Pitching is always going to be the backbone of a successful major league team. Hurlers such as Chi Chi Gonzalez, Luke Jackson, and Keone Kela represent a nucleus that can infuse the Texas Rangers with talent on the hill for years to come. And, as the Texas Rangers’ recent spat of injuries can attest, depth is an elusive commodity, as you just never know when the injury bug will bear its teeth.
But what about the game’s most demanding position, a spot that the Rangers have truly lacked since Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez left via free agency after the 2002 season?
It’s never fair to compare an up-and-coming prospect to a future Hall of Famer. However, with Jorge Alfaro, the catching comparisons deserve more than a curt dismissal.
Frisco RoughRiders’ Catcher: Jorge Alfaro
At 6’2” and 225 lbs, Alfaro is an imposing force, both in the batter’s box and behind the plate. The Sinclejo, Colombia product made his professional debut at the tender age of 17 in the Dominican Summer League in 2010, where he batted .221 with one home run and 23 RBI over 187 plate appearances.
Alfaro would ascend from Low-A Spokane in 2011 to Single-A Hickory, before finishing off his 2012 campaign in the Puerto Rican Winter League, where he produced a triple-slash line of .292/.303/.446 with a pair of home runs and 10 RBI, despite being over seven years younger than the average player in that league. It was becoming apparent that the then 20-year-old could blossom into something truly special – setting the stage for his breakout 2013 season.
Alfaro began 2013 with the Hickory Crawdads, where he played the majority of the season. In 420 plate appearances, he finally flashed some pop, hitting 16 home runs, while putting up a .258/.338/.452 line. This production earned him a promotion to Myrtle Beach, where he collected just 13 plate appearances.
At the conclusion of Myrtle Beach’s season, Alfaro headed to Surprise, to join the Arizona Fall League (AZFL). Playing for the Surprise Saguaros, he dominated, leading the team in batting average (.368), as he managed to stand out on a loaded roster that included future big leaguer, Mookie Betts and current Texas Rangers, Ryan Rua, and Keone Kela.
2014 saw Alfaro start the year back at Myrtle Beach, where he continued to shine, going .261/.323/.440, while being tied for second-most home runs (13) on the team. His productivity was rewarded as he was a late-season call up to Frisco. While in Frisco, Alfaro became a quick fan favorite, hitting four homers, with 14 RBI and producing a .261/.343/.443 line.
Jorge Alfaro: Next stop Arlington?
Even during the Texas Rangers‘ World Series runs of 2010 and 2011, they lacked a true everyday catcher – one capable of producing at the plate, while enduring the rigors of a full major league behind it.
Defensively, Alfaro does need to refine his skill set as he has not yet mastered the art of blocking balls in the dirt. Oftentimes pitches in the dirt eluded him, resulting in 23 passed balls across two leagues in 2014.
Although Alfaro possesses all of the tools to become an elite catcher, it’s what he can do at the dish rather than behind it that have created such a buzz. Baseball Prospectus has recognized Alfaro’s ceiling, as they anointed him the 31st best prospect in baseball prior to the 2015 season. As is often whispered by scouts and echoed by hardcore baseball fans, when Alfaro makes contact, it just “sounds” different. When he squares the ball up, it’s a far more explosive collision than just solid contact. The sound resonates long after impact, echoing in the bleachers like a passing thunderstorm. This is due in no small measure to Alfaro’s excellent bat speed, generated by his muscular 6’2″ frame that has filled out as he has matured into a dense 225 pounds.
One area that needs improvement is his strikeout to walk ratio (SO:BB), which was an alarming 123:29 during 2014, over 536 total plate appearances. Although 123 is not too high for a slugger, 29 walks indicates that Alfaro is a hacker that might lack a definitive plan at the dish – something which major league pitchers would feast upon.
This season Alfaro will likely spend the entire year with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders. Thus far he is off to a solid start, going .261/.321/.500 with six doubles. Should he continue to refine his athletic ability, it might not be too long before he finds himself in Arlington, with a future bright enough to make fans reminisce over a young Pudge Rodriguez.