The Cubs took catcher Ethan Hearn in the sixth round of the 2019 draft right out of high school in Alabama and quickly signed him to an above slot deal. He was assigned to Mesa in the Arizona Rookie League where he played in a whopping 23 games.
Basic Info
Height – 6’
Weight – 200
Bats – Left
Throws – Right
Age – 19
Hearn was the highest ranked high school catcher in last year‘s draft and he had a commitment to Mississippi State but the Cubs were able to sway him away with over $900,000 to change his mind. As a 19-year-old, I wouldn’t buy into too many statistics from his short stint last summer where he hit right around .200 and struck out 40% of the time. I would focus more on his power potential right now, of which there is plenty.
It usually takes a while for HS hitters to adjust to the level of competition that they face in the minors. More than likely, Hearn is headed to Eugene this summer. There is going to be a learning curve and the key for Hearn is he is going to have to be patient and adapt.
I am sure the Cubs spent a lot of time working with Hearn on his approach at the plate after last summer so that he can begin to maximize his power potential. It is easier said than done – hits, HRs, and BBs go up, Ks go down. At 19, it could take a couple of summers before it all kicks in or he might get it going this year. You never know with prep bats.
Prospects Live concurred with that timeline but they also added Hearn could be in the perfect system as a catcher:
The Cubs have been excellent in developing catchers in both the Latin and domestic markets, primarily due to their patience. Knowing that more important than anything is a backstop’s ability to handle the duties behind the plate, the Cubs have lived with rough offensive performances from players as long as there is some level of progress, often seeing a breakout come in time.
The thing that all the major publications say about Hearn is that he has outstanding power potential and an outstanding arm for a catcher. I would not be surprised to see him spend spend additional time at first base and DH in order to get more work at the plate as well as help save his knees early in his career, especially when he gets to full season South Bend and Myrtle Beach.
Hearn still requires some offensive and defensive polish. He needs to temper his approach at the plate because he doesn’t always make consistent contact against quality pitching. He has improved as a receiver but still has more work to do and loses concentration more often than he should.
Baseball America was also high on Hearn and even gave us a little snippet on what the Cubs are trying to get Hearn to do:
The Cubs are working with Hearn to build more lift into his swing and prioritize hitting the ball deeper in the strike zone. Beyond his offensive skills, Hearn has the tools necessary to stay behind the plate. Baseball America ranked him as the second-best defensive catcher available in the high school ranks, and the Cubs see short-area quickness combined with plus arm strength that has allowed him to flash 1.9-second pop times.
Patience is the key with Hearn. He’s not going to be ready quickly, but when it clicks for him and everything falls in line, he could then move fast. To get to that point could take until he gets to full season ball.
Here is Hearn in an interview where he talks about being a Cub.
Cubs Central 
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