MPH System Audit III, Part IV - Catchers

Catchers

1. Josh Thole 10/28/86 (22.29) L/R (A+ St. Lucie .300/.382/.427/.808, 104 for 347, 49 runs, 25 2b, 2 3b, 5 HR, 56 RBI, 45/38 BB/K, AFL Peoria Saguaros 22 for 69, 15 runs, 2b, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 10/6 BB/K, .319/.400/.420/.820)

Total 2008 Stats: .303/.385/.425/.810, 126 for 416, 64 runs, 26 2b, 2 3b, 7 HR, 73 RBI, 55/44 BB/K, .106 K rate, 1.2500 BB/K

The Mets selected Thole in the 13th round of the 2005 draft, and sent him to the GCL Mets, where he hit .269/.406/.337/.743 (28 for 104, 14 runs, 2 2b, 3b, HR, 12 RBI, 20/11 BB/K) in 35 games, an outstanding 1.8182 BB/K ratio, and a ridiculously low .105 K rate, both incredible numbers for an 18 year old in any setting.

Thole hit .370/.514/.407/.921 vs LHP in 2005 (10 for 27, 2b, 6/2 BB/K), with a 3.000 BB/K ratio and a .074 K rate, and .234/.366/.312/.678 (18 for 77, 2b, 3b, HR, 14/9 BB/K) vs RHP, with a 1.556 BB/K ratio, and a .117 K rate.

In 2006, Thole played in 35 games for Kingsport, getting just 96 ABs, and hitting .240/.306/.313/.619 (23 for 96, 4 2b, HR, 7/24 BB/K), a .2917 BB/K ratio and a .250 K rate, both drastically elevated from the year prior. He hit .167/.286/.208/.494 vs LHP (4 for 24, 2b, 2/6 BB/K) and .264/.313/.347/.660 (19 for 72, 3 2b, HR, 5/18 BB/K) vs RHP. Both sample sizes are too small to draw any meaningful conclusions from.

2007 saw Thole in full season Savannah, where he performed markedly better then Kingsport, hitting .267/.372/.311/.683 (104 for 389, 46 runs, 17 2b, 36 RBI, 61/57 BB/K), once again with excellent ratios, a 1.0701 BB/K ratio, and a .147 K rate.

Thole batted .301/.414/.329/.743 against LHP (22 for 73, 2 2b, 11/9 BB/K), a 1.22 BB/K ratio, and a .123 K rate. Against RHP, he batted .261/.368/.312/.680 (82 for 314, 16 2b, 52/47 BB/K), a 1.107 BB/K ratio and a .150 K rate.

Thole, as many Met prospects have done, has improved drastically across the board after making the jump from the Sally League to the pitcher friendly FSL. Thole finished the 2008 season hitting .300/.382/.427/.808 (104 for 347, 49 runs, 25 2b, 2 3b, 5 HR, 56 RBI, 45/38 BB/K), a great 1.184 BB/K ratio and an equally fantastic .110 K rate (which for much of the season was below .100).

Thole got off to a very rough start, hitting .228/.323/.386/.709 in April, and since that point, he hit .314/.393/.434/.828 (91 for 290, 42 runs, 21 2b, 3b, 4 HR, 46 RBI, 38/30 BB/K)

As has been the case throughout the majority of Thole's minor league career, he hit better against LHP then RHP, but this year, that gap narrowed considerably. He hit .333/.386/.432/.818 (27 for 81, 14 runs, 6 2b, 3b, 8 RBI, 6/8 BB/K) vs LHP, with a 0.750 BB/K ratio, and a K rate of .098, while against RHP, he hit .289/.381/.426/.807 (76 for 263, 35 runs, 19 2b, 3b, 5 HR, 48 RBI, 39/30 BB/K), with a 1.300 BB/K ratio, and a .114 K rate.

Thole played the majority of his first 3 seasons as a 1b (142 of 187 games), but in 2008, he played much more catcher, giving him infinitely more value as a player and a prospect.

