Around the System–Catcher

Other Stuff

A look at where we are with Catching throughout the system.  Look for the Middle Infield Report early next week.

GCL

John Hill, 22, Phils 19th round pick in 2011; .226/.315/.258; 0HR and 12 RBI; .357 vs. LH, .188 vs. RH, 11%bb/22%k rate. Caught 31 games with 3 errors (.984); 3 passed balls; 9/33 CS (27%); Look for Hill in Williamsport next season.

Logan Moore, 21, Phils 9th round pick in 2011 draft; .225/.243/.268 in 71 AB’s with 1HR and 9 RBI; .182 vs. LH, .245 vs. RH, .333 with RISP; 3%bb/23% k rates; Caught 28 games with 2 errors (.986); 4 passed balls; 12/37 CS (32%); Look for Moore and Hill to spilt time with the Crosscutters.

Angel Chevarin, 20, Signed as a free agent in 2009; .109/.180/.174 in 46 AB’s with 0HR and 0 RBI; Caught 23 games with 3 errors (.968); 7 passed balls; 6/33 CS (17%); Back to the GCL again for CHevarin next season.

Kevin Quaranto, 23, .344/.500/.531 in 32 AB’s with 0HR and 2 RBI; Caught 14 games without an error; 3 passed balls; 2/13 CS (15%); Will be back if the Phils need another body behind the plate.

Chace Numata, 19, Phils 14th round pick in 2009; Hit .154 in 13 AB’s. 8 games caught without an error ; 2 passed balls; 3/12 CS (25%); I am a Numata fan, having seen him catch a few games in Spring Training; Just 19, hoping he is the regular GCL catcher next season.

Williamsport

Bob Stumpo, 24, Phils 33rd round pick in 2010 draft; .280/.358/.373 in 150 AB’s; 1 HR 23 RBI; 10%bb/15% k rates; .281 vs. LH, .263 vs. RH, .364 with RISP. 38 games caught with 6 errors (.979); 9 passed balls; 13/54 CS(24%); Stumpo swung a nice bat this year but needs work defensively.  Could serve as a backup in Lakewood or CLearwater.

Francisco Diaz, 21, Signed as a free agent in 2006; 34 games caught with 7 errors (.976); 2 passed balls; 26/66 CS (39%); .211/.315/.257 in 109 AB’s; 0HR 7 RBI; 3SB; 13%bb/15% k rate; Very good defensively, Diaz struggles with the bat, albeit a little less this year then in years prior.  A nice BB rate. .185 vs. LH, .220 vs. RH, .207 with RISP. Diaz is actually Rule 5 eligible, however, I would not expect him to be protected or taken with very little pedigree.

Nolan Clark, 21, Signed as a free agent in 2011; Hit .133 in 15 AB’s; Caught 4 games without an error; 0 passed balls; 1/8 CS (13%). Not clue what, if anything is in CLark’s future.

Lakewood

Cameron Rupp, 22, Phils 3rd round pick in 2010; .272/.346/.373 in 324 AB’s; 4 HR and 44 RBI; 9% bb/27% k rates; .343 vs. LH, .237 vs. RH, .258 with RISP; .318 post all star; 95 games caught with 14 errors (.982); 13 passed balls; 45/130 CS (35%); After a slow start, Rupp came on very strong, ending the year with a very respectable line and the plate and defensively.  Clearly, the starting catcher in Clearwater next season.

Jeff Lanning, 24, Originally drafted by the Twins in the 8th round in 2008; signed by the Phils as a free agent in 2010; .260/.333/.447 in 123 AB’s; 5 HR 12 RBI; 2SB; 8%bb/22% k rates; .314 vs. LH, .239 vs. RH, .175 with RISP. 34 games caught with 4 errors (.985); 4 passed balls; 11/51 CS (22%); Also played 4 games at first base; Decent with the bat, adequate behind the plate; Could be a backup in Lakewood/Clearwater/Reading, wherever needed.

Clearwater

Sebastian Valle, 21, Signed as a free agent by the Phils prior to the 2007 season; .284/.312/.394 in 348 AB’s; 5 HR and 40 RBI; 4%bb/23% k rates; .368 vs. LH, .253 vs. RH, .276 with RISP; .187 since August 1. 90 games caught with 2 errors (.998); 11 passed balls; 38/118 (32%)CS; Although struggling through the last month, Valle had an excellent year. Critics will continue to look at his low walk rate, but Valle is a true top of the line catching prospect with will be Reading’s starter next season.  He must be protected this off season and most certainly will become a member of the 40 man roster.

