Tonight the Men’s College World Series finals begins as Coastal Carolina takes on LSU in a best-of-three series. The matchup features some of the top prospects in the upcoming MLB Draft, including LSU starting pitcher Kade Anderson, a potential top-five selection next month.
But another player to watch in this series is Coastal Carolina catcher Caden Bodine, whose skills both at the plate and behind it, have put him firmly in the first-round mix. Bodine is a switch-hitting catcher who hits for average and is one of the best contact hitters in the entire draft class, as evidenced by his minuscule eight percent strikeout rate. Bodine leads the Chanticleers with a .326 batting average and has posted a slash line of .326/.459/.473 this season.
But what might set him apart is what he does behind the plate when he puts the gear on. Both Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall (a former catcher himself) and starting pitcher Jacob Morrison firmly believe Bodine is the best catcher in the nation.
“He’s the best catcher in the country,” said Morrison. “The strike zone is bigger. He throws out every runner – I’m not a quick person to the plate, I know that – but he throws out every runner. It’s very calming knowing he’s back there every time.”
“He can catch in the Major Leagues right now in my opinion,” started Schall. “He needs some time obviously just to get acclimated to the pro game, but there’s no question in my mind he can catch in the Major Leagues right now.
“He’s the total package,” added Schall. “The three major skills – the catch, block, throw – and now he’s really evolved into being a leader with our pitching staff. . . . An absolute pro on and off the field … He’s just a throw-back guy that just wants to compete and play baseball. I say it all the time, I’m lucky to have a front row seat to watch him.
“He’s the best back stop in the entire country, hands down, non-negotiable.”
Where Bodine truly stands out behind the plate is with his receiving skills. His ability to turn borderline pitches into strikes certainly stands out. According to 6-4-3 Charts, Bodine is 16% better than average in this category:
Recently, Bodine shared just how he can excel at receiving, and it starts with how he puts his hand into the mitt, as well as knowing each of the pitchers on Coastal Carolina’s staff, and how their pitches move and break:
Then there is his pregame routine, featured recently during ESPN’s coverage of the Men’s College World Series. Bodine begins by working with a small, weighted club, to activate his left arm. He then puts on a small mitt, working on framing as well as pitches in the dirt:
Note: Apple News readers will need to click this link to see the video.
All of this adds up to the “best backstop in the country,” and a likely first-round pick next month in the MLB Draft.
It may also help Coastal Carolina win a title this weekend.
