Las Vegas 51s

Kevin Plawecki
MiLB Stats: 64 G, 275 PA, 247 AB, 37 R, 81 H, 17 2B, 3B, 9 HR, 45 RBI, .328/.375/.514
MLB Stats: 33 G, 105 PA, 92 AB, 9 R, 23 H, 5 2B, 3 HR, 13 RBI, SB, .250/.333/.402

Xorge Carrillo
MiLB Stats: 70 G, 272 PA, 252 AB, 24 R, 68 H, 12 2B, 9 HR, 44 RBI, .270/.320/.425

The outlook from the organization pitching depth had a much better outlook when Plawecki began to figure things out after a brief call-up when Travis d’Arnaud landed on the disabled list.  In 54 games, he hit .338/.386/.529 with 14 doubles, a triple, eight homers, and 38 RBI.  He once again looked like the player the Mets thought could be the catcher of the future.  Combine his improved hitting and already fine pitch framing skills, and he will likely be a part of the 2018 Opening Day roster.

Carrillo has shown himself to be a good defensive catcher winning a Gold Glove in the Mexican Winter Leagues prior to the season.  However, with his only throwing out 18% of base stealers and his 90 wRC+, it is likely we will not see him ever get to showcase his defensive abilities at the Major League level.

Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Tomas Nido
MiLB Stats: 102 G, 404 PA, 367 AB, 41 R, 85 H, 19 2B, 3B, 8 HR, 60 RBI, .232/.287/.354
MLB Stats: 4 G, 6 PA, 6 AB, 3 H, 2B, 3 RBI, .500/.500/.667

Colton Plaia
MiLB Stats: 42 G, 158 PA, 137 AB, 19 R, 33 H, 7 2B, HR, 20 RBI, .241/.342/.314

Following a breakout season with St. Lucie last year leading him being added to the 40 man roster, Nido struggled offensively this year.  The main reason was his BABIP dropped from .344 last year to .255 this year.  With the aggressive approach Nido has at the plate, a 5.7% walk rate, and his not making sufficient adjustments, you’re likely going to see year-to-year BABIP fluctuations like this.  It also makes it difficult to foresee him reaching his offensive ceiling.  With that said, he’ll get every chance to do so because he is an outstanding defensive catcher with a strong arm.

Plaia is a solid defensive catcher who never quite reached his ceiling offensively.

St. Lucie Mets

Patrick Mazeika
MiLB Stats: 106 G, 437 PA, 373 AB, 48 R, 108 H, 26 2B, 7 HR, 55 RBI, 2 SB, 2 CS, .290/.389/.416

Dan Rizzie
MiLB Stats: 72 G, 272 PA, 243 AB, 10 R, 57 H, 9 2B, 16 RBI, .235/.305/.272

Mazeika continued to make strides defensively, and as a result, the organization trusted him to catch far more games that he had in his minor league career.  Still, even with the strides he’s made defensively, Mazeika’s calling card is his offense.  Throughout his minor league career, he has been adept at getting on base.  One thing of note is Mazeika hits for more power when he isn’t catching.  Over the first two months, he slugged .506 while catching, playing first, and DHing.  After that, when he was used almost exclusively as a catcher, he slugged just .338.  Being able to continue to hit with power while catching will be the next stage in his development.

Rizzie actually the opposite of Mazeika where he’s a good defensive catcher who needs to improve defensively.  For Rizzie to raise his stock, he is going to improve as a hitter.

Columbia Fireflies

Ali Sanchez
MiLB Stats: 56 G, 200 PA, 182 AB, 20 R, 42 H, 3 2B, HR, 15 RBI, 2 SB, 3 CS, .231/.288/.264

Brandon Brosher
MiLB Stats: 67 G, 260 PA, 217 AB, 28 R, 48 H, 7 2B, 13 HR, 31 RBI, 8 SB, 3 CS, .221/.346/.433

Sanchez could very well be the top defensive catcher in the Mets farm system, albeit one with injury and offensive issues.  The hope with Sanchez this year was his hand would be healthy after the problems he had with it last year, and in turn, Sanchez would develop as a hitter.  Instead, Sanchez had to have surgery to repair the hamate bone in his left hand.  Hopefully, the issue has been fixed allowing him to improve as a hitter.

Brosher was drafted four years ago, and the Mets converted him to catcher because of his strong arm and agility.  The thought was this was a good place to put a player who had tremendous power potential.  This season was his best as a professional in both aspects, but at this point, neither have progressed to the point where he would be considered more than a backup to the catchers already in the system.

Short Season Catchers

Scott Manea
MiLB Stats: 37 G, 142 PA, 112 AB, 10 R, 25 H, 3 2B, HR, 11 RBI, CS, .223/.380/.277

Carlos Sanchez
MiLB Stats: 37 G, 149 PA, 137 AB, 4 R, 24 H, 2 3B, 7 RBI, .175/.242/.234

Juan Uriarte
MiLB Stats: 52 G, 226 PA, 200 AB, 36 R, 61 H, 13 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 36 RBI, .305/.372/.455

Robby Kidwell
MiLB Stats: 21 G, 69 PA, 64 AB, 3 R, 11 H, 2B, 4 RBI, .172/.232/.188

The above-listed catchers is a group with offensive potential at the plate who all are capable from behind the plate.  The most advanced defender, and not so coincidentally, the most advanced prospect is Uriarte, who is coming off a big year in Kingsport.  When signed as an International Free Agent, he was seen as a good catcher with some pop.  We saw him develop that power some with him setting career highs in doubles, triples, and homers.

Converted Catchers

Anthony Dimino
MiLB Stats: 60 G, 243 PA, 212 AB, 27 R, 70 H, 7 2B, 3B, 16 RBI, 11 SB, 6 CS, .330/.407/.373

Jay Jabs
MILB Stats: 90 G, 353 AB, 320 AB, 38 R, 66 H, 18 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 4 SB, .206/.278/.347

Dimino was converted to catcher in his Sophomore year in college, and he developed quickly enough that the Mets took him in the 28th round in the 2015 draft.  In his three years in the Mets system, he’s split time between catching, first, and DH.  At this point, his bat is not quite there where he can play a corner infield position, and his catching skills are not at the place where he can be trusted being an everyday catcher.

Jabs has not had any catching experience anywhere, and yet the Mets have listed him as a catcher in the Instructional Leagues.  Apparently, the team believes he has the agility and certainly the arm strength to handle the position.