Backfields Preview: Braves Boast Deep Catching Group
Considering the relative dearth of high-level catching in baseball, the Braves are sitting very well behind the plate with two catchers who project as everyday regulars. It doesn’t stop there with another who projects as at least an up/down guy with the chance for a good bit more, and a fourth who could provide some valuable upper-level depth based on his defense alone.
Positional leader William Contreras took a step back in 2019 based on lack of adjustments and an over-aggressive assignment. It would be foolish to write him off yet, obviously, because he oozes tools and athleticism, and catcher development is a tricky business. Having him in the system remains a considerable strength.
The Braves added a second standout catcher to the system in June by drafting Shea Langeliers ninth overall. He immediately became one of the best defensive catchers in the organization while showing a little more hit than previously advertised. The comparison between Contreras and Langeliers is intriguing, with Contreras boasting a higher ceiling and more explosive tools, while Langeliers has the higher floor and more polish behind the plate. This gives the Braves potential options if the two develop properly. There’s no such thing as too much pitching, but it also applies to catching.
Even if the Braves only had Alex Jackson in the system, some organizations would probably take that. Jackson has one of the biggest tools in the system with plus-plus raw power and he adds a plus arm. He went all in with his power-first bat in 2019 and showed what kind of power production he can provide, but he also further showed the immense swing and miss that will limit his future. He’s a major leaguer in some form, though, and having even one major-league-potential catcher in a system is quite good.
Add a defense-first catcher with bloodlines in Logan Brown and Atlanta easily boasts one of the best groups of catching prospects in the game.
Graded:
William Contreras - 55
Contreras had the momentum at the position after a quasi breakout in 2018 at Low-A Rome. He immediately started getting top 100 attention because of an impressive full-season debut with a .293/.360/.463 line and 11 home runs in 82 games for Rome. More importantly, he was showing standout tools at the plate and behind it, explosive actions and some of the best athleticism for a catcher in pro ball.
Contreras took a step back in 2019 based on a combination of lack of adjustments at the plate and an overly aggressive assignment to Double-A Mississippi that never should’ve happened. The Braves focused on his defense, shoring up lapses and inconsistencies and trying to mold his raw tools into defensive production. He’s going to always rely on athleticism behind the plate and it’ll show at times, but he’s making strides to be more consistent with his receiving, footwork and accuracy. The glove projects above average and the arm is easily plus with impressive carry.
At the plate, Contreras has gone through adjustments to control his swing and make better contact through the ball. He has above-average raw power and can reach at least average in-game power with time, but contact issues hampered that last season. I remain high on his hit because of the loose, quick stroke, big athleticism and ability to track the ball well for his age. Catchers need time.
Assignments for Contreras and Langeliers – a month apart in age – will be interesting. If the Braves trust Langeliers to hold his own at the plate, he starts at Class-A Advanced Florida, which would require throwing Contreras back into the Double-A fire. Or, Contreras could return to Florida and Langeliers to Rome with quick promotions for strong April starts. There’s no shame in sending catchers to more conservative assignments, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Contreras is in Mississippi and Langeliers is in Florida.
Shea Langeliers - 50
As previously mentioned, you can’t have too many catchers, so having Contreras in the system is not a reason to pass over Langeliers if you think he’s worthy of going ninth overall. The Braves were high on him as the best defensive catcher in the class and didn’t want to pass him up. He showed those tools at Rome – an above-average or more glove and plus to plus-plus arm – and did some good things with the bat in his first pro taste.
Langeliers is polished behind the plate for his age and experience. You’ll get the occasional defensive lapse, mostly in his receiving, but you’re nit-picking if you say he’s anything but a standout defender. He also has leadership traits and should be a good addition for pitching staffs. He’s one of, if not the best defensive catcher in the organization right now.
The post-draft surprise for me was a quicker bat than expected. It’s a short, simple swing that gets his hands to the zone quickly, and there’s loud contact in the barrel. He has above-average raw power but is likely to settle a tick below because of contact and a level swing plane, giving him more consistent gap pop than the over-the-fence type. He had tracking issues at times and was vulnerable to sequencing, so making adjustments to pro pitching will be key this season as he works toward an average-potential hit tool.
Alex Jackson - 40
Jackson has basically hit his development peak at this point. He’s a power-first guy with light-tower raw pop and a huge gap down to the in-game power because of contact issues. There’s a lot of swing and miss in the bat that results in a boom-or-bust approach of homers and strikeouts. He sold out for that production with the rabbit ball at Triple-A Gwinnett last season, resulting in 28 home runs and 118 strikeouts in 345 plate appearances.
Jackson has caught grief for his defense over the years, but he’s made great strides to be serviceable there and is actually a good receiver, not to mention possessing a cannon arm that he relies on to overcome fringy actions. That defensive development has opened up more doors than people realize, because he can be used as a second catcher more easily. With Atlanta’s positional depth greater than a year ago, Jackson’s future might be in another organization, maybe as a second-division regular or a platoon bat that can also rotate at DH. If he’s in Atlanta for a while, it’ll be in an up/down or backup role. He’ll likely return to Gwinnett to start 2020 and see time in Atlanta as the need arises.
Logan Brown - 35
There may be questions as to why there’s a 23-year-old, 35th-rounder on the graded section of this list. The son of Kevin Brown makes the cut because he has one of the best gloves in the system, enough so that it could carry him to the upper levels for a while. Brown has extremely quick, efficient actions behind the plate and an easy plus arm. Receiving, blocking, throwing all come easy to him, and he’s able to slow the game down well. This type of defensive profile is valuable to an organization, even if it’s at Triple-A long-term.
Brown’s bat is contact-heavy with a short stroke geared for line drives. The bat lacks pop and impact and will keep him from a higher grade, but there’s a good amount of contact in the swing and he can hold his own. Is he a long-term major leaguer? Probably not. But he can provide solid depth with his glove for a while. His 2020 assignments could be fluid, starting at Mississippi or Florida and bouncing around as the need arises.
System Depth:
- Jonathan Morales – Has flashed the ability to hold his own with the bat in the past while playing steady defense, which has allowed him to carve out an upper-levels career. He’s a Gwinnett regular at this point.
- Ricardo Rodriguez – Defense-first receiver who can settle into an org player for a while. He’s ticketed for Florida or Rome, possibly behind Langeliers.
- Carlos Martinez – Basically what Rodriguez can develop into. He’ll return to Mississippi.
- Victor De Hoyos – See Rodriguez and Martinez. He’s either thrown into Rome or returns to extended spring training.
40-Man: Contreras, Jackson
Non-Roster Invitees: Langeliers, Morales, Martinez
2020 ETA: None
Jackson debuted in 2019 and Morales is extreme depth in case of emergency. Contreras and Langeliers won’t see the majors in 2020.
Top Tool: Jackson’s 70 raw power
It’s rare that the top tool among an organization’s catching prospects is raw power, but Jackson forces this answer with some of the best natural strength in the org regardless of level. He’s left dents in batter’s eyes and scoreboards. If you’re looking for a more normal catcher grade, Langeliers has a 65 arm and Contreras has a 60 arm.
Breakout Candidate: Langeliers
Langeliers has a better chance of a more productive season in the lower levels, which would further establish his everyday regular grade. There’s a chance he finds his groove at the plate and climbs more quickly than anticipated, but don’t expect a rapid rise just because he’s a college product with a polished glove.
2019 Top Transactions: Drafted and signed Langeliers, assigned Contreras to Double-A, Jackson made MLB debut.
2019 Top Performances: Jackson’s power at Triple-A: .533 slugging with 28 home runs in 345 plate appearances.