His walk rate (<2%) and chase rate (37%) are still concerns, but worst case he's a quality #2 catcher. Could even fetch actual value in a trade if Teel ends up blocking him.
Is Connor Wong a starting catcher?
- Thread starter nvalvo
- Start date
He's such an interesting player - very few catcher profiles come to mind to compare him to. The only thing keeping him back defensively is keeping the ball of front of him (worst so far this season, and 10th percentile last season in blocks above average per statcast). But he controls the running game because everyone knows his pop time, and when guys do go, they get thrown out more often than not. The pitch framing BS will go away soon too because of the automated zone, so that'll make him even better.
Teel's pop time has been clocked at 1.9 which is even better than Wong's was last season (1.92) and in the 89th percentile. This is the best catching future they've had since the Slocumb trade. The Dodgers were swindled (tongue not visible).
Edit: Or a pop time of 1.72 depending on the quality of stop watches.
View: https://twitter.com/RotoClegg/status/1689099761616326656
Teel's pop time has been clocked at 1.9 which is even better than Wong's was last season (1.92) and in the 89th percentile. This is the best catching future they've had since the Slocumb trade. The Dodgers were swindled (tongue not visible).
Edit: Or a pop time of 1.72 depending on the quality of stop watches.
View: https://twitter.com/RotoClegg/status/1689099761616326656
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Teel bats left, Wong bats right. McGuire would seem to be the odd man out. If Wong keeps hitting like this, they can find other ways to get his bat in the lineup when he's not catching. Ditto for Teel.
That play should be shown during GG voting! Are there even 5 MLB catchers with the speed to make that play?
I'm not sure I've *ever* seen a catcher field an infield hit as well as that. The distance he had to run, the speed with which he got there, the spin and the accuracy.
It was an absolutely beautiful play.
Merloni did a nice job on the broadcast last night also talking about how that really was a key tipping point between Crawford's line being an excellent 7ip with 2er as opposed to 5+ip with 2er and seeing leaving it up to the Joley Rodriguez' of the world to make sure it doesn't end up looking like a horrible start.
I continue to feel the same way about Wong I have for a while. He's absolutely fine as a starting catcher on small money. Sure, you could probably upgrade, but with holes in plenty of other places, it's not really something that needs fixing. He's a good "caddy" to go with Teel if he's ready any time soon (as mentioned, hits from the opposite side) and can hold down the fort as an above average catcher until he's ready. Nothing wrong with having above average players - the issue is of course when you have a large number of below average players that all need to be platooned to be effective and only 26 spots on the roster.
Wong isn't that, and it's a good thing.
Merloni did a nice job on the broadcast last night also talking about how that really was a key tipping point between Crawford's line being an excellent 7ip with 2er as opposed to 5+ip with 2er and seeing leaving it up to the Joley Rodriguez' of the world to make sure it doesn't end up looking like a horrible start.
I continue to feel the same way about Wong I have for a while. He's absolutely fine as a starting catcher on small money. Sure, you could probably upgrade, but with holes in plenty of other places, it's not really something that needs fixing. He's a good "caddy" to go with Teel if he's ready any time soon (as mentioned, hits from the opposite side) and can hold down the fort as an above average catcher until he's ready. Nothing wrong with having above average players - the issue is of course when you have a large number of below average players that all need to be platooned to be effective and only 26 spots on the roster.
Wong isn't that, and it's a good thing.
McGuire has a year left of control after this year. They all kind of line up if Teel continues to progress.
Wong is better than last year but isn't a world beater. The game calling is much better however the framing and his bat aren't huge improvements. He doesn't walk and makes weak contact a lot chasing bad pitches. If the entire infield wasn't the island of misfit toys, it would be less of an issue.
So is he a starting catcher? Shrug I guess but not a really good one.
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Under the hood a little for those who like Savant.
Obviously not great exit velocities or HH%'s (that's not new), but when the guy has hit the ball hard this year, he makes it count.
Defense is as others have noted. Terrible at blocking pitches, and I'm sure the CS will go up.
1st percentile for BB's is, uh, not good, but love to see him in the 50th percentile for K's. 12% less K's than last year. 12%!!! That's a continuation of the spring, where his K rate was only 18%, I believe. I think eliminating the toe tap has really helped. Others have speculated he's just swinging a lot earlier in the count.
He's swinging 3% more or so, 2% more on the first pitch. And he's just making more contact. Whiff rate is down 7%, 5% more contact on pitches he's chasing, 8% more contact on pitches in the zone. Swinging at pitches in the one 4% more. That's a substantial difference.
The BABIP is obviously through the roof (412), but a Wong that hits .250/.300/.450 would definitely play.
