Bats/Throws: L/R
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 200 lbs
Acquired: 5th Rd 2008 (Coastal Carolina)
Born: 3/24/86 (Conway, SC)
Why Ranked Here: Doyle hit .300 in his pro debut while learning the mechanics and nuances of professional catching. At the plate, Doyle’s approach is disciplined and contact oriented, as he drew nearly as many walks as strikeouts. His line drive swing does not generate tremendous loft right now, and might never. As a college catcher who was used to having pitches called from the bench, Doyle had to learn all about game calling as a professional.
2008: Playing against younger competition in the Appalachian League, Doyle got off to a slow start (5-for-21) but hit .319 over his final 138 AB.
Dr. Pangloss Says: Catchers, who can handle the position, and have discipline with a bat in their hand, will have a space on any big league roster.
On the Flipside: Questions about Doyles’s power limit his ceiling to a regular at the high end. Scouts weren’t totally sold on his receiving abilities, but they are on few minor league catchers. Doyle will start 2009 at age 23.
Projected 2009 Start: Savannah or St. Lucie
| G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APP | 41 | 159 | 49 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 24 | 1 | 1 | .308 | .390 | .390 |
| NYP | 5 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .294 | .375 |
Doyle was under the radar in Kingsport and others who do rankings probably figured he wasnt a top 20 prospect because he wasnt assigned to Brooklyn.
I really liked that they drafted him and I consider him a big sleeper prospect.He’s surely the 2nd best catching prospect in this organization
Not to take anything away from Doyle since I like him, but when you say “surely the 2nd best catching prospect in this organization, do you mean behind Pena or behind Thole? Might depend on how you rate them, so I am not sure I would say “surely”
Behind Pena, I don’t think Thole can play a MLB catcher, his offensive ceiling is higher, but he lacks the position skill.
Not that I disagree, but that is why I say it is hard to say “surely” the 2nd best prospect — Thole has a nice offensive ceiling, and if his defense could come around…
You have a point, I didnt word it correctly. I meant that I dont believe Thole can catch at MLB level at all
I can’t argue with that, although I can at least hope you are selling Thole short and we really have three catching prospects we could actually talk about in good terms a year or two down the line