It has been a busy offseason but we're ready to dive head first into our Under 25 Lists. This list wound up representing a good mix between guys with big league experience and prospects -- even includes a few 2008 Draft prospects. Joe Mauer is comfortably ahead of every of catcher here, but with his relatively polished, power bat and above-average arm, Matt Wieters has every bit as high of a ceiling as Mauer. The Georgia Tech product could be atop this list in the not-so-distant future.
Notes: The level that appears following each player's name is the highest level where the player has registered over 100 plate appearances. We used an age cutoff of April 1st, 2008.
1. Joe Mauer, MIN (4/19/83) - MLB
Mauer battled an array of injuries in 2007 and his numbers (.293/.380/.426) took a big hit because of them. The former number one overall pick (2001) endured a 7% drop in line-drive rate from 2006 (23% to 16%) and his isolated power slipped 27 points. A proven contact hitter with a patient plate approach, Mauer figures to improve upon his .336 wOBA if he stays healthy (.362 in 2006). Unfortunately, that's hardly a given for the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder at this point.
2. Brian McCann, ATL (2/20/84) - MLB
McCann had a mediocre May and terrible June last season, scarring his overall vital line (.270/.319/.452). He dealt with a finger injury as well as a sore ankle during that period of time. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder got back into a groove in July and August before struggling in September. Still young enough to improve on his impressive 2006 season (.386 wOBA), McCann's a good contact hitter with 30 home-run potential.
3. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, TEX (5/2/85) - MLB
Making his 2006 wrist injury a distant memory, Saltalamacchia demolished Double-A pitching last April (.617 slugging). That hot streak and Brian McCann's finger injury helped the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder earn big-league playing time. The Braves used that time to showcase their other young catcher and wound up trading him to the Rangers as part of a deal for Mark Teixeira. Saltalamacchia hit .266/.310/.422 in 330 plate appearances between the two teams. Though he strikes out a fair amount, he had a good walk rate in the minors (12.0% since 2005) and he'll likely hit 25 home runs a season in his prime.
4. Matt Wieters, BAL (5/21/86) - HWB
One of just three catchers selected in the top five picks of the draft this century, Wieters was more than just the top catching prospect in the 2007 draft, he was the top college hitter. I saw him play defense on multiple occasions last season and was impressed with his agility behind the plate -- he's a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder so people worried about that. After a slow start to his junior year, Wieters managed to rebound and finish the season at .358/.480/.592. The switch hitter has a pretty swing from both sides of the plate. He could reach Double-A by year's end, when he'll likely be considered a consensus top 10 overall prospect.
5. Dioner Navarro, TB (2/9/84) - MLB
Navarro matched Victor Martinez in home runs from July 20th on last season (they both hit 8). One of the worst hitters in baseball over the first half of the season, he batted .285/.340/.475 after the All-Star Break. The switch hitter has power from both sides of the plate and he's a solid contact hitter (15.4% K in 2007). Brought up to the big leagues at the tender age of 21, Navarro may be on the cusp of a major breakout.
6. Jeff Clement, SEA (8/21/83) - AAA
The third catcher on this list who was a top five overall pick, Clement was aggressively pushed to Triple-A in 2006 and face planted there (.295 wOBA). Offered the same challenge in 2007, he flourished (.366 wOBA). The lefthanded hitter did most of his damage against lefties last season (.315/.424/.669 in Triple-A). He was .259/.348/.430 against righties. While Clement's bat has a good chance to be at least league average, there's cause for concern over his below-average arm forcing him to move to another position.
7. Jesus Montero, NYY (1/1/90) - R
Another player who may eventually move away from catching, Montero batted a promising .280/.366/.421 as a 17-year-old in rookie ball last season (123 plate appearances). The $2.0 M Venezuelan signee is already 6-foot-4, 225-pounds. He's a talented enough hitter that he could eventually be an above-average big leaguer even if he moves to another position.
