Reese McGuire

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #24 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: It's the seventh year in the Prospect Handbook for McGuire, a first-round pick of the Pirates out of high school who they traded to the Blue Jays in 2016. McGuire spent most of 2019 in Triple-A Buffalo until the Blue Jays brought him up to Toronto at the end of July, his second stint in the big leagues after he was a September callup in 2018.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: McGuire's defense is what carries him. He's a smart player who is well prepared and earns high marks for his ability to handle a pitching staff and call games. He receives pitches well with soft hands, and while his arm strength is average, his quick footwork helps him get his throws off swiftly and on target. Offensively, McGuire has a short swing and makes a lot of contact, but his power is well below-average, so there isn't much impact when he does connect.
  
  THE FUTURE: Unless he can develop more power, McGuire's offensive upside at this point may be limited, but he could have enough ability at the plate to stick around as a backup catcher, a role he should fill in Toronto in 2020.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #28 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: McGuire showed promise when the Pirates drafted him with the 14th pick in 2013, but his stock has steadily slid. He was traded to the Blue Jays in 2016, and at Triple-A Buffalo in 2018, McGuire had a modest year then performed well as a September callup in his first major league action.
  
  Scouting Report: McGuire's best attributes are on the defensive side. He's a smart, high baseball IQ player who handles a pitching staff well and prepares thoroughly before games. Behind the plate, McGuire receives pitches well and is solid at blocking. His pure arm strength is average, but it plays up because his quick footwork and technique allow him to get rid of the ball quickly. McGuire has a short, contact-oriented swing with good rhythm and a line-drive approach, though he doesn't do much damage.
  
