Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Holaday already forming solid backup plan
Vet is competing with Wallach for No. 2 spot behind Alfaro
Bryan Holaday is used to battling for a job.
An eight-year major-league veteran, Holaday has made a career of being reliable backup catcher, playing for four different teams. The 31-year-old spent last season with the Miami Marlins, playing 61 games behind J.T. Realmuto.
But as it is leaguewide, the backup position can be a tenuous one.
Following the 2018 season, Holaday was outrighted by Miami. He later signed a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, meaning he enters Jupiter having to prove himself once again.
Even without a guaranteed roster spot, the veteran catcher isn’t fazed by any of it.
“Every year in spring training I’ve come in to fight for a job,” Holaday said. “Honestly, it’s nothing new for me — it’s not the first time I’ve faced this situation.
“I’m going to treat it the same regardless if I have a spot locked up or not. I’m always going to compete and I’m always going to give my best.”
With Jorge Alfaro assuming the starting catcher position after coming over from Philadelphia in the Realmuto trade, Holaday is battling with Chad Wallach for the No. 2 job.
Wallach, who is on the 40-man roster, spent most of last season in Triple A but was Miami’s opening day starting catcher when Realmuto was injured.
Holaday isn’t currently on the 40-man roster, meaning if he makes the big-league team the Marlins would have to remove someone from the roster.
Last season with Miami, Holaday posted a .205/.261/.258 stats line with one home run and 16 RBIs. Much like Wallach, the Texas native excelled defensively behind the plate, throwing out 45 percent of baserunners.
Holaday and Wallach are both strong pitch framers — the ability to get borderline pitches called as strikes — with each rated highly on Baseball Prospectus’ framing runs saved leaderboard. The catchers also rate highly on the blocking runs metric.
“It’s something that I take a lot of pride in,” Holaday said. “It’s something that I value a lot, especially with my role coming off the bench.
“Offense is going to be tough anytime you’re not playing every day and you don’t have that rhythm. All I can control is my defense, so I’m going to put as much work into it as I can to become the best defensive catcher I can be. It’s something I work on daily to try and improve.”
So far this spring Holaday has been strong at the plate, hitting .417 (5-for-12). On Wednesday, he went 1-for-1 with a walk and two runs scored in the Marlins’ 11-5 split-squad loss to the Houston Astros.
Wallach has been limited this spring, playing in just three games before injuring his right quad Feb. 28 against the Washington Nationals. He is day to day and close to returning in the lineup.
Holaday, who has also played with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox during his career, has benefited recently from the addition of an All-Star catcher to the organization — former New York Yankee Jorge Posada.
The four-time World Series champion joined the Marlins organization this spring as a special adviser to baseball operations.
With 17 years in the majors, Posada naturally possesses a wealth of knowledge from behind the plate — and Holaday is excited for the opportunity to have him around.
“[Posada’s] been around [camp] a lot,” Holaday said. “He’s had a lot of valuable input already and he’s one of those guys that it’s an honor to be around.
“So I’m just really lucky he’s in the organization and that he’s another eye and another hand to help.”
Marlins to host RBI program: On Sunday, president of baseball operations Michael Hill will host Marlins RBI coaches at Jupiter’s Roger Dean Stadium. The coaches will also meet and get pointers from manager Don Mattingly and the Marlins coach staff.
The Marlins are also inviting league administrators from baseball and softball leagues in Dade, Broward, and Palm-Beach counties.
The day will finish with a Play Ball event for 200 kids aged 7-14 with Marlins players. Registration is available at Marlins.com/ PlayBallST.