Caleb Lomavita Stats & Scouting Report

AB	61
AVG	.213
OBP	.31
SLG	.246
HR	0

Full name Caleb Kaimi Kalae'pomakai Lomavita
Born 11/18/2002 in Honolulu, HI
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School California
Drafted in the CB-A round (39th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2024 (signed for $2,325,000).

View Draft Report

School: California
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Hit: 50. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 55. Arm: 55.

Lomavita was a standout high school player and the top prospect from Hawaii in the 2021 draft, but he made it to campus at California, where he initially split time at DH and catcher before taking over as the team’s everyday backstop in 2023. Lomavita is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound catcher who has stood out for his contact skills and athleticism over the last three years. He’s a career .302/.369/.534 hitter and also performed at a high clip in the Cape Cod League in two summers. Lomavita loves to swing the bat and does so often. He doesn’t work deep counts and will chase pitches out of the zone, but he has gotten away with that approach thanks to his advanced contact skills and strength that allows him to pull the ball with authority. He’ll need to develop a more nuanced offensive approach and potentially learn to use the opposite field with more frequency to become an above-average hitter. Barring that, he’ll be reliant on making great contact to over-perform a career 6.2% walk rate. Lomavita has a chance to be an above-average defender thanks to his athleticism, above-average arm and strong hands. He’s consistently gotten better as a receiver and blocker, and scouts have praised his work ethic and mentality for the position. Speed is an afterthought for catchers, but Lomavita is an above-average runner who went 35-for-42 in stolen base attempts in college. He has a chance to be the first catcher drafted in the middle of the first round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: After a standout high school career in Hawaii, Lomavita made an immediate impact at California as a DH and backup catcher in 2022. He took over as the team’s catcher in 2023, but it was his bat that continued to impress, both with the Bears and in two summers in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .323 with four home runs in 49 games. The Nationals made him the third catcher taken off the board in the 2024 draft, taking him 39th overall in the supplemental first round. Lomavita signed for a bonus of $2,325,000, then helped Low-A Fredericksburg to the Carolina League title after a late-season debut.

Scouting Report: A pitcher, outfielder and catcher in high school, Lomavita embraced the move to catching full-time in college. He’s more athletic than most catchers, and for now is an above-average runner who is a basestealing threat. At the plate, Lomavita’s contact skills and athleticism speak for themselves. He loves to swing the bat, which leads him to chase pitches. Lomavita has a huge personality, which has helped in his catching role. He controls a game with authority and makes pitchers feel more at ease during big moments. He does not look out of place behind the dish despite being relatively new to the position. Lomavita’s arm strength is above-average, and he has strong hands, both of which are qualities that should make him an asset behind the plate.

The Future: Lomavita has plenty of development ahead of him, but scouts praise his work ethic and willingness to put in the work to improve. His bat-to-ball skills, leadership skills and athleticism give him a chance to be a well-rounded catcher. An opening assignment with High-A Wilmington is most likely in 2025.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 55

Draft Prospects

School: California Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Hit: 50. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 55. Arm: 55.

Lomavita was a standout high school player and the top prospect from Hawaii in the 2021 draft, but he made it to campus at California, where he initially split time at DH and catcher before taking over as the team’s everyday backstop in 2023. Lomavita is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound catcher who has stood out for his contact skills and athleticism over the last three years. He’s a career .302/.369/.534 hitter and also performed at a high clip in the Cape Cod League in two summers. Lomavita loves to swing the bat and does so often. He doesn’t work deep counts and will chase pitches out of the zone, but he has gotten away with that approach thanks to his advanced contact skills and strength that allows him to pull the ball with authority. He’ll need to develop a more nuanced offensive approach and potentially learn to use the opposite field with more frequency to become an above-average hitter. Barring that, he’ll be reliant on making great contact to over-perform a career 6.2% walk rate. Lomavita has a chance to be an above-average defender thanks to his athleticism, above-average arm and strong hands. He’s consistently gotten better as a receiver and blocker, and scouts have praised his work ethic and mentality for the position. Speed is an afterthought for catchers, but Lomavita is an above-average runner who went 35-for-42 in stolen base attempts in college. He has a chance to be the first catcher drafted in the middle of the first round.