Phillies Spring Training Position Preview: Catchers

External Options: Bryan Holaday

It would be a lie to say that the minor league contract of Bryan Holaday means more than simply providing depth. Holaday’s signing was just that when it happened. A fan could assume Holaday will head to Lehigh Valley to back up Jorge Alfaro for the season. However, it became confusing with a future addition to the catching stable.

The Detroit Tigers drafted the right-handed bat out of TCU in the sixth round of the 2010 draft. They took him as a close to MLB-ready product. He was not someone with a high ceiling, but came with very little risk involved. Long story short, Holaday has never broke through his cemented ceiling.

The Phillies are Holaday’s fourth team since 2012. He started with the Tigers before being traded to Texas in 2016. The Rangers would later designate him for assignment when they brought Jonathon Lucroy over in July. The Red Sox claimed him at the beginning of August.

By far, his most successful stint has been his four years in Detroit where he produced .251/.283/.340, four home runs, and 30 RBI in 108 games played. The other two stops along the way were simply as a filler for a team in need.

Defensively, the 29-year old has thrown out 28% of the 99 runners who have attempted to take a bag against him. He is not a liability behind the dish, but also provides very little that makes him stand out to the naked eye.

While the Phillies have some other options in for backup at the minor-league level, like Gabriel Lino and Lance Moore, the Phillies may be looking at Holaday as a “next man in” type if there is an injury to one of the big club catchers. Holaday is likely going to be in a competition with the other outsider for Triple-A or MLB backup.