Round 6, Pick 170 – Nick Meyer, C

Ht: 6’0″   Wt: 195 lbs.   Age: 2/18/97 (21)

School: Caly Poly San Luis Obispo

Statistics:

Offense

• 2015 – 2016 (Freshman) 51 G, .301/.374/.370, 7 2B, 3B, HR, 21 RBI, 2 SB, 3 CS
• 2016 – 2017 (Sophomore) 55 G, .255/.316/.330, 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 6 SB, 3 CS
• 2017 – 2018 (Junior) 51 G, .337/.394/.411, 13 2B, 3B, 28 RBI, 2 SB, 2 CS

Defense

• 2015 – 2016 (Freshman) .982 FLD%, 41.5% CS, 6 PB, 1 CI
• 2016 – 2017 (Sophomore) .985 FLD%, 40.9% CS, 4 PB, 1 CI
• 2017 – 2018 (Junior) .988 FLD%, 26.7% CS, 4 PB, 1 CI

Background

There are many distinguishing characteristics about Nick Meyer.  There is his handlebar mustache and his being born with two left thumbs.  However, it has been Meyer’s defense and strong arm behind the plate which led the Mets to selecting him in the sixth round of the 2018 MLB draft.  It was also a factor in the Mets giving him an overslot $350,000 signing bonus ($64,800 over) to entice him to forego his senior season and start his professional career with the Brooklyn Cyclones.

His defensive prowess has also led Meyer to be selected as the backup catcher for the 2017 USA Baseball National Collegiate Team.  It also led him to a decorated collegiate career where he was the Big West Conference Freshman Field Player of the Year as well as a three time winner of Cal Poly’s John Orton Gold Glove (given to team’s best defensive player).

Scouting

Almost universally, as much as Meyer is lauded for his defense, there are as many if not more questions about his ability to hit.  Baseball America went so far as to compare Meyer to A.J. Ellis saying, he is the type of player “who makes a long career out of his defense and intangibles.”

MLB.com expounded on Meyer’s defensive plaudits noting how Meyer excelled in almost every area of his play behind the plate.  In addition to having a strong arm, Meyer has good pop times, which not only helps him throw runners out who are trying to steal bases, but it also helps keep runners honest as he is more than willing to try to pick a runner off first base.

More importantly, he has terrific receiving skills with a reputation as a terrific pitch framer.  Specifically, Baseball America noted he is able to steal strikes for his pitchers in the lower half of the strike zone.

Meyer’s athleticism behind the plate is well-regarded with his ability to block balls in the dirt thereby limiting wild pitches and passed balls.

Overall, Meyer is a catcher’s catcher who is well versed in not just calling a game, but also managing a pitching staff.  In addition to calling the games, he helps guide his pitchers through both games and jams.

Really, when it comes to Meyer his ceiling and what he will be in the upper levels of the minors (or even the majors) will be determined by what he is or what he will become as a hitter.  So far, there are not many impressed.

Notably, Meyer did not hit for much power in college with him hitting just three home runs total.  He did not hit one home run in his Junior season.  Presumably, one of the reasons why he does not hit for much power is his being a contact oriented hitter who does not strike out frequently.

While not noted as a reason on any scouting reports, Meyer’s being born with two thumbs, a condition known as pre-axial polydactyly, has left him with no knuckle on his left thumb, and accordingly, he is unable to bend his thumb completely. As Meyer is a right-handed hitter, the left hand is the bottom hand on the bat.

In any event, it does seem Meyer is quite advanced as a backstop, and that alone is going to be enough to propel him through into the upper levels of the Mets farm system.  Where he goes from there is going to almost entirely depend on his ability to improve at the plate.

Development

Cal Poly’s head coach Larry Lee said of Meyer, “He’s the smartest player I’ve had in 35 years. It was like having another coach on the field. He made the pitchers better.”  (Travis Gibson, The Tribune News).  In fact, Lee was so impressed with Meyer’s skills as a catcher and his abilities as a receiver that Meyer is the only catcher he ever permitted to call a game.

Given his level of intellect, the trust experienced coaches have in him, and his purported intangibles, it is possible Meyer is going to get every ounce out of his abilities.  So far, that has led him to being a terrific defensive catcher who received an overslot bonus to entice him to begin his professional career.  In the long run, he will need it to continue developing and improving defensively all the while making significant strides as a hitter.