Justin O’Conner Stats & Scouting Report

IP	1
ERA	9
WHIP	4
BB/9	18
SO/9	9

Full name Justin Douglass O'Conner
Born 03/31/1992 in Indianapolis, IN
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 201 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Cowan
Drafted in the 1st round (31st overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010 (signed for $1,025,000).

View Draft Report

Scouts had been split on whether O'Conner was a better prospect as a power-hitting third baseman or as a pitcher with a 93-95 mph fastball and a hammer curveball. When he began catching at the end of the showcase circuit last summer and played regularly behind the plate this spring, though, it settled any debate about his future. He's now the top high school catching prospect in the 2010 draft. His standout tool is his arm, which grades as plus-plus and is capable of producing 1.8-second pop times. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is agile behind the plate, though his inexperience shows in his receiving. O'Conner also generates above-average thunder with his tremendous bat speed, showing power to all fields in batting practice. He homered twice (while pitching a one-hitter) in a state Class A sectional championship game, tying the Indiana career home run record with 51. A righthanded hitter, he's pull-conscious in games and struggled at times against quality pitching last summer, so there's some question whether he'll hit for a high average. Even if he doesn't, his arm and power could make him an all-star catcher. And if he can't make it as a position player, he has an attractive fallback option as a pitcher. The Arkansas recruit is unlikely to make it past the first round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

O'Conner seemed to blossom in 2014, showing off plus power and the minors' best throwing arm, an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale, that made him a pro scouting favorite. His bat and receiving skills did not take the necessary steps forward in 2015, however, and he was exposed at Double-A Montgomery. Pitchers used his aggressiveness against him (he has 29 walks the last two seasons combined) and he struck out 29 percent of the time. He didn't appear to have an approach when scouts saw him, often swinging at pitches outside of the strike zone and passing on pitches that he might have been able to drive. O'Conner also struggled against changeups and breaking balls with his rigid swing path. Some scouts questioned his decision-making on defense and aptitude for game management. Still, O'Conner's raw power shines and his potential behind the plate profile him as a backup catcher, even if he never refines his raw tools. If he puts things together, he could be a regular. Some still believe he could hit .220 with 15-20 home runs. Tampa Bay has catching depth, with five catchers on its 40-man roster, so O'Conner should return to Double-A to start 2016.
3 JUSTIN O'CONNER, C A high school infielder, O'Conner was the first catcher drafted by the Rays in the first round when he was the 31st overall pick in 2010. A pair of hip surgeries early in his pro career set him back a bit, but he blossomed last year in the high Class A Florida State League. O'Conner has impact tools in his arm and his bat. His arm strength earns 80 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale after he threw out 50 percent of basestealers in the FSL. His pop times have been as low as 1.7 seconds, and his throws have excellent carry and accuracy. A physical catcher with solid leadership skills, he is far from polished behind the plate with average footwork and technique. His offensive strength is his plus bat speed that produces raw power and allows him to hit top-shelf fastballs. He has an aggressive hitting approach with quick hands but tends to swing and miss at breaking balls. He has below-average speed but does not clog the base paths. The Rays believe O'Conner has matured mentally and physically, which led to major strides in his overall development. He's a high-risk, high-reward player who may never hit for high average but has the tools to impact a game. He'll return to Double-A Montgomery, where he finished the season, to start 2015.
The first catcher the Rays ever drafted in the first round, O'Conner went 31st overall in 2010 and spent three years in short-season ball before graduating to low Class A Bowling Green in 2013. An offensive force in high school who split his time between shortstop, third base and the mound, he moved behind the plate as a senior and emerged as one of the top prep catchers in the country. A career .199 hitter entering the 2013 campaign, he displayed plus raw power during batting practice but failed to show that same thump during games. That trend started to change at Bowling Green, where one-third of his hits went for extra bases, including 14 home runs. O'Conner admits he used to fret about his stats, which affected his approach. He has learned to relax while focusing on making solid contact. He may not hit for a high average, but he should be a solid run producer, owing to his power. Defensively, he has plus-plus arm strength with good athleticism behind the plate that helped him throw out 25 of 45 basestealers in 2013. He has the necessary leadership traits and soft hands to be a premium receiver, and he is still learning the nuances of calling a game. Given his short time at the position, O'Conner has the defensive tools to be a starting receiver in the big leagues. His next step is the high Class A Florida State League.
Before his high school senior season in 2010, O'Conner drew interest as a slugging third baseman and power-armed righthander. He moved behind the plate that spring and became the top prep catching prospect in the draft, going 31st overall and signing for $1.025 million. He has made strides defensively but has struggled more than anticipated with the bat, hitting .183/.266/.351 in two years in Rookie ball. O'Conner has plus bat speed and raw power, with 17 of his 28 hits last season going for extra bases. But he struggles with his balance as well as his plate discipline, and he struck out in 40 percent of his plate appearances in 2011, the worst rate in the Appalachian League. O'Conner also topped the Appy League by throwing out 36 percent of basestealers, a testament to his plus-plus arm strength. He has quick feet and impressive leadership skills. He's still learning the mechanical aspects of catching, but he has the drive and determination to make it work. Though O'Conner has below-average speed, he's faster than the typical catcher. He may never hit for a high average, but provided he finds a way to make more consistent contact, he has the potential to be a starting catcher at the big league level. He should reach low Class A at some point in 2012.
O'Conner was a top prospect as a slugging third baseman and strong-armed righthander before moving behind the plate as a high school senior. He emerged as the top prep catcher in the 2010 draft, tying the Indiana high school record with 51 career homers. The Rays drafted him 31st overall and signed him away from an Arkansas commitment for $1.025 million. Though he struggled at the plate in his pro debut, O'Conner's wellabove- average raw power still was evident. He has tremendous bat speed and can drive the ball to all fields, though he gets pull-happy during games. He doesn't project as a high-average hitter and may need to shorten his swing to make more consistent contact. O'Conner has plus-plus arm strength and has posted pop times as low as 1.8 seconds. He has quick feet and moves well behind the plate but is still working on the nuances of catching, such as maintaining consistent mechanics, calling games and working with pitchers. He's a below-average runner but not bad for a catcher. By selecting O'Conner, Luke Bailey and Jake DePew in consecutive drafts, the Rays have built impressive catching depth in the lower minors. They can give O'Conner time to develop, likely sending him to Princeton in 2011.

