Top 15 Catchers in 2009 Draft Class

[Stotle]

For anyone that's interested, I threw up a quick piece on the Top 15 Catchers in this year's draft class. Here's the list (I'll give more in depth reports on the draftees starting December/January -- getting through some other stuff right now). Anyway, here are some kids to keep an eye on:

Fall 2009: Top 15 Catchers

1. Max Stassi, Senior, Yuba City HS (CA)

2. Luke Bailey, Senior, Troup HS (GA)

3. Austin Maddox, Senior, Eagle's View Academy (FL)

3a -- accidentally omitted Josh Phegly, Junior, Indiana University

4. Jonathan Walsh, Senior, Coppell HS (TX)

5. Andrew Susac, Senior, Jesuit HS (CA)

6. Jack Murphy, Junior, Princeton University

7. Michael Zunino, Senior, Mariner HS (FL)

8. Carlos Ramirez, Junior, Arizona State University

9. Anthony Sosnoskie, Junior, Virginia Tech

10. Josh Elander, Senior, Round Rock HS (TX)

11. Jimmy Tanner, Junior, South Carolina-Upstate

12. Dallas Hord, Junior, Missouri State University

13. Ryan Duffy, Junior, Mississippi State University

14. Alex Burg, Senior, Washington State University

15. Tony Sanchez, Junior, Boston College

Best Hitter: Max Stassi

Best Power: Austin Maddox

Best Defense: Andrew Susac

Best Arm: Austin Maddox

Best Speed: Dallas Hord

I'll be stepping through each position on the blog throughout October.

[PaulBako]

For anyone that's interested, I threw up a quick piece on the Top 15 Catchers in this year's draft class. Here's the list (I'll give more in depth reports on the draftees starting December/January -- getting through some other stuff right now). Anyway, here are some kids to keep an eye on:

Fall 2009: Top 15 Catchers

1. Max Stassi, Senior, Yuba City HS (CA)

2. Luke Bailey, Senior, Troup HS (GA)

3. Austin Maddox, Senior, Eagle's View Academy (FL)

4. Jonathan Walsh, Senior, Coppell HS (TX)

5. Andrew Susac, Senior, Jesuit HS (CA)

6. Jack Murphy, Junior, Princeton University

7. Michael Zunino, Senior, Mariner HS (FL)

8. Carlos Ramirez, Junior, Arizona State University

9. Anthony Sosnoskie, Junior, Virginia Tech

10. Josh Elander, Senior, Round Rock HS (TX)

11. Jimmy Tanner, Junior, South Carolina-Upstate

12. Dallas Hord, Junior, Missouri State University

13. Ryan Duffy, Junior, Mississippi State University

14. Alex Burg, Senior, Washington State University

15. Tony Sanchez, Junior, Boston College

Best Hitter: Max Stassi

Best Power: Austin Maddox

Best Defense: Andrew Susac

Best Arm: Austin Maddox

Best Speed: Dallas Hord

I'll be stepping through each position on the blog throughout October.

Any One of them could be the next Paul Bako for us to back up Matt Wieters! :laughlol: :laughlol: :laughlol:

[Stotle]

Any One of them could be the next Paul Bako for us to back up Matt Wieters! :laughlol: :laughlol: :laughlol:

I wouldn't mind grabbing a catcher in the 6-10 round range. We actually will need someone to back up Wieters, and Joseph needs to clean up his throwing mechanics to stick behind the plate.

[McNulty]

I know a high school baseball coach (former major leaguer) here in town...next time I talk to him I'll ask him what he knows about Maddox.

[Stotle]

I know a high school baseball coach (former major leaguer) here in town...next time I talk to him I'll ask him what he knows about Maddox.

After watching him my big knock is that he's still a little raw behind the plate. He has big power and a big arm, so I think someone will try to keep him back there by cleaning up his mechanics (with the understading that he probably won't ever be more than an average defensive catcher).

I'd love to hear what the HS coach has to say. Ask him if he thinks Maddox is good enough off the mound to be drafted as a P in the first round. I think he could be, but his power is hard to pass up behind the plate.

[djh333]

How do you find out about these catchers? What process is done to decide these are the best catchers in the nation?

[Stotle]

How do you find out about these catchers? What process is done to decide these are the best catchers in the nation?

My rankings are based on my personal scoring of the players on the 20-80 scouting scale both now and how I project them down the line. Top "players to watch" were primarily taken from the high school summer showcase circuit -- college by reputation coming off of last year and throughout the summer leagues. Scouting services will start releasing their top 100, top 200, etc. lists right before the beginning of the college/HS seasons (usually Dec/Jan). The lists will shift between now and then, as scouts share notes, and again by draft day when reports from the season come in.

I try to watch as many kids as I can, though I obviously have to rely on regional cross-checkers, independent scouting reports and media sources such as Baseball America to try and fill-in the blanks when I don't have first-hand kowledge. For college players, I'm also able to reach out to contacts with first-hand knowledge of the players.