Matthew Koch (pronounced "coach"):

Catcher

Bats right, throws right

DOB: 11-21-88 (23.6)

Drafted by the Twins in the 12th round of the 2011 draft.

 

2011 statistics:

Elizabethon

51 plate appearances, .273/.333/.545, 6 doubles, 0 triples, 2 homers, 5 bb, 13 k, 0 steals in 0 attempts.

 

2012 statistics:

Beloit

156 plate appearances, .296/.422/.512, 12 doubles, 0 triples, 5 homers, 21 bb, 41 k, 1 steal in 3 attempts

 

 

Koch has been fantastic since joining the organization. I would like to see the Twins be more aggressive with him and promote him to Fort Myers soon. I would imagine that is K rate is what they are wary of at the moment.

Koch has struggled over the past 10 games for a .615 OPS.

 

But given that it is still at .865 for the season in 173 at bats, it is perplexing that he is not being moved through the system faster. He now belongs in Fort Myers. He strikes out too much. This is a clear concern for the Twins semi-moronic minor league administrators (I refuse to call them anything but that). Koch is still walking at a good rate and has power. This makes up for the strikeout rate (apply this to many other minor leaguers being stunted in their development for the same reason).

 

Lastly, Koch is a RH hitter who is hitting righties better this year (.884 OPS).

Koch has a .780 OPS at Beloit.

 

He turns 24 in three months and is part of the logjam that is the Twins organization in terms of how it views AAA (so if Herrmann and Pinto don't get promoted a level, it only makes sense to keep Koch where he is as well-unfortunately).

 

After struggling mightily in July, Koch hopefully turns things around in August.

frustrating that Rene Rivera, basically, is blocking Chris Hermann, Josmil Pinto & Koch

frustrating that Rene Rivera, basically, is blocking Chris Hermann, Josmil Pinto & Koch

Rivera obviously is terrible, but its not like any of those other three are really forcing the issue.

Rivera obviously is terrible, but its not like any of those other three are really forcing the issue.

You don't think they, as catchers, are worthy of being promoted? Herrmann's OPS is around .740 at New Britain, Pinto's OPS is over .800 in Fort Myers, and Koch's is around .765 at Beloit. These are catchers, not OF or 1B!