Obviously not great exit velocities or HH%'s (that's not new), but when the guy has hit the ball hard this year, he makes it count.
Defense is as others have noted. Terrible at blocking pitches, and I'm sure the CS will go up.
1st percentile for BB's is, uh, not good, but love to see him in the 50th percentile for K's. 12% less K's than last year. 12%!!! That's a continuation of the spring, where his K rate was only 18%, I believe. I think eliminating the toe tap has really helped. Others have speculated he's just swinging a lot earlier in the count.
He's swinging 3% more or so, 2% more on the first pitch. And he's just making more contact. Whiff rate is down 7%, 5% more contact on pitches he's chasing, 8% more contact on pitches in the zone. Swinging at pitches in the one 4% more. That's a substantial difference.
The BABIP is obviously through the roof (412), but a Wong that hits .250/.300/.450 would definitely play.
While I get what you're saying here, he's also not a really bad one either. I tend to think all in, he's a little above average. Which is fine and certainly not a problem.
Or, put another way, plenty of other stuff to spend time worrying about and trying to fix than Connor Wong as the "starting" catcher.
Yea, I would probably argue a bit below average (I worry about a catcher with no command of the strike zone on either side of the plate) but you are right the team has bigger problems and there is nothing I would do to "correct" the situation besides continue to monitor Teel.
I think I've said this before but I'm a huge fan of Connor Wong. He's just entering his prime, he can whack the ball, he has to be the fastest catcher on the basepaths, and he can control the running game. He's also inexpensive.
Also, I know whatever is going on with the staff is due to that Baily and Co. Magic Sauce but Wong has to play some part in it, even if it's just a small part.
Also, I know whatever is going on with the staff is due to that Baily and Co. Magic Sauce but Wong has to play some part in it, even if it's just a small part.
I'd be curious to know how the blocking numbers translate into runners advancing/scoring.
It has been said before, but Wong doesn't have a ton of catching experience. He did not catch regularly until his final year of college and he started at catcher intermittently in the minors: 2017- 26 games, 2018- 70 games, 2019- 80 games, 2020- 0 games, 2021- 44 games+3 games with the Sox, 2022- 53 games+17 games with the Sox. That's an average of 49 games a year.
Finally, last year, he started 105 games with the Sox. He's still young (turning 28 later in May) and is considered to be exceptionally athletic. I would anticipate that his defense is still a work in progress and will continue to improve.
Finally, last year, he started 105 games with the Sox. He's still young (turning 28 later in May) and is considered to be exceptionally athletic. I would anticipate that his defense is still a work in progress and will continue to improve.
What? The guy is killing it this year.... his defense and framing/catching looks fantastic! His control of the basepaths has to be elite.... So what he doesn't walk a lot if he's hitting the ball and not making outs. What the hell do people want here????
As far as Teel not being ready... yeah, McGuire has a full season remaining and it's not a shock that Teel is struggling and yes, it's once month into the season and I expect him to get better. But it's one month in AA. I'd like to see him at least for half a year in AAA before saying he's the future of the team behind the plate. And I do think he is, but I REALLY doubt that's happening anytime soon or even opening day '25.
As far as Teel not being ready... yeah, McGuire has a full season remaining and it's not a shock that Teel is struggling and yes, it's once month into the season and I expect him to get better. But it's one month in AA. I'd like to see him at least for half a year in AAA before saying he's the future of the team behind the plate. And I do think he is, but I REALLY doubt that's happening anytime soon or even opening day '25.
Had a huge game last night, so maybe he’s getting his feet under him.
View: https://twitter.com/redsoxplayerdev/status/1786036230137782622?s=46&t=SzrdSkggdLnlBb_l7iGXpg
By bWAR, the Boston catching tandem of Wong/McGuire tie for #5 in baseball.
MIL - 1.2
KCR - 1.0
LAD - 0.8
ATL - 0.7
BOS/MIN/BAL - 0.6
Wong's individual bWAR is 0.8. McGuire's is 0.5.
Only 8 catchers have a higher WAR than Wong.
Contreras-MIL 1.8
Perez-KC 1.7
Jeffers-MIN 1.4
Rutschman-BAL 1.3
d'Arnaud-ATL 1.2
Smith-LAD 1.2
Raleigh-SEA 1.1
Bailey-SFG 1.1
As bWAR is a counting stat, it's good to note these guys, except for d'Arnaud and Bailey, all have more ABs than Wong.
But even so, by bWAR, that puts him at #9 among the 30 starting catchers in baseball.
He's OPSing .750 (wRC+ 119) in god awful weather. That's perfectly fine.