Coltyn
Kessler

2021 MLB Draft: Previous to this spring, Kessler was known as a light-hitting, defense-first backstop. After making adjustments to his stance, load and approach over the winter break, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound left-handed hitter has come out smoking. He’s gained the attention of scouts. starting the season with a .459/.583/.649 slash through 50 plate appearances, including a 6-for-11 series at Auburn, and finished at .349/.439/.559. With an above average arm he can completely shut down a running game. With reliable receiving and blocking skills Kessler projects to be an average to better defender at the pro level. And now that his bat has made progress he is climbing draft boards around the industry.

6’2” 220. Strong, durable catcher’s type body. With good upper and lower half strength. Strong forearms. Solid defensive player. Handles pitchers well. Good strength in hands and keeps pitches in the zone and will get pitchers strikes. First step quickness and athleticism to block pitches. Average ML throwing arm with good release 2.02. Enough throwing ability to contain the running game at ML Level. Very good approach at the plate. Tracks the ball well and recognizes pitches. Handles high velo well not overmatched. Has plus power with ability to drive the ball to all fields. Having a strong year. See as an everyday LHH catcher at the ML level with ability to produce offensively. See as a 3rd-4th round guy. (Slowik)

Previous to this spring, Coltyn Kessler was known as a light-hitting, defense-first backstop. After making adjustments to his stance, load and approach over the winter break, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound left-handed hitter has come out smoking this spring. He’s gained the attention of scouts with a .459/.583/.649 slash through 50 plate appearances, including a 6-for-11 series at Auburn. With an above average arm he completely shut down the Auburn running game, throwing out both runners who attempted to steal, one with a 1.97 POP time. With reliable receiving and blocking skills Kessler projects to be an average to better defender at the pro level. And now that his bat has made progress he is climbing draft boards around the industry. Top 5 round talent for 2021.

Keep an eye on Kentucky catcher 2020 eligible Coltyn Kessler. He finished the regular season with just a .138 batting average, but saw the ball really well and took great at-bats during the playoffs, leading the Kettlers with a .409 average. He has improved behind the dish, framing the low pitch much better than my look this past spring. He still has a long way to go behind the dish as he sits too far back from the hitter, but there aren’t too many 6-foot-3, left-handed hitting catchers with above average raw pop in their bat and average arm strength.

Super 60: Kentucky recruit. 6-foot-3, 210-pound left-handed hitting catcher, strong, physical build, wide-shouldered with defined lower half. Overall impressive physical specimen with high-ceiling tools. More athletic than the size/frame would indicate: Ran a 7.28 laser-timed 60. Offensively, hits from a strong, athletic base, fluid load, maintains balance through contact, generates above-average bat speed. Strength in swing, inconsistent results but showed power potential from the left size. Registered 89 mph exit velocity with wood. Defensively, throws have carry and finish to second base, 80 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging between 1.90-1.97, erratic around the bag.

Kessler is a 6-foot-3 195-pound left-handed hitting catcher from Rockwood Summit in the St. Louis area.  He ran a 7.28 60 and 4.84 home to first.  He has an exit velo of 89 mph, one of the top LHH velos for the event. At the plate, gap-to-gap power, short path to contact, no wasted movement in load, level and quick bat path, solid consistent contact during batting practice.  Behind the plate, pop times between 1.98 and 2.05, one of the top pop times for the event, 76 mph positional velo, one of the top velos for the event, aggressive and strong throws with carry, accurate, quick catch and throw, fluid footwork, over the top release. On the infield, moves well for size, creates momentum through the catch and towards 1B, soft hands with quick exchange, 80 mph positional velo, over the top release, accurate throws.

Kessler is a 6-foot-3 195-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2017 class.  He ran a 4.49 home-to-first and has an exit velo of 88 mph, one of top LHH exit velos of the event. At the plate, simple and repeatable swing, showed power gap-to-gap, short stride, level path with quick hands, solid consistent contact using the whole field.  Behind the plate, pop times between 1.95 and 2.03, one of the top pop times of the event, 76 mph positional velo, feet work with hands, momentum through throw, quick transfer and release, accurate throws.

Has an advanced approach with quick bat speed. He has no wasted movement in his load, starts open with a small stride,making solid consistent contact during batting practice.  He has an 84 mph exit velo and showed power to the pull gap, ran a 7.96 60.  On the infield, 75 mph positional velo, accurate throws, quick feet gaining ground towards target, three-quarters release, plays through the catch. Behind the plate, Kessler has quick actions in both feet and hands with a clean transfer from glove to hand.  He has momentum towards second base as the throws, with mostly accurate throws.  He posted a 73 mph positional velo with pop times between 2.03 and 2.12, some of the best times for the event.

Six-foot-2 210-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2017 class.  Kessler had pop-times in the 2.00 to 2.06 range with 71 mph velo, quick exchange and release, fluid footwork, over-the-top release, somewhat accurate throws, received the ball well during bullpens. At the plate, smooth rhythm, short stride, level path to extension, consistent line-drives to middle of field during BP, fast bat speed, 87 mph exit velo, 4.69 home-to-first.

Kessler is a strong 6-foot-2 210-pound left-handed hitting catcher, on upward trend from last event, 1.94 to 2.10 pop-times, 74 mph velo from crouch, fluid exchange, quick footwork, soft hands, mostly accurate throws. On the infield, 77 mph across diamond, clean exchange, arm works from different angles, mostly over-the-top release, plays thru ball, accurate throws. Offensively, balanced set up, smooth rhythm, no wasted movement, level path to extension, uses middle of field, pull power, advanced approach, 84 mph exit velo, 4.84 home-to-first.

Kessler is a strong 6-foot-1, 190-pound C/3B. Behind the plate, Kessler had a POP range of 2.17-2.26. His position velo was 69 MPH and has quick feet. At the plate, Coltyn has a balanced setup with a smooth load. He takes a short stride with an explosive lower half. Kessler has definite power potential to all fields and an advance approach. His exit velo was 76 mph.