Catchers struggle to produce hits

As a group, they hit a positional low of .206 in 500plus atbats

No aspect of the Rockies’ 2018 lineup struggled more mightily to produce offensively than the catchers did. Colorado had four players combine to hit a team positional low .206 in 500plus atbats.

The following is analysis on each of Colorado’s catchers, grades for their play this season, and individual prospects heading into 2019.

Chris Iannetta

The veteran got the bulk of the playing time behind the dish after signing a twoyear, $8.5 million deal before the season. Iannetta hit .224 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs in 110 games (83 starts), posting a 0.4 wins above replacement (WAR). He gave Colorado more offensive power in the position than the team’s other three options, even though the 35yearold’s defensive abilities didn’t fully measure up to Tony Wolters, Tom Murphy and Drew Butera.

Tony Wolters

The thirdyear pro hit a paltry .170 with three homers and 27 RBIs in 76 games (56 starts). His average was the lowest of any Colorado regular, although his 0.3 WAR led the team’s catchers and he came through with one of the Rockies’ biggest hits of the season, a seeingeye single in the top of the 13th of the wild card game that led to a 21 Rockies’ win at Wrigley Field. Though reliable behind the dish — Wolters’ 0.9 defensive WAR tied for second on the team with Trevor Story — the big question going into 2019 is whether the 26yearold can improve on offense.

Tom Murphy

After being called up from TripleA Albuquerque on June 12, the 27yearold played in 37 games for Colorado this season, starting 19 while hitting .226 with two home runs and 11 RBIs with a 0.3 WAR. He showed continued improvement in blocking, receiving and game management throughout the summer, but there’s still plenty of room for Murphy to improve. He also posted the team’s secondfasted pop time (1.98 to Butera’s 1.99) but it remains to be seen whether he can develop into a bona fide bigleague hitter.

Drew Butera

Acquired from the Royals on August 31 as Colorado attempted to shore up its offensive defencies at the position, it’s unclear what general manager Jeff Bridich was expecting from a player who had hit .188 in 51 games for the Royals prior to the trade. If Bridich was thinking that Butera would all of a sudden morph into a stalwart hitter within the elevation of Coors Field, those hopes were misguided, as Butera hit just .214 with one home run and three RBIs in 10 games (five starts). He posted a 0.6 WAR and was 0for2 in the postseason.