Is Connor Wong a starting catcher?

[YTF]

Just from watching, Wong seems best suited as the strong side of a platoon situation. Recently he seemed to struggle when the team needed to rely on him on a daily basis. I feel that if they can pair him up with a better option than McGuire and let him catch 110-120 games the Sox will be in very good shape until the Teel era begins.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Hell yes.

Its not just his hitting of late. He seems to be putting up quality ABs regularly regardless of outcome.

Also, that throw was pretty sick.

 

[joe dokes]

Just from watching, Wong seems best suited as the strong side of a platoon situation. Recently he seemed to struggle when the team needed to rely on him on a daily basis. I feel that if they can pair him up with a better option than McGuire and let him catch 110-120 games the Sox will be in very good shape until the Teel era begins.

Other than Realmuto, no catcher appeared in more than 116 games in 2022, so your target number seems about right. I prefer using the traditional backup catcher based on a platoon advantage, rather than for a particular starter. Regardless, Wong is not a big guy. The beginning of McGuire's rehab stint has reduced my flashbacks to Saltalamacchia being pretty worn out by the end of the 2013 season after Ross missed a couple of months mid season.

 

[EyeBob]

Not every position player has to rake! When you have 6 hitters with an OPS over .800, the other 3 can be glove first people (thank to Sox Prospects Podcast for this perspective), Wong is a very strong defender and his "pop time" is phenomenal. Look at his throw out of that flunky in the 9th last night. Dude has 45 steals in AAA this season, Wong's throw beat him by 18". Off of Jansen, no less. Platoon him as @YTF mentioned.

 

[HangingW/ScottCooper]

Considering the projected lineup over the next year or two Wong is absolutely fine offensively in the 8 or 9 hole and seems to be above average defensively. I think we can expect Christian Vazquez like productivity from him provided he stays healthy.

 

[JM3]

View: https://twitter.com/sis_baseball/status/1684213606433406976

 

[DavidTai]

NM, someone linked the article.

Will say, I love that while his arm isn't his greatest strength, what IS elite is his 'accuracy + location'.

 

[Sprowl]

Fielding Bible Strike Zone for catchers and Fangraphs Defensive Runs Saved both give Wong poor ratings for framing. He has plenty of distinguished company in the below-average category, so maybe framing is a less important indicator than controlling the running game. Still, if we want to consider Connor Wong an elite defensive catcher, we'd better hope that technological development makes pitch presentation irrelevant.

In other words, Robots Now!

 

[jmcc5400]

Fielding Bible Strike Zone for catchers and Fangraphs Defensive Runs Saved both give Wong poor ratings for framing. He has plenty of distinguished company in the below-average category, so maybe framing is a less important indicator than controlling the running game. Still, if we want to consider Connor Wong an elite defensive catcher, we'd better hope that technological development makes pitch presentation irrelevant.

In other words, Robots Now!

Yeah, there’s been at least a half dozen occasions where I’ve groaned because Wong has reached to catch a ball in the zone with kind of a flourish that takes the ball out of the zone without pausing on the catch. I’ve noticed it less more recently, so hopefully it’s something he’s improving.

 

[johnnyfromspain]

Fielding Bible Strike Zone for catchers and Fangraphs Defensive Runs Saved both give Wong poor ratings for framing. He has plenty of distinguished company in the below-average category, so maybe framing is a less important indicator than controlling the running game. Still, if we want to consider Connor Wong an elite defensive catcher, we'd better hope that technological development makes pitch presentation irrelevant.

In other words, Robots Now!

Of all the skills required of a catcher, I cannot think of any other one easier to teach, and learn, than framing. It is much harder to teach throwing properly to the bases, calling for pitches and overall field management, than making sure strikes are called strikes (and maybe even some fringe piches as well!).

Wong seems like a bright kid, and he is certainly in excellent hands (Varitek!) in order to continue improving. We should be very optimistic with him! I have been greatly surprised by his development this season.

 

[Yo La Tengo]

Of all the skills required of a catcher, I cannot think of any other one easier to teach, and learn, than framing. It is much harder to teach throwing properly to the bases, calling for pitches and overall field management, than making sure strikes are called strikes (and maybe even some fringe piches as well!).

Wong seems like a bright kid, and he is certainly in excellent hands (Varitek!) in order to continue improving. We should be very optimistic with him! I have been greatly surprised by his development this season.

