Twins 2023 Position Analysis: Catcher

I actually like what we have, and the depth. And I didn't when the offseason began. 

I think the Vazquez signing was major! He's an experienced and well regarded game caller and defender. If he only hits to his career norm quad slash numbers, I'm very happy for what he brings at the bottom of the order. And much like Castro did a few years ago for Garver, he provides an example and mentor for the still young Jeffers. 

And I'm in the camp that actually likes Jeffers a lot, especially now as the "secondary" catcher. He's generally solid defensively, and I like the way he calls a game. The pitchers seem to like working with him. And that's still the most important part of being a backstop. Is there room for defensive improvement? Absolutely. His CS% in 2021, as I recall, was just slightly below league average. He definitely slid back in 2022. But I'm not sure how much of that was him, vs fault also with some of the pitchers not holding runners or being slow to the plate.

Offensively, he needs to take a step forward. But the guy hit in college, hit in the minors, hit in his brief 2020 debut, and has real juice in his bat. We've seen glimpses of him being hot. So while I don't know what adjustments he needs to make, at 25yo, with a history of hitting, real power, and only 591 PA and 534 AB, I think there's real, legitimate hope for the bat to come around. At worst, he's a solid game caller with power as a #2.

I just don't have a lot of faith in Sisco...once a well regarded prospect...ever doing much. But Greiner and Wolters have ML experience to work with the St Paul staff and that is HUGE. While neither is probably as good as Leon as a receiver, not having to trade for a #3 catcher...if and when needed...is not a bad thing.

Regarding prospect depth, I have to agree that the organization is in short supply. I also have to agree that I just can't include Williams in that group. It's my understanding he's actually solid as a receiver from the mental standpoint, but he's been mostly a 1B/DH the last year or so. I have to speculate that part of that goes back to his shoulder injury in college.

Carmago I think is interesting. It's my understanding that the basic skills are all there, but a little unrefined yet, but that he's actually pretty solid. He's got good power. I think he's going to end up as a mediocre hitter with power who might have a future as a decent backup. But he's not a top prospect unless the actual BAT starts to pick up.

FIVE catchers drafted the last two years, along with a couple international signings, offers some hope. But they are all 3-5yrs from probably reaching the ML. A few have flashed a little in A ball, providing some hope. So a lot may be riding on Jeffers shoulders in regard to a step up.

And that might just mean the Twins need to look at a trade in the next year or two, or another FA signing. But I actually like where we are heading in to 2023.

4 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I'd rather we develop catching and sell at the inflated catching price. 

The catching supply will always fall short of the demand, so selling could take place only if we are in the highly unlikely position of having a never-ending supply. The hoped-for goal is to develop catching and pay the salary required to keep the developed catcher.

Article makes Jeffers look like he is always on the IL but one stint because of a freak wild pitch in the dirt during a warmup session breaks his thumb.  He played through such break for almost 2 weeks and was hot with the bat at the time plus trying to throw a ball.  So one stint and people think he is buxton part 2.  

Jeffers is playing pretty well in S/T and has out-performed Vasquez the anointed the savior the position.  Now the arguments from readers will be that it is only S/T performance and Jeffers still is awful.  Well, if it is only S/T then Vasquez who was "sick" to start game play and has masterfully hit .077 thus far.  

Twins have depth with these two guys and Farmer as emergency, so we are good for now.  Let's not forget that Jeffers self taught himself to be a catcher and didn't have a dedicated coach till getting drafted.  The twins don't seem to be to worried about throwing guys out, when you put the guy in such an awkward catching position that is flexible with blocking balls or throwing runners out.  He did throw someone out yesterday so maybe seeing his confidence will grow seeing him get a guy.

25 years old, calls a good game, solid receiver and guys like to pitch to him.  Mgmt will play the guys equally and not tax either one.  If Jeffers we aren't stuck when he plays unlike what most readers think.

I agree with umterp23 that with Farmer as the emergency catcher, and two solid starters, we are good for 2023.  Yeah, we'd all like a catching prospect like Rutschman in the minors, but the draft has yet to provide that at the correct drafting position.

I agree with another poster that said if there is a good catching prospect in the 2nd round maybe we should grab him and work to have him ready when Vasquez's contract ends.

The one thing I'd like to see in 2023 is for Jeffers to improve his caught stealing percentage and the percentage of blocking balls in the dirt.  This will be a good development year for him and I believe we'll know much more about our catching strength at the end of this season.

10 hours ago, ashbury said:

We acted like it was a never-ended supply when we disposed of two of them in a connected series of trades just under a year ago.

Remember that we also received a catcher in those trades. Even so, it's certainly a risk trading an established catcher.