8. Taylor Teagarden, TEX (12/21/83) - AA
Despite being considered a first-round talent in 2005, Teagarden fell to the 3rd due to bonus demands. He then missed almost all of 2006 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. But he proved his doubters wrong with a huge 2007 season. Spending half of year as a 23-year-old in the California League and half in the Texas League, Teagarden hit .312/.428/.589 overall -- he also struck out in 26.7% of his plate appearances. We're anxious to see what he can do against more advanced competition in less-favorable ballparks, but Teagarden's an advanced defender who could easily become a league-average player.
9. Chris Iannetta, COL (4/8/83) - MLB
Despite managing a healthy 20% line-drive rate in 2007, Iannetta wasn't the same kind of contact hitter that we saw in 2006. He struck out in 24.5% of his plate appearances (237) and managed a mere .218 batting average. This performance has put the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder in competition for playing time this season. Interestingly, Iannetta had much more success on the road than at home last season. We think Iannetta will begin to flourish once he sees regular playing time and becomes comfortable hitting at Coors Field. He could become an average regular or better.
10. Kurt Suzuki, OAK (10/4/83) - MLB
Suzuki may only peak as an average regular but he's a solid bet to reach his ceiling. The Fullerton product hit for significantly more power in the big leagues than he did in Triple-A last season (.085 IsoP vs. .159). A pull-hitter, Suzuki could be streaky but he does a good job making contact, hitting the ball in the air, and drawing walks.
11. J.R. Towles, HOU (2/11/84) - AA
Towles blasted his way through Double-A (.416 wOBA, 257 plate appearances) and performed well in the bigs last season (.410, 45). But it's important to remember that he's a 24-year-old who still only has 95 plate appearances above Double-A. Towles failed to produce an extra-base hit in 43 Triple-A at-bats and he still needs to prove that he can draw walks in the bigs. We're hesitant to get too caught up in all the hype that surrounds him.
12. Hank Conger, LAA (1/29/88) - A
We've downgraded Conger upon hearing the news that he has a partially torn labrum that could keep him off the field for all of 2008. The switch hitter showed an impressive ability to hit for power in his pro debut (.179 IsoP). Though he was in the Midwest League, Cedar Rapids -- his home park -- has been a home-run friendly venue over the last four years. Conger also doesn't walk much. Perhaps he'll be able to rest his shoulder and still get in some at-bats this year.
13. Bryan Anderson, STL (12/16/86) - AA
As of the All-Star Break, Anderson looked like he had a chance to finish the season as one of the top three catching prospects in baseball. A 21-year-old in Double-A, he was hitting .328/.387/.460 at the time of the Futures Game. But he hit just .267/.309/.314 after the break. Anderson is a good line-drive hitter with some opposite field pop. He has the talent to become an above-average big leaguer.
14. Miguel Montero, ARI (7/9/83) - MLB
Montero struggled hitting for power on the road last season (.243 IsoP at home, .113 in the road). And though he had a 20% line-drive rate in Triple-A two seasons ago, he only managed a 12% rate last season. The lefthanded hitter has power to all fields and a good plate appreach. He may only peak as an average regular and he isn't a perfectly safe bet to reach his potential, but he's young enough where it's reasonable to expect him to continue to improve.
15. Devin Mesoraco, CIN (6/19/88) - R
If Mesoraco would have put up a better showing in the Gulf Coast League last spring, he would have been showered with praise all offseason. He didn't (.217/.308/.268). But the truth is, those 138 at-bats aren't going to mean much two years from now. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder was heralded for his plus power potential, exceptional defensive package, and baseball instincts heading into the 2007 Draft, when he was selected 15th overall -- scouting source: MiLB.com.
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Skipworth (HS), Max Sapp (HOU), Max Ramirez (TEX), Jesus Flores (WAS), Buster Posey (FSU), and Francisco Pena (NYM).
Adam Foster can be reached at adamf@projectprospect.com.