Alex Jackson Quietly Broke a Statcast Era Record For a Minnesota Twins Catcher

[Cody Schoenmann]

Since the beginning of the 2015 MLB regular season, the Minnesota Twins have had 23 different catchers attempt a throw to second base. Of those 23 catchers, Caleb Hamilton had the slowest average pop time, averaging 2.13 seconds over three attempts in 2022. On the flip side, Ben Rortvedt averaged the fastest pop time among Twins catchers during that stretch, averaging 1.92 seconds over eight attempts in 2021. That was until Alex Jackson made his first start behind the plate as a member of the Twins last Friday.

 

In the bottom of the third innings of last Friday night’s contest between the Twins and the Boston Red Sox, Andruw Monasterio attempted to steal second base on Connor Prielipp. Monasterio’s steal attempt was snuffed, however, as Jackson threw him out to end the bottom half of the inning. Upon throwing Monasterio out, Jackson generated the quickest pop time of any Twins catcher in the Statcast era, exchanging the ball from his glove to second base in 1.87 seconds.

Jackson netting this record, if you will, shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who follow the sport. In 2025, Jackson tied for the sixth-fastest pop time of all catchers in baseball while with the Baltimore Orioles. The backstop made minimal appearances behind the plate from 2022 through 2024, due to his offensive shortcomings. However, he also tied for the fifth-fastest pop time (tied with Rortvedt, funny enough) of all major league catchers in 2021. The driving force behind his long-standing top-of-the-league pop time, however, has been his elite arm.

 

Jackson’s throw to second base came in at 82.6 MPH, which is the 13th-fastest throw of all catchers this season. Unsurprisingly, the veteran backstop had the 15th-fastest throw down to second base last season, coming in at 83.4 MPH. Combining Jackson’s elite arm with his plus exchange time (he tied for the 12th-fastest exchange time in 2025), Minnesota has one of the best run-game mitigating catchers in baseball.

 

Jackson’s addition to the 26-man roster came at the unfortunate expense of losing Ryan Jeffers (who was in the midst of a career year offensively) to the 10-day IL with a broken left hamate bone. Still, while Jackson won’t be able to make up for Jeffers’s absence in the batter’s box, he will add value behind the plate, likely being Minnesota’s best defensive catcher since Joe Mauer transitioned into a full-time first baseman in 2014.

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[stringer bell]

This is why I liked his acquisition, despite his offensive deficiencies. He’s got the tools to be a very good defensive catcher,  I think both Jeffers and and Vázquez (and maybe Caratini) were pretty good in skills that sre tough to measure—working with the pitcher, calling a game etc., but stopping a running game hasn’t been a strength since Mauer traded in his catcher’s mitt.

It also has been noted that Jackson isn’t a glacial slow runner (in fact above average) and has some power. He’s never hit for average, but a few long balls coupled with good defense makes him an acceptable backup catcher. 

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

He is better defensively than Caratini and Jeffers. With Caratini struggling so bad right now, I think Jackson should be the catcher. Ill take better defenders all day long. 

[Eris]

Nice write up. Thank you. 

[jmlease1]

As a backup catcher, he seemed like he could be useful, and as an insurance policy in AAA a real asset. Until Tait and other options in the minors are ready, we'll likely need a guy like Jackson.

It'll be interesting to see how he does on challenges; that's been a real plus from Jeffers and Caratini IMHO.

[mikelink45]

Caratini has really disappointed - I hope Jackson can take the number one slot. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

I do think that Jackson makes a good backup catcher. Hell, he'd be a good starter if he could hit. At all. Maybe we'll get lucky and his breakout last year will turn out to be real. 

It will be interesting to see what they do once Jeffers is ready to come back, especially if Jackson is hitting a little and Caratini is not. If we assume that Jeffers is likely to be traded by the deadline, which seems likely to me, we don't want to potentially lose Jackson by exposing him to waivers or a DFA release. My guess is we will carry 3 catchers for awhile so Jeffers can show he's healthy and we can keep Jackson as the second (or 1st) catcher once Jeffers is gone.  I'd love to see the Twins sign Jeffers but as a Boras client, it seems very likely he will want to test free agency after he season so getting something for him is the logical way to go. Nothing prevents the Twins from re-signing him as a free agent after the season. Well, nothing except Ownership, I guess.  

 

 

[arby58]

At AAA this year, (slugger) Kyler Fedko has 11 HRs in 166 plate appearances - a HR every 15.1 PAs. (Defensive catcher) Alex Jackson has 7 HRs in 95 PAs, a HR every `13.8 PAs.

[Cody Schoenmann]

6 minutes ago, arby58 said:

At AAA this year, (slugger) Kyler Fedko has 11 HRs in 166 plate appearances - a HR every 15.1 PAs. (Defensive catcher) Alex Jackson has 7 HRs in 95 PAs, a HR every `13.8 PAs.

Kyler Fedko? The Triple-A Slugger?