Catchers are valuable enough on the field, and when you add a solid left-handed bat at the plate, along with power, you’ve got a hot prospect.
That’s one of the reasons why Newport Beach slugger Caleb Ricketts reminds some baseball fans of the Chicago Cubs’ former No. 1 draft pick, Kyle Schwarber, a good left-handed hitting catcher with a propensity to hit the long ball and who later converted to left field because of his strong bat.
It is not uncommon for teams to move top-hitting catchers to the outfield to save their bodies from the pounding and rigors of catching, and Ricketts appears to be on the fast track either way for the Philadelphia Phillies as the Orange Lutheran High and University of San Diego product prepares for his first spring training as pitchers and catchers report to camp this week.
Drafted in the seventh round last summer by the Phillies, Ricketts started his professional career on fire for the high-Class A Clearwater Threshers in the Florida State League, collecting six hits in his first two games and starting his first week (five games) with a 1.122 OPS, nine hits, a home run and four RBIs. He finished the campaign batting .259 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.
Ricketts’ scorching bat started his senior year at USD, where he earned West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors in 2022 with a .373 batting average and 16 home runs, 13 doubles and 55 RBIs. USD has also produced Kris Bryant, the former National League MVP and World Series champion with the Cubs.
Although Ricketts grew up less than a block from Newport Harbor High, he attended Orange Lutheran, a hotbed for developing pro ballplayers, including All-Star pitcher Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees. Cole is also from Newport Beach. Ricketts became the 23rd Orange Lutheran player drafted in school history.
Whether Ricketts becomes the next Schwarber remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: His work ethic is second to none.
“I’ve gained some good weight…
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