Protecting the Plate

Crash Davis

The baseball season isn't even a week old but for some reason I keep noticing the young catchers that are calling the games this season. Usually catchers are known for their experience and that give it your all attitude. Basically a better hitting version of Crash Davis from the movie Bull Durham. The reason I say better hitting is that Crash is in the minors and these catchers are not only in the majors but are starting and calling the games for some of the best pitchers to ever play the game.

Some of these guys are known for their hitting and will probably move to another position later on in their career, others are known for their maturity on and off the field other for their arm strength and general awareness behind the plate. There were players that were expected from the start to potentially become the next Johnny Bench like Matt Wieters was projected to be. Wieters slipped to the 5th overall pick to the Baltimore Orioles because the Pittsburgh Pirates did not want to pay the money that is agent would ask for. So far defensively he has proven to be the real deal with winning the American League Gold Glove last year however his bat is still slacking but I am sure that it will eventually come around.

Matt Wieters

With Jason Varitek retiring the Red Sox are looking towards Jarrod Saltalmachia to fill the shin pads and to make a name for himself and I don't mean by having the longest name in MLB history. “Salta” is on his third team in his short career, this is not because he lack talent. He just always happend to play for a team that had another good young catcher or a veteran and it was easy to trade him for talent for a playoff run. Expect Jarrod to take advantage of his first season as a full time starter.

The Toronto Blue Jays look to have J.P. Arencibia behind the plate. Last year was his first season as the number one guy behind the plate, he showed some power which he should build on this season as he hit a 3-run homerun on opening day. He did however lead the league with 12 passed balls last year.

Carlos Santana of the Cleveland Indians is like any other player from the Dominican Republic in that he was signed at the age of 15 or 16. Defensively he is adequate but with his bat he is like any other power hitter who is not patient at the plate. He hits his fair share of home runs but also gets his strikeouts.

Alex Avila had a huge breakout season last year with the Detroit Tigers, it was his first season as the starting catcher, he caught Justin Verlander’s no hitter, was an all star and won the American League Silver Slugger award. Expect him to be around for some years in Detroit.

Buster Posey

After having a very interesting and scary offseason Wilson Ramos expects to follow it up with an even better 2012 then a 2011. Ramos was kidnaped and held hostage in his native Venezuela during the offseason and will try to move past it. In 2011 he was chosen for for the all-rookie team after a great rookie year for the Washington Nationals.

To bookend this list of young catchers I have chosen Buster Posey. Posey just like Wieters was taken 5th overall when he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants. He was rookie of the year and has already won a world series, but what I like about Buster besides his first name is his tough as nails attitude and the only way to knock him out of a game is with a broken ankle. Posey is a great defensive catcher and has the luxury of calling the games for arguably the best pitching staff in the league, he isnt known for his power but has a life time average a shade under .300.