| By Ashley Varela |  | By 03-16-2013 |
Heading into 2013, Jesus Montero has some big cleats to fill. No, there's no pressure to live up to the legacy Miguel Olivo left in Seattle, but there are increased expectations that come with the young backstop's first full season as the Mariners' "primary catcher."
How long he holds onto that title remains to be seen, but the cleats he’s challenged with filling are his own.
When Montero began camp with the Mariners in 2012, the deal that brought him to the American League West had all but fizzled out on the New York Yankees' end. By Opening Day, former M's right-hander Michael Pineda landed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis that would jeopardize his season and possibly even his career. Montero, by contrast, was the picture of health. He found his place as Seattle's designated hitter and was eased into a part-time catching role behind Olivo and eventually ahead of John Jaso on the depth chart.
However, the shiny .289/.351/.493 batting line Jesus advertised with New York's Triple-A club dulled to .260/.298/.386 as he adjusted to a roomier Safeco Field and the disadvantage of the pitchers knowing him better than he knew them. The game’s top power-hitting prospect slugged his way to 15 home runs and 35 extra base hits in total, but was far from elite behind the dish. In 56 starts, Montero allowed 54 stolen bases, a caught-stealing rate of just 17 percent. By the end of the 2012 season, his bWAR had sunk to -0.3, fifth-lowest on a team full of below-replacement level performances..
As the club heads into 2013, they're banking, somewhat, on 21-year-old Mike Zunino's quick rise through the minor leagues. Montero, however, appears to be pulling his weight down in Arizona.
"I felt like the last couple of games, both offensively and behind the plate catching, were considerably different," manager Eric Wedge told the media, including the The Seattle Times' Larry Stone following an early Cactus League win. "You talk about the position he's playing, the responsibilities and priorities that go along with that, he's right in the middle of understanding that."
The numbers, plumped up by spring training matchups and small sample sizes, seem to agree. The 23-year-old entered Friday 7-for-20 with a home run, four other extra-base hits, and just three strikeouts.
Lest the Mariners place too much burden on Montero's improved defensive and offensive skills, Wedge has a security net in the form of veteran Kelly Shoppach.
Shoppach, who split 76 games between the 2012 Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, offers something that neither Montero or his projected replacement, Zunino, can, at least right now: veteran presence and clubhouse leadership. These intangibles won't boost Shoppach’s numbers at the plate or behind the dish, but they just might secure his position as Seattle's backup catcher in 2013, despite the push by Zunino this month.
The real question lies with Zunino's timeline. In his first year of pro ball, the club's first-round pick ascended from short-season ball in Everett to the M's Double-A affiliate, converting a .373/.474/.736 line to .333/.386/.588 and finishing with an overall OPS of 1.137 in 190 PA.
Behind the plate, his skills were no less impressive, with a caught-stealing rate of 43 percent in 31 starts and an ever-growing reputation as a quality receiver and game caller. While his potent combination of offensive production and defensive maturity are coveted in Seattle, there's been no indication that he'll be rushed through the rest of his minor league learning process, even though it appears he's ready.
Where does this leave the catching situation in 2013? With Montero booted from the DH spot by Kendrys Morales -- at least while Justin Smoak is given one last extended opportunity -- and Mike Zunino simmering in the minors, it looks like the M's are forced to play the waiting game for a while. Montero will get the most looks behind the plate, while Kelly Shoppach provides a thicker cushion for Zunino's fast track to the major leagues.
Of course, all bets are off if the club decides to simply take the best 25 players north with them in two weeks.
Ashley can be reached via e-mail at Varela@ProspectInsider.com. Follow her on Twitter here.
