One Prospect Might Be Developing Into Minnesota’s Catcher of the Future

[Cody Christie]

Jair Camargo might be an unknown name to some Twins fans, but he has recently been on a hot streak for the Saints. Let’s dive into the catcher’s professional career and look toward his future in the organization. 

 

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints

Trading for prospects can be challenging for fans to evaluate, especially if those players are in the low levels of the minor leagues. It can take multiple years for those players to work through the team’s farm system. Jair Camargo is one of those players, and he might finally be putting it all together at the Triple-A level. 

The Dodgers originally signed Camargo in 2015 as a 16-year-old from Barranquilla, Colombia. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League, hitting .250/.309/.346 (.654) with eight extra-base hits and a 28-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 41 games. In 2017, he came stateside and played for the Dodgers rookie-level team and more than held his own. He posted a .709 OPS with nine doubles, one triple, and two home runs in 36 games. Camargo’s final rookie ball season came in 2018 when he hit .257/.277/.443 (.720) with 12 extra-base hits in 113 at-bats. His career was off to a promising start, and it was time for him to move to a full-season league. 

During the 2019 season, Camargo headed to the Dodgers’ affiliate in the Midwest League. He caught over 550 innings for the first time in his career, and there were some offensive challenges with the increased level of competition. Still in his teens, Camargo was over two years younger than the average age of the competition at his level and faced older pitchers in over 91% of his plate appearances. In 79 games, he hit .236/.301/.342 (.642) with 18 doubles and four home runs. He showed some ability to draw walks while being one of the youngest players in the Midwest League. 

Minnesota looked to bolster their rotation entering the 2020 season, so the club traded Brusdar Graterol and Luke Raley to the Dodgers for Kenta Maeda and Jair Camargo. Graterol and Maeda were the obvious headliners from the deal, but the Twins identified Camargo and thought he could potentially add future value to the trade. Unfortunately, the pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor league season, so that he couldn’t debut in the Twins system that season.

The Twins sent Camargo to Cedar Rapids in 2021, where he was the third youngest player to suit up for the Kernels that season. He played over 100 innings at first base but continued to get plenty of time at catcher by starting 43 games. His OPS jumped over 50 points compared to 2019, and he hit double-digit home runs (13) for the first time in his career. Camargo continued to strikeout at a high rate with 106 strikeouts in 263 at-bats, but he was facing older pitchers in nearly 87% of his plate appearances. With this performance, he wouldn’t appear on top prospect lists, but he continued improving as he moved up the organizational ladder.  

Camargo has also gained some experience on the international stage. Over the last two winters, he has played in the Colombian Winter League and the Dominican Winter League. Following the 2021 season, he hit .185/.258/.296 (.555) with three home runs in 27 games for CWL. Last winter, he played in the Dominican and posted a .592 OPS with four extra-base hits over 76 plate appearances. He’s been significantly younger than the average age of the competition at those levels, but the experience should help him in the long run. 

During the 2022 campaign, Camargo split time between High- and Double-A. He began the season at Cedar Rapids with some of the best hitting in his professional career. In 28 games, he hit .296/.314/.496 (.809) with five doubles and six home runs. It was his first time posting an OPS above .800 at any level, so the Twins promoted him to Wichita. He posted a .778 OPS at Double-A with five doubles and 12 home runs in 46 games. He was over two years younger than the average age of the competition, and he continued to hold his own. 

The Twins could have sent Camargo back to Double-A for the 2023 season since he had played fewer than 50 games at Double-A. Instead, the club assigned him to Triple-A, where there were growing pains with the transition to a higher level. In his first 17 games, he went 7-for-62 (.113 BA) with two extra-base hits and a 27-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. From there, things took off for him at the plate. In his next 16 games, he went 19-for-61 (.312) with two doubles and seven home runs. He’s been one of the hottest hitters for the Saints, and it’s hard not to get excited about a power-hitting catching prospect. 

During the 2023 season, Camargo has only appeared at catcher and designated hitter. He’s gone 8-for-28 in throwing out runners (29 CS%) after throwing out 36% of runners in 2022. The Saints have yet to use a player younger than Camargo this season, and he has only had eight plate appearances against younger pitchers. He’s improved over the last two years and might have solidified his place in the Twins’ long-term plans. 

Can Camargo help the Twins in 2023? Will he be the team’s catcher of the future? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

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[PDX Twin]

Not much competition in the Twins' system for "catcher of the future," so it's good that we have him.

[terrydactyls]

I mentioned him yesterday as an addition to the roster when I commented on a "let the kids play" remark by DocBauer.  Maybe I have psychic abilities???

