Reviewing 2022 Performances by the Twins Catching Prospects

Woof, that is a dry cupboard! Need Jeffers to stay healthy and take some strides to become a true #1 guy behind the plate. 

"Could there be an internal option?"  

Let me see, how can I put this..........?

I may be the only one, but frankly, I am encouraged about the catching prospects after reading Cody's fine article. Especially Andrew Becktold, who has some power in his bat. But I really want to know about the throwing power and accuracy and footwork and blocking skills and framing and pitch selection and prior leg injuries and past concussions and intelligence and leadership skills of these prospects. I have asked several times in posts, who on the Twins calls the pitches, but so far, I have not received an answer from this august group of TD posters. 

Anybody with any potential is a couple of years away and Jeffers projects to be a career backup who does nothing well but isn't horrible at anything except throwing out base stealers (some of that is on our pitchers).

Better invest in a guy who can help them immediately.

When I think of Jeffers stats and reports from his minor league days and the drop off in MLB - none of these prospects look like more than back ups. 

I got ten bucks that says Bechtold and Banuelos will be gone if the Twins don't put them on the 40-man. It's not like there's a plethora of catching candidates in every other team's minor leagues either. Losing the two catchers would force the club to pull all other catchers in the system up one level, which, obviously, from the article, aren't ready for that sort of promotion. So, organizationally speaking, both "B's" will make the 40 and that means one of the two will start the season in the majors, platooning with Jeffers, and the other will hold down the fort in Triple A waiting for an injury to move up to the Bigs. Only prudent for the team to do so.

If the club resigns Sanchez, both the "B's" will still be put on the 40, though one might be dangled as trade bait. But even if one of them is traded from the 40 for the ubiquitous Player To Be Named Later at least the Twins will be getting something in return rather than no return if both catchers are left unprotected.

Honestly, I am okay if our catcher isn't the best hitter in the world. As long as they can hit around .240-.250ish I will be okay with that. What a catcher needs is to be a ball player behind the plate. Smart game calling, being able to field the ball in the dirt, being able to throw that runner out stealing 2nd/3rd (especially now that bases are slightly larger), and the ability to frame a pitch or 2 per game so our pitchers have a change to get out of a jam if need be. As Twins fans we have been pretty spoiled for the better part of the last 20 years between Mauer, Suzuki, Castro, Garver, and Jeffers (when he's hot) at our catcher position compared to some teams. 

Right now, I am all for Bechtold and Banuelos earning a shot to be the split or back up option. Bechtold has the ability to play multiple positions so right now he is seen as more valuable comparatively than Banuelos, even with his defensive prowess. We will have to see what happens when the FA opens up after the WS with options being exercised, players being DFA'd, and contracts expiring.

Have the Twins released Charles Mack? He was converted from 3rd base to catcher (sort of like Bechtold). Mack was a high schooler when the Twins drafted and signed him. His younger brother is a catcher who was selected, out of high school, in the first round in the draft where the Twins selected Chase Petty. I was hoping Charles Mack would excel at catcher while also being able to fill in occasionally at 1st and at 3rd. He is supposed to have a very strong arm so that is parr of the reason for moving him to catcher. 
 

Why was Jair Camargo omitted? There were multiple times that he had pretty impactful games and his .262/.310/.483 (.793) beats the lines of many of those listed above. His play was good enough to get him a promotion Cedar Rapids to Wichita. 

All of that is to say, I have seen multiple favorable things written about him, but that is all I know. But given that positive attention it surprises me he wasn't listed above.

1 hour ago, mac098 said:

Honestly, I am okay if our catcher isn't the best hitter in the world. As long as they can hit around .240-.250ish

League average batting average is .243. So, you're fine with them as long as they're a league average hitter which is well above average for a catcher.

I believe Bechtold is a converted infielder. If he has average framing skills and a good arm he could be an option. He does have some power as the number indicate. He played in the AFL last year as a catcher so hopefully that jumped started his transition to that position. Otherwise how about a trade with the Yankees to bring back Rortvedt and the SS they got from Texas as a bridge to Lewis. 

I'm not crazy about any catcher that can play multiple positions, I want them to master the catching position. If they can really hit & catch then yeah have them DH or even play 1B.

Only catcher I like is Noah Cardenas and he's a ways away. And I'm not sure of his defense yet

Sign Wilson Contreas or go old with omar Narvaez

Isn't Jair Camargo a top prospect? Sadly, like Roy Morales who hits well, Camargo could be a minor league free agent. If you look at all the guys listed, Jair has as much of a chance as being a backup in the majors in 2023.

No one is crying out to be palced on the 40-man.

Do we need to go after, say, a Sandy Leon again. At least Leon can do the situational bunt. But we may need someone who can better stop the abse running game.

Hopes are that Yankees drop Ben Rortvedt and maybe, maybe he can return to the Twins. The guy has a cannon for an arm, but all that muscle hasn't transformed into bat meeting the ball.

Wait, Willians Astudillo is available! Get him that minor league deal!

22 hours ago, Karbo said:

IMO pitch framing isn't as important as throwing, and blocking. I believe in the near to very near future there will be some sort of auto strike zone called. 

Pitch-framing is a pipe dream that writers created to sound more important.

6 hours ago, mac098 said:

Honestly, I am okay if our catcher isn't the best hitter in the world. As long as they can hit around .240-.250ish I will be okay with that. What a catcher needs is to be a ball player behind the plate. Smart game calling, being able to field the ball in the dirt, being able to throw that runner out stealing 2nd/3rd (especially now that bases are slightly larger), and the ability to frame a pitch or 2 per game so our pitchers have a change to get out of a jam if need be. As Twins fans we have been pretty spoiled for the better part of the last 20 years between Mauer, Suzuki, Castro, Garver, and Jeffers (when he's hot) at our catcher position compared to some teams. 

Right now, I am all for Bechtold and Banuelos earning a shot to be the split or back up option. Bechtold has the ability to play multiple positions so right now he is seen as more valuable comparatively than Banuelos, even with his defensive prowess. We will have to see what happens when the FA opens up after the WS with options being exercised, players being DFA'd, and contracts expiring.

I agree 100% .

9 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Isn't Jair Camargo a top prospect?

Yes, Camargo is out best catcher in the minors. This article is odd. There is zero chance that Bechtold and Banuelos get added to the 40 man. Nobody is taking them in the Rule 5 draft. Bechtold really isn't a catcher at all, rarely catching more than a couple games a week. Banuelos can't hit at all. Isola is a good hitter but also plays other positions more than catching. Other than Camargo, we are looking at Winkel and Cardenas as our best catching prospects, but they are years away from the majors. Camargo is the one that could get added to the 40 man.

"Prospect" is not really a word I'd use in association with any of twins catchers.

Jair Camargo is just 23 and has put up double-digit HRs each of the last two seasons, 13 and 18.  The Twins received him from the Dodgers in the Graterol trade.  I think Camargo needs to be part of the Minnesota Twins catching depth conversation in the minors.