  The Future: With Danny Jansen coming up, McGuire is likely ticketed back to Triple-A in 2019. As a good defender with just enough offense for a catcher, McGuire could carve out a career as a backup.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #15 prospect in 2018
  The Pirates used one of their two first-round picks in 2013 to draft McGuire at No. 13 overall. Three years later, they sent McGuire and outfielder Harold Ramirez to the Blue Jays along with Francisco Liriano in a trade for righthander Drew Hutchison. McGuire repeated the Double-A Eastern League in 2017, though he didn't spend much time on the field due to a left oblique injury in early May, only returning to New Hampshire in August. He did make up for some lost time playing winter ball for the Aguilas in the Dominican League. Defense is McGuire's calling card. He's an above-average defender with high overall game awareness and thorough preparation, so pitchers like throwing to him. McGuire blocks and receives pitches well, and his average arm plays up because of his quick footwork to get rid of the ball. McGuire has a compact swing with good rhythm, a flat path and a sharp eye for the strike zone. His six home runs in 45 games in 2017 were a career high. McGuire has a chance to be a starter if he can develop more power, but if not he should have just enough offensive skill to go with his defense to stick around for a long time as a backup.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #13 prospect in 2017
  The Pirates drafted McGuire with the second of their two first-round picks in 2013, No. 14 overall, and the Blue Jays acquired him in a deadline deal that also brought lefty Francisco Liriano and outfielder Harold Ramirez to the Jays. Only one prep catcher has been drafted as highly since McGuire's selection (Reds, Tyler Stephenson, 11th overall in 2015), and high school catcher is a notoriously risky demographic. McGuire's risk is with his bat. He is a solid catch-and-throw backstop with has soft hands, good agility and an average arm that plays up with a quick transfer and plus accuracy. He threw out 37 percent of baserunners, third-best in the Double-A Eastern League. He opened the season as one of the youngest players in the EL, and it has caught up to him offensively. McGuire has drawn walks and made contact in full-season ball but has just 54 extra-base hits, including only four home runs, the last three seasons. McGuire's short swing path is flat and helps him make consistent contact, but he doesn't have the bat speed or strength to consistently drive the ball. The Jays lacked upper-level catching prospects until acquiring McGuire, who needs offensive development but could be Russell Martin's heir if it happens.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #6 prospect in 2016
  McGuire was considered the top catcher in the 2013 draft, and the Pirates selected him at No. 14 with their second of two first-round picks. He signed for $2,369,000, which was $200,000 under the recommended slot value. He advanced to high Class A Bradenton in 2015, where his defensive value continued to outstrip his offensive output. He has hit .258/.304/.315 in nearly 200 games at the Class A level. Defense is McGuire's calling card. He is an outstanding receiver with soft hands and an extraordinary ability to frame pitches and steal strikes for his pitchers. He is mobile behind the plate, has an above-average arm and an advanced feel for working with a pitching staff. However, McGuire needs to improve his offense. Though he has a pretty lefthanded swing, he generates little power, and he particularly struggles against lefthanders. He is a good athlete, which not only helps him behind the plate, but also makes him a threat on the bases. He easily led Florida State League catchers with 14 stolen bases in 2015. McGuire is ready to play in the major leagues right now from a defensive standpoint. He will begin the 2016 season at Double-A Altoona after a stint in the Arizona Fall League, and if his hitting ever catches up to his defense, he could be the starter in Pittsburgh by 2018.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #5 prospect in 2015
  Selected with the second of two first-round picks in 2013, McGuire was regarded as the best defensive high school catcher available that year. He helped lead Kentwood High to the Washington Class 4A state championship as a junior in 2012, then won the USA Baseball player of the year award that summer for his play with the 18U team. McGuire's older brother Cash is a rising junior infielder at Seattle University. McGuire is noted for his defense, which is almost major league caliber in the eyes of many scouts. He works extremely well with pitchers, for he was given the responsibility of calling pitches while still in Little League. He also is an outstanding receiver with good pitch-framing skills. McGuire's arm is above-average and made even better because of his extremely quick footwork. He concentrated mainly on making contact at low Class A West Virginia in 2014, but scouts believe he will eventually hit 10-12 home runs a year because of solid bat speed and a swing that has a little length but finishes with good leverage. McGuire shows a relatively advanced understanding of his swing and uses the opposite field well. He's a fringe-average runner. McGuire's defense and off-the-chart leadership ability will get him to the major leagues, perhaps as soon as 2017. He will begin 2015 at high Class A Bradenton.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #8 prospect in 2014
  The Pirates used the second of their two first-round picks in 2013 (14th overall) to select McGuire. They signed him away from a full scholarship offer from San Diego for a $2.369 million bonus. McGuire became the highest-drafted high school catcher since the Marlins took Kyle Skipworth at No. 6 in 2008. He began playing exclusively behind the plate when he was 10, and he comes from a baseball background. His grandfather John McGuire played at Duke with Dick Groat, who won the National League MVP award in 1960 while playing shortstop for the Pirates. McGuire is an above-average defensive catcher who consistently produces pop times below 1.8 seconds on throws to second, and he has the arm strength to throw out runners from his knees. He also works well with pitchers and was entrusted with calling pitches at Kentwood High. The Pirates feel McGuire will develop into an above-average hitter with gap power. He showcased a smooth lefthanded stroke with good bat speed and feel for the barrel in his professional debut, ranking third in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League with a .330 average. He runs well for a catcher. McGuire will begin 2014 at low Class A West Virginia. Though he is young, he could potentially move through the system quickly if his physical tools catch up to his baseball aptitude.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #10 prospect in 2013 draft
  McGuire was known by scouts early, playing in the 2011 Area Code Games as a junior before leading his high school team to a state championship in 2012. He was named USA Baseball's Dick Case player of the year after he hit .400/.522/.514 for the gold-medal-winning 18-and-under team last summer. McGuire showed his athletic versatility with Team USA, playing third base and outfield, but he's best as a catcher in pro ball. He is a natural behind the plate. He remains loose, even after adding strength to his 6-foot-1, 190-pound build. His receiving, blocking and arm strength are all above-average, and he has been calling his own games since he was 10 years old. He has a high baseball IQ and game awareness. The question will be how much McGuire will hit. He has a smooth lefthanded swing with strength and bat speed and shows the tools to be an above-average pure hitter with average power. The San Diego recruit runs better than most catchers. Even if he doesn't reach his offensive ceiling, McGuire's defense will allow him to be a big league backup, but if he hits he has all-star potential.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Florida State League #11 prospect in 2015
  McGuire earned split-camp reviews throughout the FSL from scouts and managers, though nearly all the evaluators contacted considered him the best catcher in the league. He ranked second in the FSL in games caught (90) in just his second run through a full-season league and wore down over the course of the season. However, McGuire also showed tools to be a future first-division regular at catcher. Scouts like his simple, contact-oriented swing, and he ranked third in the league among toughest hitters to strike out. He'll have to get stronger and more selective to hit for any power, but he has a chance to hit for average. He'll have to improve his approach against lefthanders, who shackled him with a .159/.222/.187 batting line this season. Defensively, McGuire has double-plus raw arm strength and can produce consistent pop times of 1.8 seconds on throws to second base. He transfers the ball quickly from glove to hand, but he tries to do too much at times, and his arm adventures led to a league-high 11 errors. He threw out just 25 percent of basestealers but also committed just six passed balls because of his excellent hands. Scouts and managers believe in McGuire's athleticism but aren't sure just what his upside is due to the lack of power he showed in 2015.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #5 prospect in 2014
  McGuire lacks elite arm strength, but his feet are so quick that it doesn't really matter. Thanks to good footwork, proper mechanics and a quick release, he consistently shut down opposing teams' running games while gunning down 39 percent of basestealers. Evaluators loved McGuire's hands, blocking skills and advanced understanding of how to catch. At the plate, he was unspectacular in his first full season, but scouts were impressed with the lefty hitter's ability to use the opposite field. He doesn't show much power yet, but he's projected to hit 10-15 home runs a year once he matures and gets more comfortable pulling the ball.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #3 prospect in 2013
  A star on USA Baseball?s junior national team, McGuire signed with the Pirates for $2,369,800 as the 14th overall pick in June, then made a strong impression in his pro debut in the GCL. He stands out behind the plate, where his athleticism, tools and high baseball IQ are all evident. He blocks and receives well, and he handles a pitching staff with maturity beyond his years. He has an above-average arm that plays up because of his quick transfer and accuracy, which helped him throw out 16 of 36 basestealers (44 percent). If McGuire can hit, he?s a potential all-star, and he impressed league observers with his bat after ranking third in the league in batting average. He has a smooth lefthanded stroke with good bat speed and makes frequent contact. McGuire has a knack for barreling the ball and can spray line drives to all fields, though he didn?t show much power in his debut. Speed won?t be a big part of his game, but he runs fairly well for a catcher.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #97 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #81 prospect in 2014

