O's note Heim's upside, take him in fourth round
The Buffalo, N.Y., area isn't known to be a hotbed of baseball talent, but Jonah Heim is the second premium catching prospect in two years that area scouts have been fortunate enough to evaluate.
At 6-foot-3, 189 pounds, Heim is tall for a catcher, but he has plenty of upside that had scouts excited entering this year's MLB First-Year Player Draft, in which he went at pick No. 129 by the Orioles.
Despite his size, Heim -- out of Amherst Central High School -- has good pop at times, and still is fairly agile behind the plate.
Heim has a strong arm and, in time, has the potential to be at least an average defender. There are more questions surrounding his offensive ability, but he has some raw power and a good approach at the plate.
Heim is committed to play at Michigan State next year.