Twins like power in fifth-round catcher Navarreto

With their fifth-round pick (No. 170 overall) in the First-Year Player Draft on Friday, the Twins selected catcher Brian Navarreto.

In a Draft class fairly deep in high school catching, don't sleep on Navarreto. Big and strong at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, the Puerto Rican-born Florida prep standout has the chance to hit for both average and power, with bat speed and loft. He has a good plan at the plate and makes adjustments well.

Drafted out of Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Fla., Navarreto has a strong arm that he's not afraid to show off from behind the plate, and his athleticism gives him the potential to become a strong offensive catcher who can play solid defense as well.

"He's a very energetic player," scouting director Deron Johnson said. "He brings a lot of energy to the game. We love his makeup. … He can really throw. He's got some really good defensive skills for a younger kid, and he's really aggressive."

Navarreto's the kind of strong competitor teams like to see at the position, as well, giving the Jacksonville University commit a chance to maximize his solid all-around tools.

Navarreto may not have been the first high school backstop to hear his name called, but he simply had too much talent to sit around for too long without being picked.