Glowing Scouting Review of Mitch Garver by Bernie Pleskoff

[nytwinsfan]

Pleskoff, who watched Garver this year in the AFL is very high on Garver.  http://www.fanragsports.com/mlb/twins/pleskoff-scouting-report-mitch-garver/

 

Lots of details about how Garver looks great on both offense and defense.  Pleskoff does think Garver's Batting Average will be in the low .200s in the majors, due to his apparent inability to hit high quality breaking pitches well, but other than also being a bit slow on the bases, he sees this as Garver's only real weakness.  He thinks Garver's ability to take walks and hit some HRs and extra base hits in the gaps, plus increasingly major-league caliber defense behind the plate make him a real candidate to be a regular contributor at the major league level.

 

A couple choice quotes:

 

As I watched Garver play in numerous fall games I couldn’t help but think he has a chance to be a real surprise for the Twins. He isn’t the type of prospect catcher that scouts and analysts talk about very much. He is, however, very capable on both sides of the ball with an improving defensive game to match his highly-regarded offensive potential. In reality, his defense may exceed his offense at the big league level.

 

 

I believe we will see Garver on the Twins big league roster at some point this year. Ultimately, I believe he will become a regular, full-time catcher for Minnesota.

 

 

The interesting thing is that this matches some other reviews I've seen by prospect watchers about Garver, especially since the AFL where he showed off his defense. In addition to having a very good arm and being solid at blocking pitches, I've also read on other posts here that Garver's pitch framing numbers are average to above average. Obviously Garver is far from a sure thing as a big league regular, but even the fact that he has a decent chance to be a big league regular after many years of Suzuki, could be really great for this team.  We were all spoiled by Mauer, but a platoon of Castro/Garver still has the opportunity to be very solid for the next 2-3 years. 

[Seth Stohs]

Tough to do with Castro around, but the reports I got on Garver - while researching for the Prospect Handbook - were glowing, both offensively and defensively... 

[nytwinsfan]

 

Tough to do with Castro around ... 

Yeah, true, but (1) because Castro is LH, this is an ideal situation for a platoon, and/or pinch hits by Garver late in a game in high leverage spots against LHPs; (2) catchers have a way of . . . getting banged up really easily, so Garver very well may have a chance to start on a regular basis at some point during the season, and (3) Garver seems to have the kind of makeup that would make it ok for him to only have a partial role. By all accounts he is focused, works hard, and doesn't have a big ego.  Assuming Murphy continues to struggle at the plate, I'd love to see Murphy sent down to AAA and Garver called up to get 1/3 to 2/5 of the starts around late May or June.  Garver has too much potential to stay in the minors the next two years. 

[beckmt]

Garver should be here sometime this year.  Depends on what the new FO thinks of Murphy, since they have nothing invested in him.  If Murphy can be the other half of the platoon, then Garver will be given a full year at AAA, hopefully he learns to either hit or lay off of a quality breaking ball.

[nicksaviking]

I thought the Castro signing was just fine, but mostly for the message it sent rather than for the actual player, much like the Ricky Nolasco signing. It meant the team was at least willing to go outside it's comfort zone to fix a huge problem.

 

I wonder how long the fans will be satisfied with Castro if his bat is as poor as it was the last several years in Houston? We always discuss getting defensive first players for defensive premium positions but then I harken back to how we gave Pedro Florimon about the shortest leash in Twins history.

 

Anyway, all that's to say that if Garver can hit and catch, I don't necessarily think Castro is going to block him. Also as nytwinsfan suggested, they'd make for a fine platoon.

[Loosey]

If I understand the scouting report correctly he sounds like he projects to be Drew Butera with some power.  . . . And I am fine with that.

[nytwinsfan]

 

If I understand the scouting report correctly he sounds like he projects to be Drew Butera with some power.  . . . And I am fine with that.

And higher OBP. Yeah, Drew Butera (or slightly less D Butera) with even a bit more power and OBP is a valuable commodity. 

[Oldgoat_MN]

nicksaviking nailed it on the 'defense first' issue and nytwinsfan pointed out the important OBP value.

 

Peolpe talk about defense first players then complain when those guys get regular opportunities in the lineup. Like, every 9th time there they are again!  And Florimon was perhaps the perfect example.  It's frustrating and the 'magic' they display at their position loses some of its luster.

 

For a guy with a pretty low BA Garver has consistently managed pretty good OBP numbers. That suggests that he may be able to figure out his issues with high caliber breaking balls.

 

A nice review for the Twins at a very important position.

[Mr. Brooks]

I thought the Castro signing was just fine, but mostly for the message it sent rather than for the actual player, much like the Ricky Nolasco signing. It meant the team was at least willing to go outside it's comfort zone to fix a huge problem.

 

I wonder how long the fans will be satisfied with Castro if his bat is as poor as it was the last several years in Houston? We always discuss getting defensive first players for defensive premium positions but then I harken back to how we gave Pedro Florimon about the shortest leash in Twins history.

 

Anyway, all that's to say that if Garver can hit and catch, I don't necessarily think Castro is going to block him. Also as nytwinsfan suggested, they'd make for a fine platoon.

A 93 OPS+ at catcher isn't that bad.

Florimon was putting up OPS+ in the 60's as a SS.

That is a huge difference, and Florimon was given 700 plate appearances as a Twin, that is not a short leash.

