Remember Kyle Farmer ? The utilityman had a forgettable end to his Twins career , worth just 0.5 fWAR with a .214/.293/.353 (84 wRC+) slash line over 107 games in 2024, but played a key role on the 2023 team that got the Twins their first playoff series victory in 21 years, posting 1.4 fWAR in 120 games while slashing .289/.352/.430 (115 wRC+) over 128 plate appearances against southpaws. His most memorable moment as a Twin came in Game 2 of the 2023 ALDS against the Houston Astros , when the utilityman hit a two-run home run off left-hander Framber Valdez as Minnesota won the game 6-2.
One thing Twins fans may not remember about Farmer is he was the team's emergency catcher. He never actually suited up at catcher for Minnesota, last playing the position with the Cincinnati Reds in 2019 (81 1/3 innings). Farmer is back at his old position , playing four innings of catcher for Double-A Columbus in the first game of a rehab assignment on Tuesday.
While the Braves have had an outstanding season so far, leading the NL East by 5 1/2 games with a 48-30 record, one thing that hasn't gone well for the club is the catching situation. Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin, one of the best offensive backstops in baseball, returned from the injured list on June 15 after about a month-long stint due to an oblique strain. He has struggled since being reinstated , collecting just two hits in 30 at-bats.
Meanwhile, Braves catcher Sean Murphy was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 4 with a fractured left middle finger. Murphy began the season on the IL with a right hip labrum repair and wasn't reinstated until May 4. He was on the active roster for roughly a week before suffering his finger injury.
Due to Baldwin and Murphy's injuries, the Braves have shuffled through numerous backup catchers this season: Jonah Heim , Sandy Len, Chadwick Tromp , Jair Comargo, Austin Wynns and the recently acquired Joey Bart . It's doubtful Atlanta plans to use Farmer, 35, at catcher in the majors much at all; the team is likely just getting him reps in the minors so he can serve as the emergency catcher. That way, he will be more prepared in the event he needs to play the position for Atlanta. Before landing on the IL last month, Farmer had just 15 plate appearances with the Braves this year, collecting four hits and three RBI. He mainly served as a pinch-hitter and recorded innings at third base and shortstop.
This article was originally published on www.puckettspond.com as Former Twins utilityman could help Braves navigate catcher shortage .
