Giants Spring Training Preview: Catchers

Coming in to Spring Training, the Giants are really only set at one position: catcher. Buster Posey will return from a lengthy absence and seems to be right on schedule recovering from his hip procedure, which sets him up to be able to start behind the dish on Opening Day.

New President of Baseball Operation Farhan Zaidi has used most of this offseason to add depth to the previously thin roster, prioritizing positional versatility and upside rather than pedigree. This meant Nick Hundley, a relatively one dimensional offense-first catcher was not given a contract and has recently crossed the Bay, and the Giants will miss his veteran leadership and overall clubhouse presence.

Therefore, given Posey’s health issues last year, one would think that the catching position was a weak point for the 2018 squad. However,  as a collective unit, Giants’ catchers combined to have a .270/322/.427 slash line, which is over 100 points higher than that of all MLB catchers last season (.216/.281/.333).

For a comparison, Joe Panik has a career .277/.338/.395 slash line. Essentially, the Giants had Joe Panik with a little more pop in 2018, which isn’t too bad!

This can be attributed to the Giants employing arguably the best hitting catcher in Posey; however, with Nick Hundley, who had almost 40% of the catchers’ plate appearances out of the picture now, who can step up and fill the void? Will it be an offseason signing, a current Giants prospect, or a complete unknown?

The Incumbents

Buster Posey

Even in a season in which he played through a pretty serious hip injury, Buster Posey was still one of the most productive players at his position. He put up a respectable .284/.359/.382 slash line and played his usual above average defense. However, last year proved that the Giants Captain America is mortal, and he has only hit six homers since July 2017. Many believe his power will return after his hip procedure, but there is of course no guarantee. If Posey’s worst case is a similar slash line to 2018, the Giants will still have one of the best catchers in the game until he is ultimately moved to first base à la Joe Mauer, but we can enjoy him in the squat for the time being.

Aramis Garcia

With the departure of Nick Hundley, that leaves only Garcia as the other catcher on the Giants 40 man roster. This would mean the Giants believe Garcia is a real option for the backup position despite only playing in 19 games last season. This could be because of his positional versatility (10 games at catcher, 7 games at first base) as well as his relative youth (25 years old). However, Garcia has always had an incredibly high strikeout rate in the minors and was even higher in his short cameo last season, striking out 31 times in only 65 plate appearances. Garcia may be in for a huge offensive regression, but he provides nice positional flexibility as well as some nice power for the catching position.

The Challengers

Cameron Rupp

Signed in the beginning of the offseason, many Giants fans thought that would be the first of many moves by new SVP of Baseball Operation Farhan Zaidi. That has not exactly been the case, and I honestly forgot they had even signed him given the whirlwind of rumors surrounding a certain left handed outfielder… Gerrardo Parra.

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Anyways, Rupp has over 1000 MLB plate appearances for the Phillies from 2013-2017, even smacking 16 long balls in 2017. Power is his game, as his career .407 SLG indicates. However, getting on base is not, as he has a sub-.300 OBP and an almost 30% strikeout rate. He’ll come into camp in the chase for the backup, but faces harder odds given he isn’t on the 40-man.

Rene Rivera

Having once hit a pair of dingers off of Matt Moore in 2017, it bodes well that he will be in camp with the Giants rather than with another team. Rivera has never been much of a threat at the plate, compiling a meek .220/.271/.353 slash line, but has always been a good defensive catcher.

Last year he only appeared in 33 games, 30 of them with the Angels. He was claimed off waivers by the Braves at the end of August, most likely as an emergency guy. While he might not make much noise, he will play serviceable defense and will be a useful depth piece.

Stephen Vogt

Vogt, a noted Giants fan from the Bay Area, will be attempting to crack the roster of his hometown Giants this spring. Vogt was once one of the premier catcher in the Majors, making back to back All-Star teams in 2015-2016 representing the cross-town Oakland A’s. However, Vogt struggled with shoulder problems for the entirety of 2018, having only played in three double-A games since the end of 2017. It can be assured though, that Vogt is almost healthy and will be revitalized by playing for his hometown team.