Here's a Thought: Breaking Down the Oakland A's Major and Minor League Catchers

Over the course of the offseason, I've looked at a few individual players and also broke down the starting pitching situation for the Oakland A's.

Rather than continuing with the individual approach, I thought it would be better to present everyone in the organization by position and offer a brief breakdown of where they stand going into 2010.

I'll start behind the plate.

Here are 16 catchers in the organization, some information about them, and what to expect from them in 2010.

This is essentially ordered by closeness to the majors, so I’ll begin with the MLB starters and go down to rookie ball.

No. 1: Kurt Suzuki

Ended 2009 At: Oakland (MLB)
Should Begin 2010 At: Oakland (MLB)
2009 Statistics: .274/.313/.421 with 15 HR, 59/28 K/BB, and 8 SB
Defensive Reputation: Excellent

Suzuki will be back as the A's starting catcher in 2010, and he's an average to above-average starter at the position.

He works well with the young pitching staff and is nearly unparalleled at blocking pitches in the dirt (especially helpful with someone like Gio Gonzalez on the mound).

Suzuki is a contact hitter with some gap power, but he'll likely never have a true impact bat.

He’s always been better against righties than lefties, which is odd for a right-handed hitter, although he showed some pull power against lefties last year.

Suzuki has better speed than most catchers and got stronger last year, hitting double-digit homers for the first time in his career. He’s also very durable.

Suzuki may not be the star some A’s fans think he is, but he is a tremendous defender who is adequate with the bat. He’s a nice young player who deserves to start.

No. 2: Landon Powell

Ended 2009 At: Oakland (MLB)
Should Begin 2010 At: Oakland (MLB)
2009 Statistics: .229/.297/.429 with 7 HR, 36/14 K/BB, and 0 SB
Defensive Reputation: Excellent

Powell turned in a nice year in 2009 by backup catcher standards, playing his usual excellent defense and showing over-the-fence big-league power.

While one could look at the .297 OBP from a 27-year-old rookie and say Powell isn’t starter material, I’m not ready to say that yet.

After all, it was his first year, he only got in 46 games, so he was constantly rusty and never on a set schedule, and he still showed every skill except the ability to hit lefties.

Powell crushed righties at a .267/.324/.505 clip, which makes him a very useful commodity, especially given his defensive excellence.

He has one of the best arms in baseball, is a great receiver, and, like Suzuki, excels at blocking the plate, both from wild pitches and incoming base runners.

Ordinarily, it would be an easy decision to platoon the switch-hitting Powell and right-handed Suzuki, but Suzuki’s reverse platoon split complicates matters.

If the A’s don’t want to get creative with the platoon, they would probably be better served with Suzuki starting than Powell, as Powell has a long injury history and would be at risk for a breakdown if he played over 100 games in a season.

But, hey, the A’s have two starter-worthy catchers who are 28 and younger. It’s a nice problem to have.

No. 3: Anthony Recker

Ended 2009 At: Sacramento (AAA)
Should Begin 2010 At: Sacramento (AAA)
2009 Statistics: .298/.385/.526 with 3 HR, 22/8 K/BB ratio and 0 SB in AA; .261/.333/.449 with 12 HR, 80/28 K/BB ratio and 2 SB in AAA
Defensive Reputation: Below average

Recker looked done at the All-Star break this year. A 25-year-old who had hit for nice power in the lower minors, but was always old for his levels, the former 18th-round draft pick hit just .226/.299/.401 in the first half and even was briefly demoted to Double-A.

Then, his bat exploded.

Recker crushed PCL pitching at a .326/.396/.537 clip after the break, hitting .375/.435/.679 in August, reviving his hopes for a career and firmly establishing him as Oakland’s third catcher for 2010.

Recker is not a defensive savant, but he’s good enough to catch in the big leagues, and his powerful bat could make him an excellent backup for many years—similar to Mets' catcher Ramon Castro.

At age 26, Recker will need to sustain his late-season breakout and catch some breaks (an injury to Suzuki or Powell or a trade) to realize his MLB potential.

No. 4: Joel Galarraga

Ended 2009 At: Sacramento (AAA)
Should Begin 2010 At: Sacramento (AAA)
2009 Statistics: .357/.449/.476 with 0 HR, 10/6 K/BB, and 0 SB
Defensive Reputation: Below average but playable

Galarraga, a Cuban defector, made a big splash in April, crushing the ball in his first U.S. action, but was lost for the season after 13 games.