Torre Langley, 23, Signed as a free agent in 2010; .220/283/.250 in 100 AB’s; 0HR and 17 RBI; 7%bb/22% k rates; Caught 37 games without an error; 7 passed balls, 16/49 CS (33%). Could be a backup job for Langley in Reading with free agent movement.

Kyle Lafrenz, 24, Phils 22nd round pick in 2009 draft; .193/.247/.265 in 83 AB’s; 1HR and 5 RBI; .200 vs. LH; .190 vs. RH. Caught 23 games with 1 error (.995); 4 passed balls; 8/35CS (23%); There were some expectations for Lafrenz who impressed in Spring Training but his season was marred with injury.  I see him backing up in CLearwater if healthy.

Reading

Tuffy Gosewisch, 28, Phils 11th round pick in 2005 draft; .247/.295/.404 in 369 AB’s; 13HR and 66 RBI; 4/10 SB; .318 vs. LH, .224 vs. RH, .242 with RISP; 5%bb rate/15% k rate; .206 Post All Star.  108 games caught with 6 errors (.994); 6 passed balls; 40/122 CS (33%); By my count, Gosewisch is eligible to become a 6 year free agent following this season and I would be a bit surprised if he was back.  He will follow his best opportunity. He should have started this year in Lehigh Valley and taken some of the pressure off of Erik Kratz.  Gosewisch has the defensive ability to be a major league backup and showed some spark with the bat on several occasions this year for the RPhils as well.

Tim Kennelly, 24, Signed as a free agent in 2003; .215/.272/.343 in 181 AB’s; 3HR and 21 RBI; 5/7 SB; .159 vs. LH, .234 vs. RH, .200 with RISP; 6%bb/23% k rates.  Caught 31 games with 5 errors (.980); 4 passed balls; 9/27 CS (33%); Also played 7 games at 1B without an error; 2 games at 3B with 1 error and 18 games in the OF with 2 errors. Kennelly is also eligible to become a free agent and it is probably time for him to move on.

John Suomi, 30, Re-signed as a free agent prior to 2011 season; .281/.323/.446 in 121 AB’s throughout 3 levels in the organization. 4 HR and 10 RBI. Caught 31 games with 2 errors, (.992); 2 passed balls; 6/41 CS (15%); Suomi has become the roaming backup catcher in the organization, going wherever needed.  He can hit, but is a liability defensively as he lacks a good arm.  He may be back in a similar role to that which he has played the passed couple of seasons.

Lehigh Valley

Erik Kratz, 31, Signed as a free agent prior to 2011 season; .288/.358/.466 in 358 AB’s; 15 HR and 53 RBI; 2 SB; 10%bb/18% k rates; .291 vs. LH, .286 vs. RH, .291 with RISP. Caught 101 games with 8 errors (.991); 9 passed balls; 23/76 CS (30%); Maybe my view gets warped because of how much Lehigh Valley baseball I watch, but I truly believe Kratz should be a major league backup.  He is a very good AAA hitter, a good receiver, has an excellent arm, and has the leadership qualities you look for in a catcher. I hope he gets a shot at the backup job in Philly next year. SOmehow, I doubt he will. That being said, I hope the Telford native is back in the organization.

Dane Sardinha, 32, Re-Signed as a free agent prior to 2011 season; .140/.238/.172 in 93 AB’s; 0HR and 1 RBI; .120 vs. LH, .147 vs. RH, .048 with RISP; Hitting 0/36 when behind in the count.  Caught 29 games with 3 errors (.9787); 4 passed balls; 10%bb/31% k rates. 10/34 CS (29%);  Statistical lines simply don’t get much worse.  Sardinha had only one more RBI then me this year, in 93 more AB’s.

81 thoughts on “Around the System–Catcher”

  1. Numata- one doesn’t know how much he was able to do this season. One might think if he is unable to advance at least to Williamsport after presumably going to instructional league Spring Training and Extended Spring Training, one might think he’d be more suspect. I hope they can bump him up to WPT, and they can begin XST on the GCL skeleton crew with 1B-C combinations of Wilson Garcia, Jose Mayorga, and Willians Astudillo, and perhaps a couple of guys they supposedly signed such as : Will Davis and Liam Bedford, who have not yet surfaced.

