What’s better than one catcher? Two catchers
Return of Jansen has Jays back to a position of strength behind the plate
The Blue Jays’ catching situation has been a noticeable weakness through the first few weeks of the season. With the return of Danny Jansen, it should once again be a strength.
The Jays have received more production out of the catcher’s position than any team in baseball over the last couple of years. The duo of Alejandro Kirk and Jansen have combined to post well-above average numbers with the bat and, arguably, have been more valuable behind the plate.
The Jays received 12.7 wins above replacement value from the catcher spot in 2022 and 2023, according to FanGraphs. That was the most in the majors, well above the secondplace Braves (11.2). Jansen and Kirk combined to hit .256 while averaging 30 home runs and 112 RBIs.
That’s elite stuff and yet, this year, few teams have been worse. Through the first 15 games, Jays catchers were tied for 28th with -0.3 WAR. Only the Marlins were lower at -0.7. With Jansen on the IL, Kirk and backup Brian Serven failed to register an extra-base hit while batting a lowly .113 with seven RBIs.
The lack of production might be about to change. Kirk, who sat in favour of Jansen in Tuesday’s 5-4 victory over the Yankees, is coming off his two best games of the season. He combined to go 4-for-5 with a double, three walks and an RBI in the series finale against the Rockies and the series opener versus the Yankees.
The internal expectation is that Kirk has turned a corner and it might not be a coincidence that the 25-year-old’s mini breakout occurred after he enjoyed a pair of days off within a three-day span. Having Jansen around to help shoulder the load might help that trend continue.
“Obviously, we’re human beings,” Kirk said through a club translator when asked about his lack of time off. “It’s a long season, sometimes you get tired. But the good thing is that my health is pretty good right now ... We’re all happy, not just myself, to have Danny back. We know what kind of player he is and I’m very excited to have him back.”
The Jays’ production from behind the plate peaked in 2022. Toronto catchers combined to hit .273 with a .789 on-base plus slugging percentage while posting an MLB-best 7.9 WAR. The next closest was Philadelphia (7.3), who employed JT Realmuto and his $23.5 million (U.S.) salary. Jansen and Kirk combined to earn just $2.66 million.
The numbers dipped last season, thanks in large part to a down year from Kirk, who hit .250 with a .692 OPS. The 2022 all-star was a liability more often than he was an asset with the bat, but the power provided by Jansen combined with Kirk’s effective pitch framing meant they still finished sixth with a 4.7 WAR.
Jansen was activated from the injured list Monday and made his season debut Tuesday. Over the last two years, he combined to hit .242 with 32 homers and 97 RBIs across 158 games. His ability to change an outcome with one swing is something that has been missing from the offence.
The Jays are 26th in the majors with 14 home runs and Jansen just missed going deep in his return, flying out to the warning track during the fourth inning instead.
“Power potential, understands the staff, he’s a great catcher, a great leader, a great communicator,” Jays manager John Schneider said of Jansen, who finished 0-for-3 with a walk. “He has been here for a long time and I think everyone respects him. A lot of things go unseen behind closed doors. We’re pretty excited to have him back.”
Now that Jansen has returned, the Jays want to make sure he sticks around. That has been easier said than done over the last few years as Jansen has continuously experienced a slew of unfortunate setbacks with his health.
Since the start of 2021, he has been placed on the IL six times. The first year it was because of a right hamstring strain. In 2022, it was a left oblique strain and fractured left hand. Last season, it was a groin strain and a fractured right hand.
This spring, the problems continued with a right wrist fracture. The continuous broken bones, which happened by getting hit by a pitch or a foul ball, prompted Jays athletic trainer Voon Chong to create protective devices that Jansen now wears on his hands during at-bats.
The Jays are hopeful that added armour will help Jansen avoid another freak injury. If it does and Kirk continues to turn things around after his slow start, this club will be in good hands behind the plate, even though the early-season numbers suggest otherwise.
The Jays will have their fair share of problems offensively this year, but whenever Jansen and Kirk are combined into one, the catcher’s spot shouldn’t be among them.