3 Farm Catchers Getting Glove Love from BA

[Duman]

Catchers' Glove Gettin Some Love

Heineman at #3 in AA
Garcia at #10 in AA
Pena #1 in Hi A

Who’s No. 1?
Yet another standout defensive catcher from Puerto Rico, Lancaster’s Roberto Pena (Astros) cut down 23 more baserunners than a league-average catcher would have with the same playing time, which is the highest total in the minors. He also led the way with a 56.5 percent caught-stealing rate, while committing seven fewer passed balls than the average California League catcher. Pena is a good receiver with a quick release and plus accuracy, though he doesn’t quite have the same raw arm strength as some other catchers on these lists.

Both Heineman & Pena made the top ten playmakers list as well.

[Nate Colbert]

@Morgan Ensberg tends to engage in a bit of hyperbole when he talks about Astros farmhands on twitter, so with that caveat here's what he said yesterday about Pena:

this kid is the closest thing I've seen to Pudge. He literally stops the running game without making a throw. Just on reputation

[juliogotay]

Catchers' Glove Gettin Some Love

Heineman at #3 in AA
Garcia at #10 in AA
Pena #1 in Hi A

Both Heineman & Pena made the top ten playmakers list as well.

Yea, but how well do they frame pitches?

[juliogotay]

@Morgan Ensberg tends to engage in a bit of hyperbole when he talks about Astros farmhands on twitter, so with that caveat here's what he said yesterday about Pena:

Ensberg really pumped up Tropeano. I'm not saying it was hyperbole. But he loved his competiveness.

[Nate Colbert]

Something old (9/29):

Pena and Tony Kemp win minor league Gold Gloves.

Something new (11/21):

@DSzymborski (ESPN statgeek)

My defensive translation had Roberto Pena as the best defensive C in the minors in 2014...

My defensive translations and gold glove voters had a lot in agreement - only Tony Kemp wasn't in Top 10 defensive at position.

Another tweet from Szymborski says no pitch framing data available for minors, so that would seem to call into question the relevance of "translations" for catchers.

[Jacksonian]

Something old (9/29):

Pena and Tony Kemp win minor league Gold Gloves.

When I saw Kemp play his glove metal looked closer to iron than gold.