The evaluation of high school catchers may be the most subjective of all the scouting involving young players. Many professional scouting directors will tell you that after pitchers the drafting of high school catchers has the biggest "wash out" rate percentage among players drafted each year.

Some scouts like catchers with long lanky bodies, others prefer shorter more compact or thick bodies. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder when it comes to evaluating catchers.

It used to be that if a catcher was a great defense player (what is known as a catch and throw guy) he had a chance to make it to the Major Leagues. In today's game the catcher is also expected to provide a substantial offensive output.

The days of a professional baseball catcher being a big slow-footed wide body are long gone.

It is important to remember that the overall evaluation of a player's baseball skills is subjective to the scout's personal opinions about how those skills will play at the Major League level.

Catcher
A scout will time a catcher's throw to second base by starting his stopwatch as the ball hits the catcher's glove and he stops it when the ball is caught at second base. (this is called the "pop to pop" time) A good scout will anticipate the ball-to-glove contact in order to start and stop the watch.

	A solid Major League time is under 2.00 seconds
	Most Major League catchers are in the 1.80 - 1.98 range, on average
	In college, times under 2.10 will often work

Other Things Scouts Look For

	Stance - Athleticism
	Setting Up For Pitches
	Framing of Pitches
	Blocking Skills
	Throwing Footwork
	Fielding of Bunts
	Plays at the Plate
	On Field Leadership
	How a catcher works during a bullpen - This can be very important - Does the player practice like a game - or does he receive the pitches in the bullpen with less than full effort and skills