Atlanta Braves: Tyler Flowers has bloomed – you just haven’t noticed

Before and After

Prior to his solid 2014 season, the prior three seasons’ resulted in batting averages that looked like this:

• 2011: .209
• 2012: .213
• 2013: .195

Flowers has been his best self since signing with the Braves.

• Time with White Sox: .223/.289/.376
• Time with Braves:       .254/.350/.412 (Above average)
• Average Catcher ’19:  .238./.309/.408

Clearly, Flowers has played his best ball with the Braves the past few years. He has also been well above average in on-base and average.

This doesn’t even mention his defensive prowess, which we’ll get into later.

Let’s compare Tyler Flowers to the average catcher from 2019.

Walk Percentage

Average Catcher ‘19:  8.3%
Tyler Flowers ’19: 10.0%

Flowers also posted an 11.8% walk-rate in 2018 with the Braves. His walk rate over the past two seasons sits at 10.8%. This guy knows the strike zone. 

OPS

Average Catcher ’19: .717
Tyler Flowers ’19: .733

Since Tyler Flowers joined the Braves in 2016, here’s where the Braves’ catchers rank compared to the rest of the National League (various Fangraphs data follows).

NL Catchers 2016-2019 – wRC+

1. Los Angeles Dodgers – 108
2. Chicago Cubs – 106
3. San Francisco Giants – 105
4. Miami Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies – 99
5. Atlanta Braves – 98

NL Catchers 2016-2019 Batting Average

1. San Francisco Giants: .274
2. Miami Marlins: .265
3. St. Louis Cardinals: .261
4. Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies: .257
5. Atlanta Braves: .254

NL Catchers 2016-2019 On-Base Percentage

1. Chicago Cubs: .342
2. San Francisco Giants: .339
3. Atlanta Braves: .334

In 2017, Flowers led Braves’ catchers in plate appearances and that same season, Braves’ catchers led the league in rWAR from the position.

In 2018, Braves’ catchers finished eighth in the Major Leagues in rWAR.