2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Catcher

We’re excited to ratchet up 2024 MLB Draft content in the coming weeks. We’ll start with a series of articles detailing each positional demographic. These pieces aren’t meant to be an exhaustive list, but rather, an overview of the caliber of talent at the position. For each player, we'll run down some basic information, in addition to some strengths and weaknesses. You’ll also find their current position on the Consensus MLB Draft Board in parentheses next to their name.

The catching class in 2023 was extremely thin and top-heavy. Beyond Blake Mitchell (8th to the Royals) and Kyle Teel (14th to the Red Sox), Michael Carico (149th to the Cubs) was the only other true catcher who finished the cycle with a top 100 consensus ranking. This year's class is carried mostly by the college crop. Who are the names to know, and what are their strengths and (ahem) opportunities? Let’s dig in.

Caleb Lomavita R/R, Cal (21)
Caleb Lomavita is one of a handful of names from a collegiate catching crop that will likely be Day One selections in July. The native of Hawaii has improved his offensive game steadily over three seasons at Cal.

Lomavita has an unusual setup at the plate, crouched in an open stance before starting a leg drift to a more closed approach as the pitcher starts their motion. Nonetheless, it works. Lomavita has a launch-oriented swing that provides a nice balance between above-average hit and power tools, finding the barrel of the bat often enough to balance his good contact rate with plenty of hard-hit balls. While he doesn't walk much (10 in 49 games), there's a ton of impact here: Lomavita has launched 14 home runs and 12 doubles in 2024. He's an excellent athlete and has at least average speed, even acting as an opportunistic base stealer.

While there's refinement needed on the defensive side of his game (receiving, framing, etc.), he has the foundation to stick at the position with good lateral quickness and an above-average to plus arm. If he doesn't stick behind the plate, there's a first-base or corner-outfield profile there with his athleticism. Lomavita could be the first collegiate backstop off the board in July.

Malcolm Moore L/R, Stanford (24)
Moore was one of the better prep bats in the 2022 class and one of the highest-ranked players not to sign. Moore made it to campus at Stamford and will be extremely young for the class (20) as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2024.

Moore had an extremely unusual setup at the plate that he has simplified this season. However strange his operation was, it was effective in his freshman season in Palo Alto, to the tune of 15 home runs and 20 doubles. Moore’s approach and swing decisions have improved in 2024, as he has walked more this season. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills but seems to have suffered some bad batted-ball luck.

Moore is a question mark behind the plate. A solid arm is offset by the need to refine his blocking, receiving, and footwork. Moore has the offensive profile to stick in the first round regardless of defensive position, but if he can develop his catching skills, he has a chance to provide really good value.

Jacob Cozart L/R, NC State (33)
Cozart's floor is laid by the fact that he's one of the best defensive catching prospects in the class. Although tall for the position, good hands, lateral movement, defensive actions and pitch framing set an excellent foundation for (at the bare minimum) an average defensive catcher at the big-league level.

Cozart has plenty to offer on the offensive side of the ball, too, and took solid steps forward in his sophomore season. In 2023, he managed a .301/392/.536 line, with 10 home runs and 14 doubles. Most of his present power comes to the pull side, with more line-drive power to center field and the opposite field.

Cozart has typically struggled against spin, but there's plenty to like about his offensive profile. His plate discipline is very good, he doesn't strike out a ton, and he has good bat-to-ball skills. If (as has proven the case so far) Cozart can continue his steady improvement to his offensive game in 2024, he’ll be one of the first few backstops off the board.

Walker Janek R/R, Sam Houston St (34)
After back-to-back solid seasons for Sam Houston State, Walker Janek looks to have broken out in a major way in 2024. Simply put, Janek has a solid all-around profile in both his offensive and defensive game. At the plate, he has good bat speed and finds the barrel often. There's present pull-side power and good bat-to-ball skills. Although Janek does have a tendency to chase, especially against secondaries, there's a good shot that it's an above-average hit and average power tool when he's done developing, which would play well at catcher.

Defensively, he has one of the better arms in the catcher demographic, turning back a solid number of would-be base stealers with good pop and release times behind the plate. All the other prerequisites needed to be at least average defensively are present. Janek moves laterally and blocks well, has solid ability to frame, and while his intangible presence behind home needs some work, there's plenty to work with.

All in all, this is one of the most well-rounded catching profiles in the 2024 class. Janek is having an excellent 2024 season. An up-arrow prospect for me.

Kevin Bazzell R/R, Texas Tech (53)
Bazzell transferred to Texas Tech after spending his freshman season at DBU and immediately hit the ground running (after sitting out the 2022 season) to become one of the better bats in his conference.

At the plate, Bazzell has a quiet operation. It's a simple, smooth load, punctuated by a small leg kick to get the bat moving through the zone. His offensive profile is definitely hit over power, for now. It's a flatter bat path that's more geared toward gap power, although he did show some pop (10 HR) in his first season at TTU. As an overall offensive package, however, there's plenty to like. Bazzell doesn't chase much, walks plenty, and has strong bat-to-ball skills (92% zone contact rate in 2023).

While Bazzell has only fringy speed, he's an excellent athlete. An above-average arm, good defensive actions and lateral movement give him a chance to stick behind the plate. If that doesn't work out, he's played at third base for the Red Raiders and has enough athleticism to handle left field. The bat is the calling card for Bazzell, if orgs like his chances to stick behind the plate, it'll increase his stock significantly.

Cade Arrambide R/R, Tomball HS, TX (96)
The 2024 catching class is much more interesting than the 2023 class.  Though mostly buoyed by the college demographic, Arrambide is one of the best prep catchers in the class.

Arrambide has the potential to be an excellent defensive catcher. It's a plus (or better) arm that's recorded throws at over 100mph from the outfield, combined with good lateral movement and great pop times. There are other aspects of catching (such as blocking and framing) that will require refinement, but Arrambide has the potential to be an above-average to plus defender, with a right-field profile if it doesn't work behind the plate.

Offensively, there's plenty to be excited about, too. He has great bat speed and plenty of raw power, which has already shown itself in games. The big question marks with his offensive profile are bat-to-ball skills and chase rate, both of which could be exposed as a professional. If he can shore up at least one of those two areas, he has a good chance to accrue plenty of offensive and defensive value as a pro.

Honorable Mentions: Hunter Carns (101), Anderson French (124), Cole Messina (139)

Who excites you from the catching class in 2024? Who are you higher on than other prospects? Jump into the draft conversation in the comments below.

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