DET
Diego Cartaya, C
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Scouting report
He's not an advanced receiver, so a large slice of the confidence in Cartaya staying behind the plate is derived from the assumption that we will soon have an automated strike zone. But his run-stopping arm strength and accuracy, as well as his prodigious field general presence, mean he's likely to have a defensive impact. Cartaya is not afraid to backpick runners, which is rare for a catcher this age, especially when the infielders are typically not reliable recipients of such lasers. For such a large catcher, his exchange is very quick and remarkably consistent. He's out of his crouch fast and in one fell swoop, unfurls, releases, and then folds forward, bent at the waist, as the ball sizzles on a line to the base. Cartaya is also a balanced, explosive hitter with feel for hitting the ball in the air. He expands the zone a bit too much right now, but he has the physical ability to hit and hit for power, which is rare for catchers and catching prospects. The rate of failure for teenage catchers is high but Cartaya has an All-Star ceiling. (Alternate site, Fall Instructional League)