Reese Kaplan -- BVW Might Want to Call the Padres

On Saturday we looked at the possibility of trading for help in the bullpen.  Today let’s look at another of the team’s biggest needs – a catcher – and one team in particular that Brodie Van Wagenen needs to have on speed dial – the San Diego Padres. Not too long ago the most highly regarded defensive catching prospect in baseball was Austin Hedges, currently number one on the Padres’ depth chart behind the dish.  His pitch framing abilities and arm strength are unquestionable.  The issue is whether or not his offensive potential ever catches up to his defensive acumen.

This past season for the Padres he was in something of a share in the catching position, Hedges tallied 303 ABs (about half a season’s worth).  In that time his .231 batting average was nothing to write home about, but he did slam 14 HRs and drove in 37.  That’s 28 HRs and 74 RBIs over the course of a full season which, if the defensive skills are there, is a highly respectable output even if accompanied by a large strikeout total and a low batting average.  The right handed batter will turn 28 during the upcoming season. 

During this past season they Padres traded solid reliever Brad Hand to the Cleveland Indians to help them in their quest of the post-season.  They got back arguably the top catching prospect in all of baseball, Francisco Mejia.  I had the good fortune (or misfortune) of seeing Mejia tee off on the Las Vegas 51s when they came to visit here in El Paso.  Mejia was a guy who would throw from his knees behind batters to try to nail runners at first.  He was a high contact hitter with occasional power.  The diminutive switch hitter has a career .291 average.  He’ll turn 24 during the 2019 season.


Given this depth already on the major league roster, perhaps the most intriguing name in the San Diego organization is Austin Allen, an offense-first catcher who played in AA this past season and assuming he’s added to the 40-man roster he should be on display for me locally here for El Paso.

The 4^th round draft choice has made the San Diego front office look good by providing strong run production.  Over the past two years he hit .287 with 44 HRs and 62 doubles.  He’s been in the minors since 2015 and has a career .290 average.  He’s 24 years old now but appears to be blocked at the major league level between Hedges and Mejia. 

I know a great many people feel catcher is a defense-first position, so they would be in the camp of trying to pry loose Hedges or Mejia.  There’s certainly a strong argument to be made for that, but at the same time the Mets’ primary problem last year (after bullpen) was the inability to score runs.  On that front Allen may have the strongest potential.


As a big man – 6’2, 225 – there was some concern about his flexibility and his conditioning, but he’s redoubled his efforts on both in the attempt to remain behind the plate instead of migrating to 1^st base which is more of an offense-first position.  He has sent videos of himself to the catching coordinators in the Padres’ system to try to refine his defensive game.


When asked about his preference, Allen was clear, “But catcher is so much fun. Having a relationship with all the pitchers and going to battle every day with them, it gets me going even talking about it.”

In 2016 he allowed 11 passed balls.  He worked at it and cut it nearly in half in 2017 to 6.  Then this past year he cut it down to a mere 3 in 795+ innings behind the plate. 

Whichever of these three catchers float your boat, it would seem that the Padres have a great depth where the Mets have a corresponding need.  It surely wouldn’t take a Noah Syndergaard to pry one of them loose, but with the number one farm system in the game, getting one of them as part of a package deal is certainly something to consider.