The outlook is promising that Seby Zavala would be the Mariners’ backup catcher.
Overview
White Sox:
Batting: 66 G, 7 HR in 176 PAs, .155/.207/.304 (37 OPS+), neg 0.6 bWAR
Catcher: Framing 4 DR, Blocking AA 6 DR, Caught Stealing AA neg 1 DR
Dbacks:
Batting: 7 G, 0 HR in 17 PAs, .357/.471/.429 (149 OPS+), +0.2 bWAR,
Catcher: Framing AA 1 DR, Blocking AA 1 DR, Caught Stealing AA zero DR
- Date of start: August 28, 1993 (30 years old)
- 2023 wage: League minimal (pre-arb). Earliest free company 2028
- 2024 standing: In November, he was traded to the Mariners.
Vote Breakdown:
AZ Snake Pit.
Introduction
On 6 September, the Diamondbacks claimed Seby Zavala off waivers from the White Sox, who have been scuffling with three catchers (Yasmani Grandal, Korey Lee, and Zavala). This acquisition was past superior!
In the final two seasons his total protection at catcher was high 20% within the Majors:
- Pitch Framing: 2022 was 83rd percentile, 2023 was 77th percentile.
- Pitch Blocking: 2022 was 69th percentile, 2023 was eighty fifth percentile.
- Caught Stealing: 2022 was 86th percentile, 2023 was twenty third percentile.
In the final two seasons, he was an above-average right-handed batter. In 2022, he earned 1.1 offensive bWAR (OPS+ of 108). After beginning 2023 with a batting stoop, as a Diamondback he bounced again incomes 0.2 offensive bWAR (OPS+ of 149).
Perhaps one draw back is that Seby Zavala is 30 years old. However, the typical age of catchers within the Majors is 30.1 per this text, so I’m not involved.
Like typical catchers, he endured many accidents. I found the next accidents: Tommy John surgical procedure (2013), damaged thumb (surgically reconstructed), concussion, strained left quadriceps, infected wrist, and strained indirect. Most importantly, he’s at present prepared and capable of play catcher.
His psychological recreation is exceptional.
A 2016 interview revealed markers of his future success. They have been:
- A “higher level of urgency” to play effectively.
- Striving for consistency.
- Learned from Tony Gywenn the best way to assume like an enormous leaguer and ask the fitting questions.
- Learned from Tony Gywenn the best way to learn hitters and perceive their recreation plan.
A 2018 interview revealed one other marker:
“One thing that has been told to me that I remind myself of is that the most important thing to remember is to never give up. No matter what you’re doing, never give up. I’ve surprised myself with things I didn’t know were possible by simply not giving up. I know it could be a little dramatic to say, but I would rather die trying to do something than give up. Everything you do should be done at your best effort because you will never know your full potential.” — Zeby Zavala, 2018
A 2019 article revealed two extra markers:
“As you guys can tell, I’m pretty energetic.” — Zeby Zavala, 2019
“He [Zeby Zavala] has shown a nice job of handling pitchers and working with them.” — Rick Renteria, supervisor of White Sox
2023 Review
Although he was acquired too late within the season to play within the postseason, in September he performed very effectively for the Diamondbacks.
His OPS+ elevated from 37 to 149. My instinct is that the Diamondbacks hitting coaches made a rapid and efficient change to Seby Zavala’s swing. Compared to different batters within the Majors, he hits fly balls higher than floor balls (sOPS+ of 143 vs neg 45). Perhaps due to a swing change, he hit much less floor balls (25% vs 42%), and extra line drives (50% vs 21%). His outcomes have been spectacular!
In the final two seasons, his protection at catcher was on the high 20% of all catchers per percentiles in Baseball Savant. The evident exception was that in 2023 his caught stealing share dropped from 35% to 14%. While his pop time to second base was about the identical (elevated from 1.97 to 2.00 seconds), it’s noteworthy that one element, his switch time, improved from .74 to .69 seconds. My instinct is that his caught stealing share will rebound.
The most vital achievement was that Seby Zavala proved he’s a succesful backup catcher.
2024 Outlook
He was traded to the Mariners. If that commerce had not occurred, as a backup catcher for the Diamondbacks he would have been an upgrade from Jose Herrera, each batting and protection.
- Comparing September batting, his .899 OPS (with 2 RBIs in 17 PAs) was brighter than Herrera’s .500 OPS with zero RBIs. Abeit for the 2023 season, Herrra’s OPS was higher (.553 vs .545), extra recent outcomes, Zavala’s batting was higher.
- His two yr common of defensive runs above common was a lot better (6 vs zero). The following desk (specializing in pitch framing, pitch blocking, and caught stealing) compares defensive runs above common for Moreno, Herrera, and Zavala. Zavala’s protection was higher.
Data from Baseball Savant.
Beyond being an upgrade to Herrera, his talent ranges are above my expectations for a backup catcher. Being beneath staff management for 4 seasons is a plus regardless of being 30 years old.
The outlook is promising that Seby Zavala would be the Mariners’ backup catcher.
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