MLB Draft 2012: Highlighting Top Catchers Available

Catcher is a very difficult position to develop properly, and few teams have been able to do it with massive success.

It seems like every year there's a new top catcher in the majors. One guy rarely establishes himself as a true elite, the best of the best, perhaps because it's one of the most taxing positions in the game, both mentally and physically, and it's hard to remain the best year after year. 

It's excruciatingly difficult to be an excellent asset both offensively and behind the plate, which is why a very promising prospect in both regards is a pretty huge deal. With that said, here's a look at the top crop of catchers available in this year's draft.

Mike Zunino

The University of Florida backstop is considered to be far and away the best prospect on this year's board; everyone else pales in comparison—by a ton. He's currently rated the third-best overall prospect by MLB.com and is expected to go within the top five during this year's draft.

Not only is Zunino dangerous offensively—he's one of the top hitters in the college game, period—but scouts have no fears about his ability to stay behind the plate, long-term, which is what truly makes him stand out. One scout told MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, "Mike Zunino is in a class by himself. He's a Matt Wieters type. He's a hitter, he has power, he can really handle a staff. He's got it all."

The Mariners have the third pick and a hole at catcher, so it's likely Zunino could end up there, and he could finally reverse the fortune of a team that has had a lot of difficulty drafting good catchers in the past.

Stryker Trahan

There aren't a lot of people out there who think it's worthwhile to take a high school catcher in the draft because statistically, so few of them develop into bona fide stars. Trahan could be the one who changes that.

Trahan runs very well for a catcher, he has a nice, big build and he has a lot of athleticism—all of which will most likely translate into a solid hitter, no question. But the question with him is the same one that plagues most high school backstops: Can he stay behind the plate? Several prospect reports, including one at MLB.com and one at PadresProspects.com, have indicated that his catching skills need substantial work before he has any hope at advancing through the minors.

Trahan has a good arm, but his footwork can be a problem, and he might end up transitioning into an outfielder, which would reduce his overall value. He's a risky selection, but his build just might suggest he can have success at the position.

Peter O'Brien

He may seem like less of a risk than Trahan, given the fact that he's had four years at two different colleges to develop. Though he shares some of the same physical bonuses as Trahan—he's big and athletic—his inconsistency throughout college has given some scouts pause.

The good news with O'Brien is that after he transferred from Bethune-Cookman to Miami and into the ultra-competitive world of ACC baseball, his offense has shown no substantial drop-off. He can certainly hit, and at 6'5" and 225 pounds, he's an imposing option behind the plate. Last season, he was selected in the third round of the draft as a junior, and he's expected to go higher with one more year and an impressive season of ACC ball under his belt.

Like Trahan, his defense shows some concerning limitations, despite a good arm. Unlike Trahan, though, scouts seem convinced he'll be able to stick around as a catcher throughout his development, which is why he could go in the first round.