GREENSBORO, NC – The Pirates have built up some catching depth in their farm system, and that was on display in Greensboro this season.
They drafted Henry Davis with their first overall pick in 2021. Earlier that year, they added Endy Rodriguez as part of the Joe Musgrove trade. They traded for Abrahan Gutierrez at the 2021 deadline, adding another option to a mix that already included 2019 16th rounder Eli Wilson.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of catchers,” said Pirates catching coordinator Collin Wilber, who spent his first season in the organization working with this group. “Henry, Endy, Guti, Eli, it’s been a lot of fun. They’re all different. And they all do things well and have their weaknesses and have their strengths.”
I sat down with Collin while I was with Greensboro to discuss what each catcher was working on at the level this year.
Henry Davis
The Pirates drafted Davis with the first overall pick in 2021. Part of that pick was to save money for the prep players they took in the middle rounds. Davis was also appealing due to his elite power, and the chance he could remain behind the plate.
Davis crushed the ball in Greensboro, which isn’t a surprise for a power hitter coming from the college ranks. The reports we’ve received this year were that he needed work on his receiving and work with pitchers. That’s also not a surprise coming from the college ranks.
“I think the big thing for him is just the receiving,” said Wilber. “Obviously blessed with super good arm talent. He can block, he can call a game, he does all the intangible things. The big thing for him will be just cleaning up receiving.”
Wilber said that Davis is a hard worker who will work to improve in an area where he needs work. Davis seems to have taken a deep dive into improving his catching from the start of this season.
“Henry wanted all of the information right away,” said Wilber, who added that Davis wanted all of the information on hitters and his pitchers from a pitch calling standpoint.
“He wanted all of that right off the dome, and probably could have relied more on just feeling out the game,” said Wilber. “Endy and Guti were kind of the opposite. They really wanted to rely on the feel of the game — the beginning of the year — and they’ve slowly progressed to using more information.”
Davis is increasing his information behind the plate, and learning how to use that in the field. He’s going to need more experience to make that adjustment. Davis missed time this year with injuries, and has a .694 OPS in Altoona. Considering how difficult the catching position is to learn, it makes sense that Davis is seeing his offense slip as he focuses on the other side of his game.
The idea of Davis behind the plate is fueled by the impact from his bat. He’s starting to get competition from the guy who was behind him on the Greensboro depth charts at the start of the season.
Endy Rodriguez
At the start of the season, Endy Rodriguez was hitting for a .652 OPS and playing all over the field. The Pirates were giving Henry Davis priority time behind the plate, and Rodriguez was getting work in left field, first base, and second base.
His offense picked up in May, around the time Davis moved up to Altoona, opening up more time behind the plate.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that when he started focusing on catching the offense kind of took off,” said Wilber.
Rodriguez saw things click with the bat in the second half. He hit for a 1.251 OPS in his final 110 plate appearances in Greensboro. He has a 1.168 OPS in 121 plate appearances in Altoona. He’s also caught 45% of base runners trying to steal at the Double-A level.
“I think his instincts are just something that you can’t teach,” said Wilber. There’s a lot of things, I haven’t even spoke about them, because it’s like he’s gonna figure it out.”
Rodriguez is a quick learner, and one of the more focused players on the field. His awareness of where the ball is at all times, along with where everyone else is on the field, makes him perfect for behind the plate.
“Those elite athlete catchers, you almost just give them the bare minimum,” said Wilber. “He’s one of those guys where if we focus on this one thing or that one thing, [Endy is] gonna figure out for us.”
Rodriguez has done a lot this year, working from the number two catching role at the start of the season. You could make an argument now that he’s the top catching prospect, and the top prospect in the system.
Endy Rodriguez is Looking Like the Best Prospect in the Pirates System
Abrahan Gutierrez
The Pirates really liked Abrahan Gutierrez last summer, targeting him with two different trades to boost their catching depth. They got him from the Phillies for left-handed pitcher Braeden Ogle.
Gutierrez shows a lot of potential at the plate, with a big frame that can turn on pitches. Behind the plate, he shows strong defensive abilities, but has spent this year focusing on his receiving.
“He came from more of an old school mindset, where it’s not as focused on receiving,” said Wilber. “That’s been a big focus for him — similar to Henry — just focusing on the receiving piece a little bit more, because he’s an unbelievable blocker.”
When I saw Gutierrez behind the plate this month, his receiving skills looked solid. He also stood out as a relaxed leader of the team all throughout the workday. That was something that Wilber brought up as well.
“You watch him in the dugout, his presence is just unreal,” said Wilber. “There’s just this calming presence whenever he’s back there. You know what you’re gonna get every day out of Guti.”
Eli Wilson
It wasn’t long ago that Eli Wilson was the lone, distant hope for the catching position in this system. He had a .722 OPS in the pitcher friendly Appalachian League, and showed good abilities behind the plate. He’s the son of former big league catcher Dan Wilson, so his abilities behind the plate aren’t a surprise.
This year, Wilson found himself fourth on the Opening Day depth chart in Greensboro.
“I can’t say enough about about how Eli has dealt with this whole year, from coming in with all three guys catching more than him and hardly getting any time in the plate, to two weeks ago, he caught all five,” said Wilber.
Wilson stepped up to be the primary catcher when Abrahan Gutierrez was away for the birth of his child. When he hasn’t been catching this year, Wilson has still been getting work in bullpen sessions. He has also gotten work at third base, where his focus and fielding abilities have looked strong. Wilson has still worked on improving behind the plate.
“He just kept preparing,” said Wilber. “Like he was going to be the guy every day until it finally came where he’s getting a shot. So it’s been really cool.”
His work at third base and behind the plate will give him plenty of opportunities in the upper levels. While Davis is focusing on information, and Rodriguez and Gutierrez relied more on feel, Wilson has been the most balanced catcher between information and feel.
THIS WEEK ON PIRATES PROSPECTS
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