    Catching assignments raise alot of questions, such, if things remain the same the 2 highest levels of catcher dissappear. and outside of a few obvious choices, who really , by looking at surface arguments, who deserves to hang around , let alone be promoted. Aside from leaving people too low or prematurely promoting, lot of questions on assignments after the next Spring Training.

    And also, seems they should add one for September, who do they promote, got a feeling they go back to Sardinha, because they did before. After the season, do they again go with Ruiz as the only catcher on 40 man roster.

    Like

  2. I’m also a Numata fan, based on what I saw in ST. High energy, nice line drive stroke, can lift one out of the park occasionally (2 HRs in ST, IIRC). Nice arm. All the tools and attitude.

    Stay healthy, Chace!!!

    Like

  3. Would also like to see Kratz get a shot at replacing Schneider as the Phils backup catcher. Would give them a cheaper option without sacrificing any production.

    Like

    1. Maybe but it is hard to ignore Schneider’s win/loss record even if he can’t hit a lick.
      He didn’t hit in all those games won and it didn’t matter.

      Like

      1. Schneider’s W/L records is strictly a matter of luck. It’s an interesting media number but means absolutely nothing in regards to his ability behind the plate.

        Like

          1. You really think the Phillies amazing winning % when schneider plays is really about his catching ability? Its called a statistical anomaly. Otherwise, he should be catching everyday.

            Like

            1. I might see your point better if you said “MIGHT be strictly luck”.

              One obvious difference is Schneider won’t let batter crowd the plate.

              Like

            2. It’s certainly an anomaly. Schneider’s team was 18-20 when he started in 2010, 19-33 in 2009.

              That said, it should also be noted that his 2011 batting line is also a bit of a sample size anomaly too. He is a better hitter than that, and he’s a serviceable option should the Phillies decide to bring him back next season.

              Like

            3. No, it IS strictly luck. As Alan points out, his career number tell the story, not 30 games playing for a team on pace to win 105…

              Like

            4. Cheese 2009 Brian Schneider player for the stinkin Mets or did you forget. 2010 Brian Schneider caught the likes of KK, Blanton and even Moyer I said he was a good receiver not a good healer.

              Like

  4. I wish the Phils would give Tuffy a shot as the backup – he certainly has been a good soldier for the organization, and by all accounts is a great receiver (didn’t Halladay praise him this Spring?)I also wonder, but doubt it, once Valle is added to the 40, will he get a callup from Reading next year should Ruiz get injured. I believe the Phils did that with Estrada a few years back when Lieberthal got injured

    – Jeff

    Like

  6. Considering Rupp is a 22 year old, major college draftee, I don’t think his slash line is respectable. A .372 slg% in A ball, for a player of his experience, isn’t good. His ISO is atrocious for a guy who is supposed to be a power hitter. For a comparison, he has a similar ISO to Jiwan James, who is younger and playing at a higher level… and James’ ISO is not good at his level.

    Like

    1. Ditto that VOR…..I expected more from Rupp, based on his collegiate experience and his size/strength. I am hoping his 2011 second half turn-around at the plate is a forecast of things to come in 2012.

      Like

      1. You have to factor in the very slow start he had to this season. Once he cranked it up, he did extremely well the second half of the season. Looks like he’ll be just fine. Valle started well but tired. He needs to walk more, but also seems on a good trajectory.

        Like

        1. Valle has presented a pattern of doing well, then slipping. It probably has a lot to do with the wear and tear of catching and the length of the season. Maybe he should strengthen up a bit as Galvis did last winter. He is also a streaky hitter. Under Charley’s direction, Ruiz learned to hit in the majors. Valle is beyond where Ruiz was. Let’s see how he does in a hitter’s park.

          Like

    2. And playing a more important Offensive position. For a Catcher in A-ball at 22, Rupp’s numbers are okay, though not spectacular. I’d argue the numbers are respectable, just not enough to make him a top 10 prospect just yet.

      Like

  7. Looking at Valle’s and Rupp’s line makes me a little depressed (and even Galvis who has made great steps forwards). I know that C and SS have a lower offensive bar and we have traded away some of the best hitters in the minors for major league pieces, but is it so wrong for me to wish that our TOP positional prospects had SLG 400+ and OPS 800+. Rizzoti and Overbeck are a getting a bit long in the tooth. too weak in the field, and positionally blocked to really excite me. I really hope the Green(e)s and Quinn meet/exceed their potential.