[jmlease1]

11 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

Not much competition in the Twins' system for "catcher of the future," so it's good that we have him.

I'm not sure that's true, it's hard to tell when a catcher in the minors takes the leap. Cardenas and Olivar are making prospect lists, Isola is still playing the position, Cossetti has been good enough to get an early promotion, and they've been aggressive in moving up Camargo now. (and Silva is certainly interesting) some pretty good depth, but maybe not a break-out star.

We'll see how the season goes for Camargo, but right now he's lining himself up to be the first choice call-up if/when one of the Twins catchers gets hurt in 2024. I have to say, I'd rather have a younger player with upside potential in that role than a no-hit journeyman on the wrong side of 30 as the option.

I'm impressed with how well Camargo has handled the aggressive promotion in the last 2 years, and he's definitely got some pop in his bat. I'd like to see him finish the year taking a few more walks and making more contact before I consider him a catcher of the future, though.

[umterp23]

$10MM per year roadblock with Vazquez contract will be a problem.  Jeffers has adjusted quite nicely and has a solid game all around.  Nice problem to have with AAA guy waiting in the wings due to an injury

[wabene]

Camargo is fun to watch. I've had my eye on him since Seth's video, I think about a year ago. Tons of personality, this is a guy who could add a spark to any team. The best home run trot in the system. 

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, umterp23 said:

$10MM per year roadblock with Vazquez contract will be a problem.  Jeffers has adjusted quite nicely and has a solid game all around.  Nice problem to have with AAA guy waiting in the wings due to an injury

Let’s hope for a strong finish in St Paul this summer so we actually have some options to consider.

[FlyingFinn]

He was free to sign with anyone this winter. I'm glad the Twins got him back. If Camargo keeps this up, I say he's on the 40 man roster this winter.

[jorgenswest]

Can he help in 2023? I think his AAA strike out to walk ratio screams he needs more time in AAA. There is upside and long term hope. However if they have a need for a catcher right now, Wolters is more ready to help. 

[TwinsDr2021]

3 hours ago, wabene said:

Camargo is fun to watch. I've had my eye on him since Seth's video, I think about a year ago. Tons of personality, this is a guy who could add a spark to any team. The best home run trot in the system. 

Fun to watch? He strikes out 37% or 40% of the time, depending on how you look at it of the time, has 3 doubles in 131 at bats. Has walked 10 times. He is exactly like what we are all complaining about at the big league level.

Three outcomes, K, Out, homer.

With that said he is almost 24 which for catchers isn't really that old of prospect so he has time to get better with the bat, he has never walked so I don't expect that to get any better. Would hope/expect to see him sometime next year.

 

[wabene]

12 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Fun to watch? He strikes out 37% or 40% of the time, depending on how you look at it of the time, has 3 doubles in 131 at bats. Has walked 10 times. He is exactly like what we are all complaining about at the big league level.

Three outcomes, K, Out, homer.

With that said he is almost 24 which for catchers isn't really that old of prospect so he has time to get better with the bat, he has never walked so I don't expect that to get any better. Would hope/expect to see him sometime next year.

 

Yeah I just meant the fun parts, lol. Good point strikeouts are getting old

[Ricky Vaughn]

No discussion of his defensive ability. As a catcher that's more important than hitting a few home runs.

[weitz41]

3 hours ago, Ricky Vaughn said:

No discussion of his defensive ability. As a catcher that's more important than hitting a few home runs.

Was wondering the same thing.

Always great to see someone who you hadn't thought about in a while doing well. There are a couple catchers in the system making a little noise. Maybe it's not as bleak, in the catching dept, as it looked a year or two ago.

[Rosterman]

catching prospect Jair. We forget how young he is for all the time he has spent in pro-ball, slowly coming up thru the system and losing a year to COVID.

Of course, the Twins needed to protect, didn't, and he got thru Rule 5. He won't get thru Rule 5 in this coming off-saeeson.

No, he is NOT ready to contribute to the team this season. He can start 2024 again in St. Paul and be the future catcher. Vasquez will have two more seasons. Jeffers would take over for a year or two after that. Jair could be the fill-in for an injury in 2024-25. In that time he may be bypassed by others in the system, or maybe not. Keep[ing him on the 40-man will create that issue.

Right now, if the Twins needed another catcher, they would have to mkake a 40-man roster change. Hopefully with a guy like Wolters who could be cut if need be when back to catcher strength. WHich is the way Twins are playing it in 2023.

