2025 Cleveland Guardians Prospect Scouting Report: #20 C Kody Huff

Huff should have a floor of a backup catcher, but could there be more?

Apr 07, 2025

Age (2025 season): 24
Acquired: Trade (COL, 2023, Cal Quantrill)
2024 Level: Double-A
Height: 5’9
Weight: 200
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

2025 Scouting Grades

Hit: 45
Power: 45
Speed: 55
Defense: 55
Arm: 55
Overall: 45
Risk: Low
ETA: 2025

First Impression

Smaller in stature, but compact and strong for a backstop. High baseball IQ, quick enough actions. Son of a baseball scout.

What Makes Huff Fun

Defensively is where Huff shines. If you’re reading this, you probably already know the Guardians love their defense first receivers. Catchers are receivers first, baseball players second. Huff threw out 33 of 99 base runners (33%) of base runners in Double-A Akron and led all Double-A catchers in defensive runs prevented per Baseball Prospectus. He’s a strong framer and blocker. All around, Huff has all the defensive chops. He has the background and bloodlines and the skills. Offensively, there are solid exit velocities in his bat and he can generate some power, showing the ability to pull the ball in the air. Excels against lefties. So there’s some pop, ability to draw walks and defensive skills.

What Could Hold Huff Back

I fully expect Huff to continue to hold his value defensively and carve out a career that way. The real limiter for Huff is getting to his pop more consistently and struggling vs. RHP. There’s a chance here for a backup role that could be a platoon hitter, maybe more depending on consistency.

Key Metric

15.5 DRP/11.3 FrmR - Again, Huff’s defensive metrics from Baseball Prospectus are strong in terms of run prevention and framing. Blocking is actually where he was most fringe at. But the defensive skill set is strong. He did post a 1:1 FB%/GB% ratio in 2024 and a 42% pull rate, so that’s promising for offense.

Intangibles

Huff has family in baseball, a former player and his dad who has been a scout. Baseball is in his blood and he has a high baseball IQ, basically a baseball rat. That’s exactly what the Guardians covet, especially in a catcher.

Future

This grade and ranking mighty reflect that Huff could be a fringe-average hitter at catcher (~85 wRC+) with a chance to platoon against lefties offensively, though the real money maker here is the defense. That’s enough for a fringe starter, maybe an Austin Hedges type career but with slightly better contact rates? Maybe. Cleveland was very comfortable with Huff skipping High-A in 2024 and then played in the AFL. He should be the everyday Columbus catcher and might have a chance to debut in 2025 as the third catcher with David Fry unavailable to catch all season.

Role/Risk

45/Low - Defense first backup catcher/platoon hitter