    Like

    1. I don’t want to hijack this thread (and I’m sure either pp or gregg will do an article about it in the offseason) but there are a lot of guys eligible but only a few that I’d consider to be locks and a few on the fence. I think Valle, Aumont, Cloyd and Savery are near locks and a strong argument could be made for keeping Gillies, Lendy Castillo, Leandro Castro (I think Castillo and Castro are eligibile), Cisco, Diekman, Jiwan James, Overbeck, Rosenberg, and Shreve. Clearly they all can’t be protected but some interesting names none the less.

      Like

    2. Obviously all of these guys won’t be but here are a few candidates…
      Aumont
      Savery
      Overbeck
      Cisco
      Cloyd
      Diekman
      Rizzotti
      Mitchell
      Sosa
      Castro
      James
      Gillies

      Like

      2. I expect Aumont, Savery, Cloyd, Valle, Sosa, Castro, James and Gillies to be protected on the 40 until the rule 5 draft. They would replace Naylor, Perez, Mathieson, Zagurski, Orr, H Garcia, Ben Fransisco, and Ross Gload.

        Like

        1. Why replace them? You’re dropping Contreras, Oswalt (likely), Ibanez, Lidge, Francisco, Gload and possibly Schneider, Kendrick and Bowker.

          The Phillies, I think would keep Matthieson as a long man/6th starter. Zagurski is 50/50, but is a decent LOOGY with eligibility left. Orr is fast and a solid defender good to keep available in case of injuries. Garcia is still a prospect with some ceiling. I agree in Naylor and Perez being likely to go, but the others are likely to stay on, if only because there’s no reason to cut them unless a better Free Agent is signed to take the spot.

          Like

        1. I agree with playing all three out-field positions and hits with power I would think they will protect Mitchell.

          Like

  9. I think I’ve read somewhere before that Kratz still has an option left. So, if the Phillies add him to the 40 man once LV is done in the playoffs then he can be the third catcher next season and be optioned back and forth between LV and Philly. Or he could just be the backup in Philly. Either way, I think the Phillies would be well to keep him in the organization.

    Like

  11. Totally blows my mind—the Yankees have three catchers in the top five prospects—–Montero, Romine and Sanchez. Boy I hope the inter. draft becomes a realty soon!

    Like

    1. Out of the three you mentioned only Austin Romine will be behind the plate as the other two will DH or play elsewhere.

      Like

      1. Well yeah….they will have to …..Cervelli and Martin are there now and for the next few years. And Sanchez is 19 so he will have to take time to develope his catching skills.

        Like

        1. Montero doesn’t have the skill to stay behind the plate. Don’t know enough about other 2 to know if they can stick behind the plate or not.

          Like

          1. Dude,,,the guy is 8 months older then Seb Valle, and he is already in MLB—-lets put it this way….he probably has as much defensive capabilities behind the plate as Valle.

            Like

            1. He’s in the major leagues because he can hit.
              Correct me if I’m wrong, but he hasn’t caught a game yet? Most scouts project him as a 1st baseman/DH.

              Like

            2. Dude, no he doesn’t. There isn’t a scount on record who thinks Montero can be an everyday ML catcher.

              He’s a hell of a hitter which is why he’s in the big leagues but he’s not good enough defensively to stick behind the plate. IF he was, the Yankees would have never gone out and taken a flier on Martin, they would have just called him up to start the season.

              Like

          2. I don’t want to brag on Yankee prospects—-annoys the hell out of me. But Montero has caught approx 350 professional games —at 21. And yes you all listen well to scouts about his catching prowess or lack of it—-but he is 21 —and there are very few catchers in the MLB who are great or even good catchers at that age—maybe one–Posey perhaps was. IMO, he would be catching for a some MLB lower tier teams now. Are you trying to tell me he will NEVER catch a MLB game or that he can never improve?

            Like

            1. No, I’m telling you that scouts don’t think he has the mobility or arm to stick behind the plate. Of course he might catch a game in an emergency.

              However, if you want more evidence, last night Russel Martin got hurt early in their game. Rather than move Montero behind the plate, they went to Posada who is 40-years old and hasn’t caught in a game all season.

              Like

            2. I’ve seen Montero catch as many games as anyone in AAA Scranton. If he is a catcher in the majors for anything more than a season, I will be highly surprised. If he were not a catcher, he would have been in the majors a year ago for his bat. It frankly stuns me that the Yankees continued to parade him behind the plate all season in the minors. They need to move him already.

              Like

            3. Thinking the Yankees are trying to keep his trade value as high as possible by keeping him behind the plate hoping some team will buy that he can stick there and they can turn him into a front-line starting pitcher.