THE FUTURE: Thole will undoubtedly be in Binghamton to open the 2009 season (after setting career highs in every offensive category except OBP), as the everyday catcher, and one of the few catching prospects in the upper levels of the farm system. While SAL to FSL is one test, the much bigger test for a prospect is the jump from the FSL to EL, the jump Thole will be making in 2009. Thole is solidly on pace for a prospect, playing the entire season as a 21 year old this year affords him a cushion if he were to falter on his trek through the system.

For more on Josh Thole, visit my good friend Joe DeMayo's website, NYbaseballdigest. http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=922

A late season slump in Arizona (1 for 14, 2 RBI, 3/2 BB/K) diminished what had been a great fall league for the 21 year old catcher. Prior to the slump, he'd been hitting .382. Still, it is very encouraging to see him replicate his FSL numbers against tougher competition, especially on the heels of his first full season catching.

Thole is a high contact, high OBP, low K hitter in the mold of a Daniel Murphy or Jeff Keppinger. He knows the strike zone very well and rarely chases pitches outside of it. He improved his contact swing last season, setting a career high in AVG, OBP, SLG and OPS. He has good doubles power from gap to gap, which he displayed last year in setting a career high for XBH.

Thole, who hadn't spent a full year catching prior to 2008, improved vastly in his defense during the season. He is more athletic then most catchers, giving him an advantage in blocking balls in the dirt. He does not have the best arm behind the plate, nor the best mechanics in throwing to second, but his agility and accuracy make up for it.

Thole should open 2009 as a 22 year old in Binghamton, right on pace for a prospect. It will be a good test to see whether he emerges as a legit prospect, or fails in the jump from A+ to AA. If he does succeed, his debut date is likely to be in the second half of 2010, maybe in a backup role at first, and then a starting role in the 2011 season.

2. Francisco Pena 10/12/89 (19.29) R/R (A Savannah .264/.308/.380/.688, 105 for 397, 34 runs, 22 2b, 3 3b, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 25/95 BB/K, .239 K rate, .2632 BB/K ratio)

The 16 year old is considered a great prospect because of his hitting ability, power potential, plate approach, and his solid defense. He got a $740,000 signing bonus, and is the son of former Major League catcher Tony Pena. He is looking at a stateside debut, whether it be in the GCL, Kingsport, or Brooklyn, either way, keep an eye out for him, he could be a good one.

Pena started off in the full season A ball Sally League (at only 17), and put up atrocious stats. However, a few things to keep in mind: he is going to be only 18 years old next year, and now, with a full season of catching (103 games) under his belt, and a full season of playing in the states, at a level he had no business playing in, he should produce at a much higher clip then last season.

Well…that sort of happened. Pena, who hit .210/.263/.283/.546 last year, improved on that a bit, hitting .264/.308/.380/.688 this year. Still, that is well below average, especially when you factor in the fact he had 27 passed balls in 2008.

Despite having shown virtually nothing in two minor league seasons, Pena is still very young, just 19 years old, and much (if not all) of his game is still projection. Pena possesses very good raw power, something he will tap into as he grows/matures as a player. However, he is decidedly a pull hitter, with much of his power going to left field. He did develop a more level up the middle swing during 2008, which bodes well for what will be a very challenging 2009 in St. Lucie. Pena's plate discipline worsened considerably from 2007, with a .2632 BB/K ratio in 08 versus a .3158 ratio in 2007.

Pena's defense, while improving, is still as raw as his offense. He had 28 passed balls in 2008, and while minor league scorekeeping is extremely suspect (if not downright idiotic), that is still a cause for concern, if not alarm. Pena still needs to get himself in better shape, he's a bit beefy at 6'2/230. He does possess a good accurate arm, but needs to work on his delievery to second. During winter ball in 2008, he played some first base for Aguilas, but his future in the Mets organization is behind the plate.

