School: Georgia Institute of Technology; Class: Sophomore
Position: C; B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1; Weight: 197
Previously Drafted: N/A
High School: Loyola High School
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 60 | 30 | 45 | 50 | 60 |
Background: Georgia Tech’s churned out an impressive amount of high end caliber throughout the years, sending the likes of Kevin Brown, Mark Teixeira, Nomar Garciaparra, Charlie Blackmon, and Jay Payton to the big leagues. But the ACC conference school’s catching pipeline is even more impressive: Jason Varitek, a twice-drafted first rounder (1993 and 1994), made three All-Star appearances and earned a Gold Glove; Matt Wieters, the fifth overall pick in 2007, is a four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner; and, Joey Bart, the second overall pick in 2018, is still trying to find his way in the big leagues.
The next big Yellow Jacket catching prospect to hear his name called in the opening round: Kevin Parada.
A product of Loyola High School, Parada, a three-year letter winner, got off to an impressive start to his collegiate career with Georgia Tech: in 52 games with the ACC powerhouse, the 6-foot-1, 197-pound backstop slugged .318/.379/.550 with 20 doubles, two triples, and nine homeruns. The California native spent the ensuing summer splitting time with Team USA (.400/.500/.520 in 10 games) and the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod League (.250/.344/.321 in nine games).
This season Parada, the consensus top catching prospect in the draft class, continued his assault on the opposition. In 60 games, he slugged a scorching .361/.453/.709 with 10 homeruns, one triple, and 26 homeruns – the sixth best total among all Division I hitters.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2011, only six Division I hitters slugged at least .350/.450/.700 with a strikeout rate between 8% and 12% in a season (min. 275 PA): Andrew Benintendi, Nick Gonzales, Kody Hoese, D.J. Peterson, Tyler Locklear, and – of course – Kevin Parada, who – by the way – owned the lowest walk rate among the group (9.86%).
- Benintendi was the seventh overall pick in 2015; Gonzales was the seventh player chosen in 2020; Kody Hoese was nabbed by the Dodgers in the latter part of the 2019 first round; and Peterson was 12th pick in 2013. Locklear will be a mid-round pick in 2022.
In a similar vain as fellow top prospect Jace Jung, Parada has an interesting – perhaps, odd – timing mechanism at the start of his stance. He tilts the bat nearly straight down his back and nearly covers his face with his lead arm. As the pitcher moves through the windup he’ll get in a move traditional stance. Big time power potential. Solid contact rates. And the ability to drive solid offspeed pitches. Parada doesn’t walk a whole lot, but he should hover around the 7% mark in the professional ranks. In terms of big league ceiling, think: .260/.320/.460 with 20 homeruns.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
Grade: First Round
