Out of all the pics the Cubs took this year in the draft, Casey Opitz could be the first one in the majors. A defensive stand out, he’s known for his leadership skills and game calling abilities. While the bat is not his forte, he is still going to occasionally do some damage. So far, Opitz got some work in at Mesa and Myrtle Beach. I would not be surprised to see him make a pitstop in South Bend before starting 2022 in Tennessee.
Basic Information
Age – 22
Position – Catcher
Height – 5-foot-11
Weight – 195
Bats – Right
Throws – Right
A four year starter at Arkansas, Opitz drew praise from the get-go and didn’t stop for four years. As a freshman, he only played in 19 games and hit .222 with a .303 on base percentage. It was as a sophomore in 2019 that he really began to show what he could do. In 56 games he hit .246 with a .382 on base percentage. He also drove in 33 runs that spring. As a junior in 2020, Opitz hit .302 with a .361 on base percentage and had one home run with 11 RBI in just 16 games before the season was truncated by the pandemic. This spring, he hit .257 with a .366 on base percentage in 56 games as hit just 2 home runs and drove in 18I.
As a catcher, Opitz anchored a rotation and staff that was the number one team in the country for most of the season. He drew praise from almost everyone for his makeup and catchability including the Pitching Ninja.
Here’s what Baseball America said about him before the draft:
“Opitz does everything scouts want to see behind the plate. He’s an excellent catch-and-throw catcher with arguably the best arm in the draft class. Opitz regularly records plus-plus pop times. He has thrown out 43% of basestealers for his career, and his presence has largely led some teams to shut down their basestealing when he’s at work. He works well with pitchers and shows excellent ability to block balls in the dirt. So why has a catcher with above-average defense and a plus-plus arm struggled to gain traction with scouts? It’s the bat. “
When the Cubs were able to take Opitz on draft day, I was even excited. Here’s what I said on draft day: “Big time defensive catcher. Jim Callis said he’s a backup in the majors meaning he would probably make it without much offense. Pitchers are going to love him and he is going to be everyone’s favorite teammate.”
I am never going to be very concerned about his statistics in the minors. His development is going to be more about getting familiar with the pitchers in the system and helping out the big league club as soon as possible. With a lot of the Cubs’ top pitchers slated to be Double-A and Triple-A next year (if healthy), that’s where Opitz should be. This year he can get a taste of some of the guys at the younger levels, But for him, it’s more about learning how to manage personalities and motivate guys on the mound than it will be about anything else in his career. I am pumped to see him play at the higher levels next year with some of the Cubs top pitchers like Brailyn Marquez, Ryan Jensen, Cam Sanders, Cory Abbott, Kohl Franklin, and Riley Thompson, to name a few.
Cubs Central 
Speaking of catching prospects…Ronnier Quintero over his past 14 games (41 PAs): .250 IsoSLG, 22% K rate ( league 27%), 12% BBs, .250 BA/.280 BABIP
Even on the season he’s rocking a K rate better than league average, .191 IsoSLG, 9% BB rate, etc
Matt Dorey singled out his arm needing some strengthening last fall…he’s thrown out 5 of 12 would be basestealers
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Correction: 5 of 17
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