Cole Messina

School: South Carolina
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
BA Grade: 45/High
Tools: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Run: 30. Field: 55. Arm: 55.

Messina is a big and burly 6-foot, 215-pound catcher who became South Carolina’s everyday backstop in 2023 and has been a source of power and sharp defense since. In three seasons with the Gamecocks, he hit .305/.436/.625 and had a career year in 2024 when he homered 21 times. Messina has flashed bat-to-ball skills and raw power, but not both at the same time for a consistent period. Ultimately, he looks like a power-over-hit righthanded hitter who can drive the ball with authority up the middle and to his pull side. Messina’s setup starts with his hands above his head and his bat head pointed directly to the ground behind him, but he gets to a consistent launch position in his load stage with a leg kick before firing a slightly uphill swing with plenty of strength. Messina is a well below-average runner but a shockingly good athlete with standout athletic testing scores and a chance for above-average defense behind the plate. He sets up in a one-knee stance, receives the ball well with strong hands and pairs above-average arm strength with a quick exchange. He’ll need to stay on top of his size to stick comfortably but has all the defensive tools needed for the position. Cole’s younger brother Carson is a talented high school pitcher also in the 2024 class.