Will Banfield Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	34
AVG	.147
OBP	.194
SLG	.353
HR	2

Full name William Frank Banfield
Born 11/18/1999 in Lawrenceville, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Brookwood
Drafted in the CB-B round (69th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2018 (signed for $1,800,000).

View Draft Report

The top high school catcher in the class, Banfield has some of the best defensive potential of any prep catcher of the last few years. The Vanderbilt commit was unanimously voted as the top defensive catcher in the class by major league scouting directors in BA's Preseason High School All-America poll and also took home the honors for having the best arm among high school catchers. Banfield has at least a plus arm--some scouts have gone higher and called it plus-plus--with loose hips and impressive flexibility behind the plate that allow him to frame low pitches effectively and also help his quick lateral movement on balls in the dirt. With strong forearms and above-average hands, Banfield has all the tools necessary to become a plus defensive catcher, and he's been working with elite prep arms like Ethan Hankins and Kumar Rocker since he was around 14 years old. Banfield's bat is what could push him from a backup catcher profile to a potential star, as he has above-average bat speed and plus raw power to the pull side, though there are real swing and miss concerns that followed Banfield throughout the summer. There were reports that his swing was a bit more direct to the ball in the spring, but he'll need time to figure out hitting at the pro level while also trying to work with a entire pitching staff. Banfield should be able to manage a staff well, however, with impressive maturity, makeup and leadership skills.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Entering the 2023 season, Banfield had established a less-than-stellar track record at the plate. However, he had what was by far the most productive season offensively and produced a career-best .258 average. He also laced a career-high 25 doubles, 23 home runs, and 76 RBIs. Banfield’s production at the plate brought optimism for the future, especially given his defensive prowess.

Scouting Report: Banfield has an interesting setup in the box with a fairly open front side and low handset. He stands nearly upright with a normal load and stride and shows plenty of bat speed. Banfield has above-average raw power that he tapped into more frequently in 2023, although his pure hit tool lacks polish. He has below-average bat-to-ball skills with an overall contact rate of just 71% and has an aggressive approach and a 38% chase rate. The root of his struggles are below-average pitch recognition and lackluster swing decisions and led to a 26.6% strikeout rate. Banfield has long been known for his defense. He moves well behind the plate, receives well, and has a railgun of a throwing arm. Banfield consistently has quick transfers and his throws have excellent carry through the bag.

The Future: Banfield appears to be on track to make his Major League debut at some point in 2024, though he will likely begin the year at Triple-A Jacksonville. Banfield’s defense is already big league caliber, but a questionable hit tool could limit his overall upside.

Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 50 | Run: 35 | Field: 60 | Arm: 70
TRACK RECORD: Considered the top high school defensive catcher in the 2018 draft, Banfield was drafted 69th overall by the Marlins and signed for an above-slot for $1.8 million. He hit just .199/.252/.310 at low Class A Clinton in his first full season, but he showed enough defensive tools for the Marlins to bring him to their alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Banfield is a defense-only catcher who will have to ride his glove to the majors. He has above-average receiving and blocking skills and a plus arm that helped him throw out 46% of attempted basestealers during his first full season in the minors. Banfield showed an improved offensive approach at the alternate training site and flashes above-average power when he finds the barrel, but his swing is grooved and he often gets into bad counts.

THE FUTURE: Banfield has drawn comparisons to Austin Hedges as a gifted defender who won't hit enough to play every day. How his offense progresses will determine if he becomes a major leaguer at all.
TRACK RECORD: Widely considered the draft's best defensive high school catcher in 2018, the Marlins drafted Banfield with the 69th overall pick in 2018 and signed him for an above-slot signing bonus of $1.8 million, nearly twice the slot value. Banfield has thrown out 46 percent of would-be basestealers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Behind the plate, Banfield has plus arm strength along with very quick feet to go with good lateral agility. While he is still an inexperienced receiver with some crudeness in his glove hand and framing, Banfield has shown the potential to be a plus defender. He's improved his shifting and blocking abilities notably since joining the organization. Banfield's strikeout rate has steadied between 28-30 percent, and his walk rate lowered to 5.8 percent in 2019. More alarming, he has well above-average swing-and-miss and chase rates. While Banfield has above-average raw power from the right side with plus launch angle, he has had a harder time with controlling at-bats and getting into advantage counts.

THE FUTURE: Banfield needs to improve his approach and shorten his swing, but if he can make strides offensively he has all of the defensive tools necessary to be a strong, defense-first catcher.
Track Record: The 69th overall pick in 2018, Banfield signed with the Marlins for $1.8 million, well above the slot value of $894,600 and the club's second-largest draft bonus in 2018. A Vanderbilt commit, Banfield was widely considered the draft's best defensive catcher among high school backstops.

Scouting Report: It all starts with defense with Banfield, who has the potential to be a plus defensive catcher and already possesses a plus arm. He is nimble behind the plate, with the lateral quickness and soft hands needed to become an above-average receiver. Banfield has plus raw power and hit three home runs in 48 at-bats as an 18-year-old in the low Class A South Atlantic League. Like many highly drafted preps, Banfield's bat will decide his future. He has shown above-average bat speed, helping him tap into his pull-side power, but there were some swing-and-miss concerns with Banfield going into the draft that he will have to answer.

The Future: Like first-rounder Connor Scott, Banfield was aggressively pushed to low Class A Greensboro for the final month of 2018 to prepare him for that level in 2019. He will likely spend most, if not all, of 2019 with newly affiliated Clinton of the Midwest League, where he'll look to improve his hit tool to combine with his plus defensive potential.

