The Debate: William Contreras Or Shea Langeliers
It’s almost guaranteed to pop up in my Twitter mentions immediately after I tweet about Atlanta’s two top catching prospects.
The question I get more than any other: Who is the future behind the plate, William Contreras or Shea Langeliers?
I get it. Having two everyday-potential players in the system at such a premium position is an embarrassment of riches. One is on the verge of holding down a major league role while the other is perhaps a year or two away. Prospect situations tend to work themselves out, but it’s understandable to ask what could happen if Contreras and Langeliers are both in the majors and playing to their potential in a couple years.
My natural response is to direct readers to my reports on the two catchers to get my opinion on who will be the better major leaguer. I’ve been a high guy on Contreras since I first saw him at Rome in 2018. I think he has more upside. His recent adjustments at the plate and continued development on defense have solidified my opinion that he’s a future above-average everyday catcher.
Contreras continues to have an aggressive approach at the plate that will generate whiffs. It may not be a smooth transition to the highest level. But I think he has staying power in the majors because of an increased barrel ability based on mechanical adjustments over the past year-plus. I outlined them in detail in the previous link.
Contreras is more efficient to the zone with less pre-pitch movement and a shorter hand load, and he has a more consistent path to the zone and through contact. Cutting down his movement hasn’t removed a natural explosiveness that raised my eyebrows during a first look in 2018. He lets his naturally quick hands and explosive lower half generate growing power to the opposite field to pair with present home run pop to the pull side. He will whiff, but he’s covering the zone better and making more consistently solid contact.
Defense continues to be a developing situation. Contreras has above-average potential behind the plate based on excellent athleticism for a catcher. His footwork is quick and he posts plus pop times. His quickness works well laterally. He’s also showing a gained feel for receiving and looks much better at framing than a couple years ago.
However, Contreras will still take the occasional pitch off and let some squirt away. This also applies to getting in front of the ball consistently. It’s something he continues to work on. But the athleticism and quickness along with a gained feel to receive all equal above-average potential, and he will at least be average.
Put it all together and I have Contreras as an above-average potential catcher capable of getting the majority of playing time for a major league team.
The strong points for Langeliers are well-chronicled. He’s at least an above-average potential defender based on present feel to receive and call a game. He’s a throwback of sorts with a strong base to his frame, efficient footwork and mechanics behind the plate, and he knows how to handle a staff. The arm produces plus to plus-plus pop times and grades as high as 70.
Contreras has the advantage over Langeliers at the plate based on ceiling. Langeliers is more advanced with the bat than pre-draft reports indicated, displaying solid raw power and the ability to pop a few over the fence to the pull side. The bat path is mostly level and quick, and he will produce gap shots with some consistency. The approach is also aggressive and he will occasionally chase, but there’s average potential with the stick.
Put it all together and I have Langeliers as a solid-average potential catcher also capable of getting the majority of playing time for a major league team. It’s more of a traditional profile of defense-first with a little production at the plate, enough to earn the top spot on a depth chart.
Contreras grades out at 55 overall. Langeliers grades out at 50 with the flash of more when he produces extra-base hits with consistency in his prime. In the grand scheme of things, the difference is minimal. I have Contreras slightly higher based on more upside. I think his peak could be more productive than Langeliers’ peak. Langeliers, on the other hand, has a slightly higher floor because of the glove. But both have everyday potential.
Alas, this doesn’t answer who will be the long-term starter, or if the Braves may go with a tandem situation. Everything I just wrote doesn’t mean a thing to Atlanta’s decision-making. Who do the Braves like more? I have no idea.
I tend to lean Langeliers as the team’s safer long-term choice because of a higher floor. The org may like what he offers with the glove, arm and staff handling. They may like his bat more than I do and think he’s going to be a standout in all phases. The public side of the industry leans Langeliers. It’s rare to see someone grade Contreras higher.
At the same time, it’s hard to deny what Contreras has done to further his development over the past year. He looks more like a potential standout in all phases than he ever has.
As I said, prospect situations like this tend to work themselves out over time. One may not hit enough at the highest level to reach these grades and may fit better as a solid backup. The org might get an offer on one that they can’t refuse. There are many factors that can change things between now and when both should be ready to consistently handle some sort of major league role.
For now, just appreciate the advantage that comes with having two potential everyday catchers in the system. It greatly increases the chances that the Braves will have a solid player at the position for a long time. At the end of the day, that’s the goal for the org.