Having been added to the Red Sox 40-man roster on Friday, catcher Luis Exposito’s career prospects earned a significant boost as he climbs up the minor league ladder in pursuit of a full-time Major League job.
And this promotion — though expected — should not be dismissed by Red Sox fans.
Exposito, who hit .260/.339/.416 in 473 ABs for Portland, may already be the best catcher in the Sox’ organization despite never having played a game above AA. On the organizational depth chart, only Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mark Wagner stand in his way. Suffice it to say, both enter 2011 with a somewhat dubious track record.
Exposito, on the other hand, continues to improve his prospect status, showing good power, the ability to take a walk, and an excellent arm behind the plate at AA — the first major testing ground for MLB prospects.
But this praise is not meant to imply that Exposito will begin the 2011 season on the 25-man roster — let alone earn the starter’s job. He will, in all likelihood, begin the year in the minors as he continues to develop his bat and receiving and game-calling skills. However, he is all but guaranteed to see his first MLB action at some point and is positioning himself to get a long look for the 2012 role.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it should be said that he isn’t the kind of prospect whom scouts think will be a perennial All-Star. He still has trouble with breaking pitches and the length of his swing, which could limit his offensive upside.
However, he’s a solid, all-around ballplayer who projects to play on both sides of the ball. He can hit, as his defense is a far cry from Sox catchers of recent seasons: Exposito’s 37.5 percent caught stealing rate (30-for-80) should be more than enough to keep Texas from embarrassing the Sox’ battery when he crouches behind the plate.
And that a player the fan base can get excited about — a cheap, skilled, home-grown catcher who could nail down the starter’s role for the next six years.
And if a .750+ OPS catcher doesn’t do it for you, remember that in 2010 only 13 catchers managed to register at least 200 at-bats while posting an OPS of over .750. Add in the potential for above average defense and you’ve got yourself an above-average catcher.
Not too shabby — especially considering he’s one step from the Major League roster.
Nonetheless, Exposito doesn’t seem to be generating much attention.
Perhaps the skepticism surrounding this vision of home-grown stardom comes from the fact that Exposito was not a high draft pick in 2005. Taken in the 31st round as a draft-and-follow, he never received the added prestige that accompanies the club’s heralded picks in the first three rounds. Had he been allowed to reenter the draft in ‘06 (had the Sox passed on signing him), Exposito could very well have been selected in this range, gaining instant notoriety.
But we’ll never know for sure.
As arguably the club’s most MLB-ready backstop this side of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Exposito’s role in the organizational blueprint can’t be understated — his 2010 success at AA may be the deciding factor in whether the Sox choose to pursue Victor Martinez en force or from the periphery. If the Sox are confident their emergent catcher can be ready for 2012, it will show in their negotiations with Martinez; giving the club a reason to draw a hard-line or bluff at the much-maligned fourth year scenario.
As one of the Sox’ most underrated prospects, Luis Exposito looks ready to shake off that label and make his presence felt within the organization. His 2011 campaign will be watched very closely by the Red Sox brass and his limited hype should pick up some steam in the media if he develops as planned. His addition to the 40-man roster is only the first step in what could be a quick climb to the Sox’ roster.