Wyatt Mathisen Stats & Scouting Report

AB	69
AVG	.159
OBP	.298
SLG	.29
HR	3

Full name Wyatt Lane Mathisen
Born 12/30/1993 in Corpus Christi, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 217 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Calallen
Debut 09/07/2020
Drafted in the 2nd round (69th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012 (signed for $746,300).

View Draft Report

Mathisen is the best high school catching prospect in the draft, though he hasn't seen much time behind the plate for Calallen High, which has deemed him more valuable as a shortstop and pitcher. There's no question his pro future is as a backstop, and he has the tools and desire to make it there. He has plus arm strength and the athleticism to become a good receiver, though his inexperience shows as he flinches at times when catching the ball. His makeup is off the charts, as he has the leadership ability to run a pitching staff and the work ethic to succeed. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Mathisen has the swing and strength to hit for average and power from the right side of the plate. He's a good runner for a catcher, grading as close to average, though he'll probably lose a step once he starts catching every day. Like crosstown Corpus Christi rival Courtney Hawkins, he's a Texas recruit.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Mathisen was considered one of the best high school catchers in the 2012 draft, despite playing catcher only on the showcase circuit. He didn't wear the gear for long, for the Pirates moved him to third base at low Class A West Virginia in 2014. Defensively, Mathisen made a smooth transition. He has the potential to be an average defender with an accurate, tick above-average arm, good hands and solid range. As one would expect from a former catcher, he's a below-average runner. The bigger question is whether Mathisen can handle the offensive demands of the position. He has a strong frame, but he's shown no power as a pro with a career .336 slugging percentage. His line-drive swing features little loft; he hits for average and draws plenty of walks, but he has to learn how to drive the ball in hitter's counts. Mathisen will continue to learn the nuances of playing third base in 2015 at high Class A Bradenton.
The Pirates were happy that Mathisen was still on the board at pick No. 69 in the 2012 draft, and the Texas recruit quickly signed for slot value at $746,300. He played multiple positions as an amateur, including pitcher and shortstop, but the Pirates and many other teams were convinced he could become an above-average catcher and follow a similar career path as Brandon Inge. Pittsburgh assigned Mathisen to low Class A West Virginia at the outset of 2013 and he struggled offensively before having surgery in late May to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He came back to join short-season Jamestown in mid-August, and the Pirates were especially happy that he looked good on defense. Mathisen receives the ball well and gets rid of the ball quickly with plus arm strength. The organization believes he eventually will hit for a bit of average and power--though still probably at below-average rates--because he has shown decent plate discipline in his young career. He's a fringe-average runner. Mathisen will begin 2014 at West Virginia, and the Pirates will take things a bit slower this time.
Baseball America rated Mathisen as the top high school catcher in last year's draft, but some teams were leery because he played much more at shortstop than behind the plate as an amateur. The Pirates saw enough of him at catcher to think he could play there, and they believed Gulf Coast League manager Tom Prince, who had a 20-year pro career as a catcher, could help him make the transition to full-time backstop. After Mathisen signed for $746,300 as a second-round pick, he made nice strides behind the plate in his pro debut, showing a strong arm and throwing out 36 percent of basestealers. He's somewhat stiff receiving the ball and flinches on some pitches, but he should eliminate those problems in time. Mathisen has a quick bat with line-drive power and possesses good plate discipline for a young hitter. He should develop at least average home run pop as his body matures. He's more athletic than most catchers and has close to average speed, though he'll slow down as he spends more time behind the plate. He'll spend his first full pro season in low Class A.

Draft Prospects

Mathisen is the best high school catching prospect in the draft, though he hasn't seen much time behind the plate for Calallen High, which has deemed him more valuable as a shortstop and pitcher. There's no question his pro future is as a backstop, and he has the tools and desire to make it there. He has plus arm strength and the athleticism to become a good receiver, though his inexperience shows as he flinches at times when catching the ball. His makeup is off the charts, as he has the leadership ability to run a pitching staff and the work ethic to succeed. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Mathisen has the swing and strength to hit for average and power from the right side of the plate. He's a good runner for a catcher, grading as close to average, though he'll probably lose a step once he starts catching every day. Like crosstown Corpus Christi rival Courtney Hawkins, he's a Texas recruit.

Minor League Top Prospects

Though he was one of the top prep catching prospects in this year's draft, Mathisen spent more time playing shortstop and pitching for his high school team this spring. His tools, athleticism and baseball intelligence all aided him in the full-time transition to catching, and he drew widespread praise around the league for his all-around game. Mathisen has a plus arm, quick release and good lateral agility, which helped him throw out 36 percent of GCL basestealers. He should develop into a good receiver in time, though his inexperience shows at times behind the plate when he flinches at balls. Managers liked the way he handled his pitching staff and took control of games. Mathisen has a sound approach at the plate, gets in a good hitting position, repeats swing and uses the middle of the field. He didn't show much over-the-fence power in his debut, but has the strength for power. His speed grades out close to average, which is fast for a catcher, but he figures to slow down.