With Drew Romo ineligible for PuRPs voting this time around, Cole Messina is the only catcher we’ve got on this Purple Row Prospects list. The 6’0”, 230-pound catcher, who signed for a slot bonus of just over $1 million after getting picked 77th overall, came to the Rockies after two-straight successful years in the toughest conference in NCAA baseball at South Carolina. He wasn’t the only Messina selected in the 2024 draft — his brother Carson, a pitcher, was picked in the 12th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Mid-season 2024 Rank: 28
High Ballot: 18
Mode Ballot: 28
Future Value: 35+, third catcher
Contract Status: 2024 Third Round, South Carolina, Not Rule 5 Eligible, three options remaining
MLB ETA: 2028
After barely playing as a freshman in 2022, Messina was impressive in the college wood bat Northwoods summer league (.