Mike Zunino and the Mariner Catchers

At this time last year going into spring training Mike Zunino was planned by general manager Jerry Dipoto, manager Scott Servais and the coaching staff to start the season in Tacoma. He had struggled the previous year in his hitting being around the two hundred level all season long. They knew that his catching skills were among the top in the American League however they felt that his hitting would have to be higher to really contribute to the Mariners. They don’t expect him to be one that hits for a high average but is able to hit at least .230 and hit some home runs and doubles. Zunino has a lot of power in his bat. None of the catchers that were on the roster last year are on the roster.

This season he is expected to be the starting catcher once again however it still depends on well he can hit. The Mariners brass knows that he will have his ups and downs but still wants him to be around .230 by the end of the season. If he struggles again like in 2015 most likely that will be the end of him being the everyday catcher. He not only has Edgar Martinez to help him on his hitting he will have Scott Brosius who was the hitting coach at Tacoma last year working with him. Scott Brosius is now Edgar’s assistant on the Mariners team. I am sure one or both will work with throughout spring training to be ready for the season.

During the off-season Jerry Dipoto went out and traded for veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz from the Los Angeles Dodgers for left handed reliever Vidal Nuno. Ruiz is expected to be Zunino’s back up. How much he plays will depend on how well Zunino does. Most likely he will catch at least once if not twice a week.

Recently the Mariners purchased Tuffy Gosewisch another veteran catcher off of waivers. He was added for depth to the catching position. Sort of odd because the Mariners designated Jesus Sucre for assignment when they picked up Gosewisch; Sucre was set as the third catcher going into spring training. The only reason I can think the Mariners did that is Sucre is out of options so he would have to make the roster coming out of spring training and spend the season on the team. If Sucre makes it through waivers there is a chance that the Mariners will bring him back however he would be signed as a non-roster invitee.  So at this point the Mariners have Zunino, Ruiz and Gosewisch on the forty man roster. If Zunino and Ruiz are healthy than Gosewisch most likely start the season with Tacoma; the Mariners have four other catchers being invited to came as well. Two of those guys will likely be at Tacoma to start the season and the other two may start at double A. Those catchers are Steve Baron who spent part of last season with Tacoma along with time at Double A. The others are Marcus Littlewood who has spent most of his career in Single A for the Mariners, Tyler Marlette the same and Sebastian Valle who the Mariners signed during the off-season as well. I would say that Baron and Valle are the likely two that will start at Tacoma. Baron may be the second best defensive catcher the Mariners have in their system outside of Zunino however he has struggled with his hitting in the minor leagues.  So those are the catchers that the Mariners have right now. It could change before or during spring training as well in the regular season. Go M’s.