As good as the 2024 college catching class was with three selected within the top 39 overall picks (Walter Janek, Malcolm Moore, Caleb Lomavita) and five of the top 64 (Jacob Cozart, Ethan Anderson), this year’s group could rival that talent. 

The college catching draft class of 2025 – Tale of the Tape:

Ike Irish (Auburn)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-2, 205 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/R

Scout Talk: Long-term home on defense is uncertain, but is a consistent hard contact producer at the plate who has yet to tap fully into his over-the-fence power production.

Analytics:

Max Exit Velo: 113.9 mph (60 grade raw power)
90th Exit Velo: 107.4 mph
Avg Launch Angle: 9.2 degrees
In-Zone Contact Rate: 81.6% (42nd percentile)
Chase Rate: 15.4% (76th)
BB Rate: 12.1% (46th)
SO Rate: 14.7% (79st)

Top Tool(s): Plus raw power. Above average arm strength that plays better from the outfield.

Comparable: Irish is nearly an identical prospect at the same age as Kyle Schwarber.

Summary: In-zone Whiff rate of 18.4% is a bit concerning. Plus power and a current flat swing could be tweaked and likely result in 25+ home runs per season at the pro level. Top half of the first round prospect.

Luke Stevenson (North Carolina)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/R

Scout Talk: Physical, durable-bodied catcher with tremendous leadership skills. A good receiver and solid blocker with a very accurate, slightly above-average arm, he also offers solid-average power potential from the left side along with a patient approach, despite some length and stiffness to his swing.

Analytics:

Max Exit Velo: 114.6 mph (65 grade raw power)
90th Exit Velo: 107 mph
Avg Launch Angle: 16.9 degrees
In-Zone Contact Rate: 77.5% (27th)
Chase Rate: 13.5% (82nd)
BB Rate: 21.5% (100th)
SO Rate: 24.2% (23rd)

Top Tool(s): Raw power. Plus arm strength with plus accuracy.

Comparable: Jason Castro (2008, 1st round/Stanford)

Summary: Stevenson’s hitting analytics are all over the board from a top of the scale walk rate and solid chase rates to poor in-zone contact rates and the resulting strikeouts. However, with plus raw power and above average defensive skills clubs see him having a chance to hit enough for an everyday role in the Major Leagues, giving him top 25-30 overall pick value.

Caden Bodine (Coastal Carolina)

Ht/Wt: 5-foot-10, 195 pounds
Bats/Throws: S/R

Scout Talk: Excellent bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate and tremendous ability to frame/receive behind it.

Analytics:

Max Exit Velo: 109 mph (50-grade raw power)
90th Exit Velo: 103.8 mph
Avg Launch Angle: 12.9 degrees
In-Zone Contact Rate: 94.8% (87th percentile)
Chase Rate: 16.6% (71st)
BB Rate: 16.7% (80th)
SO Rate: 7.2% (98th)

Top Tool: Well-rounded toolset led by his ability to receive/frame and make contact at the plate.

Comparable: Switch-hitting catchers are hard to find and obviously Hall-of-Famer Ted Simmons isn’t a fair comp for anyone, but there are similarities between Simmons and Bodine as switch-hitters of similar physical size who are extremely difficult to strike out. With that written, Damon Berryhill is the closest comparable.

Summary: Lacks the raw power that clubs desire behind the plate, but a switch-hitting catcher with extremely high bat-to-ball skills combined with strong defensive abilities gives Bodine a chance to become an everyday catcher at the Major League level.

Easton Carmichael (Oklahoma)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-1, 200 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R

Scout Talk: Professional hitter with defensive versatility.

Analytics:

Max Exit Velo: 110.6 mph (50-grade)
90th Exit Velo: 105.4 mph
Avg Launch Angle: 11.8 degrees
In-Zone Contact Rate: 83.4% (49th percentile)
Chase Rate: 22.5% (45th)
BB Rate: 8.9% (24th)
SO Rate: 16.5% (71st)

Top Tool: Projects to hit for average at the pro level.

Summary: Not blessed with the loudest of toolsets, Carmichael does have average arm strength and run tools. Despite middle of the road analytics, he shows the mentality and maturity to hit a Major League level. Profiles as a backup behind the plate, and can also play the outfield and first base to add value and versatility to a MLB roster.

