This week’s iteration will begin our transition over to position players, starting off with catchers. Catchers are the trickiest to scout out, notably on the defensive end, but all these players have at least one carrying tool that leads to an idea of a breakout performance. Let’s dive deeper into some names, beginning with a personal favorite.
Brendan Brock, Oklahoma
6’3 / 200lbs (NR)
The inclusion of Brock could be considered a bit of stretch since he was picked by the Brewers in the 14th round last year but the buzz has already quieted around the guy with little talk among this year’s catcher class. He is a JUCO transfer from Southwestern Illinois, where he utterly dominated. Among the entirety of the NJCAA (min. 30 games), Brock ranked 3rd in batting average, 4th in on-base, 5th in slugging, and 11th in home runs with a .74 K/BB ratio.
Behind all the top placements on the leaderboards lies a tremendous athlete. At his height, Brock would place in the taller size for a catcher, but he moves ridiculously well for a ballplayer, nonetheless a catcher. The speed is easily a plus plus tool, and it comes with a fluid running motion and good initial drive that makes for a real threat on the bases. In his two seasons at Southwestern Illinois, Brock stole 69 bags only being caught 8 times. With the speed comes positional versatility, where he’s played some in the outfield, although his future looks set at catcher. The receiving is a bit rough behind the plate, with the struggle centered around framing low and high pitches. With his strength and athleticism, there is reason to believe he can develop into at least an average receiver and be able to settle at the position. Thanks in part to his athleticism, he’s got elite bat speed that allowed him to rake at Southwestern Illinois. Top-of-the-line athleticism paired with great raw power makes for an enticing prospect, especially at catcher. If the bat plays at even 75% of what he produced in JUCO, he will soar past his previous 14th-round selection and potentially into a top selection.
Jack Natili, Cincinnati
6’3 / 198lbs (NR)
Natili had himself a nice breakout year after making the move to join Cincinnati in 2025. He put up a slash of .338/.451/.556 with a respectable .217 ISO and 12.3 BB%. He spent the summer at the Cape, and while the numbers did disappoint a bit, the power continued to be a positive trait, slugging 6 home runs in 37 games with a .186 ISO.
As noted, power is undoubtedly Natili’s best tool. Stocked with a lean, athletic frame, Natili looks the part of an athlete who can provide that strength. The fall numbers already show more of the same pop from him, with exit velo numbers surging past the 105mph mark to rank among the top of the Cincinnati squad. He’s got a spread-out, closed-off stance with insanely quick hands that turn on the ball easily. There are contact problems, but the swing itself is clean and mechanically sound. Pitch recognition is usually the hardest to develop, but the swing provides a good opportunity to improve the bat-to-ball skills and moderately improve the hit tool. The defense is a bit rough, to say the least. His bigger size already adds a challenge to receiving and framing, so he’ll need to learn how to work with his size in fielding his spot. He may not have the bat to play a corner spot, so improved defense is vital to his outlook. Defense will take priority on boosting his draft position, and cementing his future as a catcher can shoot him up a couple of rounds.
Reese Moore, South Carolina
6’0 / 205lbs (NR)
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