Minor League Top Prospects

Scouts and managers are unanimous in their praise of O'Conner's arm, with multiple observers giving him the highest-possible grade of 80. He turned in pop times of 1.75 seconds on throws to second base. While the converted prep infielder is far from a polished receiver, with 13 errors and 13 passed balls in just 68 games as a catcher, O'Conner stops running games cold. Opponents tried to steal just 48 times, with a 50 percent success rate. He's still learning when to be aggressive but picks off runners with aplomb. Offensively, O'Conner lacks plate discipline and speed, which combined with his swing-and-miss tendencies makes him a below-average hitter for average. He has plus raw power, though, and can hit a fastball. His defense alone may make him a second-division regular, with the chance to be more if his bat develops.
O'Conner threw out a league-leading 36 percent of basestealers and nearly two-thirds of his hits went for extra bases, yet the number that best summarizes his Appy League debut may be .157--as in his batting average. The 31st overall pick in 2010, he didn't face top-tier competition in the Indiana high school ranks. He has swung and missed excessively against pro pitching, and had the highest strikeout rate (40 percent of his plate appearances) of any Appy batting qualifier. Managers liked O'Conner's bat speed and strength, but not his balance or fluidity at the plate, and bad at-bats seemed to chip away at his confidence. But for all his problems making contact, O'Conner has the raw power and well above-average arm strength to profile as a backup catcher even if his average straddles the Mendoza Line. A shortstop/pitcher in high school, O'Conner brings solid speed, quick feet and agility to the catcher position, though his receiving needs further refinement. He should round out his defensive game because he's enthusiastic and displays the leadership qualities necessary to lead a pitching staff.
Teams were split on whether they liked O'Conner better as a righthander or third baseman, but he settled that argument when he moved behind the plate as a high school senior. The Rays drafted him 31st overall in June, and though he struggled in his pro debut, his potential was evident. "He has as good of tools as anyone," Rays manager Joe Alvarez said. "He took a step forward with catching. He needs to work on all areas, but he has great aptitude and lots of upside." O'Conner's two best tools are his above-average power potential and his plus-plus arm strength. He may not hit for a high average, because he gets pull-happy and hasn't hit quality pitching, and he didn't make consistent contact in the GCL. He moves well and has quick feet behind the plate, though he needs to slow down a tick to better synchronize his throwing mechanics.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Florida State League in 2014
Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014

Career Transactions

Rieleros de Aguascalientes released RHP Justin O'Conner.
RHP Justin O'Conner assigned to Rieleros de Aguascalientes.
Charleston Dirty Birds activated RHP Justin O'Conner from the temporarily inactive list.
Charleston Dirty Birds placed RHP Justin O'Conner on the temporarily inactive list.
Charleston Dirty Birds signed free agent RHP Justin O'Conner.
Staten Island Ferry Hawks released RHP Justin O'Conner.