Grant Jay (Dallas Baptist)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot, 225 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R

Scout Talk: Few swing it as quickly as Jay who has some of the top bat speed in this year’s college game.

Analytics:

Max Exit Velo: 112.5 mph (55/60-grade)
90th Exit Velo: 108.1 mph
Avg Launch Angle: 18.6 degrees
In-Zone Contact Rate: 77.9% (28th percentile)
Chase Rate: 22% (47th)
BB Rate: 15.2% (70th)
SO Rate: 24.6% (20th)

Top Tool(s): Plus raw Power. Plus arm strength. Plus run speed

Comparable: Jay’s physical size and toolset are comparable to the 39th overall pick in 2024, Caleb Lomavita (Cal).

Summary: Despite a sizable decrease in his strikeout rate this season from last (31.4%), his current rate (24.6%) is still much too high to translate into success at the pro level. However, as the toolsiest draft-eligible catcher in college baseball this season, Jay will be a great high-risk/high-reward pick in the top three rounds – he has all-star type tools.

Brooks Bryan (Troy)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-2, 225 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/R

Scout Talk: Physical lefthanded hitting catcher with juice to all fields in his bat, improving defensive abilities behind the plate and excellent makeup.

Analytics:

Max Exit Velo: 114.8 (65-grade raw power)
90th Exit Velo: 107.5 mph
Avg Launch Angle: 17.3 degrees
In-Zone Contact Rate: 78.9% (32nd percentile)
Chase Rate: 27.8% (23rd)
BB Rate:  13.4% (62nd)
SO Rate: 26.1% (11th)

Top Tool(s): Plus raw power. Above average arm strength

Comparable: Physical LHH who resembles Brian McCann

Summary: Put himself on the top five round prospect map this summer with the USA CNT. He’s made tremendous progress behind the plate over the past two years and it now looks like he can remain in position at the pro level. At the plate he chases too much and must improve against lefthanded spin at the plate, but he has the hand speed to thrive against velocity. College catchers go quickly in rounds two through four and Bryan is likely to be one of them.

Matt Klein (Louisville)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/R

Scout Talk: Lefthanded hitting catcher who makes consistent contact and has a chance to make an impact at the plate at the pro level.

Analytics:

Max Exit Velo: 109.9 mph (50-grade raw power)
90th Exit Velo: 105.8 mph
Avg Launch Angle: 1.7 degrees
In-Zone Contact Rate: 92.4% (81st percentile)
Chase Rate: 21.5% (50th)
BB Rate: 14.3% (80th)
SO Rate: 8.2% (97th)

Top Tool: Hit ability

Comparable: John Jaso

Summary: Klein has been slowed by numerous injuries throughout his three seasons in college, including a broken forearm that has limited this season to just 23 games and 97 plate appearances to date. Despite these setbacks, Klein has posted solid numbers every season, including last summer in the Cape (.375 batting average), and .338 with more walks (14) than strikeouts (8) this spring. He’s a likely top five round pick.

Mason Strong (Utah Valley)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R

Scout Talk: Plus arm strength behind the plate with an aggressive approach at it.

Analytics: 

Max Exit Velo: 106.7 mph (35-grade raw power)
90th Exit Velo: 100.1 mph
Avg Launch Angle: 18.1 degrees
In-Zone Contact Rate: 87.7% (66th percentile)
Chase Rate: 25.4% (32nd)
BB Rate: 8.5% (24th)
SO Rate: 9.2% (96th)

Top Tool(s): Plus arm strength. Above average run speed.

Summary: The sleeper of the group, Strong is a redshirt junior and a transfer from Oklahoma. He’s having a breakout season in the WAC. With solid bat speed and some pull side power, he’s overly aggressive and his chase rate is a little concerning at the plate, but he’s athletic and more projectable than most his age.

Additional potential day two (rounds 4-10) catchers include Rylan Galvan (Texas), Luke Heyman (Florida), Brody Williams (Kent State), Wailele Kane-Yates (Oral Roberts), Karsen Bowen (TCU), Dylan King (Central Florida), Adonys Guzman (Arizona).