Mitch Garver - 2016

[Shane Wahl]

Mitch Garver
DOB: 1-15-91, in Albuquerque, NM
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 220
Position: C
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Shane's 2016 Prospect Rank: 34

 

2016 statistics (Chattanooga):

 

125 PA, .266/.344.394 (.738), eight doubles, two homers, 14 walks, 30 strikeouts

 

Garver had a great fall in Arizona (.916 OPS) and has improved at the plate in AA from his A+ numbers in 2015. With Stuart Turner, Garver provides a solid future of backup catchers for the Twins. It appears that Garver has real doubles power. It would be nice if Kurt Suzuki were somehow traded by the deadline, and both Turner and Garver could then get an opportunity yet this year.

[jokin]

Any word on the seriousness of Garver's concussion?  He's now been inactive for 8 days.

[goulik]

Unfortunately, this is not his first...

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140625&content_id=81539076&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t492

[jokin]

 

Unfortunately, this is not his first...

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140625&content_id=81539076&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t492

 

Thanks. That's unfortunate for sure.

[Shane Wahl]

Yeah that is not good.

[Shane Wahl]

Things have been pretty stable for Garver. .732 OPS and he has thrown out 11 of 16 would-be base stealers.

 

I have to imagine Garver will be up with the Twins in September, or earlier if they can trade Suzuki for a bag of balls.

[goulik]

Great to see him back from the concussion performing at a high level. Hopefully he can avoid any more head injuries...

[Shane Wahl]

.265/.347/.419 (.766), 18 doubles, 8 homers, 36 walks, and 69 strike outs. He has caught 17 of 33 attempted base stealers.

 

In a perfect world, the Twins move Garver to AAA now and get him to the Twins in September. Suzuki has to be traded and Centeno isn't going to last with a .620 OPS and a complete inability to throw anyone out. I would roll with Murphy, Garver, and Turner in September.

[goulik]

I missed Garvers promotion to AAA somewhere. He's off to a nice start in Rochester!

[Shane Wahl]

 

Mitch Garver
DOB: 1-15-91, in Albuquerque, NM
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 220
Position: C
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Shane's 2016 Prospect Rank: 34

 

2016 statistics (Chattanooga):

 

125 PA, .266/.344.394 (.738), eight doubles, two homers, 14 walks, 30 strikeouts

 

Garver had a great fall in Arizona (.916 OPS) and has improved at the plate in AA from his A+ numbers in 2015. With Stuart Turner, Garver provides a solid future of backup catchers for the Twins. It appears that Garver has real doubles power. It would be nice if Kurt Suzuki were somehow traded by the deadline, and both Turner and Garver could then get an opportunity yet this year.

 

2016 Summary

 

407 AA plate appearances, .257/.334/.419 (.753), 25 doubles, 11 homers, 43 walks, 86 strikeouts, one steal in four attempts

 

84 AAA plate appearances, .329/.381/.434 (.815), five doubles, one homer, seven walks, 21 strikeouts

 

48% CS rate between the two leagues. 

 

Garver is currently back in the AFL. It was a very good season for Garver, who looks solid defensively behind the plate and whose slugging returned in 2016 after a worrisome drop in 2015. 

 

 

2017 Outlook

 

I imagine that the Twins are serious about giving Garver a shot to make the big club out of spring training, but given that he has less than 100 AAA plate appearances, I would send him back there for a bit more seasoning. He will be 26 next January. Garver was inexplicably kept down in Cedar Rapids for the whole year in 2014, but it is not wise to make up for such lost time by rushing him now. A couple hundred more plate appearances in AAA should be good. When the Twins traded for Murphy, I maintained that Garver would likely be better as a major leaguer. I am betting this will be proven correct.