McAdam: Ranking the Red Sox' top catching prospects

(Second in a series: Over the coming weeks, we’ll be examining a specific positional area in the Red Sox minor league system, with an eye toward evaluating depth, impact and timetable for contributions. Today: catcher).

Current major league personnel: Christian Vazquez, the starter for the past few seasons, is signed for $6.25 million in 2021 and the club holds a team option on 2022 for $7 million, with a $250,000 buyout. Additionally, backup Kevin Plawecki, is salary-arbitration eligible. MLB Trade Rumors recently pegged his 2021 salary to be somewhere between $1.3-$2 million.

Overall: Vazquez remains a sold major league starter at the position, if not exactly an All-Star performer. He enjoyed a career year in 2019 with 23 homers, having never hit more than five in a single season previously. In 2020, Vazquez's power was far more streaky. Of his seven homers -- which would have roughly translated to 19 in a full season -- four came in the season's first week and the other three came over the final two weeks, with none in-between. Still though he's not without faults -- pitch-blocking is a particular weakness -- Vazquez profiles as a better-than-average receiver with a plus-plus throwing arm. And in Plawecki, the Red Sox have seemingly finally found a legitimate backup catcher who's capable of playing a couple of times per week, or, should the need arise because of injury, more regularly.

TOP PROSPECTS

Connor Wong
Acquired:  In Mookie Betts/David Price trade with Los Angeles Dodgers, February 2020.
Age: 24
Timetable for arrival: 2022
Skinny: Wong is difficult to classify for the time being, not the least of which because, like former Red Sox prospect Blake Swihart, he didn't start to catch until relatively late in his development. While in the Dodgers system, Wong got some playing time at a number of other infield positions in the minors. Of course, with the 2020 minor league season wiped out due to the pandemic, Wong hasn't played in the minors for the Sox. But for now, the Red Sox want to see him further develop his catching skills. It's not lost on the Red Sox that he has considerable power (24 homers between Single A and Double A in 2019) and his versatility and athleticism could eventually make him a particularly useful roster piece. If Wong can work on his receiving and framing skills in 2021, he could inject himself onto the major league scene sooner rather than later.



Deivy Grullon
Acquired: Claimed on waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies, Sept. 2020
Age: 24
Timetable for arrival: Late 2021.
Skinny: Grullon has a Sandy Leon-type build -- short and stocky, perhaps overly so. It might be something of a reach, but Grullon could be classified as somewhat of a poor man's Gary Sanchez. Like the Yankees inconsistent receiver, Grullon has plus power and a plus throwing arm. The rest? Not so much. Like Sanchez, he has difficulty making consistent contact, striking out nearly once every three at-bats at Triple A in 2019. In terms of his raw catching ability, Grullon needs improvement in several aspects. At the present, he could develop into a power threat off the bench and might profile as a third catcher-type.

Jhonny Pereda
Acquired: From Chicago Cubs as PTBNL from trade of RHP Travis Lakins
Age: 24
Timetable for arrival: Uncertain projection as a major leaguer.
Skinny: Essentially, Pereda is the flip-side of Grullon. While Grullon's future is all about his power, Pereda's clear strength is his ability to control the running game. In 2019, he was named the winner of the 2019 Minor League Gold Glove at catcher, though his receiving game needs work. Offensively, he possesses knowledge of the strike zone and can make regular contact. But he hasn't shown the ability to drive the ball at all. If he makes it, it will likely be a journeyman catcher, an up-and-down option who can occasionally serve as a backup.

Kole Cottam
Acquired: Fourth-round pick in 2018 draft.
Age: 23
Timetable for arrival: Uncertain projection as major leaguer.
Skinny: Cottam was a standout at the University of Kentucky (where he also played some first base) and was a semi-finalist for the top college player in the nation. Offensively, Cottam sprays the ball around, but despite his size (6-3, 220 pounds) hasn't yet displayed much power. As a catcher, he's still developing. His arm strength is only average and his receiving is raw but stands to improve. One of many minor leaguers who fell through the cracks in 2020, as he wasn't nearly advanced enough to get an invite to summer camp and thus, lost an important year of development. Barring some unexpected jump, his ceiling would seem to be an up-and-down catcher.