MINNEAPOLIS _ Last season, the Twins used a catcher-by-committee system. Mitch Garver started 73 games at catcher, Jason Castro started 72 and Willians Astudillo 17.
There was no question that at the start of last season the Twins viewed Castro as their best defensive catcher, but they let him leave in the offseason for a one-year, $7 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels because they think Garver is ready to play more games behind the plate than he did in 2019 and become a true No. 1 catcher.
The Twins signed Alex Avila to a one-year deal after the 33-year old hit .207 in 63 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but there's no question they view him as the backup. The word is that Astudillo will battle for the Twins' final position-player spot, but as spring training begins the catcher position is surely Garver's to lose.
Garver's offensive ability had always been touted by the club as he rose up the minor league ranks. Last year, he proved he can be the best-hitting catcher in baseball as he hit 31 homers even though he played in just 93 games and had only 359 plate appearances. That was easily the most homers of any player in baseball with that few plate appearances.
The next-closest player was Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who had 27 homers in 369 plate appearances.
Yes, I remember last season when Joe Mauer told me he thought Garver had a real shot to be a star behind the plate for the Twins.
"He's always been a guy that I have enjoyed watching him hit," Mauer said.
It was a historic year for Garver in terms of power, but he also believes the experience he got behind the plate can carry over into this season.
"It was a successful year. I ended up hitting pretty well, hit a bunch of home runs and you know I got experienced more behind the plate and working with my pitchers," Garver said before reporting to spring training. "I think we improved a lot last year from the year previous, and we're looking to do it again."
One thing that could make a big impact on this club is that it lost hitting coach James Rowson to the Miami Marlins, where he became bench coach and offensive coordinator.
Garver told me last season that his relationship with Rowson had grown and improved his hitting. But he also said he has some experience with the new hitting coach, who was promoted out of the Twins minor league system.
"We actually lost our hitting coach James Rowson to the Miami Marlins but we have a new guy coming in, his name is Edgar Varela," Garver said. "I've worked with him previously in the minor leagues a little bit, so we're excited to have him."
The good news is that Garver will have some consistency in working with the pitchers because pitching coach Wes Johnson is back for a second season.
"Wes has been a really good asset for us and the pitchers really like him and he has come in and done a great job making sure we're all on the same page," Garver said. "I think the guys really respond to the way he really teaches the game."
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