Wolters solid, but backup needed
Rockies manager Bud Black is not prone to hyperbole. So it meant something when, late in the season, he said: “Tony Wolters has made himself into one of the best defensive catchers in baseball.”
The eye test and statistics back him up.
Wolters, 27, a former second baseman, has harnessed his athleticism — nimble feet, quick release, solid glovework — to become an excellent receiver. He was charged with just one error and four passed balls and threw out 34% of would-be base stealers this past season. Among National League starting catchers, only Philadelphia’s J.T. Realmuto (47%) had a better throw-out rate.
“Tony’s improved in lots of different ways, and it all goes back to his preparation and his work ethic,” bench/catching coach Mike Redmond said. “The way he blocks (the ball) to save runs, the way he receives, the way he’s continued to improve each year whether statistically it shows it or not. The impact he has on our team is huge because he’s been a difference-maker in the way he plays defense and the way he controls our (pitching) staff.”
Wolters, who supplanted veteran Chris Iannetta as the regular catcher, made 102 starts and caught in 112 games, the most for the club since Wilin Rosario’s 103 starts in 2013. Iannetta, 35, was released in early August.
Because of the demands of catching games in Denver’s milehigh altitude, Wolters’ workload probably reached its top end in 2019, so it will be vital for Colorado to find a solid backup this offseason. The Rockies would be wise to sign a journeyman catcher, because it’s doubtful they will attempt to sign free agent Yasmani Grandal.
Wolters is never going to provide power. He hit just one home run with a .666 OPS. The Rockies’ .667 OPS from the catcher’s spot ranked 13th in the National League and their nine homers tied with Pittsburgh for last in the NL. And Iannetta hit six of those home runs. That power outage will likely continue in 2020.
Wolters, however, using a more consistent, simplified approach, made big strides as a hitter in 2019. After batting .197 with four doubles in 182 at-bats in 2018, he hit .262 with 17 doubles in 359 at-bats in 2019.
He did, however, slump in the second half. He hit .285 with a .732 OPS and 11 doubles before the all-star break and .233 with a .583 OPS and six doubles afterward. Fatigue might have been a factor, but like many of his teammates, Wolters struggled to hit away from Coors Field. He hit .281 at home vs. .241 on the road, including a 1-for-24 road funk at the end of the season.
Wolters doesn’t care much about his stat line.
“The team’s success is all I’m focused on,” he said. “There’s always room for individual growth, and I feel like I’m taking the necessary actions to do that. I love being a catcher and I plan on playing for a while.”