MLB Draft Profile- Caleb Lomavita

At Draft Nation, the MLB draft talk never ends. We will get you ready for the 2024 draft with player profiles and mock drafts so you can see who your favorite team may add to their roster. 

Today’s Spotlight - California, C, Caleb Lomavita

Name- Caleb Lomavita

Bats/Throws- R/R

Pos- C

Team- California

HT/WT- 5’11”  200 lbs

Born- 11/8/2002

Home – Honolulu, HI

Lomavita attended Saint Louis High School in Hawai'i. He led Saint Louis to the 2021 IHL title, batting .400, slugging .758 and hitting three home runs in addition to posting a 1.71 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 28.2 innings pitched. He chose to join Cal after his high school career.

As a freshman, Lomavita slashed .272/.345/.414 (average, on base %, slugging) with 63 hits, 10 doubles & seven home runs, while knocking in 46 RBI. He also stole a team-leading 15 bases in 17 attempts, which is surprising for a catcher.

In his sophomore year, Lomavita slashed .316/.367/.612, hitting a team-high 16 home runs and also adding 13 doubles. He drove in 43 more RBI, matching the total from his freshman campaign. He was named to the All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention list for his sophomore performance.

This season is Lomavita's junior year. He aims to keep up his impressive offensive trends from last season, and has hit .322 with 15 homers and 52 RBI. He is one of the best catchers if not the best catcher in the draft class. He will likely be off the board in the first round.

Strengths

• Approach at the Plate
• Bat-to-Ball Skills
• Athleticism

Lomavita shows a very solid approach at the plate, with great pitch selection, and a swing built to hit to all fields. Hit bat-to-ball skills are among the top in the class and give him very low swing and miss and strikeout rates. He has great athleticism for a catcher, and above average speed for not just the catching position, but for the game of baseball as a whole. He is able to play first base and sometimes corner outfield positions in a pinch, and his above average speed has been showcased as he has stolen 30 bags so far in his college career.

Weaknesses

• Tweener Build
• Average Arm

Concerns for Lomavita are mostly with his build. He is a bit of a tweener for the positions he plays, as he stands 5'11" and 200 pounds. He is likely to remain at catcher at the next level as his build limits his versatility past the college level. He also has an average arm, which may limit his ability to throw out runners in pro ball despite his success at doing so in college.

Lomavita has an impressive offensive game, and has a chance to be a 5-tool player at the next level, which is rare from the catcher position. His professional, hit to all fields approach at the plate has allowed his numbers to jump from season to season in college, and his bat speed is that of a 20-homer guy. His athleticism stands out from the catcher position and allows him to steal bases with his above average speed. Defensively, he has been solid in college, but will likely struggle at first as he transitions to pro ball. He is one of the best catchers in this draft and will likely go in the first round.

Draft Nation Projection- 1st round pick