He impressed throughout the spring in big league camp as well.

With a thin 160-pound frame, Galarraga lacks the size to block pitches in the dirt as well as Suzuki or Powell.

He’s still largely an unknown commodity, and he’ll be 28 in spring training, but the little data we have to go on is extremely encouraging.

No. 5: Josh Donaldson

Ended 2009 At: Midland (AA)
Should Begin 2010 At: Sacramento (AAA)
2009 Statistics: .270/.379/.415 with 9 HR, 92/80 K/BB, and 7 SB
Defensive Reputation: Below average

Donaldson is one of the brightest lights in an area of organizational strength for the A’s. He’s an OBP machine who hits a lot of doubles (37 in 2009) and could be a rare .360 OBP catcher in the majors.

Only five catchers with at least 250 PAs reached that mark in 2009.

Donaldson’s defensive reputation is rather poor, and the A’s have played him a lot at third base, where he’s an average defender.

However, if he has to play there long term, Donaldson’s offensive value is significantly lower—13 3Bs OBP’ed at least .360 in 2009.

It’s also been only a year and two months since Donaldson was a .217 hitter in Low-A in the Cubs' organization, so the risk of an implosion may be slightly higher for him than most prospects.

Regardless of the negatives, he’s an intriguing potential future starter behind the plate who could also spend some time at the corner positions and DH.

At 24, he needs a big year in Triple-A to stay on the “future starter” path.

No. 6: Raul Padron

Ended 2009 At: Midland (AA)
Should Begin 2010 At: Midland (AA)
2009 Statistics: .263/.306/.365 with 5 HR, 51/10 K/BB, and 2 SB in High-A; .275/.333/.384/ with 2 HR, 25/11 K/BB, and 0 SB in AA; .214/.313/.214 with 0 HR, 7/2 K/BB, and 0 SB in a brief five-game cameo in AAA
Defensive Reputation: Below average

At age 24, Padron finally got an extended look above High-A ball and acquitted himself surprisingly well.

He’s a lefty hitter with a bit of pop, but with a .306 career OBP, he’s got to make more contact and take more walks to have any sort of future.

Note the K/BB ratio improvement from High-A (51/10) to Double-A (25/11). That’s extremely important.

Padron’s defense isn’t going to win any awards, so he’s got to hit at least .270 and OBP .330.

If he does, he might have a career as a backup: Lefty-swinging catchers with 15 HR power are hard to find.

It’s worth noting that Padron’s sub-par defense has led the organization to give him extensive time at DH and even first base, so he needs to improve behind the plate to have any sort of shot.

Padron is in the wrong organization, but if his late 2009 gains are for real, he could have a Javier Valentin sort of career.

2010 is a make-or-break year for Padron, who hit .286/.340/.582 in Venezuelan winter ball over the offseason.

No. 7: Yusuf Carter

Ended 2009 At: Stockton (High-A)
Should Begin 2010 At: Midland (AA)
2009 Statistics: .318/.373/.494 with 14 HR, 89/31 K/BB, and 4 SB
Defensive Reputation: Well below average

Excited about a catcher with an .867 OPS in High-A?

Calm down.

There’s a reason you’ve probably never heard of Carter: He’ll be 25 in February and is a horrific defensive catcher.

A minor league Rule 5 draftee from the Cubs in 2009, Carter was converted to catching from the outfield and is still raw to say the least.

Even worse news than the age and poor defense is the fact that Carter’s big year came in the most high-offense league in the minors, the California League.

In the Florida State League (also High-A) in 2008, Carter hit .233/.302/.444. Prior to 2009, he had never hit higher than .258.

It’s possible that the A’s figured out how to help Carter’s stroke, but the likelihood of the batting average jump being wholly substance and no luck is slim.

All these negatives said, you have to credit Carter for lending some small ray of hope to his previously poor career in 2009.

He’s a strong defensive outfielder with good speed and a good arm, so he has defensive flexibility. The arm could play well behind the plate if Carter ever figures out how to block pitches, something at which he was among the worst backstops in the minors last year.

At 25 and just reaching Double-A, Carter can’t afford any missteps.

