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Atlanta Braves 2018 minor league review: catchers

By Benjamin Chase

27 Jun 1998: A general view of the catchers mask for the San Diego Padres sitting on the bench during an interleague game against the Anaheim Angels at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Padres defeated the Angels 5-1Mandatory Credit: Todd Wa
27 Jun 1998: A general view of the catchers mask for the San Diego Padres sitting on the bench during an interleague game against the Anaheim Angels at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Padres defeated the Angels 5-1Mandatory Credit: Todd Wa /
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Upper minors

Ranked by many places as the Atlanta Braves top catching prospect coming into the 2018 season, Alex Jackson has been surpassed this season, and that started last year in the Arizona Fall League. The reports there were that Jackson’s strides behind the plate were real, and that he could actually make it as a catcher. The negative reports were with his bat, stating that his reported improvements seem to have been due more to “luck” as much as anything. Sure enough, Jackson saw a similar walk and strikeout rate and his balls begin falling in outfielders’ gloves.

Jackson’s final combined line between AA/AAA was .201/.286/.360 with 23 doubles and 8 home runs over 99 games. He had a much-improved 8.5% walk rate and a much worse 31.8% strikeout rate. While the improvements behind the plate were real, he’s still got a ways to go there as well, and now that he’s at AAA, there’s not a ton more to pick up.

Originally a 25th round selection by the Atlanta Braves out of Miami-Dade CC in 2015, Jonathan Morales came out in his draft year and hit .304 with 7 home runs in just 46 games, leading to many believing he could be the next big thing behind the plate. After his third season with an OPS under .700, that thought has passed, but Morales has significantly advanced behind the plate in his defensive skills, especially in shutting down the run game, and he rarely strikes out, so he doesn’t hurt the team, making frequent contact, though his lack of speed doesn’t allow his ground ball-focused contact to lead to a high batting average. He could make a swing adjustment and possibly see a surge in his offensive production, but if nothing else, he has likely put himself on the edge of being a solid backup at the big league level.

One of those guys who is going to someday have a job in coaching when he’s ready to hang up the cleats is Sal Giardina. Of course, that’s if Sal isn’t a professional mustache model as the man can grow one incredible ‘stache. Giardina played nearly equal time for Mississippi and Gwinnett this year, hitting .234/.315/.289 with a home run. Interestingly, he hit very well with Gwinnett this year, hitting .309/.356/.412.

The Atlanta Braves originally signed Columbian catcher Carlos Martinez in November of 2012. He’s been working his way through the system ever since. Martinez has an incredible arm, and there has been some whisper about him possibly transitioning to the mound, where he’s offered 90+ MPH heat when he’s pitched. He spent a good portion of his 2018 season with Mississippi and was solid behind the plate, but with a .628 OPS and 1 home run, it’s hard to see a major league future behind the plate.

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