Best of the Cape: Ranking the Catchers
September 4, 2018
After the release of our Top 2019 draft eligible Cape Cod Pitchers and Position Players, we now take a deeper look at the loads of talent the league boasted this summer. Leading off, we rank the catchers, including prospects from both the 2019 & 2020 draft classes.
DANDY DOZEN
1. Patrick Bailey, 2020 (North Carolina State)
Switch-hitting, athletic backstop with an above average arm and a chance to hit for average. Defensively, showed good game awareness and made accurate throws with POP times ranging from 2.01 to 2.08. Quick release and short, direct footwork. From the right side of the plate he set up in a slightly open stance towards the back of the box. Balance was out front and he carried his hands with his hips. The result was a pull approach, marginal bat speed and little hard contact. His left-handed swing was more compact with better balance. More of a contact approach and swing, kept his hands back, creating good separation and attempted to use all fields. Stayed inside the ball. Showed a much greater ability to extend an at-bat from this side of the plate as well. An overall a well-tooled and well-rounded prospect, Bailey’s high-level skills and baseball IQ, combined with a scarcity of top quality college catching each year in the draft give him Day One potential in 2020.
2. Brady Smith, 2020 (Florida)
Six-foot, 195 pounds. Athletic frame with a strong build. Smooth, low effort swing that produces consistent line drive contact. Average bat speed that...
3. Drew Millas, 2019 (Missouri State)
Athletic catcher with a durable, wide frame. Athletic actions in the batter’s box from both sides. Level swing, good barrel path. Swing had less effort, more lift from...
4. Maverick Handley, 2019 (Stanford)
At five-foot-ten, 195 pounds, Handley is an aggressive backstop with a bulldog mentality. Possesses a plus arm with a quick release. And he likes to show it. Routinely back...
5. Adam Kerner, 2020 (San Diego)
Athletic, agile receiver who calls a good game and receives well. Average arm strength. At the plate he’s a contact hitter with occasional doubles power. Short to the...
6. Philip Clarke, 2019 (Vanderbilt)
Physically mature at five-foot-eleven, 190 pounds. Looked fatigued for the Orleans Firebirds with a longer swing path and slider bat speed. Did show above average...
7. Kyle Wilkie, 2019 (Clemson)
Six-foot, 190 pounds. Average build. Quality actions behind the plate. Next level catch and throw skills. Quick exchange with clean...
8. Joe Donovan, 2020 (Michigan)
Strong bodied five-foot-eleven, 185-pound catcher with an above average arm and solid receiving skills. 1.95 POP time. Line drive swing with bat strength. Near average...
Who else made the Top 12, including several more who were the Best of the Rest?