[nytwinsfan]

 

A 93 OPS+ at catcher isn't that bad.
Florimon was putting up OPS+ in the 60's as a SS.
That is a huge difference, and Florimon was given 700 plate appearances as a Twin, that is not a short leash.

Yup, nailed it. Even though they both provide lots of value on D, Castro has a significantly better career and season by season OPS than Florimon ever did. 

[DocBauer]

The only thing I would question is the comments about not hitting for a high average. Low .200's I think is the question. He has shown the ability to hit in the minors as well as make adjustments not only from level to level, but even after slow starts. He's got some pop and contact ability. While hitting ML breaking stuff is a different kind of animal all together, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see him as anywhere from a .240-.260 hitter in time and with opportunity.

[goulik]

I have no doubt Garver can handle a platoon situation. Two words Stuart Turner. Garver is VERY used to being a platoon and that would be a great way to introduce him to the majors.

[drivlikejehu]

I'd like to see a Castro/Garver platoon out of the gate. I think that easily gets to the Twins to average at the C position, maybe even a little above.

[nytwinsfan]

 

The only thing I would question is the comments about not hitting for a high average. Low .200's I think is the question. He has shown the ability to hit in the minors as well as make adjustments not only from level to level, but even after slow starts. He's got some pop and contact ability. While hitting ML breaking stuff is a different kind of animal all together, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see him as anywhere from a .240-.260 hitter in time and with opportunity.

Yeah, fair enough. Pleskoff seemed to think he couldn't hit major league breaking balls based on 100 or so PA in the AFL. Obviously given more time against that level stuff he could potentially adjust. We just don't know yet.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I think you see Castro/Murphy out of the gate unless Murphy is abysmal in ST again this year. Not quite sure what happened there, but he's a better catcher than what he was in MN.

 

As for Garver, a little more AAA seasoning won't be a bad thing, but I've got to think Murphy will be on a short leash. The team won't take 3 Cs north.  They could potentially keep Garver as a 3rd catcher on the Rochester shuttle for next year and maybe 2018 (though I'm not liking that). I hope they have a plan to move Castro if Garver and Murphy force it.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Yeah, fair enough. Pleskoff seemed to think he couldn't hit major league breaking balls based on 100 or so PA in the AFL. Obviously given more time against that level stuff he could potentially adjust. We just don't know yet.

 

He has shown some contact issues in the minors, and even his best seasons tend to have a .270ish type BA... Don't get me wrong, that's pretty good, but it's likely why Pleskoff thinks this.  I think a .250-.260 hitter is a pretty reasonable ceiling, and given his walk rates, he should be able to keep his OBP in the .330-.350 range.  Add double digit home run power (10-20) and above average defense and you have a pretty solid starting catcher.

[nicksaviking]

 

A 93 OPS+ at catcher isn't that bad.
Florimon was putting up OPS+ in the 60's as a SS.
That is a huge difference, and Florimon was given 700 plate appearances as a Twin, that is not a short leash.

 

Castro hasn't been above 88 OPS+ in three years, he's been a pretty poor hitter for awhile now. I'm also not saying the Twins gave Florimon a short leash, but everyone here did certainly Drew Butera as well.

 

But OPS+ really doesn't matter when it comes to overall fan satisfaction. Most Twins fans don't know anything other than back-of-the-baseball card stats. If Castro is hitting .210 you can bet Twins fans will be calling out the front office in short order. But really, all I was trying to say is that he's not setting a statistically high bar for Garver to clear.

[Twins33]

We also have to remember that Castro was also hitting against lefty starters in the past which he never should have been. I expect a better line from him this year because Molitor said he would platoon him.

[Mr. Brooks]

Castro hasn't been above 88 OPS+ in three years, he's been a pretty poor hitter for awhile now. I'm also not saying the Twins gave Florimon a short leash, but everyone here did certainly Drew Butera as well.

 

But OPS+ really doesn't matter when it comes to overall fan satisfaction. Most Twins fans don't know anything other than back-of-the-baseball card stats. If Castro is hitting .210 you can bet Twins fans will be calling out the front office in short order. But really, all I was trying to say is that he's not setting a statistically high bar for Garver to clear.

I think you are getting a little too excited over Garver, while simultaneously underestimating how rare it is for a catcher to hit well.

 

Considering Castro had a career milb OPS 40 points higher than Garver, Garver will be lucky to hit anywhere close to what Castro has.

 

Garver projects as a decent backup catcher, with an outside shot at being a league average starting catcher at his peak.

That is likely his ceiling.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I'm all for Garver getting decent playing time in MLB this season.

[Thrylos]

I would not use the world "glowing" (I will leave that for descriptions of superstars), but this is what I have seen from him the past 2-3 seasons that made me rank him 10th overall in my 2016 list, while he was off the radar of most national people and the locals had him behind light hitting former Twin now Stuart Turner.  Good to see him get some national validation.  By no means he projects as a star, and his game does have some holes, but it will be interesting to see how it goes this Spring.  Chris Gimenez throws a wrinkle here big time...

[nytwinsfan]

 

I would not use the world "glowing" (I will leave that for descriptions of superstars), but this is what I have seen from him the past 2-3 seasons that made me rank him 10th overall in my 2016 list, while he was off the radar of most national people and the locals had him behind light hitting former Twin now Stuart Turner.  Good to see him get some national validation.  By no means he projects as a star, and his game does have some holes, but it will be interesting to see how it goes this Spring.  Chris Gimenez throws a wrinkle here big time...

Yeah, I guess I meant "glowing" relative to expectations, but fair enough.