Since he was drafted in 2016, Zack Collins has been the top catching prospect in the White Sox system. However, even though Collins has not yet established himself in the majors, he graduated from prospect status in 2020.
What’s left at the position is a mix of backstops with MLB experience and younger, unproven prospects. There is no sure thing in the system, but there are reasons to think a homegrown catcher could come up through the system in the next few years.
With our 2021 preseason prospect rankings on the horizon, we are gearing with a position-by-position breakdown of White Sox prospects. Here’s a look at the top five catchers in the White Sox organization heading into the 2021 season:
1. Jefferson Mendoza
- Last level: DSL White Sox (2019)
Mendoza is plenty raw with plenty to prove, but he’s received praise from scouts. Marco Paddy, the head of international scouting for the White Sox, has referred to Mendoza as a plus defender. He’s listed at 6-foot, 170 pounds and turned 20 in January.
While his defense has drawn praise, his offense showed positive signs back in 2019. Mendoza, then 18, posted an .875 OPS in the Dominican Summer League. He was repeating the league and only got 110 plate appearances, but showed a good walk rate (10 in 110 PA), decent power potential (11 extra base hits, .179 ISO) and a high, but workable contact rate (25.5 K%).
The year off due to the pandemic hurt because Mendoza would have made his US debut, likely in the Arizona League. He could still head there in 2021 and not be old for the level. His stock could sore with a big season this year.
2. Yermin Mercedes
- Last level: MLB (2020)
Mercedes is a tough player to rank in a list like this. On one hand, he’s very likely to be the best hitter of this group. On the flip side, Mercedes may be the worst defensively and could move off the position in the future.
Mercedes’ winding minor league journey culminated in a brief MLB debut in 2020. He only got one plate appearance with the White Sox. It was a groundout. Mercedes didn’t get to show off what his bat can do against MLB pitching, but it was a significant milestone for a player who has been in three organizations and waited until he was 27 for his MLB debut.
Nothing has changed about Mercedes’ profile in the past year. He can probably hit at the big league level, but hasn’t had a chance to prove it. He may not be able to stick at catcher, but the White Sox haven’t moved him off the position yet.
He had a standout spring training in 2020. Another one in 2021 could give him a roster spot. The White Sox don’t have a DH on the roster right now. It seems plausible, if not likely, that Andrew Vaughn could move up at some point in 2021 and split first base and DH with Jose Abreu. Until then, assuming Vaughn doesn’t get the job out of spring training, Mercedes could be battling with Zack Collins for the DH spot. Both may make the roster with one DHing and the other playing backup catcher when not starting.
3. Seby Zavala
- Last level: MLB (2020)
Speaking of a potential DH/catcher roster spot battle, Zavala is another player who could inject himself into that conversation. While Zavala is unlikely to be in consideration for significant DH time like Collins or Mercedes, he could beat out Mercedes as a backup catcher if Collins is set to DH to start 2021.
Zavala was on the White Sox roster briefly in 2020, but did not play at all. He spent the year in the alternate site in Schaumburg or traveling with the team on the taxi squad.
His MLB debut in 2019 went very poorly. He went 1-for-12 with nine strikeouts in five games. He also had a sub-.300 OBP in Triple-A Charlotte that year.
The 27-year-old is a better defensive catcher than Collins and Mercedes, but is nowhere near the hitter those two are. Zavala may end up as a “AAAA” third catcher-type for the rest of his career. He’s good organizational depth for the White Sox for now. This coming season is probably his last chance to make a notable impression on the White Sox.
4. Tyler Osik
- Last level: Low-A Kannapolis (2019)
Osik is an unusual case. For one, most college seniors drafted in the 27th round never don’t make it to the majors. Second, Osik is on this list of catchers despite not playing the position in a minor league game yet.
He played first base and left field after getting drafted in 2019. Osik got off to a slow start in rookie ball, but turned things around and got promoted to Low-A Kannapolis. That is a good sign of how the White Sox view Osik. He rewarded their belief in him by hitting .278/.352/.557 in 108 plate appearances.
Even with solid production in his pro debut, Osik’s prospect status is based on his recent move to catcher. Osik made the move in part to improve his value. If he can prove to be a solid catcher, to go with a bat that has shown promising, albeit brief, signs, Osik becomes a legitimate prospect.
He will be one to watch in 2021, although the things to watch for (his defense) mostly won’t show up in box scores.
5. Victor Torres
- Last level: Arizona League White Sox (2019)
Torres hasn’t proven anything professionally. His inclusion here is on upside and his defensive ability.
The White Sox drafted Torres in the 11th round in 2019 out of Puerto Rico. He signed for $175,000, which was eighth round slot money. White Sox brass have raved about his defensive ability.
The bat didn’t show up in his pro debut in 2019. Torres, now 20, hit .219/.240/.240 as a teenager in the Arizona League. He was young and inexperienced so that’s not a red flag, but it was a poor showing. He’s a player who could have used the reps a 2020 season would have provided. He will get another shot in 2021, likely back in Arizona.
Also receiving consideration: Carlos Perez, Manuel Guariman
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I think the three catcher early season approach you mentioned has merit. Vaughn beginning the season at AA or AAA, makes sense leaving the DH position open to a Collins / Mercedes platoon. When Vaughn is ready, one of the two is likely optioned (or both kept) depending on their early season performance. I just don’t see Hahn allocating money to the DH position at this point when starting pitcher depth would seem to make more sense.
I think that if the Sox want to win a World Series, they should go get another veteran bat. Even if it’s competition. Since the big guys are gone, Cruz and Ozuna. Sox can get a veteran on the cheaper side since it’s getting close to spring training. Get a guy like Yasiel Puig or Yoenis Cepspedes. Sox have had interest in them both before and are Cuban so they would definitely fit well in the clubhouse.
Your comments on Mercedes are right on. I think he will be a productive DH for some team eventually, but probably not the Sox. I’m hoping he gets a chance before Vaughn is called up. However Collins should finally be MLB tested too. I expect the Sox are thinking that their at risk of being without a proven defensive catcher in Grandal goes down. So if there is a proven, experienced guy available cause he can’t hit his way into an MLB contract, they should sign him to a decent sized non-roster minor league contract to be ready in Charlotte.
What happened to Evan Skoug and Gunnar Troutwine?
Where does Xavier Fernandez rank, among the catchers? I remember reading rave reviews on his defense, when he was acquired from the Royals.