Katharine Heslin is UMass’ glove-first catcher with sneaky clutch pop
In the 2026 season, Katharine Heslin gave Massachusetts a reliable defensive anchor behind the plate and at first base, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 61 putouts and no errors while also delivering timely RBI hits, including a two-RBI game against Brown. Her bat isn’t flashy yet (.129 average in 2026), but she brings value in toughness, versatility, and pressure moments; she already flashed some extra-base punch as a freshman in 2025 with a home run and six doubles. If your team wants a calm, hard-nosed, defense-first catcher who won’t shrink from big spots, she’s worth a look.
