Detroit Tigers: Battle for the Backup Backstop

James McCann has played 99 games or more behind the plate for the Detroit Tigers in each of the last three seasons, but who will get the lion’s share of the playing time behind him in 2018?

Going into 2018, James McCann is expected to garner the most playing time behind the plate for the Detroit Tigers. With catcher being such a demanding position, plenty of playing time will be available behind him.

McCann also enters 2018 with something to prove. While he improved his homer, RBI and walk totals for the third straight season, his defense took a step back last year.

After throwing out 43% of baserunners in his first two full seasons, that number dipped to 30% last year. A pitcher’s ability to hold runners and deliver the ball quickly plays a big factor too, but for a guy nicknamed “The McCannon”, that number is disappointing.

So far, McCann hasn’t had anyone try and run on him this spring, but he’s started slowly at the plate, going just 1-for-7 out of the gate.

Throwing out runners wasn’t the only defensive aspect McCann struggled with. According to the folks at StatCorner, McCann has rated at the bottom of the league in pitch framing in two of the last three seasons.

Their analysis shows Tyler Flowers of the Braves at the top being worth 211 extra strike calls throughout 2017. On the flip side, McCann was worth a staggering -227.

While pitch framing may not be the biggest thing on a catcher’s mind, it certainly doesn’t hurt to grab a few extra strikes here and there, and not lose potential strikes as McCann has been doing.

His struggles, and the hot start of Alex Avila at the plate cost McCann playing time last year before Avila and Justin Wilson were shipped to the Cubs. Could someone else do that again in 2018? Let’s analyze the competition.

John Hicks

The most likely candidate to challenge McCann for playing time may be John Hicks. Prior to the Avila trade, Hicks went back-and-forth a few times between Detroit and Toledo. Following the deal, Hicks stayed with the Tigers for the remainder of the season.

Offensively, Hicks was slightly better than McCann in 2017. Hicks slashed .266/.326/.439 in 60 games, while McCann was at .253/.318/.415 in 106.

Prior to last year, Hicks had appeared in just 18 big league games. In seven minor league seasons, the former fourth round pick has hit .283 with a .748 OPS. A minor league track record like that doesn’t guarantee anything, but it shows he has the potential to be a solid offensive threat.

So far this spring it’s been a tough go at the plate for Hicks. He’s just two for his first 14, although he did launch a homer against the Yankees earlier in the week.

Defensively, Hicks was solid as well in 2017. In 32 Major League games so far, Hicks has thrown out seven out of 16 (44%) of baserunners. That’s a small sample size, but he threw out 46% of runners in the minors in over 300 attempts, so that number doesn’t seem to be an anomaly.

While he doesn’t offer the same wealth of Major League experience as McCann and some of the others in camp, Hicks does provide some flexibility with his ability to play first base. With Miguel Cabrera banged up for much of 2017, Hicks appeared in 27 games at first a year ago. Another solid offensive season could see him earn time as the DH, as well.

The combination of offense and positional flexibility should earn Hicks a spot on the Tigers Opening Day roster, even if it isn’t as McCann’s primary backup.

Grayson Greiner

Other than McCann and Hicks, Grayson Greiner is the only other catcher listed on the Detroit Tigers current 40-man roster. Detroit selected Greiner in the third round of the 2014 draft out of South Carolina. As Andy Patton noted earlier this week, 2018 will be an important one for the 25-year old.

In his first four minor league seasons, Greiner has alternated good and bad offensive campaigns. As a rookie in 2014, Greiner went straight to Class A West Michigan and hit .322 in 26 games. He followed that up with just a .183 mark the next year at High-A Lakeland.

A hot start to 2016 with the Flying Tigers saw Greiner jump to Double-A Erie for the first time. Between those two levels, Greiner hit .297 with seven homers and 42 RBI in 90 games. He then wrapped up 2016 with one appearance at Triple-A Toledo and 12 in the Arizona Fall League.

Once again, a down year at the plate followed. While Greiner did launch a career-high 14 homers, his batting average dipped down to .237 between Erie and Toledo.

Defensively, Greiner has thrown out 34% of opposing base stealers in the minors. If that number doesn’t improve, the offense has to look a lot more like it did in 2016 than 2017 for him to keep climbing the ladder.

Greiner may also have to start worrying about Jake Rogers, who was acquired in the deal that saw Justin Verlander dealt to Houston.

Albeit a tiny sample size, Greiner has had a good start this spring. He’s already thrown out an attempted base stealer and collected a pair of hits in five at-bats.

With just six appearances in Toledo so far, Greiner seems likely to start the year with the Mud Hens. He will get his shot with the Tigers at some point in 2018, but probably not right away.

Brayan Pena

The Detroit TIgers brought in a pair of veterans catchers to compete in camp as well, starting with Brayan Pena. Pena played in 71 games for the Tigers in 2013, primarily backing up Avila.

Most of Pena’s career prior to his first stint with the Detroit Tigers was spent as a backup. In four seasons each with Kansas City and Atlanta, he never appeared in more than 72 games.

In 2013, Pena hit a career-high .297 and parlayed that into a two-year deal with the Reds. Pena played more than 100 games in both of his seasons with Cincinnati, and then signed a two-year deal with St. Louis.

Things didn’t go as well with the Cardinals, as Pena saw just nine Major League and 23 minor league games in the St. Louis system before his release. He played 38 games last year, all for Triple-A Omaha in the Royals organization.

It hasn’t been the best start to spring training for Pena either. The switch-hitter is just 1-for-5 at the dish and has already allowed two steals in eight innings behind the plate.

Pena turned 36 back in January, and the lack of games played over the last two years makes it seem unlikely he will be given the backup job with the Detroit Tigers. It seems more likely that he splits time with Greiner in Toledo, or is released at the end of camp.

Derek Norris

Derek Norris is the other veteran the Detroit Tigers brought in over the offseason to compete behind the plate. Norris has played in six major league seasons, starting with Oakland back in 2012.

He spent his first three years in the majors with the A’s, improving offensively each season. In 2014, Norris hit a career-high .270 and was an All-Star.

Prior to the 2015 campaign, Norris was dealt to San Diego. The 2015 campaign saw him post career-highs in homers (14), RBI (62), and doubles (33). After another season in San Diego, he was traded back to the club that drafted him, the Washington Nationals.

He was released during spring training and latched on with Tampa Bay. Norris hit .201 in 53 games for the Rays before he was suspended by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. Tampa Bay released Norris, who sat out the rest of 2017.

Next: Tigers Top Prospect Alex Faedo

If Norris makes the team, it will be because of his bat, and the power he can provide. Defense has never been his strong suit, having caught just 25% of opposing runners in the majors.

With the suspension in his recent past and his offensive numbers declining before the suspension anyway, Norris has a lot to prove in spring camp. So far, he’s off to a good start. In four appearances, Norris is 3-for-7 at the plate with a homer and four RBI.

If he can recapture the offensive form he showed earlier in his career, he could provide some much-needed pop to the Detroit Tigers lineup. If not, his attempt at a comeback will likely need to come elsewhere.