Chicago White Sox: Who will emerge as the backup catcher?

The Chicago White Sox roster is locked and loaded. Nearly every position is accounted for and fans have already begun penciling in their opening day lineups. However, one position still has a large question mark. Who will be the backup catcher behind Yasmani Grandal?

The Chicago White Sox has some intriguing options to be the backup catcher.

After James McCann took his talents to Queens to play for the Mets it broke up the best catching tandem in baseball. Luckily for the White Sox, they still have plenty of internal candidates in Zach Collins, Yermin Mercedes, and Seby Zavala. They also spiced things up by adding Jonathan Lucroy to the mix. With Yasmani Grandal nursing a knee injury all four candidates have had ample opportunity to showcase their talents.

They say competition breeds excellence. So far it has brought out the best in all the catchers in camp making manager Tony La Russa’s decision a difficult one. Each has played well in the limited Spring Training action they have seen. The skipper discussed what he was looking for in a backup catcher once the season is underway.

” If there’s one thing it is, it’s think and handle the pitching. That’s the number one. The great thinkers can really bring the best out of a pitcher, makes it tougher to hit. Thats the number one thing.”

The Hall of Fame manager continued adding

“It’s the receiving, the throwing, the hitting, there’s nothing that’s not important. But thinking, calling a good game, that’s priority number one.”

With these priorities in mind, who has the inside track position? Unfortunately, La Russa has made it clear that carrying three catchers on Opening Day is highly unlikely. That means strap it down because only one man is coming out of this competition with a job. Here is a breakdown of each catcher and what they can bring to the table in 2021:

Zach Collins is a former Chicago White Sox first-round pick that is an interesting option.

The pressure is on Zach Collins. Collins was selected with the tenth overall pick in the 2016 draft with the expectations he would be the White Sox future catcher. He was drafted because of his raw power and ability to get on base. Things have not quite worked out as planned.

Collins made his debut in 2019 but played sparingly. In 27 games he hit .186 with three home runs. In 2020 he only played in nine games and didn’t fare much better at the plate hitting an abysmal .063. However, he said he used that time to bulk up and get in better shape. Collins has not yet been given a real opportunity in the major leagues. With consistent playing time in Triple-A Charlotte in 2019, he slashed .282/.403/.548. He also hit 19 home runs and drove in 74. It is obvious that Collins possesses the offensive potential the White Sox were hoping for when they drafted him. An added bonus is his plate discipline and ability to draw walks, something that the White Sox have struggled with in recent years.

So far in spring training, Collins is 2-for-4 with some walks and a homer thrown in. There have been some questions about his defense. Out of all the candidates, he is probably the worse defensively at this point in his career. That’s not to say he can’t improve. The White Sox catching instructor Jerry Narron has been working with Collins and says he has improved his defense by catching on a knee this year. He also thinks this new stance will improve his pitch framing.

The White Sox would like to see their 2016 investment pay off. Collins probably would be the favorite to win the job if it wasn’t for the arrival of Jonathan Lucroy. But given Tony La Russa’s emphasis on handling the pitching staff, Collins is going to have to prove he is up to the task behind the dish.

Jonathan Lucroy’s veteran presence could really help the Chicago White Sox.

Jonathan Lucroy is a veteran catcher who the White Sox picked up off the scrap heap in February. Lucroy finished fourth in the NL MVP voting and making the All-Star team in 2014 as a member of the Brewers. He hit a career-best 24 homers and returned to the All-Star game in 2016 but since then his production has evaporated. The 34-year-old catcher has been passed around the league with short stints with the Rangers, Rockies, Athletics, Angels, Cubs, Red Sox, and Phillies. He rode the bench in Philly and never saw the field. With the Red Sox, he caught two innings but was not given an opportunity to hit.

Since his All-Star season, he has batted .254/.319/.348 with 10 home runs in 935 plate appearances. Not only has his offensive production taken a nose dive but his defense has deteriorated as well. In his years with the Brewers, Lucroy was considered one of the game’s best defensive catchers. He ranked among baseball’s elite in pitch-framing ability. However, in 2018 he led all American League catchers with 10 errors.

Injuries have played a part in his decline. After the 2016 season, he herniated a disc in his neck. He believes that caused the decline and said that it has been since corrected. The White Sox uniform will be the ninth jersey different Lucroy has collected over the course of eleven seasons.

So far the early returns have been promising. Lucroy was given the keys to the corvette on Tuesday. He got to catch the ace of the staff and Lucas Giolito’s first Spring Training start. He impressed at the plate going 2-for-2 which included a double. If Lucroy is able to turn back the clock, he is exactly the type of backup catcher Tony La Russa is looking for.

Yermin Mercedes is a long shot for the Chicago White Sox but would be a fun option. 

Yermin Mercedes burst onto the scene during spring training last season. He launched four home runs, had four RBI’s, and batted .381 before COVID-19 grinned spring training to a halt. His production earned him the nickname “The Yerminator”.  He has been productive on just about every level. In eight minor league seasons, Yermin Mercedes is hitting .302 with 83 home runs and 390 RBI’s.

Like Collins, his defense leaves a lot to be desired. But he has been working with Jerry Narron.

We’re working a lot, blocking, receiving, mentality,” Mercedes said. “That’s the goal, the mentality with the pitchers, the sequence, be ready for everything. The most we can do is be focused in the game, see what’s going on, like, ‘Oh, that play, we can make it.’ Blocking, receiving the ball. We do the best we can do in the practice. We feel great with that.”

Mercedes has an uphill climb if he wants to make the team. He only has one Major League plate appearance to his name and is yet to record his first hit. The one thing he does have going his way is his versatility. During White Sox summer camp he could be seen playing left field and third base.

This is going to be his ticket to a roster spot if he wants to make the team. A strong offensive showing mixed with some flexibility in the field and improved defense behind the plate may be enough for the White Sox to decide to carry three catchers.

A 3-for-5 showing with a pair of RBI singles on Wednesday is a good start. Unfortunately, the deck is stacked against Mercedes given the fact that the White Sox are in “World Series or bust” mode. They do not have time to experiment with a reclamation project.