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Top 10 catching prospects
Posted: Sunday January 19, 2003 9:17 PM
BOSTON (Ticker) -- Offensive skills for a catcher are usually the last tools to develop. So much emphasis is placed on learning how to call games, handle pitchers and stop opposing team's running games that little time is left for these players to worry about adjusting their swings.
Still, a number of prospects finished the 2002 season among their league's leaders in a number of major offensive categories, including batting average and RBIs.
An offensive stalwart, Cleveland's Victor Martinez led a league in hitting for a second consecutive season. He also displayed the ability to be a solid middle-of-the-order hitter, skills not usually linked with a catcher. As a result, is no surprise that there have been rumors of a position change to lengthen his career.
Astros farmhand John Buck finished third in the Class AA Texas League with 89 RBI, his third straight season with at least 71 RBI. Twins top-pick Joe Mauer ranked eighth in the Class A Midwest League with a .302 average and finished fifth with a .393 on-base percentage.
Despite the difficult task of having to be students of the game from all angles, the following catchers have begun to develop into well-rounded ballplayers and should make an impact in the major leagues within the next couple of seasons.
Top 10 catchers
(Note: Players with less than 200 major league at-bats were considered)
1. Victor Martinez, Indians
Martinez, who was named MVP after leading the Class A Carolina
League with a .329 average in 2001, had an even better season in
the Double-A Eastern League this past year. He won his second
consecutive batting title with a .336 average while displaying
increased power, pacing the league with a .576 slugging
percentage en route to another MVP honor. The 23-year-old
switch-hitter also ranked second in the loop with 62 extra-base
hits, posting career-highs in both doubles (40) and home runs
(22). Defensively, the native of Venezuela has soft hands and
outstanding leadership ability. A weak throwing arm is the one
thing keeping him from being labeled as complete.
2. Joe Mauer, Twins
The first overall pick in the 2001 draft, Mauer has quickly
exhibited himself as a strong contact hitter who will develop
greater power as he matures. Only 19 years old, the Minnesota
native hit .302 and posted a 42-62 strikeout-to-walk ratio in
his first full season. Mauer also showed his worth as a run
producer, driving home 62 runs and posting a .377 average with
runners in scoring position. A Florida State quarterback
recruit, he has an above-average arm with accuracy and
effortless movements behind the plate. Due to inexperience,
Mauer still needs to develop the mental aspects of the position.
3. John Buck, Astros
After two outstanding seasons in low Class A, Buck did go
through some offensive struggles in the Double-A Texas League
last season. Although he did set a career high in RBI, the 6-3,
210-pounder did lose some consistency at the plate. He hit
below .240 in two separate months and had a 3-to-1
strikeout-to-walk ratio. Still, Buck finished with a .263
average and flashed tremendous power. Behind the plate, the
22-year-old is as competent as any catcher in the minors. Buck
excels at game-calling and handling of pitchers, blocks the
plate very well and owns a strong arm.
4. Jeff Mathis, Angels
A surprise first-round pick in the 2001 draft, Mathis has not
failed to live up to the organization's lofty expectations so
far. Despite missing some playing time in 2001 because of a
broken hand, the 19-year-old shined in his first full season in
the Class A Midwest League last year. Mathis hit .287, drove in
73 runs and finished second in the circuit with 41 doubles. He
has outstanding physical tools that are matched only by his work
ethic and leadership. With an above-average arm, Mathis
finished fifth in the Midwest by throwing out 37 percent of
would-be basestealers.
5. Justin Huber, Mets
A native of Australia, Huber was one of the top offensive
players in the lower level Class A South Atlantic League during
the first half of last season. His .318 average, 10 home runs
and 69 RBI in 73 games earned him a unanimous bid to the
league's all-star team and talk of a triple crown. The
20-year-old earned a promotion to the high Class A Florida State
in mid-July and finished with a .286 average, 14 homers and 93
RBI. A patient hitter, Huber knows how to take pitches and work
the strike zone. Behind the plate, he displays his love of the
game with his intelligence. He works hard with pitchers and
continuously studies game situations.
6. Kevin Cash, Blue Jays
Despite not playing at the position before signing with Toronto
as a non-drafted free agent in 1999, Cash has turned himself
into the top defensive receiver in the organization, earning a
late-season callup to the majors in just his third season. The
Florida native has a very strong arm, a quick release and solid
footwork. Last season, the 24-year-old threw out 43 percent of
attempted basestealers between the Double-A and Triple-A classes.
Offensively, Cash has limited skills, but did reach career highs
in both doubles (33) and homers (18) last year. Cash
compensates for a high number of strikeouts with a decent walk
total.
7. Miguel Olivo, White Sox
Traded by the Oakland Athletics in December of 2000 for relief
pitcher Chad Bradford, Olivo put together his second strong
season in Double-A and earned a late-season promotion to
Comiskey. The 24-year-old has a plus arm and cat-like agility
behind the plate. He still needs to improve some of his
receiving skills, including the handling of top-notch pitchers.
On the offensive side, Olivo has a nice mix of both speed and
power. Last season, he stole 29 bases in 42 attempts and led
Birmingham with 10 triples. He also had a career-high 24
doubles and finished with a .479 slugging percentage. Olivo
displayed improved patience and a good batting eye.
8. Kelly Shoppach, Red Sox
Making his professional debut in the advanced Class A Florida
State League last season, Shoppach played extremely well and was
named to the league's all-star team. A defensive stalwart,
Shoppach threw out 33 percent of attempted basestealers and
displayed natural leadership skills. He also blocked balls very
well and improved as a game-caller as the season went on. The
22-year-old showed good gap power, finishing with 35 doubles,
but struggled with his contact at times. Despite a high
strikeout total, Shoppach had good discipline, drawing 59 walks
in 414 at-bats. A small tear in his shoulder in September
forced him to miss playing in the Arizona Fall League.
9. Josh Bard, Indians
Acquired from Colorado in a mid-season trade in 2001, Bard
raised his stock this past season by impressing many in the
organization in spring training and putting together a strong
showing in the Triple-A International League. Originally a
third-round pick of the Rockies in 1999, Bard hit .297 with 53
RBI in 94 games with Buffalo, but it was his defense that got
him called up to Cleveland in late August. He threw out 39
percent of basestealers and was a reason for the club ranking
near the top in a number of pitching categories. At 6-3 and 200
pounds, Bard has excellent size and does a good job blocking
balls. With Einar Diaz traded to Texas, the 24-year-old should
be a serious contender for the starting job in Cleveland in
2003.
10. Koyie Hill, Dodgers
Catching in just his second full season, Hill showed solid
defensive skills while batting .271 with 64 RBI in 130 games in
the Double-A Southern League. A converted third baseman, Hill
has strong throwing skills, highlighted by a quick release, and
gunned down 33 percent of attempted basestealers. He has also
earned praise for his work with the staff in Jacksonville. A
fourth-round pick of the Dodgers in 2000, Hill is streaky with
the bat. A solid switch-hitter with some occasional pop, the
23-year-old knows how to take pitches, recording nearly as many
walks as strikeouts in 2002. He did well in the Arizona Fall
League this past fall, hitting .308 with eight RBI in 75
at-bats.
Others to watch: Craig Ansman (Diamondbacks), Dane Sardinha (Reds), David Parrish (Yankees), Jared Abruzzo (Angels), J.D. Closser (Diamondbacks).
© 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
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