Detroit Tigers: Battle for backup catcher position will headline September

The Detroit Tigers are far out of playoff contention, but there are still a few interesting storylines toward the end of the season.

Jake Rogers, the Detroit Tigers’ 24-year-old catcher of the future, is penciled in as the starter behind the plate for the foreseeable future. But who will back him up in 2020? A pair of potential candidates are set to battle for the spot once the rosters expand this September.

Those two candidates appear to be John Hicks, who’s currently on the 25-man roster, and Grayson Greiner, who began the year as the Tigers’ starting catcher but now resides in Toledo. He’s a given to be called up once the Detroit Tigers expand their roster.

It’s been a struggle in 2019 for Hicks, who came into the season as the primary backup catcher and maintained that role when Rogers was recalled to make his major-league debut. The 29-year-old Hicks has hit just .209 with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs to go along with a well below-average OPS of .604.

The Tigers had high hopes for Hicks to produce offensively as the backup catcher this season, especially after he hit .260 with nine home runs and 32 RBIs in 2018. Hicks also hit .266 with six home runs and 22 RBIs in 2017.

It hasn’t been any easier for the 26-year-old Greiner though, as he struggled mightily at the dish before going down with a back injury and being optioned to Toledo after a rehab assignment. Greiner hit just .162 with five home runs and 14 RBIs before going on the injured list.

The Tigers could also opt to hit the free-agent market in search of an upgrade at backup catcher, but considering the team will still be in full rebuild mode headed into next season, it’s unlikely the team will spend money for a backup considering it has two viable and cheap options already on the roster.

Greiner’s youth and former prospect status, along with his unexpected defensive upside, will aid him as the Tigers look to make a roster decision in the future. Hicks is a long-tenured veteran in the clubhouse and has the ability to play multiple positions to go along with modest power at the plate.

The vast majority of this position battle is slated to take place in Spring Training, as Rogers will likely receive the vast majority of playing time at catcher down the stretch, but the rest of the at-bats should be split evenly between Greiner and Hicks. If either shows some late-season potential, that could give them a huge advantage headed into the spring battle.

The Tigers roster will this September feature a number of players looking to prove themselves and make their mark headed into the offseason, some of these players include Victor Reyes, Dawel Lugo, Willi Castro, and more. The backup catchers Greiner and Hicks are also included, with the stakes for both remaining highs in regards to making next season’s roster.