MLB Draft: 2016 Top High School Catchers and First Baseman

Joey Wentz may be a better pitcher than he is hitter, and although I didn’t include him with the pitchers, he is a top eight pitching prospect. Wentz is a 6’5” and 210 pound left handed hitter (and pitcher) from Shawnee Mission East High School in Kansas. The 18 year old, who is committed to Virginia, sits in the low to mid-90s, with room to grow. However, last summer he had a dead arm, and although he is back to throwing, the risk may be too much, especially with the way he hits.

The Pirates, under current general manager Neal Huntington, drafted Stetson Allie in the second round of the 2010 draft as a pitcher, but due to his complete lack of control had to move him off and he became a first base prospect. Wentz has better control than Allie, and if he did not, being left handed would give him more of a chance to figure it out. Wentz has the stuff to become the best high school pitcher drafted, but with the increase in Tommy John surgery, I think a team, if they have great minor league pitching depth, would be wise to draft him as a hitter.

As a hitter Wentz stands tall in the box, and slightly open. He features a high leg kick, which he goes knee to knee with no toe tap. Wentz starts his hands towards his head before dropping them down and swinging, the typical left handed swing. Be it with a metal bat, MLB pipeline reports Wentz hit an impressive 543 foot home run in Cincinnati last year. Even with a metal bat, that is crazy pop that any team should want. He should develop, if chosen as a hitter, the pop needed to be an everyday first baseman, and a good enough average to stay as well. Most teams will probably look at Wentz as a pitcher, but I see a Lucas Duda type player in him. He will likely go before the Pirates pick at 22.

Next: An offensive minded catcher from Wisconsin

Ben Rortvedt could be a below slot value pick at number 41. The catcher comes from Verona Area High School in Wisconsin and is committed to Arkansas. Rortvedt stands at 5’10” and 190 pounds, and swings from the left side of the plate, comparable to what Reese McGuire was when the Pirates selected him in 2013. However, those are where the comparisons end, and Rortvedt could be the total opposite of what McGuire was in high school.

Rortvedt looks to be more of an offensive threat than a defensive catcher. He features the ability to make solid contact and provide some home run power. Like most catchers, he does not feature the best of speed, but should be league average among catchers. Rortvedt stands a little bent at the knees, and is square to home plate. He tends to step more towards the third baseman than the pitcher, which if it becomes a problem would be an easy fix.

Rortvedt has a strong enough arm, and is plenty strong enough to throw out runners at am above average clip. His ability behind the plate is lacking, he doesn’t have that advanced feel like McGuire did when he was in high school, but Rortvedt will have plenty of time to develop and work on his craft behind the dish.

His overall picture, I see a smaller AJ Pierzynski type. A catcher that has the ability to for power, and play a little below average defense.

Next: The best defensive high school catcher and maybe even catcher

Cooper Johnson is an advanced defensive catcher, especially for a high school player. Johnson is from Carmel Catholic High School in Illinois and is 6’0” and 200 pounds. He has the size to remain a catcher as he is not too big or too scrawny. He will definitely remain behind the plate in pro ball, but the only concern will be his bat on whether or not he becomes a star.

Johnson, a Mississippi commit, stands square to the plate with his knees slightly bent. His hands twirl about head high as a timing mechanism, and he brings his hands through the zone. He won’t hit for much power, maybe five to ten a year, and his average may only sit around the .250 range. But his game isn’t about his right handed stroke, it’s how he is able to receive the ball and throw runners out. According to perfectgame.org, Johnson has a pop time of 1.81 seconds, putting him in the top 97.23 percent tile, and when that is combined with his 84 mph throws (perfectgame.org), Johnson has one of the best arms among high school catchers, and arguably in al catchers in this draft.

Johnson looks like he could be a Jose Molina catcher, or even a young Yadier Molina. His bat will leave some to be desired, but due to his strong ability behind the dish and his arm, he should at the worst become a backup in the Major Leagues. He looks like a second round or Lottery B round pick.

Next: A potential third round pick from George County High School

Walker Robbins is a big left handed bat that should develop power as he gets older. Robbins, who is from George County High School in Mississippi, stands at an impressive 6’3” and 215 pounds. The 18 year old likely will fall into the lottery B round and he could therefore not fall to the Pirates in round 3, but he could be a below slot value pick in the second if the Pirates want to go that route.

Robbins hits to all fields, which is a plus and hopefully will be able to transfer that approach to professional ball. Once he develops some lift in his swing, the power should come, but as of now it is level and produces line drives. He should be able to hit for average, and field his position well. In the box Robbins stands tall and has an open stance. He rests his bat on his shoulder and drops his hands before swinging, a typical left handed type swing style. With this approach he should be at least a doubles hitter early on in the minors.

Robbins may top his potential out as a Brandon Belt style player. He should hit about .270 with 15 home runs and 25 doubles, while providing solid defense at first base.

Next: What to expect from this

To conclude, the high end talent catchers and first baseman among high schoolers is very limited, especially with the options that could go in the first three rounds. The best among the two positions is Joey Wentz, but teams may view him as a pitcher due to his size and velocity coming from the left side. Rortvedt is the best high school catcher in terms of his bat, but he looks to be a second round pick or a below slot value Competitive Balance A pick. Cooper Johnson features an incredible arm and defensive skills, but his bat is light and could result in him being a backup catcher in the future. Walter Robbins’ ceiling is similar to what Brandon Belt is right now, but he has work to do to develop power, including getting a lift in his swing.

Next: What Is Plaguing Andrew McCutchen?

There’s no player, besides Wentz, that stick outs among catchers and first baseman that the Pirates would take in the first round or even Competitive Balance A, and if they did it would be for a well below slot value. The best options look to be Lottery B or even the third round, so the likely hood of the Pirates selecting a high school catcher or first baseman seem slim.

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Tomorrow will take a look on the best high school middle infielders, a position they took in 2014 with Cole Tucker, and last year with college shortstop with Kevin Newman. The Pirates may not look to take a middle infielder early for three straight years, but there is some nice talent available there.