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Comments
The following 14 comment(s) for this article are shown below:
| 1. By: Docmilo on 03-16-2013 06:09:26 The Buster Posey path was get drafted, finish the season in the minors, play one full year in the minors and then a May/June call up to postpone Super 2 status the following year. Why wouldn't the M's follow a similar course. Unless Montero gets injured, there is no reason to start Zunino's clock early. I really like the idea of Shoppach. He's like having a personal coach on the bench for the catcher position. I could see him hanging around for 2014 as well filling a similar role as a backup C/personal coach. It never hurts to have that experience 162 times a year as a sounding board on days he's not playing and leading by example the days his name gets called. My thoughts are starting to wonder into the realm of trade value. Is it possible our best catcher in the organization is Hicks? If Montero has a really good season this year, the M's can afford to trade Montero or Zunino knowing that Hicks is there as org depth. |
| 2. By: maqman on 03-16-2013 08:02:12 It might make sense to trade Montero but not Zunino IMO. Montero is close to bat only, Zunino is not. Hicks opened some eyes this spring but he's not ready yet. Montero's future is tied into what transpires with the DH and 1B slots after this season, which will depend on who does what this season. There are too many factors involved to even guess what that might be at this point. Shoppach might be a keeper after this season or maybe they bring up Hicks for a look-see in September and fall in love with him. It could happen, maybe, possibly or not. |
| 3. By: short on 03-16-2013 08:40:24 If you look at the team's offseason moves through the lense of giving Justin Smoak one more chance to prove he can hit, then the catcher situation becomes a bit clearer. If Justin doesn't start producing by some time in, I'd guess, June they can move Morales to first base, Montero to DH and bring up Zunino. If Zunino is pushing for playing time and Smoak looks good the team can try to trade Morales assuming he is hitting well. Not a bad problem to have. Morales to a contender in June could net something shiny. And the fact that you don't really have to trade him means teams will have to make a good offer to pry him loose. |
| 4. By: Shawnuel on 03-16-2013 10:22:49 #3. I agree whole heartedly. Regarding Hicks: If I'm not mistaken, he is a pretty good athlete. It wouldn't be odd with this regime to see him undergo a position change if they value his bat and makeup enough. Left field has always been a Mariner trouble spot. Hicks may not have enough bat for it but I guess we will see. |
| 5. By: dewey on 03-16-2013 10:43:55 Ive been down here a few days it doesnt look like Shoppach is a real good catcher he wiffed on 2 balls last night and dont sit down in back of the 3rd base dugout ive seen him take 2 swings and the bat has flown into the stands looks scary |
| 6. By: maqman on 03-16-2013 12:06:15 Keep your head down dewey. |
| 7. By: jmp24232 on 03-16-2013 12:47:37 Jason, I don't really understand the M's thinking with Casper vs. Bay. I know that they're saying Guti's injury is very minory, but with his history I just don't see how they could choose Bay over Casper. Who can realistically play center other than Guit and Saunders in our system? Is Bay that much better? What am I missing? |
| 8. By: Bookbook on 03-16-2013 13:11:56 Hicks is two years away. We don't have to worry about him being blocked for awhile yet. |
| 9. By: Marlin Man on 03-16-2013 14:09:32 Good God, I aam soooo sick of Guti being "a day or two away", the guy is a walking accident, waiting to happen M.M. |
| 10. By: Shawnuel on 03-16-2013 15:00:07 Hicks was drafted after 3 seasons of college ball and will be 24 at the end of August. Don't know how one can say with certainty that he is two years away, especially if he keeps putting up big numbers. |
| 11. By: masonb on 03-16-2013 17:53:12 Jason or anyone else who is knowledgable on the draft, I know this is off topic, but Kris Bryant is destroying college pitching this year. Had two walkoffs this weekend, including a 3 hr game on Thursday night, and is up to 12 this year. Is he in the mix for #1 overall pick of the year? Any chance at all he gets to Seattle at #!2? |
| 12. By: VanillaGorilla on 03-16-2013 19:21:00 You guys are seriously overrating Hicks. Look at his stats at 23 in the best offensive environment in the minors vs Zunino in Everett and Jackson at 21. It isn't close. Ideally he'll be a good backup to Zunino in 2014 or 15. His bat won't play in LF |
| 13. By: VanillaGorilla on 03-16-2013 19:22:22 Sorry Hicks was 22 |
| 14. By: maqman on 03-17-2013 12:11:04 It seems there is just not enough room for every player that deserves a shot. What a wonderful problem to have. |
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