No. 8: Matt Smith

Ended 2009 At: Stockton (High-A)
Should Begin 2010 At: Stockton (High-A)
2009 Statistics: .218/.290/.313 with 5 HR, 64/30 K/BB, and 1 SB
Defensive Reputation: Below average

Smith is a very patient hitter, but that’s mattered less and less as he advances, as pitchers realize that his bat isn’t strong enough to do damage most of the time.

He’s got an uppercut swing that puts too many balls in the air for a player with below-average to average power, and his poor speed leads to a high number of double play balls on grounders (15 in 90 games in 2009).

On top of all that, Smith is injury-prone, as he missed nearly all of 2008.

His defense isn’t rated well, and the A’s gave him a quick look at third base late in the year. If Smith can’t stick behind the plate, he’ll have no chance at a career.

As it stands, the 23-year-old should have one more chance to figure out how to hit line drives more consistently; with few decent options at the A-ball levels right now (other than the next player on this list), there’s nothing to lose in giving him one more chance in High-A as a backup catcher, third baseman, and DH.

No. 9: Petey Paramore

Ended 2009 At: Kane County (Low-A)
Should Begin 2010 At: Stockton (High-A)
2009 Statistics: .230/.344/.294 with 4 HR, 55/55 K/BB, and 1 SB
Defensive Reputation: Excellent

Paramore, the A’s third-round pick in ’08, is one of the better defenders in the minors. He’s been compared to Landon Powell for his big body (although he’s much thinner than Powell), solid switch-hitting, and excellent defense.

The fact that he’s a switch-hitter and a great defensive catcher give him a good shot at a future backup role in the majors.

The question with Paramore is if he can drive the ball. Kane County is in the pitcher-friendly Midwest League, but there’s still no excuse for an .054 ISO.

The good news is that the rest of his offensive game appears solid: His .230 average is largely the result of bad luck on balls in play.

The 55/55 K/BB ratio proves he can work a walk and can also make consistent contact.

Paramore, 23, will likely move up to Stockton next year.

Hopefully the hitter-friendly environment will wake up his power stroke and propel him toward the majors. He should be a solid MLB backup and has a shot at being a decent starter some point down the line.

No. 10: Gabriel Ortiz

Ended 2009 At: Stockton (High-A)
Should Begin 2010 At: Stockton (High-A)
2009 Statistics: .255/.275/.347 with 1 HR, 30/3 K/BB, and 2 SB in 26 games in Vancouver (Short-season-A), .262/.326/.310 with 0 HR, 14/4 K/BB, and 4 SB in 12 games in Stockton (High-A), .280/.259/.480 with 1 HR, 5/0 K/BB, and 2 SB in eight games in Midland (AA)
Defensive Reputation: Average

It’s tough to get any sort of read on Ortiz because of all the bouncing around he’s done, but two things are clear with him.

First is that his numbers are poor, particularly for a 23-year-old (he turned 24 in the offseason) at the lower levels (10/1 K/BB ratio in short-season ball at age 23).

The second is that the A’s don’t take him seriously at all, as evidenced by all the jerking around they do with him, moving him to whatever stop is necessary to cover for injuries.

Ever wonder why top prospects never seem to move up unless they’re ready?

Teams will usually move a completely unprepared but less important guy like Ortiz up four levels rather than damage a top prospect by promoting him before he’s ready.

Thus, you get Ortiz jumping from Vancouver to Midland (and even Sacramento, but he didn’t play while he was there) and back.

Ortiz did steal eight bases in 42 games, which is rare for a catcher, and he didn’t fall on his face in Stockton and Midland, although it’s just a 20-game sample.

He could stick in Stockton as the third catcher behind Paramore and Smith, but may endure another year of bouncing around.

Given all the guys pushing up from lower in the system, don’t be surprised if he’s cut in spring training (or already has been, for all I know).

No. 11: Chris Affinito

Ended 2009 At: AZL Athletics (Rookie)
Should Begin 2010 At: Kane County (Low-A)
2009 Statistics: .300/.368/.456 with 5 HR, 56/18 K/BB, and 0 SB (48 games)
Defensive Reputation: Below average

An undrafted free agent, the Seton Hall alum burst onto the scene last year with a nice half-season in rookie ball.

As one might expect of an undrafted college free agent, Affinito was old for the Arizona League, and he’ll be 23 in February.

It is the age factor that has me recommending that the A’s push Affinito past Vancouver and into Kane County to start 2010.

A suspect defender, Affinito spent some time at first base and DH on an Arizona League team with very little in the way of catchers.

