Tonight the Males’s School World Sequence finals begins as Coastal Carolina takes on LSU in a best-of-three sequence. The matchup options a few of the high prospects within the upcoming MLB Draft, together with LSU beginning pitcher Kade Anderson, a possible top-five choice subsequent month.
However one other participant to observe on this sequence is Coastal Carolina catcher Caden Bodine, whose expertise each on the plate and behind it, have put him firmly within the first-round combine. Bodine is a switch-hitting catcher who hits for common and is among the greatest contact hitters in the complete draft class, as evidenced by his minuscule eight p.c strikeout fee. Bodine leads the Chanticleers with a .326 batting common and has posted a slash line of .326/.459/.473 this season.
However what may set him aside is what he does behind the plate when he places the gear on. Each Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall (a former catcher himself) and beginning pitcher Jacob Morrison firmly consider Bodine is one of the best catcher within the nation.
“He’s one of the best catcher within the nation,” mentioned Morrison. “The strike zone is larger. He throws out each runner – I’m not a fast particular person to the plate, I do know that – however he throws out each runner. It’s very calming understanding he’s again there each time.”
“He can catch within the Main Leagues proper now in my view,” began Schall. “He wants a while clearly simply to get acclimated to the professional recreation, however there’s no query in my thoughts he can catch within the Main Leagues proper now.
“He’s the full bundle,” added Schall. “The three main expertise – the catch, block, throw – and now he’s actually developed into being a pacesetter with our pitching workers. . . . An absolute professional on and off the sector … He’s only a throw-back man that simply needs to compete and play baseball. I say it on a regular basis, I’m fortunate to have a entrance row seat to observe him.
“He’s one of the best again cease in the complete nation, arms down, non-negotiable.”
The place Bodine really stands out behind the plate is together with his receiving expertise. His potential to show borderline pitches into strikes actually stands out. Based on 6-4-3 ChartsBodine is 16% higher than common on this class:
Just lately, Bodine shared simply how he can excel at receiving, and it begins with how he places his hand into the mitt, in addition to understanding every of the pitchers on Coastal Carolina’s workers, and the way their pitches transfer and break:
Then there’s his pregame routine, featured not too long ago throughout ESPN’s protection of the Males’s School World Sequence. Bodine begins by working with a small, weighted membership, to activate his left arm. He then places on a small mitt, engaged on framing in addition to pitches within the grime:
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All of this provides as much as the “greatest backstop within the nation,” and a probable first-round decide subsequent month within the MLB Draft.
It could additionally assist Coastal Carolina win a title this weekend.