Defensively, the guy has shown an arm for base stealing catches. Remember,m he is young. Developing power. Has to work on the strikeouts. Again, glad the Twins were able to resign him. 

[DocBauer]

Considering age and level, I wasn't overly concerned he might  be selected in rule 5, but I was worried someone might sweep in and grab him as a milb FA. And I was VERY HAPPY the Twins re-signed him, despite some initial confusion about his namesake of a utility infielder, lol.

I do believe if the Twins needed a 3rd catcher they would find a way for the vastly more experienced Wolters. Why wouldn't you add an experienced ML catcher at this point, having a solid season.

Everything I've ever heard or read about Camargo is that he's a quality backstop with a good arm, and budding power. And I've been watching him pretty intently since acquired, especially since last year. He, like a lot of prospects in the system, were pushed to a higher level this year than I expected. I honestly thought he'd start 2023 in Wichita. To be only 23yo, as a catcher, pushed to AAA after little more than a half season at AA really surprised me.

I know this gets old, and I'm tired of it too, but DEVELOPMENT AGE of so many prospects is really a year younger than physical age. I just don't know how anyone can dispute that logically. So Camargo is still rather young at 23yo, but is 22yo in developmental time. Even at 23yo, he's not old for AAA, and catchers sometimes take a little longer unless they are "special" prospects. It's probably the hardest position to find both offense and defense. 

Despite age and experience, the Twins have pushed Jair. He's responded brilliantly since his first few weeks. He's going to come down, most assuredly. And the best thing that could happen for him is for Jeffers and Vazquez to remain healthy, and for the veteran Wolters to remain the "emergency" 3rd catcher. And that sort of goes against my immediate philosophy of running with prospects at various other positions. But we're talking about a very young catching prospect just coming in to his own.  I would much rather see him building up his bat, game, and approach for the rest of 2023, being added to the 40 man, and making his ML debut as the 3rd catcher in 2024.

Catcher of the future? Please! I really like the kid! But he's not going to supplant Vazquez or Jeffers any time soon. Jeffers especially seems to be making a claim offensively and defensively to maybe being the #1. Time will tell.

Camargo needs to focus on better contact and less K's. Right now, he's Drew Butera with more power. And that's not bad. But better contact, a better "hit" tool could propel him to being an awesome #2. But he's still a ways away from riding a hot streak at AAA from being a #1 "catcher of the future". The fun part is, what might he be a year from now?

BTW, FWIW, I have no illusions about Isola suddenly becoming a true catcher prospect, despite a great season in AA. But the Twins have drafted 5 catchers in the past 2 drafts and signed a couple IL kids. So they haven't been ignoring the position. Winkel has been pushed hard to AA after only being drafted in 2021, but offers some potential. Cardenas, also selected in 2021, is behind him but looking better offensively. And Cossetti is looking pretty damn strong as a dual strength catcher as well.

Baez, also drafted last year with Cossetti, was held back initially. But he's a great athlete who came to catching full time late. He's got more athleticism than you normally see in a catcher. He's rough around the edges to be sure. But if he puts in the work, he MIGHT just be one of the best selections in 2022.

NONE of these options are going to be ready for at least 2yrs plus. The good news is there is potential in the system, and Vazquez and Jeffers SHOULD have the position locked down for the next few years. That doesn't mean Camargo can't be a quality ML option. It just means he has to keep doing what he's doing and continue to improve as a "hitter" and wait for opportunity. 

[twinstalker]

I've been following him since the trade.  I do believe he will be the Twins backup catcher of the future.  There are reasons to believe he won't be more, but we can cross our fingers.  I'll agree he's overlooked and one of the few actual prospects in the Twins system (who hasn't played MLB).  The Dodgers have the best catching prospects probably of all-time these days, so it probably didn't phase them to give up their #8 or #9 minor league catcher.  I'm surprised they didn't sign Ethan Salas!.

[Doctor Wu]

As others have mentioned, we're a bit weak on real catching prospects, so it will be interesting to see how he does in the coming months. Not sure we'll see him  this season, but the injury factor can also necessitate a sudden callup. 

[saviking]

He'll have to wait out Vasquez contract but is young enough to do so. But if someone gets hurt it's good to know he's available .. What intrigues me is he has hit two homer runs over 475 feet ..

[High heat]

A 23 yr old who by all accounts is solid to good defensively as a catcher.  Now the bat appears to be showing so power.  If he can add some more contact he may be a solid catcher.  
 

I would guess he is a 40 man add this off-season unless the bat falls off the rest of the way!!!  He isn’t much of an option in 2023 unless both Jeffers and Vasquez go down.