Zion Rose

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #27 prospect in 2026 draft
  School: Louisville. Drafted: Never Drafted
  
  Age At Draft: 21.1
  
  Rose was the headliner of an impressive Cardinal recruiting class and—like some of the other players on here—was not in the starting nine come Opening Day. However, he has since played his way into an everyday role. Rose has an intriguiing set of tools, as on top of his above-average barrel skills and present impact he is also a plus runner. He has a quiet and simple swing with big-time hand speed, and has already shown the ability to be able to handle premium velocity. Rose recently has gotten some run in the outfield, and while his actions are a work in progress, his speed and athleticism translate.
• Ranked #208 prospect in 2023 draft
  School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. Source: HS
  
  Commit/Drafted: Louisville
  Age At Draft: 18.1
  Rose has developed into an explosive, physically imposing catcher. He’s strong, lean and athletic with a chiseled 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame and transferred from Illinois to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his senior season, where he hit .395/.495/.753 with four home runs and led the team with 10 stolen bases. Rose stands out for his bat-to-ball skills and made plenty of contact in games during the summer showcase circuit, with strong performance against quality pitching thanks to quick hand speed and an in-zone contact rate of 91% in 2022. Scouts are a bit critical of Rose’s swing at times, as he can get downhill and too choppy, which produces a lot of ground balls and limits his impact ability—which is solid considering his raw strength. He could tap into more power in the future with the right swing adjustments that allow him to elevate more consistently. Rose has the tools to be a strong defensive catcher, with above-average arm strength and great movements behind the plate. He could improve his consistency and shorten his arm action to make the most of his arm strength, however. He’s a plus runner, which is rare for a catcher, and has also played the outfield, including center field. Rose is committed to Louisville, which has an excellent track record of developing catchers. In addition to his physical tools, Rose has a high-effort style of play on the field that endears him to scouts and coaches.