Juan Centeno

[DocBauer]

Who is this guy?

 

Like most fans, I was more than a little put out when our proposed #3 catcher, Hicks, was lost on a waiver wire snafu of ridiculous proportion when the team attempted to sneak him through waivers to make way for an over the hill role OG in Murphy who was struggling at AAA and didn't want to play any more. (Sigh)

 

Maybe I missed something, but while the original Hicks signing got some publicity as a solid move for a guy who had a little potential, it seemed Centeno got nothing more than a mention as a milb FA given an invite to ST.

 

With Hicks lost, Suzuki on his last legs and Murphy on milk cartons all throughout Minnesota, Centeno was brought up. And the really funny thing is, he's hit in the SSS after his promotion. He also started in a few games with quality pitching performances, including Duffey's great performance on Sunday. So I decided to attempt a little research on him. What did I find? Unfortunately, not much.

 

He's not a very large fellow, 5' 9", he hits lefty, and he was originally, I believe, a 32nd round pick from Puerto Rico by the Mets. He never ranked higher than 20 on any prospect list I could come across. And with all due respects to informed fans and bloggers everywhere, most of his prospect/scouting reports were from fan sights. However, what I did find was that after three poor, non description seasons in rookie ball and low A, he suddenly seemed to find his bat somewhat. While lacking any real power, according to milb.com, his career numbers would be a .260 AVG with a .313 OB%. He's been times between 1.85 and 2.0 on his throws to 2B, with sound footwork, and multiple years where he has tossed out high 30 to 40% of attempted stolen base thieves, all the while, garnering attention for solid work behind the plate.

 

I would not dare to say the Twins have found some sort of steaL in their signing of Centeno. But with the perfectly poor production the Twins have received the past couple of years, particularly this season, with Turner, Garver and other hopefulls a year away, at least, and work to be done this next off season, if not this year still, is it possible the Twins have at least found a short-term, fill-in, backup option? Centeno has a quality catch and throw reputation, can at least make some contact and not SO at an alarming rate...or so it seems...and is still only 26 despite being around for 10 years.

 

I would love to hear if anyone has more detailed information available on him. But again, no steal, but did we maybe accidently end up with someone who can at least help?

[Linus]

Can we just let the whole John Hicks thing go? Nobody knew who he was or even cared when the Twins signed him but when they let him go people go nuts.

[stringer bell]

Quality defense and the change-up of a left-handed bat. While I hold no false hope of stardom, it is possible that he could be a good backup/partial platoon partner.

[jimbo92107]

I know they traded Aaron Hicks for JR Murphy, but in spring training Centeno looked much better at the plate. I was a little surprised they didn't send Murphy down initially, and even more surprised how little they used Murphy and how long they starved him for starts. He could have been starting almost every day in Rochester while Centeno relieved Suzuki on the big league club. The Twins can't seem to help overworking Kurt Suzuki, who rarely hits and rarely throws out a runner stealing second. 

 

Maybe now, finally, they'll trust somebody other than Suzuki to catch half the time. It's been a while since they had average play from the catcher position. Centeno might even be a bit better than average. Whoopee!

[diehardtwinsfan]

He was hitting well in ST.  He hit decent in Rochester too. I'm perfectly fine letting him hit until he shows he cannot do it.  Perhaps we found a small gem there, perhaps he turns back into a pumpkin... who knows.

[laloesch]

I'm impressed with him so far.  Keep starting him and see what he can do!

[Thrylos]

SSS

 

.666 career minor league OPS

 

Sold his soul to you know whom

 

Remember Parmelee in 88 PA in 2011?   Centeno has a grand total of 11 MLB PAs this season.  Let him hit 150 and then we would re-examine.

 

Regardless, he is the hottest C the Twins have right now and Molitor should play him against all RHSP, keeping Suzuki only for lefties, until he cools off.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Eric Fryer, first 6 games as a Twin (17 PA): .385/.500/.692 (1.192 OPS)

 

Juan Centeno, first 5 games as a Twin (16 PA): .467/.500/.800 (1.300 OPS)

 

Drew Butera, first 4 games this season (11 PA): .400/.455/.700 (1.155 OPS)

 

Henry Blanco, first 8 games as a Twin (29 PA): .364/.500/.909 (1.409 OPS)

 

Eric Fryer, first 17 PA as a Cardinal: .467/.529/.600 (1.129 OPS)

 

Centeno is on a little hot streak, and we don't have any better options to start at the moment, but there is virtually nothing we can read further into this performance thus far.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

While lacking any real power, according to milb.com, his career numbers would be a .260 AVG with a .313 OB%.

Centeno is actually a little better than that over his minor league career.  But, that's not particularly noteworthy for a minor league hitter, even a catcher.

 

Minor league career numbers

Centeno: .278/.327/.339 (.666 OPS)

Fryer: .269/.357/.396 (.753 OPS)

John Hicks: .283/.329/.412 (.741 OPS)

 

It's better than Butera's minor league line, for sure (.214/.291/.317, .607 OPS), but virtually any fungible AAA catcher exceeds that standard too.

 

Heck, here was Eric Fryer's career MAJOR league line entering this season (before his hot start with the Cardinals): .243/.329/.336 (.665 OPS)

[DaveW]

 

Can we just let the whole John Hicks thing go? Nobody knew who he was or even cared when the Twins signed him but when they let him go people go nuts.

I knew who he was, I goto a lot of Mariners games and follow that club and org pretty closely. Letting him go for nothing was a stupid move and remains a stupid and pointless move.

[d-mac]

 

Can we just let the whole John Hicks thing go? Nobody knew who he was or even cared when the Twins signed him but when they let him go people go nuts.

 

No. 

[Pardon My Dinger]

Who is John Hicks?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Who is John Hicks?

Al Avila shrugged.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

Eric Fryer, first 6 games as a Twin (17 PA): .385/.500/.692 (1.192 OPS)

 

Juan Centeno, first 5 games as a Twin (16 PA): .467/.500/.800 (1.300 OPS)

 

Drew Butera, first 4 games this season (11 PA): .400/.455/.700 (1.155 OPS)

 

Henry Blanco, first 8 games as a Twin (29 PA): .364/.500/.909 (1.409 OPS)

 

Eric Fryer, first 17 PA as a Cardinal: .467/.529/.600 (1.129 OPS)

 

Centeno is on a little hot streak, and we don't have any better options to start at the moment, but there is virtually nothing we can read further into this performance thus far.

Harsh, very harsh.

[jud6312]

Hey, as long as he or any combination of rookies, non-prospects, aging veterans and hobos who picked a catcher's mitt out of the garbage can keep Suzuki on the bench enough that his option doesn't vest, it'll be a successful season.

[nicksaviking]

 

SSS

 

.666 career minor league OPS

 

 

That sounds fabulous for the 2016 Twins.

 

And the 2015 Twins.