April 1, 2058
by Banjo Jackson
Nashville, TN
C Michael ‘Shotgun’ Cantu
| Contact | Gap | Power | Eye | Avoid K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start 2057 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Start 2058 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Potential | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 (+1) |
Cantu was a star athlete for his local high school in Corpus Christi, TX. Not only was he a star catcher, but received several Division 1 scholarships across the nation to play quarterback. Standing at 6’5, Cantu boasts amazing arm strength and was ranked as the #1 QB recruit in the nation. Many teams believed he wouldn’t sign and would instead opt for college, but the Bluebirds took a risk and drafted the catcher who had fallen to the 34th overall pick in the first round of the 2057 amateur draft. Fortunately, Cantu was impressed with the Nashville organization and the GM’s idea of plugging him in as future Hall of Famer, Jesús Rodríguez’ssuccessor. His nickname, Shotgun, pays homage to his playing days as a quarterback, but is also aptly-named for his ability to shoot down any runners attempting to run on him.
While Shotgun may not have the highest offensive ceiling, he was seen as one of the most polished defensive catchers in the draft. Upon signing with Nashville, Cantu was sent to Short A for the remainder of the season and played well. He slashed .283/.356/.363 in 31 GS, but struggled receiving the ball from more talented pitchers. He will need to work on improving his defense, but he plays to his potential, he will have a long career in the BBA.
ETA: 2060
