Hank Conger

Hyun Conger, given his nickname by his Korean grandfather in honor of Hank Aaron, has carried a lofty reputation ever since he swatted 34 home runs and helped pitch his Huntington Beach Little League team to within one victory of the 2000 Little League World Series. Now, he's the top catching prospect in the Class of 2006. His decorated amateur career has included stints with USA Baseball's youth national team and Aflac All-American honors. Conger didn't have a great junior season, and scouts doubted whether the switch-hitter could remain a catcher defensively. While he hasn't turned into Johnny Bench, he has impressed scouts with his aptitude and improvement, showing better receiving skills and footwork. His desire to improve is evidenced by one-on-one work he's done with former big leaguer Brent Mayne. His arm strength remains a plus, though he needs to make smoother transfers. Still, Conger's bat remains his best tool. He has well-above-average power, particularly from the left side, and he makes consistent contact for a power hitter. While some compare him to Athletics prospect Daric Barton, Conger has more power and less hitting ability than Barton.