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Cutters’ catcher committee still finding its footing

If you were to choose the position player on the field in the MLB Draft League that is most volatile, most would say it's the man behind the plate.

With the ever growing increase of talent in the MLB Draft League throughout both halves of the season, the catcher position comes further under scrutiny. When the MLB Draft League was in its infancy, you can forgive a catcher that lacks a few tools in the shed, whether it be an ability to throw runners out, struggling to frame or block the ball, or having efficiency at the plate.

But as the league finds itself in its sixth year of exponential talent growth, such deficiencies grow harder to mask.

It takes only the eye test to register that the talent level has grown. But for the evidence, the league as a whole saw an increase in both walks and strikeouts, stolen bases, and overall pitching velocity increases across every year of the league.

What that means is the catching position, which already is seen as the most difficult to find elite talent, grows under more scrutiny as teams make their title push in the second half.

It's a reality that the Williamsport Crosscutters, despite their first half title guaranteeing themselves a spot in the championship, have had to face in the second half.

With the championship on Sept. 2, the Cutters have spent the second half moving to a catcher by committee approach in order to determine who will start Williamsport's third championship in the Draft League era.

Initially, the main catcher for the second half time looked clear. A late migrant from the first half, Trevor Conley proved to be a versatile backstop who batted an impressive .294 average and three runs batted in across six games.

But after just a week into the second half season, the Austin Peay graduate picked up an injury that appears to have sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

What has followed is a rotating cast of talents attempting to garner a foothold at the position behind the plate.

After a short three start cameo from natural infielder Nicholas Romano, mid season addition Joey DeMucci has become the primary backstop talisman. A graduate of Penn State University, DeMucci has proved himself to be an elite defender behind the plate.

In 11 appearances going into Wednesday, the Nittany Lion has garnered 11 assists while catching nine batters stealing. In what can be described as elite defense, the offense has struggled to come together. With 37 at-bats, DeMucci has just a .162 average with four runs batted in, keeping him typically at the bottom of manager Kenny Thomas's lineup.

The rotating backups have not provided much relief offensively. Ty Gillan took the initial role as the backup catcher, but after just two appearances and no hits in seven AB's, he was released to the Pioneer League.

His replacement, Rutgers graduate Trey Wells, represents a last ditch attempt to find depth at the position. Like DeMucci, Wells is a former Big 10 representative who started his career at Wayne State and Virginia before jumping up.

Touted as an offensive minded catcher, the Omaha, Nebraska native is coming off of a career best .297 season with the Scarlet Knights that includes 35 runs batted in, 10 doubles, and six home runs with 21 assists defensively.

While Wells has had a slow start to the season, going 1-12 at the plate in his first three starts with four defensive assists, two runners thrown out, and five stolen bases conceded, the production of the Rutgers graduate maybe be a key factor in providing competition for the catcher's spot as the Draft League season reaches its twilight.