Diamondbacks catcher Tuffy Gosewisch will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a torn ACL, the club announced. The 31-year-old had already been placed on the 15-day DL.
Gosewisch earned his first opportunity at a regular role this year for Arizona. Generally a meager offensive producer in his time in the minors — most of it spent with the Phillies — Gosewisch was able to crack the lineup due to his quality glovework and the club’s lack of options behind the plate.
Through 138 plate appearances this year, Gosewisch largely matched the batting output he put up in reserve duty last year. All told, he has taken 317 turns at bat in the majors, slashing .212/.241/.285 with two home runs and two stolen bases. But Baseball Prospectus has valued him as a slightly above-average performer behind the dish.
Fellow backstop Wilson Ramos also suffered a May ACL tear back in 2012, ultimately missing the entire rest of the season. Despite missing the early part of Spring Training, he recovered in time to open the year on the active roster. Barring any setbacks, Gosewisch figures to follow approximately the same timeline.
With Gosewisch down for the rest of the year, it seems likely that mid-season signee Jarrod Saltalamacchia will do most of the receiving, with Jordan Pacheco functioning as the backup. But the door is now slightly more open for prospect Peter O’Brien, who is bludgeoning Triple-A pitching (.339/.379/.650) while he continues to work to establish himself as a viable defensive option.
Sad news. Due to his name, Major League Baseball is a better place when Tuffy Gosewisch is around.
Been tough around MLB the past month or so. First, Boof Bonser says goodbye, now Tuffy’s hurt. Here’s to a healthy season from Chi Chi Gonzalez.
O’Brien is now focusing on permanently playing in the OF. He made his desire known just a few days ago. The only option the Dbacks have if Salty continues not hitting, is Oscar Hernandez when he comes off the DL.
Oscar Hernandez will be on the 25-man as soon as he comes off the DL regardless of what Salty does. The only thing in question is whether or not he can force Salty out. Given that Salty is a complete wreck both at the plate and behind the plate, there’s a good chance he woulc wind up being the back-up, with Pacheco as third string.
This loss is a tuffy.
But really, good thing they actually signed other catchers.
Do they just put him on the 15 day before they know the diagnosis? It’s been 2 years since I had ACL surgery and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.
Tuff break, he had his chance, now it’s gone.
And now O’Brien has chosen to quit catching, meaning that Salty is likely to finish the season on the 25-man roster for the Diamondbacks. Pathetic.
O’Brien bludgeons pitched balls, for sure.
With a bat … and with a glove.
Unlikely D-Backs FO has the foresight, but they should shop Trumbo for a young catcher and promote O’Brien.
Navarro trade looming?
The solution is to play 2016 MLB batting champ Jordan Pacheco a lot more.
Despite the fact that Tuffy was at best, backup catcher material, he was far and away the best catching option in the organization at any level.