There is some interesting info about how much Realmuto improved his pitch framing skills in this article. I agree that framing is easier to improve than blocking or throwing.

https://www.philliesnation.com/2021/01/the-hidden-value-in-j-t-realmuto-lies-within-his-improved-pitch-framing-abilities/

Also, grading as poor for framing in 2023 is very different than a few years ago as all teams work to improve that facet of the game, thereby narrowing the advantage/disadvantage:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/pitch-framing-is-evolving-along-with-the-strike-zone/

 

[SouthernBoSox]

There is some interesting info about how much Realmuto improved his pitch framing skills in this article. I agree that framing is easier to improve than blocking or throwing.

https://www.philliesnation.com/2021/01/the-hidden-value-in-j-t-realmuto-lies-within-his-improved-pitch-framing-abilities/

Also, grading as poor for framing in 2023 is very different than a few years ago as all teams work to improve that facet of the game, thereby narrowing the advantage/disadvantage:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/pitch-framing-is-evolving-along-with-the-strike-zone/


View attachment 68176

I actually think the difference is most likely that umpires have had to improve their ability with the increase in technology.

 

[joe dokes]

View: https://twitter.com/sis_baseball/status/1684213606433406976

Reminds me a bit of Thurman Munson [/ducking], who made up for arm strength with an insanely quick release.

Also noticed one thing that still bugs me about ML infielders these days. On the first, perfect throw to 2B. Hernandez caught the ball almost literally at the spot where the runner was sliding yet still reached and tagged him higher up on the leg. (At least he let the ball travel and didn't reach toward home to grab it, then reach back to make the tag.)

 

[johnnyfromspain]

There is some interesting info about how much Realmuto improved his pitch framing skills in this article. I agree that framing is easier to improve than blocking or throwing.

https://www.philliesnation.com/2021/01/the-hidden-value-in-j-t-realmuto-lies-within-his-improved-pitch-framing-abilities/

Also, grading as poor for framing in 2023 is very different than a few years ago as all teams work to improve that facet of the game, thereby narrowing the advantage/disadvantage:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/pitch-framing-is-evolving-along-with-the-strike-zone/


View attachment 68176

Wow! Awesome information. Thanks!

 

[Sin Duda]

For a guy who hasn't played catcher his whole career, Connor Wong made a heads -up play last night on that batter's interference call. I just watched the replay, and he intentionally ran into the batter while looking for the ball.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Bumping this for his incredible ST so far. I know I know I know.... ST/SSS but worth discussing. His "weaknesses" last season supposedly was his pitch framing, game calling and general offense (very low discipline/BB%) but he balanced that out enough with good SLG% and a good arm to keep runners in check, at least enough to hide his bat at the back end of a lineup.
There's plenty of posters here that thought he was basically one step above garbage but I saw a quickly learning- maybe "on the job" a little too early?- last season but right now he's looking like he could be a top tier catcher, working with Tek more, his off-season hitting adjustments hold. I can easily see him hitting something like .240/.320/.420 with improved defensive skills.

 

[nvalvo]

He's basically faced a AA level of competition, so I wouldn't put too much stock on his 13/30, 2 HR performance.

That said, per Merloni's color commentary and my own eyeballs, he appears to have simplified his hitting mechanics somewhat. So we'll see if that pays off.

 

[Skiponzo]

I've been quietly optimistic about him all offseason. It might not be predicative but his first year vs second year in AAA showed he knows how to make offseason batting adjustments and if working with Tek helps improve his weak defensive areas...well like most of the team if "ifs" come to fruition he could be a top line guy at C.

2021	WOR	INT	AAA	50	199	22	51	88	13	0	8	26	9	0	58	7	1	.256	.288	.442	.730	0.76
2022	WOR	INT	AAA	81	323	47	93	158	20	0	15	44	27	0	80	7	3	.288	.349	.489	.838	0.96

 

[The Filthy One]

Bumping this as Wong is on a heater. His line is up to .382/.371/.676. K rate currently at 25.7%, which is very playable (Only 34 ABs, so still too early to assume it's real). No walks is the most glaring issue with his season so far, but if he can continue to show pop (not necessarily the 8% HR rate he's carrying right now), that's a valuable player.