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2021 MLB Draft Profile: Joe Mack

Would the Marlins select this prep catcher with the No. 16 overall pick if he’s still on the board?

By Hector Rodriguez
MLB Draft prospect catcher Joe Mack begins his swing Photo courtesy of Kathleen Kramer/Williamsville East

Overview

Position: C

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 210 pounds

School: Williamsville East High School

Commitment: Clemson

Joe Mack is a 2021 catcher out of Williamsville, New York and plays his high school ball for the Williamsville East Flames. Mack is the second highest-ranked high school catcher in the 2021 MLB Draft. He played summer ball with the Harry Ford on the East Cobb Astros over the 2020 summer. Mack has already signed his NLI to play college baseball for the Clemson Tigers. He also played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic last summer.

At 6’1” 210 pounds, Mack has pretty size for a high school catcher with some room to fill in his frame. The New York native is a good left-handed hitter with some power but his arm strength is what grabs most scout’s attention.

At the plate, Mack has pretty solid bat speed and good approach while hitting. He has shown the ability the handle high velocity and possesses gap-to-gap power. As Mack continues to get stronger, he’ll be able to hit for more power with advanced approach at the dish.

Behind the plate, Mack is one of the top defensive catchers in this draft class. His athleticism, blocking and receiving are some of his best traits defensively. Mack’s best tool is his arm strength—he has an absolute cannon for an arm and is also very accurate. Mack doesn’t waste much time from receiving to throwing making him a very difficult catcher to run on.

Strengths

  • Elite arm strength
  • Plus defensive catcher
  • Gap-to-gap power
  • 1.84 recorded pop time on Perfect Game
  • Shows good plate discipline
  • Has track record of handling high velocity
  • Drives ball to all fields
  • Good two strike hitter
Baseball America

Weaknesses

  • Below average runner
  • Doesn’t possess a ton of great power
  • Doesn’t really use his lower half while hitting

Pro Comparison: Mike Zunino

Projection: Top 20 Draft Pick

Bottom Line

The Miami Marlins went all pitchers in the 2020 MLB Draft, so it would not be surprising if they prioritized the top available hitters this year when it’s their turn to pick. The catcher position is also the Marlins’ biggest need this draft.

Joe Mack is the third-ranked catcher and the No. 2 high school catcher in the 2021 draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Mack is the 10th-ranked prospect in the 2021 MLB Draft. On Perfect Game, Mack is the 15th-ranked catcher and the third-ranked catcher in the country.

The Marlins are in dire need of getting a catcher this draft and Joe Mack is one of the best options. Mack is a very talented prospect that plays the game at a very high level and competes against the top competition in his class. If the Marlins do decide to draft a catcher with the 16th overall pick, Joe Mack might be their pick.

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