Cole
Studt

Cole Studt, Highland (CA), 2026
Positional Profile: C/1B Strong power bat with a good feel behind the plate.
Body: 6-3, 197-pounds. Sturdy, well-built frame.
Hit: LHH. Tall postured stance. Firm lower half with knees slightly bent. Laid-back upper half. Bat rests on back shoulder with elbow pointed straight down. Medium leg kick. Loads in back leg with hands casted heavily. Direct hand path creating bat lag. 67.8 mph bat speed with 8 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 87.1 mph. 369' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-76 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Long release with a full follow-through. Delivers straight throws with a high-arcing trajectory.
Defense: 2.03-2.28 pop times. One-knee stance. Firm glove. Quick pop up with an efficient transfer. Stays balanced throughout.
ATH: 7.73 runner in the 60. 1.83 and 4.32 in the 10 and 30 yard splits.

Studt made a strong impression on me at the 2025 Central California Preseason All State event where his big, strong frame caught attention, but his foundation of tools solidified my intrigue on his profile. This was my first chance to get an extended look at him in a competitive game environment and the rising ‘26 backstop made another strong impression again with this look. At the dish he took three strong at bats with a consistent approach to attack hittable offerings within the zone, but a solid discipline to stay off pitches outside the zone over those three trips. He was on the barrel with his contact in all three plate appearances, lofting a high fly ball out, lining out right at the 2B and then lining a hard single to LF on a FB away. Studt does show the occasional whiff on pitches within the zone, but not anything that appears to give me any strong concern and with his present bat speed, leverage/loft in path, strength in frame and foundation of approach/rhythm profiles as a potential impact LH bat at the next level. Behind the dish his defensive foundation is sound with strength in his throwing arm popping as low as 2.0 on throws, but with some length in arm/transfer that can be polished to take next steps as a thrower. His receiving is sound with strong wrists, mobility to get low in a one-knee set up and quiet glove movements, but did occasionally have timing issues when working to the pitch causing the ball to pop out of glove. A solid blocker, but has some polish left to be a high level blocker. LHH catchers who project to be solid if not strong defenders at the premium spot are always in demand and Studt is one that college programs should be keeping tabs on if that profile is one a program needs in 2026.