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: It’s the seventh year in the Prospect Handbook for McGuire, a first-round pick of the Pirates out of high school who they traded to the Blue Jays in 2016. McGuire spent most of 2019 in Triple-A Buffalo until the Blue Jays brought him up to Toronto at the end of July, his second stint in the big leagues after he was a September callup in 2018.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: McGuire’s defense is what carries him. He’s a smart player who is well prepared and earns high marks for his ability to handle a pitching staff and call games. He receives pitches well with BA GRADE 45 Risk: Very High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 40 Risk: Medium soft hands, and while his arm strength is average, his quick footwork helps him get his throws off swiftly and on target. Offensively, McGuire has a short swing and makes a lot of contact, but his power is well below-average, so there isn’t much impact when he does connect.
  
  THE FUTURE: Unless he can develop more power, McGuire’s offensive upside at this point may be limited, but he could have enough ability at the plate to stick around as a backup catcher, a role he should fill in Toronto in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: It's the seventh year in the Prospect Handbook for McGuire, a first-round pick of the Pirates out of high school who they traded to the Blue Jays in 2016. McGuire spent most of 2019 in Triple-A Buffalo until the Blue Jays brought him up to Toronto at the end of July, his second stint in the big leagues after he was a September callup in 2018.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: McGuire's defense is what carries him. He's a smart player who is well prepared and earns high marks for his ability to handle a pitching staff and call games. He receives pitches well with soft hands, and while his arm strength is average, his quick footwork helps him get his throws off swiftly and on target. Offensively, McGuire has a short swing and makes a lot of contact, but his power is well below-average, so there isn't much impact when he does connect.
  
  THE FUTURE: Unless he can develop more power, McGuire's offensive upside at this point may be limited, but he could have enough ability at the plate to stick around as a backup catcher, a role he should fill in Toronto in 2020.