Switch-hitting catcher highlights South Florida’s prospects for MLB Draft

Michael Rothenberg is just your routine, switch-hitting catcher with a power bat, a strong arm and enough brains to graduate this spring with a Bachelor’s degree in political science and a 3.76 GPA from prestigious Duke University.

Please note the sarcasm when we say “routine” or, better yet, listen to Duke associate head coach Josh Jordan rave about his catcher.

“I decided to offer him a scholarship within five minutes of watching him for the first time” when he was a sophomore at Fort Lauderdale’s Pine Crest, Jordan said. “He threw a hand cannon to second. Then I saw his bat speed, and that was all I needed to see.

“Switch-hitting catchers with his size and tools are like unicorns.”

Indeed, there is only one switch-hitting catcher in the Hall of Fame who has played in the MLB — Ted Simmons. Currently, there are just two starting catchers in the majors who are switch-hitters, and both have Miami ties: Yasmani Grandal (Miami Springs, University of Miami) with the White Sox and Victor Caratini (Miami Dade College) with the Padres.

(Backup Marlins catcher Sandy Leon is also a switch-hitter.)

Rothenberg, who hit a walk-off homer to beat Miami in this year’s ACC Tournament, would love to one day join Grandal and Caratini in the majors.

The first step in that process is the three-day, 20-round 2021 MLB Draft that begins Sunday and runs through Tuesday.

This past season, Rothenberg started 54 of Duke’s 55 games, leading the Blue Devils to their first ACC title since 1961. He hit .251 with 16 doubles, three triples, nine homers, 42 RBI, a .346 on-base percentage and a .493 slugging mark.

In three non-pandemic years at Duke, Rothenberg led the Blue Devils to three regional appearances, which stands as a program record for consecutive NCAA playoff appearances. He also led the team to its first two super regionals in 2018 and 2019.

“It’s the coolest thing,” Rothenberg said, “to see how much our class accomplished in four years.”

Here’s a look at players with Dade/Broward ties who are ranked among Baseball America’s top-500 prospects for the 2021 draft (other than Rothenberg, who is ranked No. 352):

▪ Andrew Painter: The Calvary Christian right-hander and Florida Gators recruit is considered a near lock for the first round, ranked 15th overall. He has great size (6-6, 230 pounds) and tosses “the easiest 98 [mph] I’ve ever seen,” according to Calvary coach Gil Morales.

▪ Adrian Del Castillo: The Miami Hurricanes catcher is ranked 24th, which means a late-first-round projection. The lefty hitter was brilliant in 2019 (.331, 72 RBI, .994 OPS), and he was listed as high as third on prominent mock drafts to start this season. But, relative to his early success, he slumped this year (.275, 37 RBI, 775 OPS).

▪ Irving Carter: The 6-4, 200-pound right-hander for Calvary Christian is ranked No. 100. The Hurricanes recruit has hit 97 mph on radar guns, and he went 5-1 with a 1.87 ERA last season.

▪ Alex Ulloa: The Calvary Christian shortstop and Oklahoma State recruit is ranked No. 255. At 5-11 and 180, he hit .483 in 21 games last season, banking five doubles, one triple, six homers and 20 RBI.

▪ Alex Toral: The Hurricanes’ lefty-swinging first baseman is ranked No. 258. A 6-1, 230-pounder, Toral hit .293 with 24 homers and a 1.056 OPS in 2019. Similar to Del Castillo, his numbers slipped this year as Toral hit .264 with seven homers and an .834 OPS.

▪ Rene Lastres: The Calvary Christian catcher and Florida Gators recruit is ranked No. 260. The 6-3, 205-pounder hit .278 with seven homers in 22 games. His throwing arm is elite, according to Morales, who added that Lastres battled injuries to both hands this past season.

▪ Franco Aleman: The former FIU right-hander is ranked No. 304. The 6-6, 230-pounder went 2-4 with a 5.74 ERA this past season while pitching for Florida, posting four saves and striking out 65 batters in 69 innings.

▪ Devin Futrell: The American Heritage left-hander and Vanderbilt recruit is ranked No. 306. The 6-5, 195-pounder went 7-1 with a 0.67 ERA last season. His fastball tops out at 94 mph.

▪ Jake Smith: The Hurricanes’ 6-5, 175-pound right-hander is ranked No. 317. He went 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA in 18 appearances, including seven starts. He struck out 63 batters in 47 innings.

▪ Jaylen Melendez: The Westminster Christian catcher and FIU recruit is ranked No. 365. The 5-9, 170-pounder is the son of FIU coach Mervyl Melendez. In 31 games last season, Jayden hit .365 with five doubles, 11 homers and 39 RBI.