Individually the surprises start behind the dish with the Cameron Rupp/Carlos Ruiz platoon. The two catchers have combined to hit .287 with a .525 slugging percentage and four home runs.
Chooch is enjoying a renaissance in his final season. His excellence at calling a game has not deteriorated with time. His experience catching great pros such as Halladay, Lee, and Hamels is providing the young pitchers with the confidence to trust him. He’s rarely shaken off and the pitchers throw the ball where he asks for it.
Rupp is proving to be more than a placeholder for Andrew Knapp or Jorge Alfaro. His power began surfacing last August when he hit eight home runs. His seven extra-base hits this year are second only to Franco’s eight XBH’s.
There’s a good chance Rupp will be in Philly throughout the rebuild. Alfaro and Knapp aren’t guaranteed anything. If it happens that both players make it, a position change is in order for at least one of them. This would enable Rupp to be at least the backup catcher of the future.
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