Cubs Minor League Daily: Checking In On Cubs Catching Prospect Victor Caratini

I have a funny feeling that a lot of Cubs’ fans are going to thinking about the major league catching situation in general and the possibility of Victor Caratini being available to help out in particular. I also suspect the phrase “running game” will be frequently involved. I can’t imagine why.

Whether or not any sort of major league help is needed is a very different conversation, but there is no harm in taking the opportunity to check in on Caratini.

So here’s the short version. Yes, Caratini’s switch-hitting bat is probably ready for a major league trial, and he has thrown out 28% of his baserunners this year.

More specifically, the bat has been great this season. His Triple A line of .336/.378/.527 includes eight homers (already a career high), a walk rate of 7.5%, and a fantastic strikeout rate of just 15%. He is having by far the best offensive season of his career, a season good enough that some fans could be forgiven for dreaming on Caratini as a high value trade piece to teams looking for a new cost controlled starting catcher.

In the right situation I think he could start, but I suspect his future is as more of a very good back up catcher, quite possibly for the Cubs. One of the reason for that is his work behind the plate. I am not an expert at grading catchers and I am relying on not terribly recent reports here, but I see consistent indications that Caratini’s arm is accurate enough, but that he isn’t particularly strong and that his pop times are on the slow side.

Still, if you’re looking for a solid bat who could start behind the plate twice a week as soon as now, Caratini is pr-ossibly your guy.

(Photo by /Getty Images)

Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa 7, New Orleans 6
Iowa led early, but they still had to come from behind in the late innings.

  • Zach Hedges: 4.1 IP, 6 R, 9 H, 6 BB, 1 K
  • Ross Detwiler: 2 IP, 2 BB
  • Fernando Rodriguez: 2 IP, 3 K
  • John Andreoli: 3 for 4, 2 2B, HR, BB
  • Kyle Schwarber: 2 for 4
  • Victor Caratini: 3 for 4, 2 2B
  • Jacob Hannemann: 2 for 4, 2B, SB
  • Double A: Tennessee Smokies

    The Smokies had the night off.

    High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
    Myrtle Beach 4, Potomac 2
    The Pelicans took a first inning lead and let their very good pitching staff take it from there.

  • Adbert Alzolay: 5.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 7 K
  • James Norwood: 1 IP, 2 K
  • Trent Giambrone: 2 for 4
  • P.J. Higgins: 2 for 4
  • Tyler Alamo: 2 for 4, 2B
  • Zack Short: 3 for 3
  • Low A: South Bend Cubs
    Fort Wayne 11, South Bend 10
    Believe it or not, after five innings this was a 3-2 game.

  • Manuel Rondon: 5 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K
  • Roberto Caro: 1 for 3, 3B, BB
  • Vimael Machin: 2 for 5, 2B
  • Kevonte Mitchell: 1 for 4, HR
  • Jhonny Pereda: 1 for 3, 2B
  • Yeiler Peguero: 2 for 4, 2 2B
  • Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
    Eugene 5, Hillsboro 2
    Emeralds’ pitching struck out thirteen in this one.

  • Javier Assad: 5 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 9 K
  • Manuel Rodriguez: 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
  • Junior Marte: 1 IP, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
  • Aramis Ademan: 1 for 3, HR, BB
  • Miguel Amaya: 4 for 4, 2B, HR
  • Rookie: AZL Cubs

    The AZL Cubs had the night off.

    Other Notes

  • John Andreoli finished the night with eight total bases thanks to his pair of doubles and his sixth homer of the season. Miguel Amaya also had eight total bases on a homer, a double, and two singles.
  • Schwarber’s two hits were both singles, one to center and the other to right.
  • All season long shortstop Zack Short has been one of the best hitters in the South Bend lineup. Now he is in the Myrtle Beach lineup, having been recently promoted to High A. And if you ignore the one game sample size, his 3 for 3 debut performance and 1.000 batting average make him the best hitter in the Myrtle Beach lineup. But you probably shouldn’t ignore the one game sample size.
  • written by

    Luke Blaize is the Minor League Editor at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @ltblaize.

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