              If they admit he’s a 1b/DH his value drops significantly.

              Like

      2. Interesting that with Both Martin and Ceravelli hurt, the Yankees called up Romine and immediately started him behind the plate ahead of Montero.

        Like

  12. Maybe I’m in the minority here, but I considered Rupp’s second half a huge step forward. I attributed his poor start to pro ball to him adjusting to wood bats. Doesn’t the organization generally move catchers though the system slowly anyway? If he starts next year the way he finished this year doesn’t that make him a legitimate prospect?

    Like

    1. Yeah I think Rupp’s season was fine considering his awful start. I don’t think we expected him to be one of the top prospects in the system by now (though it would be nice), just a solid prospect. And that’s how I’d classify him.

      Like

      1. I agree his OPS in the 2nd half was about .796. Again, alot of people, at least around here, were projecting him as a back up in the majors so I am not that worried.

        Like

    2. Rupp didnt start his pro ball career, this year. He started it last year in the NYpenn. The wood bat adjustment was legitimate last year. Rupp’s batting line this year was saved by finishing decently. It was by no means respectable in any aspect except his 9 BB%. A 22 year old in that league should have a decent bb%. Check out his 27%K rate to go along with 4 HRs.

      Like

      1. What’s the average OPS in Lakewood again? Pitchers’ park, pitchers’ league.

        Rupp’s second half was much better than decent given it was Lakewood. And catchers do move slowly in general in the minors. I think he’s more than a back-up or platoon prospect personally.

        Like

        1. I may be wrong, so correct me if I am. The average OPS in the SAL is .723 and Cameron Rupp’s OPS is .720. The average age in the league, I believe is 21.4 and Rupp is 22. That makes Rupp’s performance slightly below average overall.

          Like

          1. There’s a difference between average OPS and average OPS for Catchers. His position value needs to be taken into consideration.

            Like

            1. Exactly.

              That said, I think college guys, in order to be taken seriously as prospects, need to really hit the ground running, which Rupp really hasn’t. It’s hard for me to imagine a scenario where he develops into a major league regular.

              Like

  13. Remember when we had one of the best group of catching prospects in the majors? We all said how hard it is to develop good catchers and we’re seeing it first hand now. Valle is a good prospect but I think his plate discipline is a huge hole that will really be tested in AA.

    Like

  14. I’m not worried. I believe Valle will be a solid pro catcher. The ceiling is high for this kid. Not to mention Ruiz isn’t going any where soon. Sometimes your MLB team comes out of no where. Guys you least expect turn into solid pros. Who would have thought a guy you got for Greg Golson would be doing what he is doing with his opportunity.

    Like

    1. DMAR……..Ruiz turns 33 before next spring…..his best years MAY be behind him. He probably will need more days off, ie day game after night game and so forth.

      Like

      1. Every catcher gets day games off after night games. Common practice in the majors, regardless of the catcher’s age.

        Like

          1. Wow, you’re really going to dispute it’s a common practice throughout baseball?

            Posey’s run at the end of September had everything to do with the Giants being in a tight pennant race and Posey being their best offensive player?

            But I did checkout Buster Posey, August/Sept 2010 and found the following:
            Backup Catcher Eli Whiteside was the starting catcher on August 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17,25,28, Sept 2,4,7.

            Like

  15. Valle should be an everyday catcher and has the potential to be a very good one. His season was a lot better then his stats showed. The last month of the season he dropped off due to the humidity and heat down in the FSL. I expect big things from him next year

    Like

  17. I am more concerned about Valle’s drop in power than in his drop in walks. His extra base hits totals of the last 3 seasons: 40, 45, 26. I know Clearwater is a hard place to hit HR, but where are his doubles? His on base percentage improved from last season although it was the second worst of his career, but his slugging average was below 400 for the first time in his minor league career. He also had the fewest plate appearances, this year, 120 less than last season. Perhaps last year year’s 117 regular season games, plus playoffs, plus winter ball suddenly caught up with him this August.

    On the bright side, his batting average tied a career high. Most importantly his defense continues to improve. Valle is young, having turned 21 just when his slump started at the end of this season. He is still building body strength and endurance. Next season I expect his defense to continue to shine, his selectivity at the plate and walk rate to improve a bit, and his power to bounce back. His slash line in Clearwater was 284/312/394. His career 272/325/418 slash line seems about right to me to expect of him in Reading in 2012 or by 2013. If he does that in 2012 at as a 21-year-old, I’ll be very happy. Either way, I think he has a promising future and think he could make an impact as a 24-year old rookie MLB catcher in 2015.

