As strong as the 2027 college pitching class, the catching crop is also immensely talented. Presently, four backstops are considered first round talents and there’s little falloff directly behind them, especially with the continued development of Ian Armstrong (Texas). He may progress into a first-rounder as well. Known for his complete game of game skills and tools, the best of which are plus arm strength and plus raw power, Armstrong thrived this fall for the Longhorns and is currently being compared by some to a young Jonathan Lucroy. In the same area is Jacob Lee who is coming off two strong seasons for VCU and an excellent summer in the Cape. A career .314 hitter with 34 home runs, Lee possesses plus raw power and strong receiving skills. Just on the outside of the first round, he’s certainly a top 50 overall prospect at this point in the process.

Currently, the highest-regarded pure catcher by most clubs is Troy’s Jimmy Janicki  while West Virginia’s Gavin Kelly will log many games behind the dish. Kelly also spends significant time at second base and showed even more versatility playing left field for the USA CNT this past summer. A high level athlete, Kelly’s hit tool provides his greatest impact. Janicki is an impact tool shed with 70-grade raw power that he gets too with regularity. He also profiles as a plus defender with plus arm strength. Boosting his stock even further was an outstanding fall season that ended with six hits in two, seven-inning contests at LSU after an earlier fall scrimmage with two home runs, one inside-the-park, against Florida.

Not too far behind Janicki and Kelly is Auburn’s pillar, Chase Fralick. Fralick doesn’t have the raw power and arm strength of Janicki, or the hit tool of Kelly, but he’s plenty good at both. An average athlete, he’s toned up his physique and answered many questions about his long-term abilities behind the plate. He’s also emerged as a highly competent signal-caller and staff leader.

Another potential first-rounder is Tennessee’s Trent Grindlinger. The draft-eligible sophomore already has what is considered by most a first round bat, and any progress he makes behind the plate is an added bonus. Ditto for Indiana’s Hogan Denny who is on a similar developmental track defensively as Grindlinger. The strong, wrestler-bodied receiver also shows plus arm strength with a super short throwing motion. He’s also a capable defender in the corner outfield where his arm grades even higher and he’s even spent time at the hot corner making his versatility highly attractive.

Next is the SEC trio of Nate Savoie (Texas A&M), Levi Clark (Tennessee) and Cade Arrambide (LSU) who all belong in the “might catch, but can hit” bucket of backstops. Savoie enters his first season at Texas A&M after last year at Clemson and the year prior at LMU. A career .316 hitter with 65-grade raw power, Savoie has belted 36 home runs and driven in 113 in 110 games. Clark once looked like a future star hitter and defender behind the plate, but has now swayed to the hitter-first tag. One of the younger collegians eligible for the 2027 draft, he’ll turn 21 years of age just a couple weeks before the draft. Above average raw power (112 max EV) is his top tool. Arrambide is not a great athlete, but he has some thump in his stick and is coming off a sophomore season with a .319 average and 18 home runs for the Tigers. He’ll need to shore up some struggles against sliders, but he’s competitive in the box and barrels-up the express.

And wait, there’s more. A pair of highly-talented draft-eligible sophomores are Miami’s Alonzo Alvarez and Texas Tech’s Owen Jenkins. That pair currently slots in between Clark and Arrambide as does Mississippi State’s Burke-Lee Mabeus who was sophomore-eligible in 2026 while at Oregon. Mabeus was lauded for his defense this fall and the switch-hitter has plus raw power that is at least a grade better from the left side.

Hunter Carns, who transferred from Florida State to Georgia this summer, and fourth-year player Cider Canon (Duke) also have a lot to like. Canon’s athleticism stands out, as well as his pre-conference numbers (.452/.574/.952) last spring before going down with an injury after 14 games. He’s a work-in-progress behind the plate, as is Carns who underachieved his potential as a draft-eligible sophomore last season for the Seminoles, but has a fresh start in Athens.

And if you’re looking for some sleepers, Wake Forest’s Vince DeCarlo impressed this summer in the Appy League, as well as at the plate this fall for the Demon Deacons in their scrimmage against Illinois. The Illini's juco transfer Nate Novinska stood out for me the same afternoon and in Tuscaloosa, Luke Vaughn returned to health after a shoulder injury kept him from catching the past two seasons. He was solid behind the dish this fall and he also led the Tide in hitting. And last, but not least, are Drew Rogers (Georgia Tech) who has a rocket arm, as well as big-time raw power that an improved approach and a reduction in swing/miss should better tap into and Penn’s Ernie Echevarria. The Quakers have had some good catchers over the years and the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder is a polished defender with some interesting metrics offensively.