2023 Most Viewed Profile: #8 Ariston Veasey

UGA Commit. 6-foot-1, 188 pounds. What stands out to me the most about Ariston is his vast skill set that can impact the game in a variety of ways, and his ability to handle adversity on the field. If he has an off game at the dish, he can still save runs each inning behind it. When you have an arm that can go toe to toe with any C in MLB, that is the epitome of a rare weapon. But it’s far from just his arm that makes him such a threat defensively. His receiving improves every time I see him, and his extremely strong hands can stick any strike with ease. He not only can frame high quality stuff, but is able to steal strikes on the edges. At times he gets too aggressive with his receiving on throw downs, but you rarely see it in game where his natural instincts take over and allow him to play fast & loose. His agility & flexibility stand out in blocking and his lightning quick reaction time allows him to anticipate dirt balls, and pop out from behind the plate to make plays. He’s very instinctive with runners, and his body language is deceptive on backpicks. He can hose runners with ease from both his knees and on the feet. The footwork is very advanced for his age, and his hip/shoulder separation on throws is beyond elite. As you can see in the tweet below, Ariston turns the barrel in tight space like few others in the class. This is due to not only a rare feel to manipulate the body & swing path, but also to his violent bat speed. The more I see him run, the more I feel he can be an A/AVG runner. But regardless, this is a 5 tool potential with a high likelihood of reaching at least 4 of his tools. The arm is top of scale, the run is already MLB average, the glove will be A/AVG, and the raw power will be plus. The only “question” is the Hit for Avg tool, which is honestly of no concern considering the average MLB BA for a catcher is .225 and he has one of the best inside-out swings in the country for a C!

UGA Commit. 6-foot-1, 190 pounds. The looks on Veasey continue to be absolutely eye opening on the number one catcher in his class. After his unreal performance with all tools on display in GDC Week 1, he will continue to climb in our rankings. In my opinion this is as sure of a bet as it gets (in the entire country) to be an everyday MLB catcher, and I feel he’s right there with Mullinax and Abernathy in OFP. He’d be one of the safest picks in the next 3 classes, if he is selected out of HS. But this is a player who could triple his value if he steps foot on Foley Field in 2025. He has the best arm in the country behind the plate, and few can match his athleticism overall. His FB is up to 94 with a high spin CB, and he’s an easy average runner. I wouldn’t at all rule out an A/AVG run with his work ethic and training.

Positional Profile: C/RHP One of the best catchers in the country for 2025.
Body: 6-1, 188-pounds. Large frame with lean muscle throughout. High waist, strong lower half.
Delivery: Upright delivery with great rhythm in hands and lift knee. Shorter stride, patient over rubber. Could ride back side in stride a little better for more backside connection with arm. Fluid from start to finish.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, full circle arm action thats mid depth. H3/4 slot. Deceptive and stays over largest muscles.
FB: T89.9, 88-90 mph. Violent ride & run combo. T2208, 2147 average rpm.
CB: 70-70 mph. Shape, late sweep & depth. T2493, 2408 average rpm.
SL: 71-73 mph. Tight shape, sharp sweeping action. T2306, 2263 average rpm.

Positional Profile: C/RHP One of the best catchers in the country for 2025.
Body: 6-1, 188-pounds. Large frame with lean muscle throughout. High waist, strong lower half.
Hits: RHH. Narrow base, knees inside feet for optimal center of balance. Active rhythm in hips & hands. Would like to see chest & hands coil to back hip (during load) more gradually at the exact pace and time of his stride. The upper half works into launch position slightly early (before stride foot lands) causing the hands to slow down and wait for landing. It's amazing how well his swings works with that slight discrepancy. Easy fix, much more power coming when that syncs up. Very aggressive with his lower half and this creates serious momentum and allows his backside to fire through his lead leg for knee to knee clearance. Direct, knob led path with occasional sweep. Very good feel for inside out path. Close to becoming a truly dynamic bat.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 89.3 MPH. 379' max distance. Loft to all fields. Ball absolutely jumps off barrel.
Arm: RH. C-86 mph. Plus or better arm strength with a fluid, short catcher arm action H3/4 slot. Arm works close and connected to body.
Defense: 1.89-1.97 pop times. Showed patience and strong hands as a receiver, explodes out of crouch and stayed on his legs with nice footwork and direction on throws. Quick transfer that will only get quicker.
Run: 7.27 runner in the 60.

GA Preseason All State

Veasey spoke volumes with his arm and bat at PAS23. Now I haven’t seen all of the catchers (nationally) in his class throw, but I can promise you there are very few backstops in the country on his level arm strength wise. His 86 C velocity wasn’t even his best, and it was still incredible. To have plus MLB arm strength as a JR in HS is a very uncommon thing, and this is a lock to have top of the scale arm strength. He also showed patience and strong hands as a receiver, and stayed on his legs with nice footwork and direction on throws. There are many similarities between him and former Brookwood catcher Will Banfield, who is now in AA with the Miami Marlins. Both of them have serious defensive talent, nearly unmatched arm strength and raw power at the plate. Veasey shows better oppo feel as a hitter at the same stage, with a smooth & powerful inside out swing. Ariston is very aggressive with his lower half and this creates serious momentum and allows his backside to fire through his lead leg for knee to knee clearance. I really like the active rhythm in his hands and sweet, lofty swing. He also threw smoke on the mound, with the FB in the 88-90 range and a 70 mph CB up to 2500 RPM! This is going to be a certified name for the 2024 MLB Draft.

Veasey showed it off behind the plate, clocking in at 83 out of the crouch, good for a 1.90-1.97 pop time. Veasey is ultra quick in everything he does behind the plate, from the transfer, to his footwork, to release, and he does it all while completing an accurate throw. A right-handed hitter, he has come into his own at the plate with an aggressive swing. Veasey posted some of the highest bat and hand speed average velocities at the event, 24.1/74.2.

2024 Player Rankings

Veasey is an elite defender behind the plate. He has a quick, whippy arm that works short to an over-the-top slot, His throws are accurate, placing them low and around the bag consistently, clocked at 77 out of the crouch. He posted the top pop time range at the Underclass Games with a 1.94-1.97. Despite being a wiry 5-foot-11, 160-pounds, he can still produce advanced bat speed, registering 79.80 mph via Blast.

Georgia commit. 5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher and right-handed pitcher, lean, projectable build with plenty of time and room to continue physically maturing, ran a 7.82 laser-timed 60. An elite defensive catcher, short, loose arm, quick speed, throws are true and accurate down to second, keeps them on a low trajectory, 77 out of the crouch. Flexibility throughout lower half, quick on transfers and with footwork, pop times ranged 1.94-1.97. Offensively, open setup, hands drop and comes to a near arm bar on load, comes to a balanced position on stride. Whippy barrel works in a slightly uphill path, gap-to-gap approach, showed the ability to use the whole field with line drive contact, 85 exit velocity, much more to come as he physically fills out. On the mound, arm works quick with a short stab on the back-side to a ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, short at balance point, works on-line, lands square, finishes square to home. Fastball sat 77-79, touched 80, running action. Curveball, 12/6 shape, depth, 60-62.