Leonardo Bernal

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #10 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Signed out of Panama in January 2021 for $680,000, Bernal has established himself as one of the top young players in the Cardinals’ system over his first three seasons. After debuting in the Dominican Summer League in 2021, Bernal skipped the Florida Complex League and made his U.S. debut with Low-A Palm Beach in 2022. He returned to Palm Beach in 2023, playing 78 games before hitting the injured list on Aug. 10.
  
  Scouting Report: A switch-hitting catcher with a mature physical frame, Bernal showed a noticeable improvement in plate skills this season. After whiffing and chasing at high rates in 2022, he made adjustments to his setup to make more contact and chase less this season. The changes worked and Bernal improved his contact rate, in-zone miss rate and cut down on his chase swings. Bernal has always possessed plus raw power dating back to his days as an amateur but has yet to fully actualize his game power due to flatter angles on contact. His power hitting took a step back in 2023 and his isolated slugging dropped more than a hundred points year over year. This was in large part due to a drop in launch angles on his balls in play over 95 mph and a drop in pull-side launch. Behind the plate, Bernal struggled at times with his blocking and didn’t show the same plus arm he showed in 2022. Much of this looks to be a product of Bernal’s body backing up and a subsequent drop in athleticism. He is a young switch-hitting catcher with improving contact and approach, but he faces questions around his in-game power and catching ability.
  
  The Future: Bernal’s overall skills project him as a backup big league catcher with the upside to blossom into an average everyday catcher.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #12 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The Cardinals signed Bernal out of Panama for $680,000 during the 2020-2021 international signing period, the second time in recent years they've signed a top amateur catcher from Panama after Ivan Herrera. Bernal struggled to hit for average but showed power in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and jumped stateside for the 2022 season. He began the year in extended spring training but rose to Low-A Palm Beach in June, where he hit .256/.316/.455 as the youngest hitter to receive 100 or more at-bats in the Florida State League in 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: Bernal is a switch-hitting catcher with projectable abilities on both sides of the ball. He's an average contact hitter with a solid approach, although he can be a little passive batting righthanded. His main offensive calling card is his power. He already shows above-average power as a teenager and showcased it when he hit a ball 423 feet at 110 mph for a pull-side home run in late August. Bernal makes his best contact at his steepest launch angles and projects to keep hitting for power long-term. Behind the plate, Bernal showcases advanced receiving skills and plus arm strength. He is comfortable in the crouch and has the athleticism to move fluidly behind the plate.
  
  The Future: Bernal is a long way off, but has the traits of a potential everyday catcher who contributes on both sides of the ball. He may see High-A as a 19-year-old in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Run: 30. Field: 55. Arm: 60.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The Cardinals signed Bernal out of Panama for $680,000 during the 2020-2021 international signing period, the second time in recent years they've signed a top amateur catcher from Panama after Ivan Herrera. Bernal struggled to hit for average but showed power in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and jumped stateside for the 2022 season. He began the year in extended spring training but rose to Low-A Palm Beach in June, where he hit .256/.316/.455 as the youngest hitter to receive 100 or more at-bats in the Florida State League in 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: Bernal is a switch-hitting catcher with projectable abilities on both sides of the ball. He's an average contact hitter with a solid approach, although he can be a little passive batting righthanded. His main offensive calling card is his power. He already shows above-average power as a teenager and showcased it when he hit a ball 423 feet at 110 mph for a pull-side home run in late August. Bernal makes his best contact at his steepest launch angles and projects to keep hitting for power long-term. Behind the plate, Bernal showcases advanced receiving skills and plus arm strength. He is comfortable in the crouch and has the athleticism to move fluidly behind the plate.
  
  The Future: Bernal is a long way off, but has the traits of a potential everyday catcher who contributes on both sides of the ball. He may see High-A as a 19-year-old in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Run: 30. Field: 55. Arm: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The Cardinals signed Bernal out of Panama for $680,000 during the 2020-2021 international signing period, the second time in recent years they've signed a top amateur catcher from Panama after Ivan Herrera. Bernal struggled to hit for average but showed power in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and jumped stateside for the 2022 season. He began the year in extended spring training but rose to Low-A Palm Beach in June, where he hit .256/.316/.455 as the youngest hitter to receive 100 or more at-bats in the Florida State League in 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: Bernal is a switch-hitting catcher with projectable abilities on both sides of the ball. He's an average contact hitter with a solid approach, although he can be a little passive batting righthanded. His main offensive calling card is his power. He already shows above-average power as a teenager and showcased it when he hit a ball 423 feet at 110 mph for a pull-side home run in late August. Bernal makes his best contact at his steepest launch angles and projects to keep hitting for power long-term. Behind the plate, Bernal showcases advanced receiving skills and plus arm strength. He is comfortable in the crouch and has the athleticism to move fluidly behind the plate.
  
  The Future: Bernal is a long way off, but has the traits of a potential everyday catcher who contributes on both sides of the ball. He may see High-A as a 19-year-old in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Run: 30. Field: 55. Arm: 60.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: One of the Cardinals top signings during the 2020-21 international signing period. Bernal was the top player in Panama and drew Wilson Ramos comparisons at the time of signing.
  
  Scouting Report: Bernal debuted in the Dominican Summer League in 2021 and showed bat-to-ball skills and projectable power as well as advanced catching skills. He skipped the Florida Complex League and instead was assigned to Low-A Palm Beach where he&#39s shown an increase in swing and miss and some aggressive swing decisions. He&#39s also shown some power in games but his approach has often limited his impact. He&#39s a strong receiver who moves well behind the plate, and should have little trouble sticking at the position.
  
  The Future: A talented all-around catcher tasked with a difficult assignment out of extended spring training. How Bernal adjusts over the coming months will paint a clearer picture of what he needs to work on in the coming years.