O's minor leaguers in '08 -- Catchers
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to analyze the Orioles minor league system. I’ll look at each position and share my thoughts on the top players.
You might agree with my picks, but you’ll likely have a different opinion about a lot of the positions. Feel free to post your comments and we can debate which players are best.
Please keep in mind that this isn’t necessarily about picking players based on their potential to play in the major leagues or their status as a prospect.
Those factors will obviously play a role in the discussion, but they won’t be the only reason why one player is listed ahead of another. A player that has spent several years in the minor leagues may still be listed in front of one of the team’s top prospects because he had a great season in 2008.
The greatest part about having this conversation on the blog is that you’ll be able to share your thoughts. Make sure your comments are clean and I’ll be happy to approve them so others can participate in the conversation about which players had the best seasons in 2008.
I’ll start the discussion today with probably the easiest position to rank in the Orioles minor league system this year – catcher.
The best catcher in the organization is obvious. There’s a reason why Baseball America selected Matt Wieters as the 2008 Minor League Player of the Year. But that doesn’t mean he’s the only catcher in the organization who had a quality season.
Wieters hit .355 with 27 home runs and 91 RBIs in 130 games split between Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. He had 22 doubles and 89 runs scored.
The 22-year-old catcher made an impressive professional debut by hitting .345 with 15 home runs and 40 RBIs in 69 games for the Keys. Following a promotion, the former standout at Georgia Tech hit .365 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs in 61 games for the Baysox.
Caleb Joseph, the Orioles’ seventh-round draft pick in this year’s draft, hit .261 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 63 games for Aberdeen. The 22-year-old catcher finished with 19 doubles, which was tied for third in the New York-Penn League. He was also named to the league’s All-Star team.
After those two players, there wasn’t a lot of success among the catchers in the organization. Delmarva’s Wally Crancer hit .287 with 20 doubles, six home runs and 39 RBIs in 83 games, but he was only a part-time catcher. Omir Santos hit .269 for the Norfolk Tides, but he only had one home run and 36 RBIs in 84 games.
Bowie’s Steve Torrealba, who has been in the minor leagues since 1995, played well in limited action. The 30-year-old catcher hit .283 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs in 37 games for the Baysox. Brian Valichka, who is from Frederick, hit .263 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 41 games split between the Baysox, Keys and Shorebirds this season. He hit .272 with 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored in 30 games for Delmarva.
I’d put the catchers in the following order if I had to rank them based on this season’s numbers, as well as the potential that they’ll contribute in the major leagues in the future:
1. Matt Wieters
2. Caleb Joseph
3. Omir Santos
4. Steve Torrealba
5. Wally Crancer
Wieters is definitely the top catcher in the organization and he’s one of the best overall prospects in the minor leagues. I know many fans think he could be the starting catcher for the Orioles in 2009. We’ll see if that happens, but there’s no doubt that he’s the top catcher in the Orioles minor league system.
Joseph has the potential to play in the major leagues. I saw him a few times in person at Aberdeen and he seems to do a good job of hitting the ball into the gaps. I’d like to see what he does in a full-season league next year, but he played well for the IronBirds in 2008.
Santos hasn’t had too much success in eight years in the minor leagues, but he had a decent season for the Tides. The Orioles haven’t given the 27-year-old catcher too much playing time since he was called up earlier this month, but he was among the best catchers in the organization this season.
Like I said earlier, Torrealba played well in the small amount of games he appeared in this season. It’s unlikely that he’ll make an impact in the major leagues, but he did well as the backup catcher to Wieters at Bowie.
Crancer is my sleeper pick in the catcher rankings. He was an outfielder in college and spent all of his time there for the IronBirds in 2007. The Shorebirds used him as a catcher in 38 games this season, however, and he played well. He still has a lot of work to do if he hopes to make it to the majors, but I was impressed by his statistics this season.
How would you rank the catchers in the Orioles minor league system?
Categories: O's minor leaguers in '08
Comments
I would like to see Matt in B-More this coming year. But if he starts at Norfolk I don't think he'll be there all season. To talented to be there all season. As for Crancer, if he is able to play more than one position that will help earn a spot in the future as a utility player. Maybe he should start learnin how to play 1st base.
Posted by: Henry Gardner | September 15, 2008 8:36 AM
Dean,
I can't argue with your picks. Hopefully Wieters is everything we hope he is and all we have to worry about for the next 15 years is who his backup will be. That said, Joseph said earlier this year that that would be a realistic goal for him. They're both 22, so he could have a nice career shadowing Wieters.
Posted by: Rev | September 15, 2008 9:33 AM
You picked the easy one, I think...not much to argue about here, there's a HUGE gap between Wieters and the field. Would be great if Joseph developed into a capable backup, or even better, a tradeable chip or real partner for Wieters so he can DH some. But that's not likely.
Looking forward to the pitchers, you've got a tougher job there!
Posted by: Tim S. | September 15, 2008 10:43 AM
Triple A is the land of misfit toys these days. Most real talents go straight from double A to the majors. Frankly, AAA will do Weiters more harm than good if he wallows there too long with the Penn, Moore and Costanza crowd. Hard heads who have natural talent but don't listen are rampant at Norfolk. I hope a big spring propels him to a position as catcher in BALTIMORE ON OPENING DAY!
Posted by: omar | September 15, 2008 4:02 PM
I agree with what you said mostly.. If they send wieters to norfolk we may get to see how he can handle a park very challanging for power hitters from what I heard.. Still hope to see him in orioles uniform during 2009 but it depends on what they do with martinez
Posted by: grant | September 15, 2008 6:24 PM
It would be nice at 6"5 to put Weiters at 1st and develop Joseph or get a good catcher is the next trade.
Posted by: Rick | September 15, 2008 8:40 PM
no offense rick but you don't put an awesome defensive catcher with a rocket arm at first no matter what height.
Posted by: jeff | September 15, 2008 10:03 PM
Dean: Nice article. I like your analysis, and agree with your decision to pick the easiest position first. Wieters might be the best prospect in all of baseball.
I'll be interested in knowing what some scouts think about the infield prospects in your articles to come.
Posted by: Oira79 | September 15, 2008 10:31 PM
The organization has to look long and hard at Weiters. (Hernandez is a bum. Trade him and Cabrera to the Mets for Heilman and Schneider) We have to go the same road the Twins did with Mauer. I don't know if he's playing winter ball but even if he isn't I think they should get all the former catchers in the organization to work with him. I hate to put pressure on him but he is the real key to the future. So far he has lived up to the billing...take a chance we can't go any lower. They did it with Markakis and Jones, I know catcher is tougher than outfield but he looks made for the job. Move over Mauer....there's a new sheriff in town.
Posted by: Joe from Jersey | September 15, 2008 10:49 PM