How is Naylor's defense? Vogt has been quoted as saying its improved but I don't watch games to have any opinion
We have Kody Huff in Columbus who's considered a very good defensive catcher but not much of a hitter. He edges into some prospect list. 245/340/364 last year for Akron. He caught 1/3 of base stealers. In the very early going in Columbus he's nabbed 3 of 5 and is 5 of 20 with 7 strikeouts at bat.
In Akron Cooper Ingle is an excellent hitter and his defense has been improving to an average grade. Currently ranked No. 7 on our deep prospect list by BA with this report:
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Home Players Cooper Ingle
Headshot of Cooper Ingle
Team Logo of Akron RubberDucks
Cooper Ingle
Team Logo of Akron RubberDucksAkron RubberDucks
Age: 23
#8
C
Active
AB
393
AVG
.303
OBP
.426
SLG
.466
HR
11
Overview
Stats
Full name
John Cooper Ingle
Born
02/23/2002 in Asheville, NC
Profile
Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School
Clemson
Drafted in the 4th round (125th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2023 (signed for $400,000).
View Draft Report
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
Team Logo of Cleveland Guardians
Ranked Cleveland Guardians #7 prospect in 2025
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.
Track Record: Ingle showed standout plate discipline and contact skills as a catcher and outfielder with Clemson, though there were questions about his defensive profile behind the plate. The Guardians signed him for $400,000 in the fourth round in 2023, then watched him turn in one of the best offensive seasons among minor league catchers in 2024, when he hit .305/.419/.478 with a 160 wRC+ between High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron.
Scouting Report: Ingle has a smaller frame at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds and has a relaxed, open stance in the batter’s box with a quick and direct lefthanded swing that leads to tons of line-drive contact. Like many hitters Cleveland targets, Ingle stands out for his plate discipline and contact skills. He rarely expands the zone and has consistently walked more than he has struck out dating back to his amateur days. In 2024 he managed above-average contact (85.6%) and zone-contact rates (90.4%). Ingle doesn’t have much raw power, and as a 22-year-old without much physical projection isn’t likely to grow into much more. The homers he hits are nearly exclusively to his pull side, and he’ll derive his offensive value from high averages and on-base percentages. He’s a good runner for a catcher who can get out of the box quickly when he needs to. Ingle has made strides defensively and works from a one-knee setup with reliable hands, blocking ability and game-calling. His pure arm strength is fringy at best, but he threw out 27.3% of baserunners in 2024 thanks to a quick exchange. He has the tools to be a solid defender with continued progress.
The Future: Ingle doesn’t have the sort of impact to be a middle-of-the-order bat, but his contact skills, zone control and defensive ability should allow him to carve out a regular big league catching role.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45.
Re: GameTime!™
27182And next in line is Jacob Cozart a 2nd rounder in 2024 who's speciality is defense and is opening the season in Lake County
His pro debut was unsuccessful offensively: he was 5-42 with 18 strikeouts, one double his only xb hit, 7 walks.
Names escape me but we've had a couple similarly high round draft pick catchers who never could get their hitting to even capable AA level
Track Record: Cozart was a three-year starter behind the plate for NC State who finished his career as a .287/.397/.524 hitter with 33 home runs. Some scouts thought he was the top catcher in the class after a strong 2023 summer showing with Team USA, but the Guardians signed him for $2,050,000 in the second round as the fourth catcher off the board. He played 13 games with High-A Lake County after signing and hit just .119 with a 36.7% strikeout rate.
Scouting Report: Cozart has a big frame for a catcher at 6-foot-3, 222 pounds and above-average raw power that comes with it. He has plenty of strength and produced exit velocities up to 110 mph with wood in his pro debut, but his swing can get lengthy and steep which leads to contact questions. Elite velocity and quality breaking stuff has flummoxed Cozart, and without improving his bat-to-ball skills he could be reliant on his power and savvy eye (he had a 13.7% walk rate in college) to help maintain solid on-base rates. The Guardians viewed Cozart as one of the best receivers in the class and believe he’ll be an above-average defender. His above-average arm strength pairs with a quick exchange to shut down the running game. He threw out 47% of runners (7-of-15) in his pro debut and 33% in the spring with NC State.
The Future: Cozart has everyday upside as a power-over-hit catcher who earns praise for his “obsessive” work ethic behind the plate.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55.
His pro debut was unsuccessful offensively: he was 5-42 with 18 strikeouts, one double his only xb hit, 7 walks.
Names escape me but we've had a couple similarly high round draft pick catchers who never could get their hitting to even capable AA level
Track Record: Cozart was a three-year starter behind the plate for NC State who finished his career as a .287/.397/.524 hitter with 33 home runs. Some scouts thought he was the top catcher in the class after a strong 2023 summer showing with Team USA, but the Guardians signed him for $2,050,000 in the second round as the fourth catcher off the board. He played 13 games with High-A Lake County after signing and hit just .119 with a 36.7% strikeout rate.
Scouting Report: Cozart has a big frame for a catcher at 6-foot-3, 222 pounds and above-average raw power that comes with it. He has plenty of strength and produced exit velocities up to 110 mph with wood in his pro debut, but his swing can get lengthy and steep which leads to contact questions. Elite velocity and quality breaking stuff has flummoxed Cozart, and without improving his bat-to-ball skills he could be reliant on his power and savvy eye (he had a 13.7% walk rate in college) to help maintain solid on-base rates. The Guardians viewed Cozart as one of the best receivers in the class and believe he’ll be an above-average defender. His above-average arm strength pairs with a quick exchange to shut down the running game. He threw out 47% of runners (7-of-15) in his pro debut and 33% in the spring with NC State.
The Future: Cozart has everyday upside as a power-over-hit catcher who earns praise for his “obsessive” work ethic behind the plate.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55.
Re: GameTime!™
27183Bottom line: we have a solid pipeline of catching talent lined up but no one's ready at present.
Re: GameTime!™
27184Yesterday's second base screw up. I'm ready for Brito or Bazzana asap. but neither is the defender the Blue Jays have now.
Arraez drew the throw from catcher Bo Naylor to second baseman Daniel Schneemann as Tatis scored easily. The Padres never looked back after that.
“In a perfect world we had a couple of options on the double steal,” said Vogt. “Schee had an opportunity to maybe tag the runner. Or we could have gotten the ball back home quicker. “It’s a play we put on. They ran their play. We ran ours. We had a couple of options to execute. They did and we didn’t.”
Arraez drew the throw from catcher Bo Naylor to second baseman Daniel Schneemann as Tatis scored easily. The Padres never looked back after that.
“In a perfect world we had a couple of options on the double steal,” said Vogt. “Schee had an opportunity to maybe tag the runner. Or we could have gotten the ball back home quicker. “It’s a play we put on. They ran their play. We ran ours. We had a couple of options to execute. They did and we didn’t.”
Re: GameTime!™
27185Bo Naylor should have never thrown the ball to begin with. Tatis was half way down the 3rd base line when Bo decided to throw to 2nd. Schneeman never had a chance.
Vogt is covering for his catcher.
Vogt is covering for his catcher.
Re: GameTime!™
27186I don't think anyone is covering for Arias. He's near the end of the line. Brito is 7 for 20 with 3 doubles and an 857 OPS. No errors. Bonehead plays are not quantified.
After the first two weeks in spring training he hit well. I cannot imagine them putting up with Arias for very long. He has usually been described as a good fielder, but he doesn't make good game decisions and certainly doesn't improve over time.
After the first two weeks in spring training he hit well. I cannot imagine them putting up with Arias for very long. He has usually been described as a good fielder, but he doesn't make good game decisions and certainly doesn't improve over time.