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SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- There was a time in Buck McCarthy’s life when playing baseball at any level beyond high school was the farthest thing from his mind. A Saugus native, McCarthy fractured a leg while playing linebacker early in his senior year at Everett High. Because that injury required two operations, McCarthy missed his senior baseball season as well as an opportunity to play for the Ocean State Waves in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Now fast forward to 2015, when McCarthy is in his second season as a catcher for Bryant University and has popped up on the radar screen of Major League scouts. The junior is rated as the No. 4 prospect in New England by Baseball America and the No. 10 prospect by the New England Baseball Journal. “He’s strong, athletic, durable, and he can hit,” said Bryant coach Steve Owens. “If you can play (catcher) and you can do those things and you’re a good-to-adequate receiver with projectability (a term used by all scouts), and you possesses enough arm strength to play that position, then you’re obviously somebody who would attract some attention. “I believe Buck certainly is not the finished product. I want him to get way better. I’m challenging him every day to get better and to become more consistent. “I couldn’t tell you right now if he’s somebody who gets drafted this year as a junior or if it might take one more year of college baseball,” continued Owens. “But I do think he has the ability, if he keeps getting better, by the time he leaves here to be a pro player.” [Bulldog tough:] The fact McCarthy has had to endure two more injuries this spring (a sore right arm plus a fractured toe) yet is having a solid season is a testament to the fact he has the inherent fortitude necessary to play a position where injuries are as much a part of the game as peanuts and popcorn. “Just getting the chance to work every day on catching and getting out there and playing his helped me,” said McCarthy while shrugging off any mention of the injuries he’s endured. “I think my receiving behind the plate has improved a little and I think my arm has gotten a little stronger.” Through his first 25 games, McCarthy was hitting a commendable .289 with 16 RBI. And through 75 games at Bryant, his career batting average is .323 with 45 RBI plus a .912 OPS. “Buck’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen,” said an American League scout who spoke to ESPNBoston.com on condition of anonymity. “He’s still a work in progress, defensively. He’s got some sharpening up to do but his work ethic and demeanor, I don’t put it past him to develop into that. “At the least, he’s an average defensive catcher at the pro level. And then he’s got as much raw power as any of these guys from the right side for a pretty compact frame (McCarthy checks in at 5-10 and 205 pounds). He’s pretty strong, he’s got strong wrists and he does a nice job utilizing that in his swing.” As McCarthy alluded to, the fact he’s been able to catch on an every-day basis has been a plus whereas last season he split 38 games between being a catcher and a DH behind two seniors until injuries to the latter enabled him to catch on a regular basis. “There’s only one DH in the Major Leagues and those are guys that really can hit,” said Owens. “Being able to play your position at an elite level especially as a Northeast position player, you can’t be one-dimensional. You have to be good at everything. “This is his first full year of catching for us. We have an inexperienced staff compared with what we’ve had in the past. Our pitching coach (Ryan Fecteau) calls the majority of the pitches. Buck is pretty much in charge of relaying that information to the pitcher and then working with the pitcher if the pitcher wants to do something else. “He’s done a solid job with that,” continued Owens. “One thing I’ve challenged Buck with is being quicker with his tempo. We want to try to pitch in a quicker fashion -- establish a nice rhythm when things are going well and slow it down when things aren’t going well.” The man in charge: Being proficient at game management is essential for a catcher at any level. In McCarthy’s opinion, that’s an area where he’s made significant improvement. “I think I’ve improved on that since last year,” he said. “I just try to go out there and help the pitcher anyway I can ... blocking baseballs, stealing strikes whenever I can (read framing pitches), not taking a pitch off or get lazy.” Offensively, McCarthy may not develop the power of, oh, a Johnny Bench. But he does project as a solid gap-to-gap hitter. “He hits a lot of doubles,” said Owens. “I think he has home run power. When he hits them he hits them really far. But he also has the ability to be a good on-base percentage guy with his eyes (McCarthy’s career OBP is .419). He has a very good understanding of the strike zone. “He gets himself in good counts quite often. But he is a gap-to-gap, doubles hitter.” “I can hit for power when I get into one,” said McCarthy. “I think I have a pretty good eye when I hit. “When I’m catching I think I can control the game pretty good. I think my arm to second is above average and I think I’m a very good blocker behind the plate.” McCarthy went on a tear in late April and was named the Northeast Conference Player of the Week for the week ending April 20. Over five games, he hit .714 (10-for-14) with a double, one homer, six RBI and a .737 OBP. “The last seven games or so he’s locked in good offensively,” said Owens. “We’re hoping he stays there.”
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