Organizational Catchers---- Getting Younger---Hopefully Better

[Mr Southpaw]

Here is a list of our catching prospects as of June 2016. The list has gotten much younger and has a few prospects that were drafted much earlier in the draft. I would think with Nottingham and one or two of the other prospects making it to AAA and hopefully Milwaukee within the next five years. Of the young catchers I really like Feliciano and Henry.

 

AA Jacob Nottingham Age: 21 (April 3, 1995) 6th Round 2013

A+ Dustin Houle Age: 22 (November 9, 1993) 8th Round 2011

A+ Greg McCall Age: 24 (December 25, 1991) 9th Round 2014

A- Max McDowell Age: 22 (January 12, 1994) 13th Round 2015

R+ Johel Atencio Age: 19 (September 17, 1996) Signed ?

R+ Cooper Hummel Age: 21 (November 28, 1994) Round 18 2016

R+ Nathan Rodriguez Age: 20 (September 30, 1995) Round 21 2016

R- Mario Feliciano Age: 17 (November 20, 1998) Round 2 CBB

R- Payton Henry Age: 18 (June 24, 1997) Round 6 2016

R- Zach Taylor Age: 20 (October 29, 1995) Round 15 2015

R- Yoel Vasquez Age: 19 (August 20, 1996) Signed ?

[WV Brew]

Don't forget the DSL 17 year old trio. One of last year's top international signings, Jose Sibrian, Moises Perez, who already has a 2 home run game in the DSL and Luis Avalo, who just got a walk off 3 run home run.

[CheezWizHed]

Or Carlos Leal on the DL. A bit of a long shot now with being out for the season at this age, but played nicely at A-ball last year.

 

Henry is very interesting with similarities to Nottingham (6th round HS pick, size, etc..)

[ctmyers]

I would also think that the front office is deliberately "overstocking", as there appears to be an extreme lack of elite catching prospects across all of baseball.

[JohnBriggs12]

Well 27 year old Josmil Pinto is hitting .333/.385/.396 away from Colorado Springs and just turned 29 year old Manny Pina road splits are an even more impressive .322/.380/.544, yet they stick with Maldonado and his feeble offense as backup.

 

Forget status or age, just give me someone that isn't hitting at the level of most pitchers to relieve whoever the starting catcher is.

[DHonks]

Part of the reason I'd consider trying to extend Lucroy rather than trade him is my memory...Kade Johnson, Jason Belcher, Angel Salome, Sweet Lou, and so many more.

[brewmann04]

- Max McDowell Age: 22 (January 12, 1994) 13th Round 2015

[CheezWizHed]

Part of the reason I'd consider trying to extend Lucroy rather than trade him is my memory...Kade Johnson, Jason Belcher, Angel Salome, Sweet Lou, and so many more.

 

But Lucroy was in that group, too. It's the nature of draft development. Many will fail, few succeed. But that doesn't mean signing an older player is a great idea.

[DHonks]

He's really not that old. Lucroy turns 31 next year. He's good for another 3-4 year contract.

[MrTPlush]

He's really not that old. Lucroy turns 31 next year. He's good for another 3-4 year contract.

 

How do you know that?

[Mr Southpaw]

Angel Salome actually was having better stats than Lucroy when they were at AA. Something happened to Angel and he just fell off the prospect list. I hope he is doing well.

[Roderick]

No matter how much I would tear my hair out whenever we had a Blanco or Moeller hitting .200, in general I still wouldn't sink a lot of money into the catching position. Over and above the usual off days, the position just has more injuries than other positions, and I feel you should look to spend your money on other positions that you will get more games/at bats out of.

[FVBrewerFan]

Also keep in mind not all of those on the list will be catchers long-term, or maybe even short-term.

 

Similar to drafting SS (who can move to 2B/3B or even OF.) You're hedging your bet a bit when your draft catchers. If they can stick behind the plate they're more valuable, but can always be over to 1B or corner OF.

 

In the case of SS and C, the reverse is almost never true. You can't draft an OF, then try to convert him into a SS or C. I think that's why you see so many catchers drafted, especially this year. It's not to replace Lucroy, as all these guys are years away from sniffing MLB.

[logan82]

Angel Salome actually was having better stats than Lucroy when they were at AA. Something happened to Angel and he just fell off the prospect list. I hope he is doing well.

Salome was a level ahead of Lucroy. That is why Lucroy started in AA the year he was called up. Salome was in AAA and we didn't have room for both. Salome had an anxiety disorder and playing baseball was very stressful. It was a quality of life decision.

[Mr Southpaw]

Also keep in mind not all of those on the list will be catchers long-term, or maybe even short-term.

 

Similar to drafting SS (who can move to 2B/3B or even OF.) You're hedging your bet a bit when your draft catchers. If they can stick behind the plate they're more valuable, but can always be over to 1B or corner OF.

 

In the case of SS and C, the reverse is almost never true. You can't draft an OF, then try to convert him into a SS or C. I think that's why you see so many catchers drafted, especially this year. It's not to replace Lucroy, as all these guys are years away from sniffing MLB.

 

 

That is why volume (and hopefully quality with that volume) counts.

[jerichoholicninja]

Catchers are tricky to value. They break down fast and get hurt often. And aside from the very best, they are all mediocre to bad hitters and when you're at the plate the game of baseball doesn't care how good of a hitter you are relative to your position only how good of a hitter you actually are.

 

I've always been of the mindset that you churn em and burn em. Start them 150 games a year and let them walk when they hit free agency and do the same with the next guy.

[Mass Haas]

Bumping thread from June with disappointing update on catcher Carlos Leal, via the Brewers (via Tom H.) --

 

Tough news from #Brewers farm system. C Carlos Leal, who sat out entire season, has had big setback in recovery from shoulder surgery.

 

Kyle with the note at his tweet.

 

Carlos is an agent39 client (Josh Kusnick).