This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian¡¯s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CHICAGO -- The catching position became an offensive black hole for the Cubs early on last season, hindering the production out of the lower-third of the lineup. Once Miguel Amaya turned a real corner in the second half, the goal over the offseason was to further solidify that area.
The Cubs brought in Carson Kelly to create a situation where manager Craig Counsell had two starting-caliber options. Over the first few weeks of the season, the results have been impressive both in how the duo has handled the staff, but also in the offensive numbers Amaya and Kelly have compiled out of the gate.
¡°We¡¯ve been locked in and getting our work in,¡± Amaya said. ¡°Obviously, the first thing we need to take care of is our pitchers. But it¡¯s also taking care of that spot whenever we have the chance to bring runs in or move a runner, having those quality at-bats. We¡¯re putting in that work, too, so we can be helpful on both sides of the game.
¡°And whoever is in the lineup that day, we¡¯re going to be ready to do our job. And if we¡¯re not in the lineup, we stay locked in for the game for whatever happens.¡±
Entering Wednesday, the Cubs ranked second across the board in the Majors in average (.313), on-base percentage (.407), slugging percentage (.627), OPS (1.034), Isolated Power (.313) and weighted Runs Created plus (184) out of the catching position.
Kelly was a driving force behind that with four homers, 13 RBIs, 11 walks and a 1.538 OPS in his 10 games. He also hit for the cycle on March 31, becoming the first Cubs player to pull off that feat since Mark Grace in 1993. For his part, Amaya was hitting .283 with one homer, six doubles, 12 RBIs and a .770 OPS through 13 games.
¡°It¡¯s awesome,¡± Kelly said of their combined production. ¡°Miggy¡¯s great. He¡¯s a great player. He¡¯s a good kid. He wants to continue to get better every single day. He¡¯s taught me some things as a player. And both of us, we¡¯ve had a good relationship. I¡¯m rooting for him every time he¡¯s up there.¡±
Last season, the Cubs ranked 29th in the Majors with a 32 wRC+ out of the catching position through July 6, posting a .170/.217/.247 slash line in that span.
Amaya was out of the lineup from July 4-6 to focus on a swing change (removing a leg kick), which he debuted on July 7. From that point on, Cubs catchers had a .269/.308/.462 slash line with a 114 wRC+ (eighth in MLB in that span). Amaya, specifically, posted a .799 OPS from July 7 onward in ¡®24, following a .504 OPS in his first 63 games.
¡°Miggy¡¯s off to a great start,¡± Counsell said. ¡°He¡¯s kind of off to exactly the start that we hoped, picking up kind of where he left off in the second half of last year. [He¡¯s] confident. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any question -- just confidence. That¡¯s important. I think we¡¯re in a good place. Our catchers have been great. They¡¯ve played great on both sides of the ball.¡±