Atlanta Braves’ Morning Chop: Catching? Canada? CBA?
Feb 22, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves catchers Tyler Flowers (25) and A.J. Pierzynski stretch during spring training workouts at ESPN
There are three questions hanging around the Braves today involving Catching, Canada, and the CBA negotiations. The answers could be interesting… whether they come.
The Atlanta Braves are still making some news with the Alex Jackson trade as Dave O’Brien notes below. He still could be reverted to a catcher… and it turns out there’s good reasons for doing so.
We’re still awaiting news on who the player to be named later is in that trade, too. We’ll probably know after the Rule 5 Draft is complete… and since that’s somehow involved, I like the Braves’ chances there.
New Braves catching instructor Datz should know prospect Alex Jackson
If the Braves switch newly acquired prospect Alex Jackson from the outfield to catcher, his former position, there’s a new coach on staff who seems a natural fit to work with him behind the plate.
Jeff Datz, a former major league catcher hired in October as the Braves’ new roving catching instructor, was a scout in the Mariners organization when they selected Jackson with the sixth pick of the 2014 draft and signed him out of a San Diego high school for $4.2 million.
The Braves traded for Jackson (and a player to be named later) in a Monday deal that sent pitching prospects Rob Whalen and Max Povse to the Mariners. The Datz hiring hasn’t been announced yet by the Braves, but was confirmed by two people familiar with the situation.
While the Braves haven’t said a Jackson position switch is certain, they’ve indicated Jackson, 20, might move back to catcher, which he played as a three-time prep All-American before switching to the outfield in rookie ball in 2014. In addition to being among the top high-school power hitters in California, he was regarded as a strong defensive catcher.
[ Ed. Note: Well that could paint an entirely different portrait on Jackson and how the Braves might try to use him.
I had speculated that the team would not mess with him positionally, but instead try to concentrate on getting hit bat straightened out. Hiring Datz could be sending a signal that perhaps they wish to try him out at the position he held in high school – and one he might be more comfortable with.
There had been some speculation that Jackson would not be able to stick at catcher in the long-term due to his size (6’2″/215), but there are plenty of examples of catchers that size or bigger (Matt Wieters at 6’5″/225 would be Exhibit A).
Also, while the Braves would certainly like to get Jackson’s bat going again, putting him back to catcher does mean that they could tolerate a longer lead development time offensively… if he proves to still be an able defender. Multiple reports point to a strong arm (60 throwing tool)… we just need to see if that 60/65 power develops with it. ]