Mike Ohlman
| AB | 13 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .231 |
| OBP | .231 |
| SLG | .231 |
| HR | 0 |
- Full name Michael Livingston Ohlman
- Born 12/14/1990 in Bradenton, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Lakewood Ranch
- Debut 05/09/2017
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Drafted in the 11th round (326th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2009 (signed for $995,000).
View Draft Report
Yet another prep catcher from Florida, Ohlman started to get national attention last fall playing for North Carolina's "Dirtbags" travel team, which featured Tar Heel State prep stars Brian Goodwin and Wil Myers. Ohlman showed premium power potential in the summer and fall and was snapped up in the early signing period by Miami. He's tall for a catcher at 6-foot-4, and his slender 200-pound body doesn't seem suited to the position for the long-term, scouts worry. But he has shown excellent athletic ability, and he should be able to remain a catcher at least through college. He has excellent arm strength, but his receiving skills are less advanced than his Florida prep rivals. He has improved his skills behind the plate but has a long way to go in terms of blocking, framing pitches and learning other nuances behind the plate. He's tall so he has some holes in his swing but has a good feel for hitting and hand-eye coordination. His best tool is his raw power, which might be sufficient for a move to a corner. Ohlman should be athletic enough to give outfield a try if catching doesn't take. He could go in the fourth-to-sixth round range.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Orioles liked Ohlman enough to sign him for $995,000 out of high school in 2009 and to put him on their 40-man roster, but they lost patience with him in January 2015 and designated him for assignment. The Cardinals acquired him for cash and made him their everyday catcher at Double-A Springfield. Ohlman showed them enough to keep his spot on St. Louis' 40-man. Ohlman is the system's top catcher in the upper levels, with a combination of power potential and improved defensive chops. At 6-foot-5, he's tall for a catcher but worked in big league camp with manager Mike Matheny, trying to improve his footwork and transfer. He has above-average arm strength but threw out just 25 percent of baserunners in the Texas League, which he led with 11 errors. His receiving and blocking have improved enough to see him as a potential backup option, where his bat could make him a Mark Parent type. Ohlman has above-average raw power, especially when he incorporates his lower half into his swing. Still just 25, Ohlman should be the starting catcher at Triple-A Memphis for 2016. -
After back-to-back seasons of hitting over .300, including a .313 mark in 2013 when he won the high Class A Carolina League batting title, Ohlman's numbers took a big hit in his first year at Double-A Bowie. He hit .236/.310/.318 with two homers and his OPS fell from .934 in 2013 to .628. While he had the same up-the-middle approach, he just could not find consistency. Selected in the 11th round in 2009, Ohlman received an overslot bonus of $995,000, then joined the 40-man roster in November 2013. On defense, Ohlman needs to improve his receiving. He's gotten better blocking, and he has the arm strength, but his throwing is inconsistent. Some scouts wonder if Ohlman's offense would benefit from a position change. He should return to Double-A in 2015. -
The Orioles signed Ohlman to an over-slot bonus of $995,000 as part of an expensive, draft class in 2009 that quickly went awry. He seemed to bottom out in 2012 when he injured his shoulder in a spring-training car accident, then was suspended 50 games for a second positive test for a recreational drug. He started to hit in 2012 and had his best season in 2013, winning the high Class A Carolina League batting (.313) and slugging (.524) titles. His bat has blossomed as he has polished his approach, improving his pitch selection and getting to his above-average power more frequently. His swing can get long, and because he's not afraid to go deep in counts, he's prone to strikeouts. However, he repeats his hitting mechanics, staying with a middle-of-the-field approach and has excellent timing. At 6-foot-5, Ohlman is tall for a catcher, and while he has solid-average arm strength, he's unlikely to be more than an average receiver, and he struggles with his blocking. The Orioles like his feel for calling a game. Ohlman earned a spot on the 40-man roster and will head to Double-A Bowie in 2014, where he could play some first base. If his glove improves, he could be a long-term replacement for Matt Wieters. -
While the Orioles signed 2009 first-round pick for less than MLB's slot recommendation, they made huge investments in late-round picks Ohlman ($995,000 in the 11th round) and Cameron Coffey ($990,000 in the 22nd). Ohlman draws comparisons to Jayson Werth, who had a similar build when Baltimore made him the 22nd overall pick in 1997. Like Werth, who moved from behind the plate to the outfield before he found major league success, Ohlman may not be able to stay at catcher long-term. He's long and slender and has limited experience behind the plate, so he'll have to make big strides with his blocking, footwork and ability to frame pitches. After instructional league, the Orioles believe he can make those improvements. He does have strength in his body and a plus arm, so the tools are there if he dedicates himself to getting through the steep learning curve. Ohlman has a good feel for hitting and above-average raw power, so if he can't make it behind the plate, he could have the bat for an outfield corner. He's athletic and a solid runner. Ohlman got just a handful of at-bats in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League after signing late last summer, but Baltimore will give him a shot at making the Delmarva roster in the spring. His placement will also depend on where 2009 sixth-round pick Justin Dalles ends up, because the Orioles will want both to catch regularly.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Ohlman played just 50 games last season as he dealt with a shoulder injury he suffered in a car accident during spring training and also a 50-game suspension for a second positive test for a recreational drug. He appeared on course for another lost season when he separated his shoulder while diving out of the way of a pitch just two weeks into the 2013 campaign. He missed five weeks before returning in May and going on to win the CL batting title at .313. Ohlman?s renaissance at the plate is credit to a more selective approach and a shorter swing. He stands more upright at the plate?drawing a physical comparison with Paul Konerko by an opposing manager?and instead of drifting with his hands to get breaking pitches as he had in the past, Ohlman now drives those pitches to the opposite field. His production slowed over the final few weeks of the season when he saw few pitches to hit while playing in a lineup that offered few threats. ?He was getting pitched like Barry Bonds on our squad,? Frederick?s Minor said. With a shortage of game experience, Ohlman?s defense is behind is hitting. He is athletic enough to block balls in the dirt and has a strong arm, but he?s still refining his mechanics at both. He runs well for a catcher but isn?t much of a threat to steal.
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Baltimore Orioles in 2014
Scouting Reports
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The Orioles liked Ohlman enough to sign him for $995,000 out of high school in 2009 and to put him on their 40-man roster, but they lost patience with him in January 2015 and designated him for assignment. The Cardinals acquired him for cash and made him their everyday catcher at Double-A Springfield. Ohlman showed them enough to keep his spot on St. Louis' 40-man. Ohlman is the system's top catcher in the upper levels, with a combination of power potential and improved defensive chops. At 6-foot-5, he's tall for a catcher but worked in big league camp with manager Mike Matheny, trying to improve his footwork and transfer. He has above-average arm strength but threw out just 25 percent of baserunners in the Texas League, which he led with 11 errors. His receiving and blocking have improved enough to see him as a potential backup option, where his bat could make him a Mark Parent type. Ohlman has above-average raw power, especially when he incorporates his lower half into his swing. Still just 25, Ohlman should be the starting catcher at Triple-A Memphis for 2016.
