Will Banfield

The top high school catcher in the class, Banfield has some of the best defensive potential of any prep catcher of the last few years. The Vanderbilt commit was unanimously voted as the top defensive catcher in the class by major league scouting directors in BA's Preseason High School All-America poll and also took home the honors for having the best arm among high school catchers. Banfield has at least a plus arm--some scouts have gone higher and called it plus-plus--with loose hips and impressive flexibility behind the plate that allow him to frame low pitches effectively and also help his quick lateral movement on balls in the dirt. With strong forearms and above-average hands, Banfield has all the tools necessary to become a plus defensive catcher, and he's been working with elite prep arms like Ethan Hankins and Kumar Rocker since he was around 14 years old. Banfield's bat is what could push him from a backup catcher profile to a potential star, as he has above-average bat speed and plus raw power to the pull side, though there are real swing and miss concerns that followed Banfield throughout the summer. There were reports that his swing was a bit more direct to the ball in the spring, but he'll need time to figure out hitting at the pro level while also trying to work with a entire pitching staff. Banfield should be able to manage a staff well, however, with impressive maturity, makeup and leadership skills.