Jack Bulger

Draft Prospects

• Ranked # prospect in 2024 draft
  Bulger was a high-profile prospect coming out of high school who stood out for his advanced physicality and defensive potential behind the plate. He never quite lived up to offensive expectations in four seasons with Vanderbilt and is a career .265/.362/.387 hitter with the program though he has impressive raw power potential and strength. He’s split time at catcher and corner outfield but could be an interesting senior sign for a team who thinks he can stick behind the plate in pro ball.
• Ranked #305 prospect in 2023 draft
  School: Vanderbilt Source: 4YR
  
  Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21.9
  Bulger was a split-camp prospect out of high school who showed solid offensive chops and physicality, but the industry wondered about his catching ability. In three years at Vanderbilt, the strongly built 6-foot, 216-pound righthanded hitter split time as a left fielder and catcher, though he caught much more frequently in 2023. Bulger has plenty of strength and pull-side game power, but he has never hit above .300 in a single season and as a junior he slashed .240/.348/.370 with a 14.8% strikeout rate and 12.6% walk rate. He averaged 90-91 mph in exit velocity this spring, but doesn’t have the swing to maximize the raw power he does possess in games. Bulger also struggled in the Cape Cod League with Orleans in 2022, though he has always shown a strong approach at the plate and walked more often than he struck out in that summer stint. Bulger has above-average arm strength behind the plate, but he draws split feedback on his receiving ability behind the plate and how a team views his defensive potential will significantly impact how he’s viewed as a prospect.
• Ranked #183 prospect in 2020 draft
  A three-year starter at Dematha (Md.) High, Bulger hit .385/.520/.649 with 14 home runs in his high school career, but some scouts are split concerning his potential as a prospect. Bulger is a strong and physical 6-foot, 205-pound backstop with huge forearms and has a chance to hit and catch, but he needs some refining behind the dish to help make that happen. At times, Bulger rushes his transfer and gets stabby when receiving pitches and some scouts question whether he will be able to catch at the next level. Other scouts see the bat speed, easy pull power and the ability to hit and go opposite field, along with a great arm behind the plate. Bulger can hit well enough and has the arm strength to stay behind the plate, but he must improve defensively and become a better receiver, as well as becoming more accurate on his throws. There’s no question that Bulger has great makeup, but he will need to stay behind the plate at Vanderbilt to maximize his stock.