Who's backing up Langeliers behind the plate?

MESA, Ariz. -- Shea Langeliers enters 2024 as the unquestioned everyday catcher for the A¡¯s. He earned that title after appearing in 123 games behind the plate last season and displaying durability.

But who begins the season as the backup to Langeliers? That picture is a bit more complicated.

With less than a week before Opening Day, the backup catcher job remains one of Oakland's biggest roster battles. Tyler Soderstrom, the only other catcher currently on the A's 40-man roster, was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas last week, leaving non-roster invites Carlos Pérez and Kyle McCann as the only options in big league camp.

It¡¯s a situation not too different from a year ago. Last spring, P¨¦rez -- who signed a Minor League deal during the final week of camp -- and McCann both left Spring Training in Arizona and traveled back to the Bay Area with the club for the final two-game Bay Bridge exhibition series against the Giants. After much deliberation between A¡¯s coaches and front office members, P¨¦rez was named the backup just two days before Opening Day.

This time around, the decision figures to be equally as tough.

¡°It¡¯ll be a continued discussion all the way up until Tuesday,¡± manager Mark Kotsay said prior to the A¡¯s split-squad 8-6 win over the Reds and 8-2 loss to the White Sox on Friday. ¡°We¡¯re going to sit down as a group and talk about it. There¡¯s not a real separation in both guys this Spring Training, so it won¡¯t be an easy decision.¡±

P¨¦rez seemingly has the edge for the backup role. He performed it admirably last year in his first Major League season since 2018, slashing .226/.293/.357 with six homers and 20 RBIs in 66 games in addition to providing solid defense. He was particularly good against left-handers, hitting .286 with a .742 OPS.

¡°He was huge,¡± Langeliers said of P¨¦rez. ¡°He¡¯s somebody I could go to with anything. It doesn¡¯t even have to be baseball. We can just talk and hang out. Catching is a difficult position, so when we¡¯re out there practicing blocking or receiving and everyone is getting gassed, you want those guys who are almost having fun through the pain. He has that type of mentality.¡±

McCann has been in the conversation to receive his first call to the Majors for a couple of years now. A fourth-round pick by the A¡¯s in the 2019 MLB Draft, McCann brings plenty of power as a left-handed hitter. Spending all of ¡®23 with Triple-A Las Vegas, he hit .270 with a .825 OPS, 17 homers and 57 RBIs in 97 games.

The A¡¯s knew of McCann¡¯s hitting capabilities since his college days at Georgia Tech. But his improvements on defense over the past year are what have helped him reach the cusp of the Majors.

¡°He continues to get better,¡± Kotsay said of McCann. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of growth in his game-calling. His receiving has gotten better each year. He seems more confident about being here.¡±

While Langeliers is the primary backstop, the importance of his No. 2 can¡¯t be overstated. Both are essential to the success of the pitching staff, which the A¡¯s hope can vastly improve this season after its struggles over a 112-loss season in ¡®23.

¡°Catchers in general are just so important to the team,¡± Langeliers said. ¡°We¡¯re constantly being there for pitchers as a sounding board for their ideas and what they like to do. Even if you¡¯re a backup catcher, you¡¯re catching bullpens every day and working with pitchers every day. It¡¯s really essential to the team in keeping those guys confident and executing stuff.¡±

Susac¡¯s big day
Daniel Susac, Oakland¡¯s 2022 first-round Draft pick and top catching prospect, is hoping to find himself in the Major League catching mix soon. For now, the 22-year-old backstop will enter the Minor League season on a high note.

Called up from Minor League camp for Friday¡¯s home game against the Reds at Hohokam Stadium, Susac launched a pair of homers, his second a walk-off three-run blast off Andrew Moore in the ninth to secure the A¡¯s victory.

Susac won the Midwest League batting title last season after hitting .303 in 99 games with High-A Lansing and finished ¡®23 at Double-A Midland, where the No. 6 prospect is likely to begin his 2024 campaign.

¡°He hit well in Lansing, average-wise, and I think there¡¯s still some power to come,¡± said A¡¯s director of player development Ed Sprague. ¡°His catching improved as the year went on. He definitely has shown that hit skill that we knew he had coming out of college.¡±