Catching Up With The Twins Milb Catchers

[DocBauer]

I have a soft spot for LH pitchers and catchers. My interest in catchers probably pales to Seth's great love, by I appreciate how very important they are, and how rare really good ones are at the ML level. And with discussion about the impending draft, there has been a lot of discussion about the drafting of a catcher(s) this year. This article is about what's in the Twins system right now, and NOT intended to yet another debate/opinion piece about Jeffers or Sanchez on our beloved parent club. Let me just briefly cover the obvious: you like Jeffers and his defense and his bat potential or you think he's a backup only, and Sanchez is improved from what we expected but may or may not be back and you either like that idea or hate the idea. 

There ya go. Jeffers or Sanchez ARE appropriate to discuss in regard, generally speaking, to the depth of the system.

The Twins have not ignored the catcher position, despite Jeffers being the only high recent draft selection. They have moved players to catcher in hopes of finding something. They added David Banuelos from Seattle in a trade a couple years ago, as well as Jair Carmago from the Dogers. They also drafted THREE catchers in 2021 in the 8th, 9th, and 20th round. Of course, they've drafted and signed others in the past few seasons as well, though again, not necessarily high. So they haven't exactly ignored the position.

For some of us, there is a hope that Parada will somehow slide to the 8th spot and the Twins would jump on him. Despite being ranked in the "teens", there are some scouting reports...and let's face it, the ML draft is always a "who knows"...who think Susac is a really good option who might be as good or close. But what do the Twins have in the system right now?

FIRST, THE BAD NEWS:

Banuelos' defense is reported to be excellent. The Twins have had him in ST each of the last 2yrs and kept him late in 2022 to work in games. But the bat hasn't been very good and isnt good this year, though he is slightly ahead in every area but BA. But slightly better still brings only a .700 OPS at AAA. He's only 25yo, so there may be some hope still. Signings Godoy and Cisco have, frankly, performed poorly and have quad slash lines below their career milb numbers. At 27yo each, there's not much hope. Fellow journeyman Roy Morales, also 27yo, has actually performed beyond his career quad slash. He actually had a pretty solid year for Wichita in 2021, is slightly below those numbers with only 85AB this season but again, ahead of career numbers. Not sure what to hope for there, but at least his bat has been trending upward. 

Looking lower than AAA, converted 3B/1B  Andrew Bechtold just hasn't hit well at all, which is disappointing as it looked like he may have found his bat and power in 2021 after losing it post his first year in the system. The Twins sent him to the AFL to work on his catching conversion, but the bat has regressed. Being brief and ignoring a few more catchers who have done nothing, the biggest disappointment might be Charles Mack. The former 3B, 6th round pick is hitting an anemic .168/ .256/ .286/ .592.

NOW THE GOOD NEWS:

Converted infielder Caleb Hamilton, still playing in the dirt at times, is providing a quad slash of .243/ .384/ .451/ .835. All career highs. The BA might not be there, but his other numbers show pop and strike zone control. Could he be a decent backup/3rd catcher option? Even at 27yo?

Jair Carmago got off to a great start with Cedar Rapids before a promotion to AA. His numbers have slipped since the promotion, but he's only 23yo. A slash of .282/ .299/ .511/ .810 are all career highs.

Alex Isola perked real interest in 2021 with his bat while catching and playing other spots as well. The 23yo in 2022 is slashing .307/ .400/ .500/ .900. All career bests so far.

A big surprise might be 25yo Chris Williams. He was a cheap senior sign a couple years ago who had an arm injury his senior year that limited him to DH and 1B. Personally, I had high hopes when the Twins drafted him. But basically, he was pretty lousy his first couple of seasons. But here he is now, catching at AA, and putting up some really great numbers of .287/ .381/ .534/ .915. Battling injuries when drafted, is he a late bloomer? I've heard positive reports about his game calling and repore with pitchers. 

Pat Winkel, 2021 round 9 pick is hitting solid at Cedar Rapids, .266/ .330/ .456/ .786. (His fellow 2021 draftees, FWIW, Noah Cardenas and Dillon Tatum are doing nothing in the first full seasons).

