Luca Tresh Stats & Scouting Report

AB	352
AVG	.25
OBP	.323
SLG	.429
HR	14

Full name Luca Tresh
Born 01/11/2000 in Clearwater, FL
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 193 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School North Carolina State
Drafted in the 17th round (499th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2021 (signed for $423,000).

View Draft Report

Early this spring, Tresh was one of the bigger helium players in the country and was on his way to giving North Carolina State first-round catchers in back-to-back years after Patrick Bailey was selected 13th in 2020. Through his first 10 games, Tresh was hitting .400/.467/.950 and was second in the country with seven home runs. That production fell steeply, however, and Tresh’s line dropped to .236/.314/.472 through 47 games at the end of the regular season, with a 27% strikeout rate. Tresh has crushed fastballs all season and he puts up gaudy exit velocities, especially to left field, where all of his homers have gone this spring. Analytics departments will love how hard he hits the ball, as well as a tendency to elevate consistently, but scouts are skeptical of his swing and his ability to recognize spin and offspeed—both pitch categories he struggled against this spring. Tresh has a spread-out stance with no stride and significant bat wrap, with an aggressive approach and some length to the swing that could lead to high strikeout rates. Defensively, Tresh has average potential behind the plate. He’s not the defender that Bailey was before him (admittedly a tough bar to clear) but has a strong arm and is athletic and strong in his lower half behind the plate, with a wide one-knee setup. His receiving can be inconsistent at times and he’s not always the most fluid mover, but there’s nothing that would prevent him from sticking behind the plate with some refinement.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Tresh was on target in his junior year at North Carolina State to be the second straight Wolfpack catcher to be drafted in the first round until a second half slump raised questions as to just how much he'd hit as a pro. The Royals selected Tresh in the 17th round in 2021, and signed him to an overslot $423,000 bonus. Finally ready to tackle a full season in 2022, Tresh put up nearly identical numbers at both High-A Quad Cities and Double-Northwest Arkansas, with a combined OPS of .828 and 19 home runs.

Scouting Report: Tresh handled the demands of catching in 72 games without that workload affecting his bat. He stayed efficient with his swing, made good swing decisions, and adapted to velocity and high-usage spin. He's cut his strikeout rate at each level since turning pro and projects more as a high contact, line drive gap-to-gap hitter. His power is mostly to the pull side and will result more in extra-base hits than balls over the fence. A solid defender, Tresh has shown the ability to lead a staff, and is athletic behind the plate with at least an average arm.

The Future: Tresh will likely return to Double-A after spring training. It's still to be determined whether he will profile as a frontline regular or a backup catcher, but he's showing that he can be at least a solid major leaguer.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45. Power: 40. Speed: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.

Draft Prospects

Early this spring, Tresh was one of the bigger helium players in the country and was on his way to giving North Carolina State first-round catchers in back-to-back years after Patrick Bailey was selected 13th in 2020. Through his first 10 games, Tresh was hitting .400/.467/.950 and was second in the country with seven home runs. That production fell steeply, however, and Tresh’s line dropped to .236/.314/.472 through 47 games at the end of the regular season, with a 27% strikeout rate. Tresh has crushed fastballs all season and he puts up gaudy exit velocities, especially to left field, where all of his homers have gone this spring. Analytics departments will love how hard he hits the ball, as well as a tendency to elevate consistently, but scouts are skeptical of his swing and his ability to recognize spin and offspeed—both pitch categories he struggled against this spring. Tresh has a spread-out stance with no stride and significant bat wrap, with an aggressive approach and some length to the swing that could lead to high strikeout rates. Defensively, Tresh has average potential behind the plate. He’s not the defender that Bailey was before him (admittedly a tough bar to clear) but has a strong arm and is athletic and strong in his lower half behind the plate, with a wide one-knee setup. His receiving can be inconsistent at times and he’s not always the most fluid mover, but there’s nothing that would prevent him from sticking behind the plate with some refinement.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Tresh was on target in his junior year at North Carolina State to be the second straight Wolfpack catcher to be drafted in the first round until a second half slump raised questions as to just how much he'd hit as a pro. The Royals selected Tresh in the 17th round in 2021, and signed him to an overslot $423,000 bonus. Finally ready to tackle a full season in 2022, Tresh put up nearly identical numbers at both High-A Quad Cities and Double-Northwest Arkansas, with a combined OPS of .828 and 19 home runs.

Scouting Report: Tresh handled the demands of catching in 72 games without that workload affecting his bat. He stayed efficient with his swing, made good swing decisions, and adapted to velocity and high-usage spin. He's cut his strikeout rate at each level since turning pro and projects more as a high contact, line drive gap-to-gap hitter. His power is mostly to the pull side and will result more in extra-base hits than balls over the fence. A solid defender, Tresh has shown the ability to lead a staff, and is athletic behind the plate with at least an average arm.

The Future: Tresh will likely return to Double-A after spring training. It's still to be determined whether he will profile as a frontline regular or a backup catcher, but he's showing that he can be at least a solid major leaguer.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45. Power: 40. Speed: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Tresh was on target in his junior year at North Carolina State to be the second straight Wolfpack catcher to be drafted in the first round until a second half slump raised questions as to just how much he'd hit as a pro. The Royals selected Tresh in the 17th round in 2021, and signed him to an overslot $423,000 bonus. Finally ready to tackle a full season in 2022, Tresh put up nearly identical numbers at both High-A Quad Cities and Double-Northwest Arkansas, with a combined OPS of .828 and 19 home runs.

Scouting Report: Tresh handled the demands of catching in 72 games without that workload affecting his bat. He stayed efficient with his swing, made good swing decisions, and adapted to velocity and high-usage spin. He's cut his strikeout rate at each level since turning pro and projects more as a high contact, line drive gap-to-gap hitter. His power is mostly to the pull side and will result more in extra-base hits than balls over the fence. A solid defender, Tresh has shown the ability to lead a staff, and is athletic behind the plate with at least an average arm.

The Future: Tresh will likely return to Double-A after spring training. It's still to be determined whether he will profile as a frontline regular or a backup catcher, but he's showing that he can be at least a solid major leaguer.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45. Power: 40. Speed: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.