Washington Nationals select Cal catcher Caleb Lomavita in 2024 MLB Draft

The Washington Nationals have selected Cal Golden Bears catcher Caleb Lomavita in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Caleb Lomavita played three seasons for the Golden Bears. During that time, he proved to be one of the best players in the Pac-12 from his catcher position, playing in 158 games total.

In his college career, Lomavita hit .302 with a .369 OBP and a .534 slugging percentage. He had 38 home runs to go along with 141 RBIs during that time. He also has good speed for a catcher, with 36 career stolen bases.

Defensively, he had a career .980 fielding percentage at Cal to go along with 886 putouts and 84 assists.

Caleb Lomavita was consistently recognized by the Pac-12 in his career. As a freshman in 2022, he was a Freshman All-American before being named to the All-Pac-12 First Team. Then, as a sophomore in 2023, he was a Pac-12 honorable mention. Then, again in 2024, he was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team.

For two summers, Caleb Lomavita played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Cotuit Kettleers. There, he played in 49 total games and was a two-time Cape Cod League All-Star selection. There, he hit .323 with a .364 OBP and a .460 slugging percentage. He had four home runs and 22 RBIs to go along with four stolen bases.

Caleb Lomavita played his high school baseball at Saint Louis in Hawaii. There, he was the 2021 Gatorade Hawaii Baseball Player of the Year and helped lead Saint Louis to the 2021 IHL title. He has also played in USA Baseball’s National Team Development Program.

What scouts said about Caleb Lomavita ahead of MLB Draft

Coming into the 2024 MLB Draft, Caleb Lomavita was the 33rd-ranked available prospect, according to MLB.com.

Caleb Lomavita came into the draft as one of its best catching prospects, largely due to his all-around game. He can hit for power, play good defense, and even run well for a catcher. That’s something that scouts took notice of while he was at Cal.

“He can drive the ball to all fields and really started to tap into his raw power in 2023 as he chased less and recognized spin better. The chase rate did creep back up this spring and Lomavita could use some approach refinement as he is a very aggressive hitter who swings at everything. He runs very well for a catcher and can steal a bag with excellent instincts on the basepaths,” MLB.com wrote.

“While his athleticism helps him behind the plate, he’s still learning the nuances of receiving. He has plus arm strength… but he’s still learning to shorten his arm stroke and quicken his release behind the plate.”