Miami Marlins: 10 Catchers to Target in Rounds 1-5 of the 2021 MLB Draft

As the 2021 MLB Draft approaches for the Miami Marlins, catcher is a position that the team may target early-on. When looking at potential options, both high school and college, there are 10 notable players that stick-out as potential early round selections.

Will the Miami Marlins select a catcher in Rounds 1-5 of the 2021 MLB Draft?

Will the Marlins select a catcher in the early Rounds? If not, there are also a few options they could look to select in the Middle Rounds, aka “Honorable Mentions.”

HM – Blaise Priester (Live Oak, LA)

HM – Noah Cardenas (UCLA)

HM – Patrick Winkel (UConn)

HM – CJ Rodriguez (Vanderbilt)

Now onto the list. Here are 10 catchers that the Miami Marlins could select in the upper rounds of the 2021 MLB Draft. (Draft rankings courtesy of MLB.com)

10. Rene Lastres

School: Calvary Christian (FL)

An in-state product from Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Lastres is rated as the No. 185 overall prospect in this Draft. A glove-first catcher, Lastres’ defense is undoubtedly the current strength of his game, but his bat is not too far behind with the ability to gain some solid power potential over time.

Still only 17 years old, Lastres recently slashed .278/.431/.722 during his senior season along with seven HR’s and 17 RBI’s for one of the best high school baseball teams in the state of Florida. Currently committed to play college baseball at Florida next season, it is unknown when Lastres will be selected because of this commitment, but drafting the in-state product is definitely something the Marlins should consider should he fall in the Draft.

9. Nathan Hickey

School: Florida

Another in-state product, Hickey went undrafted out of high school back in 2019, and then went on to play college baseball at Florida. Now a Draft-eligible sophomore, Hickey has impressed the past two seasons slashing a combined .316/.436/.539 with nine HR’s and 57 RBI’s including being named to the 2021 Newcomer All-SEC Team.

Rated as the No. 141 overall prospect in this Draft, Hickey’s bat is the tool that sticks out most, while some questions can rise from his long-term ability to stay behind the plate. While some scouts think he may change positions eventually, similar to Kyle Schwarber with the Cubs, there is no denying that Hickey would be an intriguing option based on his offensive abilities alone.