Since 1985, only Joe Mauer has been selected #1 overall as a catcher and only five times prior to that was a catcher taken with the first pick. Mauer is clearly the class of that group of first overall picks, the others did not have noteworthy careers. Catchers have also been selected four times with the #2 pick and five times with the #3 pick. The most notable success story of that group is BJ Surhoff, who spent the bulk of his career not as a catcher, but at other positions.
The question then becomes, will Bryce Harper, who's largely expected to be the first overall pick by the Nationals, work out as a player, more or less a catcher?
"I don't think you can compare today's player to those from so long ago," said a current catching coordinator. "When I'm asked to come take a look at a kid our club is considering taking in the draft, it's a fresh start. With a catcher, I'm just looking to see if he has the hands and feet, and of course the arm strength, to develop into a major league catcher."
Will Bryce Harper be able to cut it as a professional catcher?
So far, Harper has fit into the catching coordinator's mold. He's a very good athlete with a strong arm and plenty of coordination with his feet.

































