FL River City Rascals

2015 Position Preview: Catcher

March 23, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


The Rascals had three men spend a significant amount of time receiving pitches in 2014. Josh Ludy, Joe Staley, and Saxon Butler each caught in at least 32 games last season. This year the position is wide open and the Rascals have multiple options.

During the first half of last year's campaign, Ludy took on most of the catching responsibilities. He was penciled in behind the plate in more than half of his 51 games played before the Oakland Athletics signed him to a minor league contract.

Manager Steve Brook looked to Staley and Butler to fill the void left at backstop in the second half. Both men found success at the plate but had turbulent seasons behind it. While combining for 19 homeruns and 142 RBI in 186 total games, the combo only threw out 18% of base stealers and allowed 25 passed balls. Butler is not a full time catcher, though, as he also plays firstbase and the outfield.

As Ludy continues his career in A's organization this season, Staley and Butler both return to River City. Zach Komentani, who caught five games last season, is also returning to the Rascals in 2015. Komentani, like Butler, plays multiple positions, including the outfield.

With three strong offensive options in Staley, Butler, and Komentani coming back, the position will surely be a strength of the Rascals lineup. The roster also includes two rookies: Tyler Qualls out of Louisiana Tech and Jackson Slaid from the University of Motevallo. Brook says he likes to keep a defensive specialist on the roster as a back-up, as well. Qualls may fit into that role coming out of college. He was regarded as a defense-first catcher in school and even earned a spot on the Johnny Bench watch list his senior year, an award given to the top collegiate catcher in the nation.

Brook says the team has many options this season when it comes to the catcher position and that he has not made any decisions yet. As we inch closer to May and the beginning of the season, more of the questions surrounding the position will be answered, but the skipper is keeping an open mind for the time being.

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