Peter O'Brien to Yankees: Video Highlights, Scouting Report and Analysis

Position: C

Height/Weight: 6’5”/225 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

DOB: 7/15/1990

College: Miami

Year: SR

Playing three seasons for Bethune-Cookman College in Florida prior to transferring to Miami this past offseason, O’Brien emerged as one of the top catching prospects in the nation thanks in part to his plus power and arm.

The 6’5” backstop fell all the way to the third round in the 2011 draft, where he was selected by the Colorado Rockies. O’Brien ultimately decided not to sign and rather than returning to Bethune-Cookman, he enrolled at the University of Miami and was cleared to play shortly before the start of the current season.

Like the majority of amateur hitters who possess raw power comparable to O’Brien’s, the right-handed hitter’s approach lacks consistency as he tries to do too much at times rather than allow the ball to travel deeper into the strike zone.

Despite his size, O’Brien’s athleticism and rocket arm have allowed him to stick at the position. However, he's been sidelined as of late while recovering from a broken wrist and has been unable to resume duties behind the plate due to lingering discomfort.

Still, he’s surprisingly agile and has improved defensively over the past year, and has received the occasional comparison to Matt Wieters. If he can refine his plate discipline and employ a more selective approach at the plate, O’Brien’s bat has the potential to carry him to the major leagues by 2015. The only remaining question is if his defense will follow.