If he’s assigned to Low-A as I hope, he’ll likely back up the next player on this list behind the plate in addition to rotation through first, DH, and possibly third base.

No. 12: Max Stassi

Ended 2009 At: Vancouver (Short-season-A)
Should Begin 2010 At: Kane County (Low-A)
2009 Statistics: .286/.340/.367 with 0 HR, 11/2 K BB, and 0 SB (11 games)
Defensive Reputation: Slightly below average

Stassi signed late, and thus didn’t get into action much in 2009, but the A’s assigned him to Vancouver after just a few days in Arizona, so he’s on an accelerated path for a high school student.

While he’s not regarded as a defensive savant, Stassi should be able to stay behind the plate, and his bat is excellent for the position.

He was considered one of the top high school hitters in the country and only his high bonus demands kept him out of the first round of the draft.

Stassi is currently the front runner to someday replace Suzuki, but he won’t turn 19 until March, so he’s a long way off. We’ll learn more about how well he’s adjusted to pro ball in 2010.

No. 13: Ryan Ortiz

Ended 2009 At: Vancouver (Short-season-A)
Should Begin 2010 At: Vancouver (Short-season-A)
2009 Statistics: .258/.388/.430 with 4 HR, 29/26 K/BB, and 3 SB (48 games)
Defensive Reputation: Above average

A polished college product, Ortiz was selected out of Oregon State in the sixth round of this year’s draft and posted good offensive numbers in a tough Vancouver hitting environment.

If it weren’t for the presence of Affinito and Stassi above him, I’d say he definitely should be in Low-A next year, but it’s very possible he’ll have to spend at least part of the year in Vancouver.

Unlike most of the catchers in the system, Ortiz has a very good defensive reputation, and he also offers a solid offensive package.

Along with Recker, Donaldson, Paramore, and Stassi, Ortiz is currently on track to hit the majors at some point.

No. 14: Juan Nunez

Ended 2009 At: Kane County (Low-A)
Should Begin 2010 At: Vancouver (Short-season-A)
2009 Statistics: .224/.259/.286 with 1 HR, 44/7 K/BB, and 1 SB
Defensive Reputation: Average

Another casualty of the presence of Affinito and Stassi, Nunez looks to head back to short-season ball two years after playing in Stockton.

It’s mainly his own doing, however, mainly thanks to his terrible statistics in 2009. He also hit .206/.275/.302 in Vancouver in 2008 and went 1-for-24 in Stockton that year.

Nunez is still just 22, so he probably has another year to show a pulse at the plate, particularly with the A’s Arizona League team having no one but Affinito worth promoting.

Defensively, Nunez has the tools to succeed, but a thin frame that has yet to fill out leaves him below average at blocking pitches in the dirt and runners trying to score.

No. 15: Reynaldo Mateo

Ended 2009 At: DSL Athletics (Rookie)
Should Begin 2010 At: AZL Athletics (Rookie)
2009 Statistics: .364/.481/.561 with 3 HR, 21/18 K/BB, and 3 SB (41 games)
Defensive Reputation: Unknown

I’m not going to pretend I know much of anything about Mateo, since he hasn’t even come to the U.S. yet.

The one thing about his defense I will say is that his height and weight (5’9” 209), seem to be in that prototypical Ivan Rodriguez mold for catchers, which is a good sign.

The one clear thing about the 20-year-old is that he sure can hit.

He dominated the Dominican Summer League in just about every offensive aspect, and I’m excited to see what he can put together in Arizona this year.

No. 16: Miguel Marte

Ended 2009 At: DSL Athletics (Rookie)
Should Begin 2010 At: AZL Athletics (Rookie)
2009 Statistics: .304/.407/.392 with 0 HR, 28/18 K/BB, and 2 SB (39 games)
Defensive Reputation: Unknown

The other impressive Dominican Summer League catcher, Marte (6’3” 230) is more of a sheer behemoth behind the plate than Mateo, but despite the large size, he didn’t show much power last year.

Still, .400 OBP catchers at any level are a nice thing to have, and the DSL isn’t really a homer-friendly environment (only five players on the DSL A’s hit multiple homers, and the team played over 50 games).

Marte should help with depth in the Arizona League, something the A’s had little of last year, with Ramon Soto, Diomedes Lopez, and Josh Leyland all struggling.

We’ll find out more about Marte’s skills in 2010.