How MLB COVID-19 protocols were a blessing for this Texas Rangers minor-league catcher
Yohel Pozo leads off this Rangers farm report. He has received regular playing time while other catchers at Round Rock are on the taxi squad.
Credit: Andy Nietupski/TTL Sports Media
ARLINGTON, Texas — Full-season minor-league affiliates have been playing for nearly two months now, and the rosters are vastly different than on Opening Day in early May.
That goes for all 30 MLB teams, not just the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers, though, have been moving players up and down, and not just from Triple A Round Rock to the majors. Players have been on the move across all levels, and that will continue as the Arizona League begins its season Monday.
Andy Ibanez, Joe Barlow and Wes Benjamin moved up from Triple A in just the past week.
They were moved up out of necessity (Benjamin) and because they earned it (Ibanez and Barlow).
Others are playing so well they have put themselves on the road to Arlington or the next level.
Some you know. Some you knew. Some you need to know.
The first player probably fits all three categories.
Yohel Pozo, C, Round Rock
Back in the system after signing with San Diego before last season, Pozo has arguably been the biggest surprise in the system … eight years after the Rangers signed him in their 2013 international class.
Pozo has eight home runs in less than 150 at-bats. His career-high is 10 in 2018 in 428 at-bats.
What gives?
Well, Pozo can thank the MLB COVID-19 protocols.
No one with the Rangers or Round Rock has been sick or had to go on the injured list, but MLB teams are allowed to carry a five-man taxi squad on all road trips.
One of those players must be a catcher, so Drew Butera was the Rangers’ choice from the alternate site the first month of the season. Butera was traded May 7 as the Triple A season was cranking up, so the Rangers moved to John Hicks. That created an opening for Pozo to play steadily.
“To his credit, he’s taken full advantage,” assistant general manager Mike Daly said. “He’s put himself on the map.”
Opportunity is what Pozo has been missing. He caught regularly in 2018 and 2019, but was derailed last year when COVID canceled the minor-league season. Pozo had taken his minor-league free agency before the pandemic and signed with San Diego.
Pozo has been overshadowed behind the plate in the past by Sam Huff, the Rangers’ No. 2 prospect. It hasn’t hurt Pozo’s cause that Huff has been injured since the start of MLB spring training.
But don’t just think of Pozo as a bat-first guy. He’s always been able to hit, Daly said, but the defense is there. All the feedback from the Triple A coaching staff is that Pozo could handle big-league catching duties.
Josh Stowers, OF, Frisco
Not only did the Rangers manage to trade Rougned Odor a week into the season, sending him to the Yankees, they were able to pry to minor-leaguers away in the deal.
One of them was Stowers, the Mariners’ second-round pick (54th overall) in 2018 from Louisville. Nick Solak, who also went to Louisville, gave Stowers favorable reviews.
The first month of the season, though, might have made the Rangers question Solak’s scouting ability.
Stowers, 24, hit only .069 in May, albeit in only 29 at-bats and with IL stint mixed in there. The trade and subsequent late arrival to Rangers minor-league camp didn’t help.
He has pushed his average back above the Mendoza line with a strong June in which he has hit seven of his eight homers on the season and driven in 20.
His June OPS is 1.045.
That’ll do. That’ll do.
“We didn’t know a lot about him,” Daly said. “He’s got power, can run, and can play all three outfield spots. It’s an interesting guy.”
Leody Taveras, CF, Round Rock
Ibanez and Curtis Terry have been boosting the Round Rock offense, but Taveras has quietly made significant strides from where he was in April with the Rangers (4 for 46) and to start the minor-league season.
He had pushed his average to .250 behind a June in which he has an .900 OPS. He’s getting on base (.387) and slugging (.513) after making a mechanical adjustment to his swing that puts him in a better position to make contact more consistently.
Taveras had a massive game Thursday, going 4 for 6 with two homers, a double, five runs scored and seven RBIs.
Rangers minor-league pitching coordinator “Danny Clark said he looked like a big-league All-Star,” Daly said.
While the production of Adolis Garcia and Eli White might look like roadblocks, they are also working to help Taveras. He’s getting everyday at-bats without having to worry when he will be back on the Rangers’ roster.
He could be an injury away or he might be on hold until September. At minimum, he’s in a better spot than he was the last time he was with the Rangers.
