7/14/2024 baseball Edit

Cal catcher Caleb Lomavita selected by Washington in the MLB draft

Matt Moreno • GoldenBearReport

Reporter

Matt began his career at Rivals in 2011 as recruiting editor and then publisher for Arizona affiliate, GOAZCATS.com. In 2022, he moved into an expanded role covering Pac-12 recruiting for Rivals.

Another Cal player is headed to pros. Sunday, the Bears had catcher Caleb Lomavita selected 39th overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2024 MLB Draft. The junior from Ewa Beach, Hawaii is the 238th selection for the Bears in program history and the fifth Cal player to be selected by the Nationals.

"Caleb is an elite catcher with the opportunity to have a tremendous career in professional baseball." Cal head coach Mike Neu said in a statement released by the progarm Sunday evening after the pick was announced.. "Caleb brings a lot to the table with his rare combination of power, speed and defensive prowess behind the plate. He had an outstanding three seasons for us and the Nationals are a lucky organization to have him."

Content Loading

Embed content not available
Manage privacy settings

PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxvY2sgc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxv Y2stLXR3ZWV0Jz4KPGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nY2VudGVyX3R3ZWV0Jz48YmxvY2tx dW90ZSBjbGFzcz0idHdpdHRlci10d2VldCI+PHAgbGFuZz0iZW4iIGRpcj0i bHRyIj5XaXRoIHRoZSAzOXRoIHBpY2sgaW4gdGhlIDIwMjQgRHJhZnQsIHRo ZSA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL05hdGlvbmFscz9yZWZf c3JjPXR3c3JjJTVFdGZ3Ij5ATmF0aW9uYWxzPC9hPiBzZWxlY3QgPGEgaHJl Zj0iaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9DYWxCYXNlYmFsbD9yZWZfc3JjPXR3 c3JjJTVFdGZ3Ij5AQ2FsQmFzZWJhbGw8L2E+IGNhdGNoZXIgQ2FsZWIgTG9t YXZpdGEsIE5vLiAzMyBvbiB0aGUgVG9wIDI1MCBEcmFmdCBQcm9zcGVjdHMg bGlzdC48YnI+PGJyPldhdGNoIExJVkU6IDxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vdC5j by9lTE1KQVhEZTdaIj5odHRwczovL3QuY28vZUxNSkFYRGU3WjwvYT4gPGEg aHJlZj0iaHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvL1dlZUdSdzJHa3EiPnBpYy50d2l0dGVyLmNv bS9XZWVHUncyR2txPC9hPjwvcD4mbWRhc2g7IE1MQiBEcmFmdCAoQE1MQkRy YWZ0KSA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL01MQkRyYWZ0L3N0 YXR1cy8xODEyNjcxNDk5NTY5OTI2MzA5P3JlZl9zcmM9dHdzcmMlNUV0Znci Pkp1bHkgMTUsIDIwMjQ8L2E+PC9ibG9ja3F1b3RlPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFzeW5j IHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF0Zm9ybS50d2l0dGVyLmNvbS93aWRnZXRzLmpz IiBjaGFyc2V0PSJ1dGYtOCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+Cgo8L2Rpdj4KPC9kaXY+Cgo=

Lomavita was picked with the final competitive balance pick in between the first and second rounds of the draft. He is the second player picked by the Nationals in the last four years with Darren Baker was picked in the 10th round (No. 203) by the franchise in the 2021 draft.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound catcher accomplished quite a bit during his time with the Bears including being named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive team earlier this year. He was named to the Perfect Game All-American third team and was named a semifinalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy and Buster Posey Award.

In his three seasons in Berkeley, Lomavita was able to leave his mark on the Bears' record books as well. He finished his career at Cal third in total bases (431), seventh in home runs (38) and tied for ninth in stolen bases (141).

He played in and started 158 games in his Cal career, including 55 in his final season, to finish with a .302 batting average, 135 runs scored and 36 stolen bases. As a junior this year, Lomavita hit 15 home runs and stole 12 bases making him one of just eight catchers nationally to reach double digits in both categories.

Neu has now guided 24 players to a selection in the MLB draft since arriving at Cal in 2017.

The MLB draft will continue through Tuesday with 20 rounds total.