Luke Stevenson Stats & Scouting Report

AB	75
AVG	.280
OBP	.460
SLG	.400
HR	1

Full name Luke Stevenson
Born 07/22/2004 in Wake Forest, NC
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Wake Forest
Drafted in the CB-A round (35th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2025 (signed for $2,800,000).

View Draft Report

School: North Carolina Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.0

BA Grade: 50/High

Stevenson was a four-year starter in high school who led the state of North Carolina in home runs during his senior season. He’s been a regular fixture behind the plate since his first day at North Carolina, where he has played in every game for two seasons. A 6-foot-1, 210-pound lefthanded hitter, Stevenson has strong on-base skills and hit .267/.417/.543 with 33 home runs and a 19.1% walk rate in his college career. He’s an above-average defender who embraces the role of being a team leader behind the plate. Stevenson is excellent at getting the umpire to widen his strike zone by an inch or two to both sides of the plate, and he has the quick hands to drag low pitches into the zone. Stevenson will flash plus pop times thanks to above-average arm strength as well as a quick transfer and his ability to explode out of his crouch. There are concerns about how much Stevenson will hit. He has a pull-focused, power-oriented approach that comes with plenty of patience and an ability to spit on pitches just off the plate—but it also comes with plenty of in-zone miss against quality pitches. He struggled hitting premium velocity of 93+ mph, which could wind up capping his in-game power in pro ball. Despite Stevenson’s pure hitting concerns, his lefthanded power, on-base ability and a chance for plus defense behind the plate should make him one of the first catchers drafted somewhere in the first round.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run:40 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average

Adjusted Grade: 40

Track Record: Stevenson was born in New Jersey, but he etched his name into North Carolina baseball lore as one of the state’s most accomplished catchers. He was a four-year starter at Wake Forest High and led the state in home runs as a senior, then carried that power to college. Stevenson was a two-year mainstay for North Carolina, where he hit 33 homers and walked 19.1% of the time, albeit with just a .267 average. The Mariners drafted Stevenson 35th overall in 2025, and he handled Low-A pitching with ease in his pro debut.

Scouting Report: Stevenson is a strong defensive catcher whose advanced instincts set him apart. Regarded as one of the premier defensive backstops in his draft class, he brings a natural leadership presence and mature game-calling ability behind the plate. Stevenson’s subtle pitch framing consistently earns extra strikes. He persuades umpires to widen the zone with his soft, precise receiving. His quick, quiet hands allow him to pull low pitches into the zone cleanly, giving pitchers confidence to work the edges. At the plate, Stevenson has above-average lefthanded power. There are more questions about his ability to make contact, particularly against premium velocity, which contributed to his draft-day slide out of the first round. Stevenson made an encouraging amount of contact with Low-A Modesto in his pro debut while showing his trademark patience. However, he’ll need to show more feel to hit against upper-minors pitchers to eradicate his hitting ability concerns.

The Future: Stevenson’s elite glove, high baseball IQ and power potential provide a strong foundation. He has everyday catcher upside if his contact ability takes a step forward in pro ball. It shouldn’t be long before he reaches High-A Everett.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60

Draft Prospects

School: North Carolina Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.0

BA Grade: 50/High

Stevenson was a four-year starter in high school who led the state of North Carolina in home runs during his senior season. He’s been a regular fixture behind the plate since his first day at North Carolina, where he has played in every game for two seasons. A 6-foot-1, 210-pound lefthanded hitter, Stevenson has strong on-base skills and hit .267/.417/.543 with 33 home runs and a 19.1% walk rate in his college career. He’s an above-average defender who embraces the role of being a team leader behind the plate. Stevenson is excellent at getting the umpire to widen his strike zone by an inch or two to both sides of the plate, and he has the quick hands to drag low pitches into the zone. Stevenson will flash plus pop times thanks to above-average arm strength as well as a quick transfer and his ability to explode out of his crouch. There are concerns about how much Stevenson will hit. He has a pull-focused, power-oriented approach that comes with plenty of patience and an ability to spit on pitches just off the plate—but it also comes with plenty of in-zone miss against quality pitches. He struggled hitting premium velocity of 93+ mph, which could wind up capping his in-game power in pro ball. Despite Stevenson’s pure hitting concerns, his lefthanded power, on-base ability and a chance for plus defense behind the plate should make him one of the first catchers drafted somewhere in the first round.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run:40 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55.
School: North Carolina Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Stevenson has a prototypical catcher’s build at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds and as the everyday catcher for North Carolina in 2024 hit .284/.420/.535 with eight doubles, 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. He is plenty physical with a thick lower half and strength in his wrists and forearms. In the box, Stevenson oozes comfortability and confidence. He has a low-maintenance setup with his knees slightly bent, a medium-high handset and a minimal load and stride. It’s a direct, compact swing tailored to spray line drives all over the yard. Stevenson has above-average bat speed and advanced feel for the barrel with above-average power to the pull side. In addition to a tantalizing offensive profile, Stevenson is an outstanding defender behind the dish. He’s a great receiver who consistently works below the baseball and steals strikes. Stevenson moves well laterally and does a nice job controlling balls in the dirt and has excellent catch-and-throw skills with a plus arm. His baseball IQ is fantastic and he isn’t afraid to backpick an opposing baserunner. Stevenson’s well-rounded profile at a premium defensive position gives him a strong chance to go in the first round.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 60 | Arm: 50