    Like

  19. Rupp and Valle will provide catching hope for a while. Rupp’s power is missing because, I believe, the coaches had him concentrate on contact with power to come thereafter. He’ll need 2-3 more minor lg seasons to get it together.
    When he was drafted he was listed as a fine defensive catcher with power in his frame but a stiff upper (right) arm in his swing which has been worked on. Next season at Clwtr his development will continue; I won’t be surprised to see a slow but steady improvement to become a good defensive catcher and a guy who could hit .265 with 10 dingers. IMO that’s where he is headed.

    Nevertheless, catcher should be–along with pitching–the concentration points in the June ’12 draft. At least 2 catchers in the first ten picks…and early. College catchers would be preferable early with HS guys also comprising at least 5 in the first 18 or so….just like our draft this season concentrated on filling infield holes in the system (Thank heavens).

    Like

        1. True. And drafting for need is often a bad idea, as it can mean passing over better prospects to draft for a need, and ending up with no future Major Leaguers as a result. I prefer to draft the best available (if it happens to also be a need area, so be it), then if you need a Catcher in 4 years trade a few of the spare Outfielders/Pitchers for one.

          Like

  20. Reading the comments from contributors to this site, some of whom I think are scouts or have scouting contacts within the organization, I would like to offer a guess for some of your expert analysis. I would like to suggest that Conlin’s “fly on the wall” is a scout who complained bitterly to LaMar about the insufficient money they were given to pry loose from college commitments players like Susak and Zach Wright, Overbay and Garvey, etc. LaMar, being a command and control guy (in the military sense) conveyed the information from the meeting to the people who had complained to him; then Conlin, who must have conversations with many scouts, knew who to go to to get the information.
    If this scenario is correct, many scouts (and Lamar) have been frustrated to have done a terrifc job in locating, following, drafting, and being on the verge of signing top quality players who may (not Vance Worley) go elsewhere. Money to the scouts for the signings probably figures into their frustration. The organizational oversight from LaMar would probably see the Phillies losing some top-notch talent prospectors to other teams; thus the heated discussion “observed” by the “fly on the wall”.
    If this scenario is correct, is this a danger for the Phillies? Their philosophy has been to use their lack of good drafting position to seek out the athletic, high schoolers with hopes of their development. It probably will remain so because of their success. The philosophy justifies the budget approach.
    Should Amaro prepare the owners for a more comprehensive drafting philosophy than a simple “bottom line”? Perhaps bring in the owners if a truly fine prospect requires a large amount “up front”?
    This may be a moot point given the changes that may be forthcoming by including players from other countries in the draft, but for now, at least for me, it is intriguing.

    Like

    1. Pudddnhead……’Their philosophy has been to use their lack of good drafting position to seek out the athletic, high schoolers with hopes of their development. It probably will remain so because of their success’.—-same of the latest success’, Golson, Hewitt, Collier, Hudson et al.—-I do not mind them drafting ‘toolsy’ guys in the 4th/5th or latter rounds, but not as their first or second pick of any particular respective draft.

      Like

    2. If you count the signing of the Latin outfielder they spent about 6 million overall on the draft which is much better than last year. Would we like them to spend more and more Latin players maybe -yes but it was a better effort this year.

      Like

  21. I tried this last year, let’s run with it again.

    Top 5 Phillies Prospects, Catcher
    1. Sebastian Valle
    2. Cameron Rupp
    3. Chace Numata
    4. Tuffy Gosewisch
    5. Francisco Diaz

    I see Rupp as a backup catcher. The offensive bar is far lower than league average, and Rupp still has a few years to develop. I see him as a bit of a Kelly Shoppach clone.

    Like

    1. And I would slip Erik Kratz in there at #3. Still rookie eligible, low upside but high, high probability. I’ll consider anyone for these position lists regardless of age.

      Like

      1. On the basis of who will play first with the Phillies, I’d put the chance of Gosewisch and Kratz to play with the Phillies in 2012 as good. I’d look at Valle, Rupp, Diaz, Moore and Numata in that order as prospects. Moore came on at the end of the season especially in the clutch and Diaz can hit better than he showed this year. Numata looking at the GCL for playing time in 2012 cements his number five status for me.
        Thanks Alan for getting this started.

        Like

Comments are closed.