Catchers

Kurt Suzuki is still the Twins catcher but, as I mentioned in a post several months ago, all our other  2015 40-man roster catchers are gone this spring. That list includes Chris Hermann, Eric Fryer, and Josmil Pinto. So are Dan Rolfing and Tyler Graves, two other non-roster invitee catchers from last spring.

So who will be the primary projected back-up to Suzuki this season? John Ryan Murphy has the best chance. He's a former second round pick of the Yankees and only 24 years old. He's had the most major league experience of the camp candidates. He's probably the closest thing to a lock. The Twins currently look at him as a long-term replacement for Suzuki.

John Hicks and Juan Centeno are cast-offs from other ball clubs. Stuart Turner and Carlos Paulino are our high minor league guys. We even have our two of our A ball catchers in camp: Mitch Garver and Alex Swim.

Honestly, the Twins look for two things in their back-ups. Can they play another position regularly AND can they pinch hit effectively? The more versatile they are, the better chance they have at making the team.

Centeno has never hit more than one homerun in any minor league season, yet he already has a home run this spring. John Hicks was 2-32 in his brief stint with the Mariners last year, but is a lifetime .280 minor league hitter with some power. And he's also a 40-man protected roster player.

The Twins usually go with one back-up catcher and sometimes call up another man who can play outfield and catch if needed. I don't think anybody falls into that category this year. Molitor may use that extra roster spot as a 13th pitcher, too.