Tonight marks the beginning of the Men’s College World Series finals, where Coastal Carolina will face off against LSU in a best-of-three series. This matchup features some top MLB draft prospects, including LSU’s Kade Anderson, who is projected to be a top five pick next month.
Another intriguing player in this series is Caden Bodine, the catcher for Coastal Carolina. He’s known for his switch-hitting capability and boasts an impressive 8% strikeout rate, making him one of the premier contact hitters in this draft class. Bodine led the Chanticleers with a .326 batting average, achieving a slash line of .326/.459/.473 this season.
What might truly set him apart is his performance behind the plate. Coastal Carolina’s head coach, Kevin Schnal, a former catcher himself, along with starting pitcher Jacob Morrison, are both convinced that Bodine is the best catcher in the nation.
“He’s the best catcher in the country,” Morrison stated. “The strike zone is expansive. He manages to eliminate all the runners. I’m not an easy target at the plate, yet he prevents everyone from advancing.”
Shoal expressed strong confidence in Bodine’s potential. “He might need time to adjust to the professional level, but I believe there’s no doubt he’s capable of catching in the majors right now.”
“He’s a complete package,” Shoal continued. “His abilities to catch, block, and throw have all developed him into a leader for the pitchers.”
“He’s the best backstop in the country, without question.”
One of Bodine’s standout skills is his receiving ability. He excels at turning borderline pitches into strikes, with statistics showing that he’s 16% better than average in this area, according to 6-4-3 Chart.
Bodine recently shared his approach to improving his receiving skills, starting with understanding how to position his hands in the mitt and familiarizing himself with each pitcher on the roster and their pitch movements.
He also has a pre-game routine highlighted during ESPN’s coverage of the Men’s College World Series. Bodine kicks off by using a small, heavy club to activate his left arm, then transitions to a smaller mitt to practice pitch framing and handling grounders.
All of this preparation positions Bodine as a prospective first-round pick in next month’s MLB draft, potentially aiding Coastal Carolina in their quest for a title this weekend.
