The Twins entered play Friday with the majors’ most home runs, second-best wRC+ and third-most runs, all of which helps explain their 62-40 record and two-game lead in the American League Central. The likes of Nelson Cruz (who swatted three homers Thursday), Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler are among Twins position players who get the lion’s share of attention, but there’s a case that a little-known catcher has been their premier offensive contributor on a per-plate appearance basis this season. That backstop didn’t join the Twins as a high draft pick, nor was he an elite prospect coming through their system.
The Twins selected Mitch Garver out of the University of New Mexico in the ninth round of the 2013 draft. At his best, Garver rose to a 17th-place rating in Minnesota’s farm, according to Baseball America, which placed him there after the 2016 season. Back then, BA described Garver as a “steady offensive player” with questionable (albeit improving) defense.
Garver debuted in the majors in 2017, though he only collected 52 plate appearances, before turning into a regular option last year. He was a fine offensive performer then, slashing .268/.335/.414 (102 wRC+) with seven home runs in 335 trips to the plate, but Garver was simultaneously among the worst defensive backstops in baseball. One year later, though, Garver has quietly evolved into one of the sport’s top all-around catchers.
Sharing time with fellow 2019 standout Jason Castro, the 28-year-old Garver has batted a phenomenal .291/.378/.646 with a prodigious 19 homers in just 217 PA. Among hitters who have amassed 200 or more PA this season, Garver ranks fourth in wRC+ (162). Who’s ahead of him? The MVP-caliber group of Mike Trout, Christian Yelich and Cody Bellinger. Meanwhile, Garver has totaled 2.6 fWAR, which ranks fourth at his position behind Yasmani Grandal, J.T. Realmuto and Christian Vazquez.
There are ways to somewhat pooh-pooh Garver’s superlative production at the dish. He’s not going to maintain a .354 ISO, for instance, and despite owning one of the majors’ highest fly ball rates (47.8 percent), Garver’s 29.2 percent HR-to-FB rate isn’t going to last. Moreover, Statcast indicates his .422 weighted on-base average is bound to fall. Other than that, however, negatives are few and far between when it comes to Garver’s offensive game.
The righty-swinging Garver has crushed same- and left-handed pitchers alike. His 10.6 percent walk rate is above average, and even though he has been a tremendous power hitter in 2019, Garver hasn’t struck out at an untenable rate. His 24.9 percent strikeout rate is below average, though it’s not awful, and his chase, swing, in-zone contact and swinging-strike percentages are all either a bit better than most players’ or vastly superior. Likewise, Garver’s exit velocity, hard-hit rate, expected slugging percentage and expected wOBA are all near the top of the league, per Statcast, which credits him with a .365 xwOBA. Garver’s just below Alex Bregman in that category. Not bad, especially for a catcher. Garver’s excellence has largely stemmed from an ability to pulverize fastballs – FanGraphs ranks him among the game’s most effective hitters versus heaters, while Statcast indicates he has posted a .533 wOBA/.446 xwOBA against them.
Of course, one of the key elements to catching is playing defense, which had been a sore spot for Garver in the past. That hasn’t been the case this year. Not only has Garver thrown out a solid 6 of 18 would-be base stealers, but he has enjoyed a turnaround in the all-important pitch-framing department. Just 15 catchers have outdone Garver in that regard, says StatCorner.
When it comes to underrated players who have significantly impacted the standings thus far, Garver no doubt ranks near the apex of the league. And with Castro set to hit free agency after the season, perhaps Garver is close to assuming the reins as the Twins’ full-time catcher. With four years left of control remaining after 2019, Garver will have plenty more time to continue putting his name on the map in Minnesota. So far, he’s doing a pretty good job.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
He will have the full time job next year. It’s rare to have two top options. They’ll probably just bring up turtle to back him up. He’s worked hard and earned the starting spot.
No knock to Castro. It’s just a luxury I don’t think the twins will pay for next year. And some team will offer Castro way more than the twins. He also deserves to keep getting paid.
Sorry…but what makes you state that Castro “deserves to keep getting paid”? He’s nearly an automatic out every AB. Absolutely brutal most of the season. A horrible signing by Falvey…$24 for 3 years. Good riddance.
Castro is a great catcher. Your hate for the front office is obvious. 3 years at 24 million was a bargain, considering what he has meant to the pitching staff.
