Stryker Trahan

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #21 prospect in 2015
  To say that 2014 was a challenging year for Trahan is an understatement. The 2012 first-round pickmoved from catcher to right field for his first full-season assignment at low Class A South Bend to help his bat develop more quickly. The change had the opposite effect with the Louisiana native hitting just .198 in 95 games. The Diamondbacks put Trahan back behind the plate in late July and sent him to short-season Hillsboro, where he rebounded a hit, and he helped the Hops win the Northwest League title. Working with hitting coach Mark Grace, Trahan made adjustments to hit from a slightly more closed stance in order to keep his stride length down, as well as moving his hands up slightly. He has plus raw power to all fields, but he can't always get to it in games as he struggles with quality offspeed stuff. Trahan also showed improvement in his catching skills and, most importantly, got his body in better shape. His release and footwork need improvement to take advantage of his strong arm, and he calls a good game, but he needs to stay focused for all nine innings. Trahan needs many more reps behind the plate but should get them now that he's in condition to handle the rigors of everyday catching. He'll get a fresh start in 2015, returning to low Class A with Kane County.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #8 prospect in 2014
  Trahan, whose first name comes from a character in a Burt Reynolds movie, was the first high school catcher taken in the 2012 draft, when the Diamondbacks popped him at No. 26 overall. Signed for a $1.7 million bonus, Trahan advanced to the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2013 after a stint in extended spring training. He missed a month when he returned home after the death of his mother. Scouts have differing opinions about whether Trahan can (or should) stay behind the plate. Some think his bat would develop faster without the strain of learning the intricacies of catching. But he continues to work hard, showing improvement with his blocking and footwork. His arm is well above-average, allowing him to throw out 40 percent of Pioneer League basestealers, but he sometimes loses focus behind the plate. Trahan is still finding his swing and struggled with pitches featuring good spin in 2013, but he showed plenty of pull power with Missoula, leading the team in home runs. He got bigger in his second pro season, probably the result of too much weight work, and will work to get into better baseball shape in the offseason. Arizona plans to keep Trahan behind the plate for now. He's ready for his full-season debut in 2014, which should come at low Class A South Bend.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #8 prospect in 2013
  A tough but friendly Cajun kid named after a character in a Burt Reynolds movie, Trahan was the first high school catcher drafted in 2012. The 26th overall pick, he signed for $1.7 million before slugging .473 and leading the Rookie-level Arizona League with 40 walks in his pro debut. Because he's unrefined defensively, he spent the entire summer in the AZL so he could work with hitting coach Robby Hammock and catching coordinator Bill Plummer, both former big league catchers. Trahan's hitting is far ahead of his defense. He has advanced plate discipline, above-average bat speed and the strength to drive the ball out of the park. His plus power is his calling card, but he also has the potential to hit for solid average. Opinions are mixed as to whether Trahan can stay behind the plate despite a strong arm and good athleticism. He threw out just 24 percent of AZL basestealers and his blocking and receiving skills are below-average. He did show improvement during the summer. He runs well enough to play on an outfield corner if he has to move. Trahan has the hitting chops to warrant a move to a full-season team, but he'll likely stay behind in extended spring training to work on his defense at the start of 2013. His next stop likely will be short-season Hillsboro.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #27 prospect in 2012 draft
  Trahan once told Baseball America he comes "from a long line of catchers," as both his parents played the position. One scout lauded his "Cajun makeup," referencing his toughness and genial demeanor, fitting for a player named after a character in a Burt Reynolds film. He could be a first-round pick for a team that believes he can catch, but the consensus is that he'll need to shift to an outfield corner. At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Trahan has an ideal build for catching and an athletic frame with strong hands and forearms that allow scouts to put good grades on his power. His swing has lacked fluidity this spring and is more strength-oriented, but he may loosen up as he puts more distance between baseball and his football career; he was Acadiana's starting quarterback last fall. Trahan has above-average arm strength, which will play behind the plate or in right field, and he's an excellent runner for his size, often turning in above-average times to first base from the left side. His obstacle at catcher is his receiving ability, which is below-average, and scouts hoped to see more progress in an inconsistent senior season. A Mississippi commitment, Trahan has too many tools to fall far.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pioneer League #8 prospect in 2013
  Trahan followed his Rookie-level Arizona League hitting coach, former big league catcher Robby Hammock, to Missoula, where the 2012 first-rounder continued to work on refining his catching skills to match his power at the plate. Hammock said that Trahan made tremendous improvement this year in receiving, blocking and throwing. His above-average arm features a quick release he used to gun down 40 percent of basestealers, an improvement on the 24 percent he nabbed last year in the AZL. Trahan has skeptics when it comes to his long-term future at catcher. He needs to keep his focus behind the plate, but overall the signs are positive. Trahan?s potential at the plate has never been questioned, and he improved his ability to read pitchers this year. He also got better in turning on fastballs for power. One concern is that Trahan added weight this year, so he?ll need to prioritize conditioning to stay behind the plate.
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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #7 prospect in 2012
  Trahan is a tough but friendly kid named after a character in a Burt Reynolds movie, and Arizona's first-round pick (signed for $1.7 million) brought a big dose of Cajun attitude to the desert this summer. Hitting comes easy for him, as he combines discipline, bat speed and the strength to drive the ball out of the park. He has enough bat to handle a move to first base or the corner outfield, which could be in his future. "With his patience and his power, he can do a lot of damage down the road," Diamondbacks manager Hector de la Cruz said. AZL observers were mixed as to whether Trahan can stay behind the plate. While he has a strong arm, he threw out just 24 percent of basestealers and his receiving and blocking skills are below average. The Diamondbacks believe he has the base skills to succeed and the aptitude to learn, and had him work all summer with former big league catchers Robby Hammock and Bill Plummer.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: A tough but friendly Cajun kid named after a character in a Burt Reynolds movie, Trahan was the first prep catcher drafted in 2012. The 26th overall pick, he signed for $1.7 million before slugging .473 and leading the Rookie-level Arizona League with 40 walks in his pro debut. Because he's unrefined defensively, he spent the entire summer in the AZL so he could work with hitting coach Robby Hammock and catching coordinator Bill Plummer, both former big league catchers. Scouting Report: Trahan's hitting is far ahead of his defense. He has advanced plate discipline, above-average bat speed and the strength to drive the ball out of the park. His plus power is his calling card, but he also has the potential to hit for solid average. Opinions are mixed as to whether Trahan can stay behind the plate despite a strong arm and good athleticism. He threw out just 24 percent of AZL basestealers and his blocking and receiving skills are below average. He did show improvement during the summer. He runs well enough to play on an outfield corner if he has to move. The Future: Trahan has the hitting chops to warrant a move to a full-season team, but he'll likely stay behind in extended spring training to work on his defense at the start of 2013. His next stop likely will be short-season Hillsboro.