham out of Oregon State, Chris Hatcher from UNC Wilmington, Matt Lane U of Washington, Eddie Rodriguez from Miami, could all draw top 5 round interest. As always, there could be a surprise or two.
There are not a lot of draft eligible early pick catchers coming out of college this year. The high school ranks provide a surplus of quality catchers, but as usual most will be headed off to college. My guess is that 2009 is going to be a great year for college catchers.
Here are some of the other very talented high school catchers from around the country. Some could go in the first 10 rounds, others later and maybe some not at all. (College commitment in parentheses)
Ty Weedin - Santa Fe HS, Edmond Oklahoma (Arkansas)
Buddy Monroe – Columbus HS, Miami, FL (Clemson)
Justin Dalles – Summitt HS, Lake Worth, Florida (Florida Atlantic)
Travis Tartamella – Los Osos HS, Alta Lorna CA. (Pepperdine)
Jason Hagerty – St John Vianney, St Louis MO. (Miami (FL)
Mark Fleury – Pope HS, Roswell, GA (North Carolina)
Sean Ochinko – Stoneman Douglas, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (LSU)
Monk Kreder – Keller HS, Keller, TX
Mike Murray – Westfield HS, Westfield, NJ. (Wake Forest)
Jace Whitmer – Harrison HS, Marietta, GA
Austin Rauch – El Capitan HS, El Cajon, CA (San Diego State)
David Lindsay – Hermitage HS, Glen Allen, VA (NC State)
Johnny Gunter – Central HS, Phenix City, AL. (Troy State)
Yan Gomes – Southridge HS, Miami, FL. (Tennessee)
Austin Goolsby – Coppell HS, Coppell, TX (Houston)
Ross Hubbard – Denton Ryan HS, Denton, TX. (Kentucky)
Erik Castro – Fallbrook HS, Fallbrook, CA. (Arizona)
Dustin Spruill – Paul Bryant HS, Northport, AL (Auburn)
Dillon Guillory – Teurlings Catholic HS, Scott, LA. (LA Lafayette)
Joey Lewis – Starr;s Mill HS, Senoia, GA (Georgia)
Jared Avchen – Bayside HS, Palm Bay, FL. (Alabama)
Parker Bangs – Scotland HS, Laurinburg, NC. (South Carolina)
Dwight Childs – Elk Grove HS, Elk Grove, CA. (Arizona)
Bryce Cutspec – Westminster HS, Westminster, CA. (Arizona)
Jeremy Weih – Wilton HS, Wilton, IA (Northern Iowa)
Marcus Salmon – Sunset HS, Miami, FL
Braxton Chisholm – St. Cloud HS, St. Cloud, FL.