When Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers landed on the injured list with a fractured left hamate bone, it became difficult for fans to feel any sense of hope for this season. Minnesota had a 22-26 record at the time and Jeffers was arguably the team's best hitter, with an outstanding slash line of .295/.408/.541 (163 wRC+). It seemed nearly impossible that Minnesota could remain in the postseason race without Jeffers.
However, while their record isn't great (38-41), the Twins are just one game out of the third AL Wild Card spot in large part due to Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson doing fantastic jobs holding down the catcher position in Jeffers' absence.
Caratini had a slow start to the season, hitting just .188/.290/.248 (57 wRC+) over 162 plate appearances through May 31. However, underlying metrics suggested the former Houston Astros backstop would improve at the plate, which he has. In 48 plate appearances this month, Caratini has slashed .415/.500/.732 (238 wRC+) with three home runs, four doubles and nine RBI.
Obviously, Caratini's insane run this month isn't sustainable, but it proves he is a much better player than his early-season numbers suggested. Over the last two years with the Astros, Caratini, who signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Twins in the offseason, posted a solid .263/.329/.406 (108 wRC+) slash line. The Twins should be content with that type of production for the rest of the season.
Defensively, Caratini has struggled to control the run game but has made up for it with elite framing (+3 Catcher Framing Runs) and by successfully using the ABS system, winning 36 of 54 challenges .
With Jeffers set to be a free agent at the end of this season, it's encouraging to see Caratini step up his game. It appears Caratini will be the Twins' starting catcher next year unless Minnesota surprisingly extends or re-signs Jeffers. And if the Twins end up being sellers at the trade deadline, Jeffers will likely be dealt , meaning Caratini will need to assume the starting catcher role even sooner.
Meanwhile, Jackson, who had his contract selected from Triple-A St. Paul after Jeffers was placed on the IL, has posted a solid .317/.349/.390 (107 wRC+) slash line in 43 plate appearances since being promoted. With a .212 xwOBA, he is likely due for regression, but he deserves credit for his results thus far. He hasn't been great defensively, but he's overall been solid for someone who is the third catcher on the team's depth chart.
Jeffers' return will be a huge boost for the Twins. But for now, Caratini and Jackson are doing just fine at holding down the catcher position.
This article was originally published on www.puckettspond.com as Twins showing they can hold steady at catcher during Ryan Jeffers' absence .
