Arizona Diamondbacks 2022 report cards: Catcher and DH

The Arizona Diamondbacks struggled to seek out offensive manufacturing on the catcher and designated hitter positions in 2022.

Total, the 2 positions mixed to slash .214/.303/.357 with 34 residence runs and 127 runs batted in throughout 1,278 plate appearances. Their .660 OPS ranked tied for twenty first in baseball throughout the 2 positions, whereas the 34 homers and 127 RBIs ranked twentieth and tied for twenty fifth, respectively.

Offense from catchers is commonly thought of a luxurious, however the designated hitter is designed to infuse extra offense into the lineup. Nevertheless, the D-backs ranked tied for twenty fifth in batting common from their DH. On high of that, they had been twenty fourth in RBIs from the place as properly.

With all that in thoughts, what grade do the 2 positions deserve?

Catchers

Carson Kelly

Kelly’s 2022 was a far cry from his 2021 manufacturing. The 27-year-old backstop noticed his batting common dip by 29 factors, his on-base proportion by 61 and his slugging by 77. He hit six fewer residence runs, drove in 11 fewer runs and had a 1.4 lower in FanGraphs’ wins above alternative (fWAR).

Towards left-handers, with whom he dealt with to a .313 common and .607 slug final 12 months, he hit .197 with a .336 slug in 2022.

For Kelly’s profession, he’s usually teetered across the league common in framing. This season, he ranked within the 54th percentile in framing. When it comes to framing runs, which accounts for runs the catcher’s framing saves, he had three. In his seven-year profession, that’s his second-most framing runs.

D-backs pitchers additionally had a 3.82 ERA with Kelly behind the plate. Zac Gallen, who had one of the best season of his profession in 2022, posted a 1.84 ERA with a .485 opponent’s OPS with Kelly.

Merrill Kelly additionally posted his finest numbers with Kelly behind the plate, with a 3.18 ERA and .650 opponent OPS.

Jose Herrera

Herrera, a 25-year-old rookie, performed 47 video games on the MLB degree in 2022. In 124 plate appearances, he slashed .189/.250/.207 with simply two extra-base hits and 5 runs batted in.

He additionally ranked within the thirty fifth percentile for catcher framing.

Herrera performed properly in Triple-A Reno, slashing .341/.423/.440 in 26 video games.

Remaining Grade: D+

Offensively, neither Kelly nor Herrera carried out at a excessive degree in 2022. In 478 mixed plate appearances, they slashed .206/.274/.301 with seven residence runs and 40 runs batted in.

Defensively, they had been a web constructive. When it comes to framing runs, Kelly had three and Herrera had zero. Them combining for 3 framing runs, in addition to Kelly’s 3.82 catcher ERA, stored them from having a low-D-grade or F-grade season.

Designated Hitters

Sixteen gamers made at the least one begin because the group’s DH in 2022. Nevertheless, solely six performed at the least 10.

Of these six, solely three didn’t get an prolonged description of their season in earlier report playing cards. These three can be highlighted right here.

Seth Beer

Beer began his 2022 with a bang, launching a walk-off three-run homer within the season opener in opposition to the San Diego Padres.

Nevertheless, that was his solely MLB homer of the season. In 37 video games after Opening Day, he slashed .178/.270/.206 with simply three extra-base hits and 6 runs batted in. His -0.9 fWAR tied reliever Ian Kennedy for the worst on the Diamondbacks roster.

In 28 video games as a DH, Beer hit .178 with one residence run and eight RBIs.

He noticed a manufacturing uptick in 90 video games for Triple-A Reno, slashing .242/.361/.435 with 14 residence runs and 62 runs batted in.

There’s energy within the left-hander’s bat, it’s nearly discovering consistency in opposition to big-league arms for him shifting ahead.

Pavin Smith

Like Beer, Smith struggled in 2022. Nevertheless, the seventh total choose in 2017 has a beefier resume on the MLB degree.

In his first 157 video games, Smith slashed .267/.329/.404 with 12 residence runs, 27 doubles and 53 runs batted in.

That being stated, 2022 wasn’t type to him. Accidents restricted him to 75 video games, the place he hit .220 with 9 homers and 33 RBIs for a 0.1 fWAR. As a DH, these numbers fall to .211/.260/.310 with one homer and 7 RBIs.

He may need sufficient big-league pedigree to start out 2023 increased on the D-backs’ hierarchy than Beer, however his manufacturing as a delegated hitter wasn’t nice.

Cooper Hummel

As a delegated hitter, Hummel had 53 plate appearances. Nevertheless, he slashed .093/.264/.116 with one double and two runs batted in.

His 10 walks tied him for second amongst D-backs designated hitters regardless of being fifth in plate appearances. That stated, his .264 OBP as a DH ranked thirteenth.

He’s representing the group on the Arizona Fall League this offseason because the member with probably the most big-league expertise.

The 27-year-old has dealt with minor-league pitching by seven skilled seasons. His subsequent step is discovering his stroke on the MLB degree.

Remaining Grade: F

Briefly, the designated hitter is meant to function an additional supply of offense. Nevertheless, the Diamondbacks bought something however constant offense from the place.

In actual fact, they had been among the many worst groups in baseball in offensive manufacturing from their designated hitters in 2022. Shifting ahead, they should discover methods to get extra from the place if they need their lineup to take the following step and construct a powerhouse round their younger outfield core.