Pena should open 2009 in St. Lucie at age 19, and in my opinion will struggle mightily there, which will require a repeat of the level in 2010. After that, he should ascend a level per season, making his major league debut in 2013 at age 23.

3. Dock Doyle 3/24/86 (22.83) L/R (Coastal Carolina .370/.440/.675/1.115, 90 for 243, 64 runs, 22 2b, 2 3b, 16 HR, 72 RBI, 28/29 BB/K, 4/5 SBs, R Kingsport .308/.390/.390/.780, 49 for 159, 27 runs, 11 2b, 3b, 20 RBI, 22/24 BB/K, A- Brooklyn .250/.294/.375/.669, 4 for 16, 2 runs, 2 2b, 2 RBI, 6 Ks)

Total 2008 Minor League Stats: .303/.382/.389/.770, 53 for 175, 29 runs, 13 2b, 3b, 22 RBI, 22/30 BB/K, .171 K rate, .7333 BB/K ratio

Total 2008 Cumulative Stats: .342/.415/.555/.970, 143 for 418, 93 runs, 35 2b, 3 3b, 16 HR, 94 RBI, 4/5 SBs, 50/59 BB/K, .141 K rate, .8475 BB/K ratio

Doyle was drafted by the Mets in the 5th round of the 2008 draft, 164th overall, out of Coastal Carolina University, and after signing for $167,000, he was sent to Kingsport first, and then Brooklyn. Combined over the two levels, he hit .303/.382/.389 in 175 ABs.

4. Ralph Henriquez 4/7/87 (21.83) S/R (A- Brooklyn .210/.269/.258/.527, 13 for 62, 4 runs, 3 2b, RBI, 4/15 BB/K, A Savannah .273/.273/.394/.667, 9 for 33, 2 runs, 2 2b, 3b, 3 RBI, 6 Ks)

Total 2008 Stats: .232/.270/.305/.575, 22 for 95, 6 runs, 5 2b, 3b, 4 RBI, 4/21 BB/K, .221 K rate, .1904 BB/K ratio

Henriquez was drafted in 2005 by the Houston Astros in the 2nd round. He was dealt to the Mets in the winter of 2007 for left hander Joshua Appell.

Here is a scouting report from the 05 draft on Henriquez.

Ralph Henriquez -- Henriquez was the top prospect at the Showcase and put on one of the most impressive hitting displays we've ever witnessed. We've seen Henriquez a number of times before in WWBA tournaments and while he's been a solid prospect in the past, there was no hint of this coming. Since October Henriquez has gotten stronger, especially in his upper half and changed his hitting approach some. There might very well be a connection between his improvement since then and the fact that his father, the Atlanta Braves minor league catching instructor, has been off the road during that time. Whatever the case, Henriquez showed us very good professional level bat speed from both sides of the plate. He gets excellent extension from both sides and attacks the ball with an aggressive vengeance. The Henriquez we've seen in the past was more of a gap to gap hitter with a more contact oriented approach. This Henriquez looks to hit the ball 450' and is very capable of doing so. If anything, Henriquez has a bit of wrap and is slightly longer from the left side than the right, but that's quibbling. As you would expect with the coaching he's received, Henriquez is a very sound defensive catcher with good shifting and blocking ability. His workout pop times aren't in the elite range but Henriquez "cheats" far less than most catchers and his arm strength and release are MLB quality. He's a hard worker from a baseball environment and a good student. He's a big time prospect!

5. Patrick Maat 9/15/87 (21.38) R/R (R GCL + R Kingsport .143/.235/.214/.450, 2 for 14, 2b, RBI, 2/3 BB/K, .214 K rate, .6667 BB/K ratio)

Maat was signed out of Australia during the 2005 International Free Agent signing period, and made his debut during the 2007 season, getting 42 ABs in the GCL, hitting .190/.352/.238/.590 (8 for 42, 4 runs, 2 2b, 3 RBI, 10/12 BB/K).