Hamilton has a shot. I'm much more interested in Carmago. And I'm really, really interested in Isola and the late blooming and finally healthy Williams. I want to see more and hear more about them.

I don't think the system is entirely EMPTY, but I think there's real room to add to the catcher position in this draft. But I hope I've presented at least a relevant discussion point to look at.

 

 

 

[Rosterman]

Carmago is an interesting case. I think he may be Rule 5 eligible and the Twins may not be able to stash him (or he might even be a minor elague free agent after this season). Performing at Wichita will go a long way to see if he will be kept by the Twins, who don't, as you showed above, have a lot of depth.

And msot of the players mentioned could fall into the category of good solid third catchers, depending on next year. But we just don't know yet. Maybe someone will improve bigtime, but Winkel is still too far away to make that assessment. 

[Seth Stohs]

Thoughts: 

AAA: Godoy is not good, but they don't want to lose catchers.
Sisco got hurt and had season-ending knee surgery.
Hamilton has some value as a 3rd or 4th catcher who can play 3B and 1B and other places in an emergency. Some power. Hard worker.
Banuelos is incredible defensively. Will he hit? No, but he's got some pop when he does. 
R Morales is another guy who can play all over. Depth, organizational piece out of the American Association, but again, a good baseball player. 

AA: I really like Isola, power and plate discipline, solid glove.
Bechtold has become a guy who can be used behind the plate while also the corner infield spots. Has power. 
Camargo will be a free agent at season's end. He hates walking, but he does have power. Big arm. Good athlete. OK defense. 
Chris Williams can hit and has power. Decent backstop who can also play 1B. 

High-A... 
Charlie Mack has potential, but probably needs to play more to really take off, and catchers in the low levels often split time because that is such a physically demanding job. The talent is certainly there. 
Jeferson Morales really is more of an outfielder, a little guy with some surprising pop.
Pat Winkel is really liked in the organization. He could hit some and he is really touted for his defense. 

Low A: 
Noah Cardenas is really liked as well, and he gets some DH days when not catching. Solid college backstop. Definitely has something in his bat, and has a really good knowledge of the strike zone. 

[roger]

You didn’t mention my favorite, Doc, Ben Rortvedt.  Ooops, they traded their future starter who could actually throw out some guys stealing a base.

Way down the list, but Olivar has been hitting a ton in the FCL.  And he can run!

But like you I hope the kid from Georgia Tech is available at #8, they actually draft him and he rockets up the ladder to the Twins by 2024?  I can dream, can’t I?
 

 

[jorgenswest]

How does Banuelos compare to Rortvedt? I think both profile good glove and poor bat.

[mikelink45]

Thanks for a good review - unfortunately it does not give me a lot of hope for the future.

[Dman]

I like Isola the best out of that group as he could have a really good hit tool that can translate.  Not sure about his defense but Seth says solid so I will take his word for it.  Haven't seen Isola in a while though so I assume he is injured?  Still he has the most potential to be at least a number 2 catcher IMO.

Hamilton is a bit of a streaky hitter.  There are times it looks like he might be dominant and then he falls off.  Still I think he would be a solid 3rd catcher.

Personally I haven't been a huge fan of Camargo's all or nothing approach.  I think his aggressive approach stops working as he move up but maybe he has better bat to ball skills than I realize although his K rate tells a different story.  He was having a nice year until injured but I think he is more a wild card than a sure thing.

I am coming around on Winkel.  The Twins must think the bat will play as they paid him way over slot in the draft.  So far he is a little old for the level and just OK with the bat but this is his first year so hard to say at this point but hopeful that he can be a solution.

[Doctor Gast]

We have some good back up catchers and I don't care if they can play other positions. My main concern is do we have a top of the line catcher who can eventually hit? I thought we had that in Rortvedt. My fingers are crossed for Parada.

[Mike Sixel]

What evidence was their Rortverdt could hit? Also, he's out for the year, right, with surgery? 

It's not a deep position, but that's a league wide problem. I often wonder what would happen if teams tried a more athletic guy there, who probably can't stick at short.....