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Two days ago, the Marlins made another move signaling that they are concentrated on the future. By calling up Rob Brantly, Miami now has a player on their roster that had never played at a level above High-A coming into the season. However, Brantly needed a challenged and he's proven that he deserves a shot in the majors this season. What kind of production should the Marlins expect from Brantly? Keep reading to find out.
Defense: Brantly isn't built like a normal catcher, he's a little on the slim side. This helps his mobility behind the plate, which is one thing I've heard has greatly improved this season. Brantly has a strong arm, and his throws down to second base rival those of any catcher in the PCL. He's still learning how to block offspeed pitches effectively, but all reports indicate he is getting better day by day.
Speed: Rob Brantly might looked like one of the faster catchers, but he doesn't run like one of the faster catchers. Don't expect anything from Brantly in the stolen base department.
Hit Tool: As a left-handed hitter, Brantly has shown the ability to spray line drives all over the outfield. I could see Brantly hitting anywhere from .220 to .290 in these last few months. Hopefully, he can recognize offspeed pitches out of the pitcher's hand, and take advantage of the open room in the Marlins Park outfield.
Power: When I saw Brantly a few weeks ago, I didn't come away thinking that he has the power that some claim he does. Given a full season, Brantly could potentially hit 7-9 homers. However, in the small time left before the end of this year's regular season, Brantly won't hit more than three homers.
Walks/Strikeouts: Brantly doesn't strike out much, but he also doesn't draw as much walks as most would like. In fifty-four plate appearances for Triple-A New Orleans, Brantly only drew one walk.
Overall, Rob Brantly will be a solid backup catcher for the rest of the season and the future, in general. He has a chance to hit for average year in and year out, and his arm will make him a tough catcher to run on.