Wynston Sawyer

Tall and projectable at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, catcher Sawyer has committed to UC Riverside, where he could take over the catching duties after Rob Brantly departs for pro ball. Sawyer has a smooth and whippy righthanded swing and profiles as an average to plus hitter with similar power. His bat is hindered by two factors: He swings down at pitches, preventing his cut from being on the same plane as the ball, and he wraps the bat barrel behind his head, adding length to his swing. As a catcher, Sawyer has handled quality pitches well, showing fine hands along with a comfortable, quiet receiving style. Teams aren't sure they want to buy Sawyer out of his Riverside commitment, in part because he needs to strengthen his throwing arm and quicken his release. His pop times hover around 2.12 seconds and will improve with the proper adjustments. If he continues to develop, Sawyer could follow Brantly's draft path in 2013.