Heres a scouting report from Baseball America prior to this season:
Strengths:
Kottaras profiles as an offense-oriented catcher. He displays natural hitting instincts and commands the strike zone. He generates easy line-drive power with a quiet setup and fluid swing, projecting to hit 15-20 home runs annually. He’s athletic behind the plate and has plus arm strength.
Weaknesses:
Kottaras has a tendency to get pull-happy, and needs to focus simply on centering the ball and letting his strength work for him naturally. His arm plays only average because of a slow glove-hand exchange and a long release. He’s a bit small for a catcher, leaving some to wonder if he can handle the rigors of a full season.
The Future:
Kottaras’ bat separates him from the rest of San Diego’s catching prospects. He’ll begin 2006 back in Double-A and is on schedule to be the starter at the big league level by the end of 2007.