2009 was a weak class of college hitters. There was the college hitter of the decade (Dustin Ackley at #2) a pretty-good catcher who should climb the ranks swiftly (Tony Sanchez at #4) and then...nothin' else in the top 12.
Ackley started the next year as the #11 prospect per BA, and Sanchez was pretty far down at #79. But if you have a glove AND a bat, you'll be in the minor league top-100 as a top-10 pick for sure.
For anybody worried about Zunino being a Sanchez who can't get his act together and is still looking for power in the minors...
Sanchez, before BBCOR bats:
Sophomore - .313/.394/.517, 13 BB / 45K
Junior - .346/.445/.614, 30 BB / 40 K
Zunino, after BBCOR bats:
Sophomore: .371/.442/.674, 32 BB / 52 K
Junior: .322/.394/.669, 31 BB / 47 K
He outhit Sanchez significantly with power-reducing bats - basically Sanchez took aluminum to the Cape Cod league, Zunino played with wood, and Zunino was the better hitter. So although the alarmist in me wants to scream and rant about high-draftpick catcher concerns, Zunino's a far better bet than Sanchez.
And he's won every college hitter and positional award there is. He's as decorated in his last season as Ackley was; moreso, since he actually won the Golden Spikes for best college player that Ackley was a finalist for twice but never got (lost to Posey and Strasburg).
If Zunino's not top-30 I'll be surprised. Like you said, he's looking like a Johjima sort. My comp has been Charles Johnson, multiple All-Star, several Gold gloves, 15-20 HR power, etc.
I think Mike's Ks are more likely to go the way of Johnson than Johjima, but that's a good catcher to have. And the upside of that profile is what, Gary freakin' Carter?
I don't see him getting there, but there might be a speck of Clement in my eye. Zunino's incredibly decorated, a team leader and proud handler of the staff. If he's "just" Charles Johnson he's a good get as a 2 WAR catcher.
Assuming there's some place for Montero where he can actually hit productively.
~G
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