Draft Prospects

The top high school catcher in the class, Banfield has some of the best defensive potential of any prep catcher of the last few years. The Vanderbilt commit was unanimously voted as the top defensive catcher in the class by major league scouting directors in BA's Preseason High School All-America poll and also took home the honors for having the best arm among high school catchers. Banfield has at least a plus arm--some scouts have gone higher and called it plus-plus--with loose hips and impressive flexibility behind the plate that allow him to frame low pitches effectively and also help his quick lateral movement on balls in the dirt. With strong forearms and above-average hands, Banfield has all the tools necessary to become a plus defensive catcher, and he's been working with elite prep arms like Ethan Hankins and Kumar Rocker since he was around 14 years old. Banfield's bat is what could push him from a backup catcher profile to a potential star, as he has above-average bat speed and plus raw power to the pull side, though there are real swing and miss concerns that followed Banfield throughout the summer. There were reports that his swing was a bit more direct to the ball in the spring, but he'll need time to figure out hitting at the pro level while also trying to work with a entire pitching staff. Banfield should be able to manage a staff well, however, with impressive maturity, makeup and leadership skills.

Minor League Top Prospects

Banfield ranked as the top high school catcher in the 2018 draft, with the Marlins drafting him at No. 69 overall and signing him for $1.8 million. He had a steady debut in the GCL before the Marlins pushed him to low Class A Greensboro in August. Defense is Banfield's calling card. Agile and flexible behind the plate, Banfield blocks and receives well, with soft hands, experience catching high-end velocity and a knack for framing pitches already. He has a plus arm and a quick release, which helped him erase 41 percent of basestealers in the GCL, and the attributes to develop into a plus defensive catcher. At the plate, Banfield sticks out for his above-average raw power, but he will have to make adjustments to make more contact, with swing-and-miss risk that showed up both as an amateur and in his pro debut.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Miami Marlins in 2020
Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Miami Marlins in 2019

Scouting Reports

TRACK RECORD: Considered the top high school defensive catcher in the 2018 draft, Banfield was drafted 69th overall by the Marlins and signed for an above-slot for $1.8 million. He hit just .199/.252/.310 at low Class A Clinton in his first full season, but he showed enough defensive tools for the Marlins to bring him to their alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Banfield is a defense-only catcher who will have to ride his glove to the majors. He has above-average receiving and blocking skills and a plus arm that helped him throw out 46% of attempted basestealers during his first full season in the minors. Banfield showed an improved offensive approach at the alternate training site and flashes above-average power when he finds the barrel, but his swing is grooved and he often gets into bad counts.

THE FUTURE: Banfield has drawn comparisons to Austin Hedges as a gifted defender who won't hit enough to play every day. How his offense progresses will determine if he becomes a major leaguer at all.
TRACK RECORD: Considered the top high school defensive catcher in the 2018 draft, Banfield was drafted 69th overall by the Marlins and signed for an above-slot for $1.8 million. He hit just .199/.252/.310 at low Class A Clinton in his first full season, but he showed enough defensive tools for the Marlins to bring him to their alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Banfield is a defense-only catcher who will have to ride his glove to the majors. He has above-average receiving and blocking skills and a plus arm that helped him throw out 46% of attempted basestealers during his first full season in the minors. Banfield showed an improved offensive approach at the alternate training site and flashes above-average power when he finds the barrel, but his swing is grooved and he often gets into bad counts.

THE FUTURE: Banfield has drawn comparisons to Austin Hedges as a gifted defender who won't hit enough to play every day. How his offense progresses will determine if he becomes a major leaguer at all.
TRACK RECORD: Widely considered the draft’s best defensive high school catcher in 2018, the Marlins drafted Banfield with the 69th overall pick in 2018 and signed him for an above-slot signing bonus of $1.8 million, nearly twice the slot value. Banfield has thrown out 46 percent of would-be basestealers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Behind the plate, Banfield has plus arm strength along with very quick feet to go with good lateral agility. While he is still an inexperienced receiver with some crudeness in his glove hand and framing, Banfield has shown the potential to be a plus defender. He’s improved his shifting and blocking abilities notably since joining the organization. Banfield’s strikeout rate has steadied between 28-30 percent, and his walk rate lowered to 5.8 percent in 2019. More alarming, he has well above-average swing-and-miss and chase rates. While Banfield has above-average raw power from the right side with plus launch angle, he has had a harder time with controlling at-bats and getting into advantage counts.

THE FUTURE: Banfield needs to improve his approach and shorten his swing, but if he can make strides offensively he has all of the defensive tools necessary to be a strong, defense-first catcher. BA GRADE 50 Risk: High BA GRADE 55 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 45 Risk: High
TRACK RECORD: Widely considered the draft's best defensive high school catcher in 2018, the Marlins drafted Banfield with the 69th overall pick in 2018 and signed him for an above-slot signing bonus of $1.8 million, nearly twice the slot value. Banfield has thrown out 46 percent of would-be basestealers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Behind the plate, Banfield has plus arm strength along with very quick feet to go with good lateral agility. While he is still an inexperienced receiver with some crudeness in his glove hand and framing, Banfield has shown the potential to be a plus defender. He's improved his shifting and blocking abilities notably since joining the organization. Banfield's strikeout rate has steadied between 28-30 percent, and his walk rate lowered to 5.8 percent in 2019. More alarming, he has well above-average swing-and-miss and chase rates. While Banfield has above-average raw power from the right side with plus launch angle, he has had a harder time with controlling at-bats and getting into advantage counts.

THE FUTURE: Banfield needs to improve his approach and shorten his swing, but if he can make strides offensively he has all of the defensive tools necessary to be a strong, defense-first catcher.