St. Louis Cardinals’ MLB Draft Preview: Catcher, a Position of Interest

Option #4 Ben Rortevedt

Age: 18

Hits/Throws: L/R

School: Verona Area High School (Wisconsin)

Here we have quite an interesting prospect. Rortevedt is absolutely a more well rounded prospect than the previous two and is probably the one that I like the most out of the prospects we have talked about so far.

I am not alone in the praises of Rortevedt as Red Baron laments not putting him in his early favourites list. Rortevedt is a different player than the previous two in that he has more offensive upside to his game currently.

You can see in his stance and body that he is not your normal high school kid. He is built like a truck and will absolutely lean on that as he progresses through the minor leagues. Red Baron likes his size much better than the taller Sean Murphy and believes it will be a strength for him defensively.

He mentions this about his defensive ability behind the plate, “The catch-and-throw skills are as good as any you’re likely to see in this year’s draft, with quiet, soft hands behind the plate, and an arm that has been clocked well into the 80s on throws down to second base. He moves extremely well behind the dish, as well, getting low to block pitches in the dirt with aplomb and showing outstanding lateral mobility.”

“The catch-and-throw skills are as good as any you’re likely to see in this year’s draft, with quiet, soft hands behind the plate, and an arm that has been clocked well into the 80s on throws down to second base. He moves extremely well behind the dish, as well, getting low to block pitches in the dirt with aplomb and showing outstanding lateral mobility.”

On the other side of the plate, Red Baron has this to say about Rortevedt’s ability,

“Rortvedt shows exceptional power potential, befitting an athlete who looks the way he does, with plus bat speed and explosive hands. He shows a willingness to use all fields, again in a way that would suggest a player much older and wiser, and has pop going the other way as well as to the pull side.”

His ability at both offense and defense make him absolutely worth taking a flyer on with one of the Cardinals’ two supplemental picks. He will command a high amount of the draft pool at that slot, but with his ability it is worth it.

Next: MLB Draft Preview Round One

While I could go on and on about catchers in this draft. These are the four that I believe that will make sense for the Cardinals in their first four picks. I doubt they will use their first pick on a catcher, but wouldn’t be surprised to see them use a supplemental pick on a catcher they believe in.

Regardless, I do believe that Carson Kelly is the future for the organization at this position, but it doesn’t hurt to have depth at this position.