Video: 2 HR's in state title game
See Thomas Dillard blast off twice in his team's biggest game of the seasonMaxPreps kicks off its series examining the top prospects for the Major League Baseball Draft, which is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday. Today's category: Top 5 catching prospects.
Top 5 catchers for the MLB Draft
Carlos Cortes, Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.)
The big question for Cortes is what position will he play at the next level. Listed as a catcher, second baseman and outfielder, Cortes, at 5-foot-8, is likely too small to play catcher at the next level. He will more than likely find a home in the infield. That being said, he is listed as a catcher here, since it was his primary position in high school. He will be drafted more for his hitting abilities, as he batted .390 with nine doubles and three home runs for Lake Howell this year. For overall talent, Cortes is a first day draftable player. It just depends on what position he will play.
Ben Rortvedt, Verona (Wis.)
Wisconsin does not routinely send a high number of players to the Major Leagues, but Rortvedt could be the state's best prospect in years. He has solid offensive skills and his defense is good enough to make him a potential first round draft pick. He batted .406 for Verona this year with five doubles and three triples. He could go late on the first day or early on the second day.
Cooper Johnson, Carmel (Mundelein, Ill.)
Johnson might be the top defensive high school catcher in the draft, and that could land him a spot in the first round. His hitting ability may need some work. He batted just .143 for Team USA last summer, but he did hit .382 as a junior at Carmel. Scouts like his attitude and aggressiveness, which could make up for any deficiencies at the plate.
T.J. Collett, Terre Haute North Vigo (Ind.)
Collett is a bit of an enigma, as his batting stats have declined since his freshman and sophomore years, when he hit 26 home runs combined and was among the national leaders with 17 home runs as a sophomore. Last year he hit just three home runs, but he is up to six this year while hitting .458 (way up from the .292 he hit last year). Nevertheless, Collett continues to be ranked among the nation's top catchers by Perfect Game and he will likely be chosen at some point during the second day of the draft
.
Thomas Dillard, Oxford (Miss.)
Dillard has come on strong this year, possibly moving himself to a spot late on the first day of the draft or early on the second day. He is currently the national leader in home runs with 16 and he batted .438 for Oxford. He has committed to Ole Miss.
