Lucas Herbert Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1016
AVG	.22
OBP	.277
SLG	.341
HR	21

Full name Lucas Anthony Herbert
Born 11/28/1996 in Danbury, CT
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School San Clemente
Drafted in the 2nd round (54th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2015 (signed for $1,125,200).

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Herbert has a long track record of catching good pitchers, from being teammates with top San Clemente lefty Kolby Allard to his stint with USA Baseball's 18U national team. He helped that club win a gold medal at the Pan American Championship, hitting a pair of home runs, then had five hits and a strong performance to help San Clemente win the 2015 National High School Invitational, even without the injured Allard. That event helped raise Herbert's profile and had more scouts considering him as a potential top-three-rounds pick. Herbert's strong catch-and-throw skills and the overall weakness of the catching class also help Herbert, who is a sound receiver for an amateur. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder calls his own game, has the intangible leadership qualities scouts look for at the position and has a plus arm, producing consistent 1.9-1.95-second times to second base on throws. Scouts aren't all-in on his bat, but at his best he has shown the strength to drive the ball, particularly to his pull side. He doesn't have a textbook swing, geared more for strength than grace or bat speed, but the righthanded hitter has found the barrel this spring. He's committed to UCLA but not expected to get there.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Since Brian McCann left as a free agent after the 2013 season, the Braves have struggled to develop a homegrown catcher, opting instead for such journeymen as Gerald Laird and A.J. Pierzynski. The likes of Evan Gattis (defense) and Christian Bethancourt (offense) displayed too many weaknesses to stick. Atlanta attempted to address its catcher depth by drafting Herbert with the 54th overall pick in 2015. He played just three games in his pro debut because of a knee injury and then hit .185 at low Class A Rome in 2016 and lost playing time to Jonathan Morales. Herbert lacked consistency with his hitting approach. He has shown raw power on occasion but needs to make adjustments in his setup, swing path and pitch recognition. Conversely, Herbert is the best defensive catcher in the organization, and he started 64 games behind the plate in 2016. He did an outstanding job of working with Rome's talented pitching staff and displayed the necessary leadership skills to call and control a game. He has excellent mobility with plus footwork, and he possesses plus arm strength with good accuracy on his throws. A high school teammate of 2015 first-round lefthander Kolby Allard, Herbert must improve his offensive production to become a top prospect. He will receive that opportunity in 2017 by returning to Rome.
The Braves addressed a system-wide dearth of catching depth by selecting plus catch-and-throw receiver Herbert with the 54th overall pick in 2015. His impressive amateur resume includes winning a gold medal at the Pan American Championship and leading San Clemente (Calif.) High to the 2015 National High School Invitational title. Herbert has extensive experience in calling games and shows impressive leadership skills behind the plate with his off-the-charts makeup. He possesses plus arm strength with pop times on throws to second base that consistently reside in the range of 1.9 seconds. He moves well behind the plate and does an excellent job of blocking balls while displaying a gritty approach to the game. The righthanded hitter has a simple swing and can drive the ball consistently. He possesses above-average power to his pull side, thanks to his superior physical strength in his hands and wrists. Herbert has the tools to be a starting catcher at the major league level as well as the experience to open 2016 at low Class A Rome.

Draft Prospects

Herbert has a long track record of catching good pitchers, from being teammates with top San Clemente lefty Kolby Allard to his stint with USA Baseball's 18U national team. He helped that club win a gold medal at the Pan American Championship, hitting a pair of home runs, then had five hits and a strong performance to help San Clemente win the 2015 National High School Invitational, even without the injured Allard. That event helped raise Herbert's profile and had more scouts considering him as a potential top-three-rounds pick. Herbert's strong catch-and-throw skills and the overall weakness of the catching class also help Herbert, who is a sound receiver for an amateur. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder calls his own game, has the intangible leadership qualities scouts look for at the position and has a plus arm, producing consistent 1.9-1.95-second times to second base on throws. Scouts aren't all-in on his bat, but at his best he has shown the strength to drive the ball, particularly to his pull side. He doesn't have a textbook swing, geared more for strength than grace or bat speed, but the righthanded hitter has found the barrel this spring. He's committed to UCLA but not expected to get there.