Brewers are well-positioned at catcher
MIAMI - While the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t draft catcher Jacob Nottingham, they spent roughly 21⁄2 years developing him after acquiring him from the Oakland A’s as part of the Khris Davis trade.
His first two seasons in the organization were difficult ones, as he struggled to hit in a pitcher’s park at Class AA Biloxi while also trying to learn the finer points of defense and calling games behind the plate.
This season, things finally came together for the 23-year-old. He made his major-league debut with the Brewers in April, and on Monday in Miami he collected his first two hits.
Nottingham hit .303 with 10 home runs and 36 runs batted in over 45 games at Class AAA Colorado Springs this season. His defense remains a work in progress, but Nottingham has advanced considerably in that area thanks to extensive work with, among others, catching coordinator Charlie Greene.
“I think he’s right on schedule,” farm director Tom Flanagan said of Nottingham before his callup late last week.
“I think one thing that gets overlooked is we were pretty aggressive sending him up to Double-A in 2016, and he repeated there in 2017 so you kind of get that fatigue where, ‘Oh man, he’s back in Double-A.’ Now he’s in Triple-A and he’s going to have most of a season under his belt at age 23. For a catcher, that’s a pretty good time frame.
“The improvements he’s made on the defensive end kind of tie in with the bat. Outsiders will look at a guy that’s hitting and if he’s a catcher, he’s getting better. Whereas the defensive improvements, it takes a long time at that position. It’s so involved, and really, the No. 1 prerequisite is your defense. I think he’s gotten that in place and he’s continuing to work at it.”
Said Nottingham: “The organization cares and wants you to be a great catcher.”
With neither Manny Piña nor Erik Kratz factoring into the team’s longterm plans behind the plate, continued growth by Nottingham will be crucial if the team hopes to stay in-house at the position moving forward.
The Brewers do have several intriguing prospects in the pipeline behind Nottingham, too. But it will be a few more years before the likes of Mario Feliciano and Payton Henry are advanced enough that they’ll be in position to potentially reach the major leagues.
“I think it’s pretty good right now,” said Flanagan of the catching depth in the organization. “There’s guys at each level that we feel very good ... and have shown progress across the board.”
Following is a look at the top catching prospects at each level in Milwaukee’s system:
Max McDowell, Class AA Biloxi
A 13th-round pick of the Brewers out of the University of Connecticut in 2015, McDowell was bumped up a level from Carolina after a strong first half that culminated in a berth in the Carolina League’s all-star game.
Offense has never been the 6-1, 208pounder’s calling card, although he hit .270 and stole 21 bases at Wisconsin in 2016. It’s McDowell’s defense – and his throwing arm in particular – that has earned him rave reviews.
McDowell thew out 56% of would-be basestealers at Carolina, and he’s already off to a strong start in that department at Biloxi.
“He’s been impressive since spring training this year,” Flanagan said. “He’s always been a good receiver and a good thrower, but I think this year he’s made some subtle changes to the way he’s done some things and it’s showing up on the field.
“He’s an athlete.”
Mario Feliciano, Class A Carolina
Picked 75th overall in 2016, Feliciano is the highest-drafted catcher by the Brewers since 2012, when they took Clint Coulter with the 27th pick in 2012.
The 6-1, 195-pound Feliciano has played in only 13 games this season and made just six starts behind the plate due to various injuries. He’s currently dealing with a left-thumb sprain that’s going to keep him out for another 10 days or so.
When he’s healthy, Feliciano’s calling card is his bat.
In his one full season so far, at Class A Wisconsin in 2017, he hit .251 with four homers and 36 RBI and threw out 27.4% of would-be basestealers – impressive numbers considering he was only 18 years old at the time.
“He’s a guy that has a special bat, but he also can handle pitchers back there,” said Flanagan. “He doesn’t have a cannon back there, but he has a quick release and can throw guys out. He’s probably got as much upside as anybody in the group in terms of what they could be.
“But he’s a guy who we definitely like his offensive potential.”
Payton Henry, Class A Wisconsin
When talking about the total package, the 6-2, 215-pound Henry – a sixthround pick out of high school in 2016 – appears to be it.
He’s in the midst of a strong offensive year with a .273 average, eight homers and 29 RBI for the Timber Rattlers, and has thrown out 44% of would-be basestealers.
“He’s a quality defender, and the No. 1 thing if you see him play is his energy,” Flanagan said. “That energy is contagious, and he brings it every day. It’s to the point where if you don’t see him a lot, you wonder if it’s legit or if he’s just having an energetic night. In the ninth inning, big differential in the score and he’s busting it from the dugout and sprinting to his position.
“He’s kind of an all-around guy. Has really good power the opposite way – hits a lot of doubles to right-center, homers to right field. A promising hitter and of this group he’s by far the most improved from last year to this year.”
K.J. Harrison, Class A Wisconsin
The 6-0, 208-pound Harrison was an advanced college hitter when the Brewers took him 84th overall out of Oregon State in 2017. He performed well offensively at rookie Helena last season, but is hitting just .196 with eight homers and 29 RBI for the Timber Rattlers.
With Henry as Wisconsin’s primary catcher, Harrison has started only 17 games behind the plate, instead playing mostly first base and designated hitter. His future could eventually be at another position, but for now he’ll continue to be given opportunities to catch.
“Offensively, nobody questions he’s going to hit,” Flanagan said. “This year it’s been different things he’s been working through with the bat. He’s obviously struggling a little bit offensively, but he’s still a guy who we feel his bat is his big tool and we’re still confident he’s going to get it going.
“He throws pretty well. He has good arm strength and we still like him behind the plate. You hate to move a guy out of there that has offensive potential as well. He may be a guy with that versatility that can help you.”
David Fry, Rookie Helena
A seventh-round pick out of Northwestern State last month, the 6-0, 195pound Fry is new to the position but the Brewers believe his attitude and aptitude could allow him to stick there.
“Very positive makeup, very good kid in terms of energy and baseball IQ,” said Flanagan. “Hasn’t caught a lot. Caught a couple dozen games in his life before we drafted him. He had started to catch in college. But he’s very versatile – played a lot of second, third, first. We like him behind the plate, but we’ll certainly move him around.
“He’s got a ways to go with his catching, but he wants to do it and shown some promise so far.”
Helena has another catcher, 19-yearold Jose Sibrian, who is also on the radar screen.
“He can really catch and throw,” said Flanagan. “He’s an intriguing guy.”