Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Lomavita hailed from St. Louis High School in Honolulu – the same Hawaii program that produced Benny Agbayani, Brandon League and Jordan Yamamoto – and headed across the Pacific to Cal, where he was a three-year performer who especially took off as a sophomore. He also helped his stock with two impressive summers with Cotuit in the Cape Cod League and then produced a .322/.395/.586 line with 15 homers in 55 games as a junior heading into the 2024 Draft. The Nationals selected the backstop with the 39th overall pick in July, signed him for around slot at $2,325,000 and gave him 22 games (including the postseason) with Single-A Fredericksburg in his first taste of the pros.

It was an improved bat that really pushed Lomavita into the periphery of the first round. His stance moved from an open one in college to more closed-off in the Carolina League, though his leg kick remained. His swing remains optimized to launch balls on contact, and he showed good bat-to-ball skills in school that helped the power play. That was important because his chase rates ebbed and flowed – better in 2023, back to high levels in 2024 especially against non-fastballs. Cutting that down will go a long way toward Lomavita reaching his offensive ceiling.

The former Golden Bear runs well for a catcher, and he shouldn’t be an afterthought on the basepaths unlike many others at his position. His athleticism is an asset behind the plate, at least when it comes to future projection because he’s still learning the nuances of framing after showing up to college with an undefined role. His pure arm strength is plus, and as he’s learning to quicken his release, he threw out seven of 18 (38.9 percent) of attempted basestealers with Fredericksburg.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Lomavita came out of a St. Louis High School program in Hawaii that has produced big leaguers Jordan Yamamoto and Brandon League, but he didn’t garner much pro attention in his senior season in 2021. He started making a name for himself as a freshman at Cal, then raised his profile with a .979 OPS and 16 homers as a sophomore. Hitting well for two straight summers in the Cape Cod League didn’t hurt, making him one of the better catching prospects in the 2024 Draft class. The Nationals selected him 39th overall this summer and signed him for roughly slot value at $2,325,000.

Lomavita’s stock soared as his bat potential improved. He utilizes an unusual approach and swing mechanics from the right side, with the drop of his back leg to create a launch-oriented swing, but he routinely finds the barrel. He can drive the ball to all fields and really started to tap into his raw power in 2023 as he chased less and recognized spin better. The chase rate did creep back up this spring and Lomavita could use some approach refinement, as he is a very aggressive hitter who swings at everything. He runs very well for a catcher and can steal a bag with excellent instincts on the basepaths.

While his athleticism helps him behind the plate, he’s still learning the nuances of receiving. He has plus arm strength -- it would easily be a 60 arm from third base -- but he’s still learning to shorten his arm stroke and quicken his release behind the plate. He could handle the hot corner or even the outfield if needed, but there’s no reason to think he can’t stick behind the dish.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Lomavita came out of a St. Louis High School program in Hawaii that produced such big leaguers as Jordan Yamamoto and Brandon League, but didn’t garner much pro attention in his senior season in 2021. He started making a name for himself as a freshman at Cal, then raised his profile with a .979 OPS and 16 homers as a sophomore. Hitting well for two straight summers in the Cape Cod League hasn’t hurt, making him one of the better catching prospects in the class.

Lomavita’s stock has soared as his bat potential has improved. He utilizes an unusual approach and swing mechanics from the right side, with the drop of his back leg to create a launch-oriented swing, but he routinely finds the barrel. He can drive the ball to all fields and really started to tap into his raw power in 2023 as he chased less and recognized spin better. The chase rate did creep back up this spring and Lomavita could use some approach refinement as he is a very aggressive hitter who swings at everything. He runs very well for a catcher and can steal a bag with excellent instincts on the basepaths.

While his athleticism helps him behind the plate, he’s still learning the nuances of receiving. He has plus arm strength, it would easily be a 60 arm from third base, but he’s still learning to shorten his arm stroke and quicken his release behind the plate. He could handle the hot corner or even the outfield if needed, but there’s no reason to think he can’t stick behind the dish and he was appearing to win the Northern California college catcher battle with Stanford’s Malcolm Moore.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/26/2025	C Caleb Lomavita assigned to Harrisburg Senators from Wilmington Blue Rocks.
	04/02/2025	C Caleb Lomavita assigned to Wilmington Blue Rocks.
	03/06/2025	activated C Caleb Lomavita.
	01/23/2025	Washington Nationals invited non-roster C Caleb Lomavita to spring training.
	08/13/2024	C Caleb Lomavita assigned to Fredericksburg Nationals from FCL Nationals.
	08/05/2024	C Caleb Lomavita assigned to FCL Nationals.
	07/24/2024	Washington Nationals signed C Caleb Lomavita.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated C Caleb Lomavita.
	02/06/2024	C Caleb Lomavita assigned to California Golden Bears.
	06/08/2023	C Caleb Lomavita assigned to College Workout.
	02/09/2022	C Caleb Lomavita and assigned to California Golden Bears.
	02/09/2022	California Golden Bears activated C Caleb Lomavita.