Oh ..and after tonight’s game, Castro is hitting .256….hardly an automatic out in today’s game, especially for a dead-pull left handed hitter.
Darwin…False statement in so many ways.
The breakout that isn’t being talked about enough. A legit elite masher.
Imagine if he wore a yankee uniform… the media would be saying hes the next yogi.
So, so, true melchez
GarvSauce
I feel pretty bad for Terry Ryan (x-GM of the Twins). He was canned midway through the 2016 season because he wasn’t able to ‘turn around’ the franchise quickly enough. The reality is that he put together the current foundation of the Twins team.
He made some bad moves. He by no means is hated in Twins territory, but a lot of the work he did struck out. He came back in 2011 and busted a bunch of drafts and trades. No bill smith (he wrecked the team)… but still.
As much as I’d like to see action now… I’ve been okay with the Falvey=Lavine Regime. Big strides for the organizations beyond draft, trade and signings.
Bill Smith was fired for wanting to win.. and his contributions to this team are: Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, Eddie Rosario, Miguel Sano and Kyle Gibson, all signed under his watch..
He also has the dubious distinction of signing the largest group of dumpster diver pitchers in the history of this franchise. I will give TR his credit for assembling team for our run of 6 titles in 9 years during , but the changing game passed him by.
Kyle Gibson, Kohl Stewart, Tyler Jay….the list goes on and on….the Terry Ryan (and a couple years of Billy Smith) era will be known for horrible drafting of pitching. THAT is why he’s gone.
Kyle Gibson is actually a bit better than MLB average. But in all other aspects, Ryan couldn’t draft a pitcher to save his life!
I’ve seen him play against the tigers and keep wondering why nobody is talking about this guy. Seems like a very good player
Byrne bringing the heat.
Guys like Garver really make me wonder why the Twins won’t part with any valuable prospects.
As is often the case, a good Major Leaguer can come from nowhere, and then contribute.
Guys like Ben Revere, Aaron Hicks, Wilson Ramos… passable Major Leaguers, but could have brought a hefty return if dealt at the right time.
Luis Arraez seems to be one of the latest Twins who no one ever heard much about, but he’s come up and performed this year quite well.
If Arraez can play anywhere near the level he’s shown since getting called up…it makes for a very easy decision for Falvey to let Schoop walk into free agency. No way Twins should bring Schoop back on a multiple year contract that he WILL demand for $20+ mill. Arraez could be our starting 2B next season or continue to play a super-utility role. The dude takes quality ABs.
Garver was neither a High prospect or a high draft choice.. and likely wasn’t a sought after piece.. Trading Hicks for a catcher to be waived later was unforgivable. When Ryan didn’t trade Plouffe in his prime was a major mistake.. Trading Span for essentially a guy who was an injury waiting to happen .. as I posted and said at the time of the trade.. Alex Meyers… was ludicrous when Span was one of the better CF in the game.. They have traded, but their choices were poor..if not terrible. why wasn’t Willingham traded after his 1st season as people like me suggested? he was on a team that was bound for nowhere and was a valuable trade piece..
I have always wondered whether the Twins had a hint that Span would get popped for steroids before they dumped him.
Ryan wasn’t a shrewed trader. He had 1 good trade that i remember most were blah or terrible. You don’t trade a 1st class starting CF for a single A prospect.. prospects fail at huge rates, they has a bout a 20% change that Meyers was even a bullpen piece, you trade for multiple prospects in hopes 1 clicks.. Span wasn’t doing roids.. Polanco did we see the response.. a multiyear contract extension.
Can someone please explain what wRC+ means? Has MLBTR ever defined this?
Please!!??
Go to Fangraphs or Baseball Reference and look it up
It seems like the twins always have these guys that no one has heard of and they are great baseball players. Either its top guys or just guys that know the game and play hard and know what to do and when.
Sorry, but .291 is not “phenomenal” & 19 home runs is not “prodigious.” I swear today’s writers & players are awestruck by above average. Phenomenal for average is .350 & above & prodigious for homers is 50+ for a season, so maybe the guys over 30 HR’s right now have a chance.
Name a few catchers with both those stats. It might not be phenomenal for any other position players, but if you’re a catcher getting on base nearly 40% of the time, that’s pretty good production
It is for a catcher.