Minnesota Twins Depth Chart: Catcher
Aug 16, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher
Kurt Suzuki(8) walks to the dugout before the game against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Puckett’s Pond looks at the Minnesota Twins’ Catching depth
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This our second piece in a series on the Minnesota Twins’ depth at every position. Yesterday we covered their depth at first base from top to bottom. Today we’re taking a look at the catching depth the Twins possess—from the lowest minors to the major league level. We’ll go in the opposite order of the first base piece. We’ll start with mostly unfamiliar names in rookie ball and work up to the major league tandem.
Rk:
There are three rookie levels in the Twins system: The GCL Twins, DSL Twins and the Elizabethton Twins. The following catchers are likely to play rookie ball again in 2016: Kerby Camacho, Bryant Hayman, Robert Molina, Jorge Acosta, Jhonathan Alvarez, Darling Cuesto, Oliver Tejada and Rainis Silva. None of these players are top prospects or likely will ever be. Camacho is the only one of the group to have been drafted (11th round of 2015). The others are mainly 17-19 year old amateur free agents. This group was largely unsuccessful in their first tastes of professional baseball. They are all very raw. Cuesto, however, put up some solid numbers in DSL. He slashed .280/.395/.357 in 173 PAs.
A:
Brett Doe, Jorge Fernandez and Brian Navarreto played in Cedar Rapids last year and figure to remain there in 2016. Brian Olson and Brad Hartong played rookie ball last year and are ready to move up to single A. That’s obviously quite a logjam. Hartong mostly played outfield in 2015 and will probably continue to do so. Fernandez played more first base than catcher. That still leaves three primary catchers at single A. Someone may have to drop down to rookie or get bumped up to advanced A. Doe may be a candidate to move up to Fort Myers as he did see some time there last year. Navarreto’s bat is weak but he’s strong defensively. Olson had a .829 OPS across two rookie levels in 2015 and seems solid on the defensive end of things.
Next: A /AA Catching Depth
Mar 3, 2015; Ft. Myers, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher
Mitch Garver(82) poses during photo day at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
A+:
Fort Myers’ catching positions look to be filled out by Alex Real, A.J Murray, and as mentioned in the previous slide, Doe or perhaps Olson. Murray hit well with a .774 OPS in 2015 for Elizabethton. He caught 32% of potential base stealers and had a .991 fielding percentage. Real spent 2015 in Cedar Rapids and had a .704 OPS in 257 PAs. His fielding percentage was .990 and he caught 54% of would be base-stealers.
AA:
Stuart Turner, Mitch Garver and Alex Swim are slotted to play for Chattanooga next season. All three have been invited to spring training and are on the 40 man roster. Turner is the Twins 18th ranked prospect. It’s possible he could play AAA in 2016 although there are three catchers already slated for Rochester. Turner should play wherever he’ll receive the most playing time. Turner is a defensive catcher with just a .628 OPS last season in Chattanooga.
Garver is more offensive-minded with a .245/.356/.333 slash line but his defence is rapidly improving. Garver spent a fair amount of time at first and DH last year as well. Swim spent the majority of 2015 at first base, DHing or in the outfielder. He slashed .311/.349/.360. Swim’s playing time at catcher depends on whether Turner plays in AA or AAA next year.
Next: AAA and MLB Catchers
Feb 26, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher
John Hicksposes for a portrait during photo day at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
AAA:
John Hicks, Carlos Paulino and Juan Centeno will likely be playing in Rochester. All three have been invited to spring training and are on the 40 man roster. Hicks and Paulino have both played in the majors and as recently as last year. As mentioned in the previous slide, Turner is also a possibility.
Hicks was claimed on waivers from the Mariners earlier this December. Hicks had 34 PAs with Seattle in 2015 but only had 2 hits. In AAA, he had a .645 OPS. He’s considered a plus defender.
Centeno was signed to a minor league deal in November. He had 23 PAs with the Brewers in 2015 but had one hit and two walks. He has a .408 OPS in 66 PAs in his major league career. In AAA last season, he posted a .675 OPS. In 2014, Centeno was named the best defensive catcher in the PCL.
Carlos Paulino has yet to break through to the majors. He’s been a part-timer in the upper minors the past few years. He had a .640 OPS with Rochester last season. He’s a solid defender.
MLB:
John Ryan Murphy and Kurt Suzuki will form the major league catching tandem for the Minnesota Twins in 2016. Murphy was acquired via trade from the Yankees earlier this offseason.
Suzuki had a down year at the plate in 2015. He had just a .610 OPS. He posted a 0.9 dWAR which was contradicted by a -9 DRS. He caught only 15% of would be base-stealer and is not rated as a good pitch framer.
Murphy had a better year than Suzuki at the plate with a .734 OPS in a bench role. He had a -0.1 dWAR and a -2 DRS.
Catcher is a weak position for the Twins at the AAA and major league levels. They have some solid prospects in the middle minors. The Twins have a slew of catchers on the 40 man roster but if they can add a defense first type with good framing skills, they should.