D-backs’ instructs roster showcases system’s catching depth

Catching depth is a goal every organization strives for, but seldom feels it reaches. No matter how many backstops a team collects in its farm system, it never seems to be enough.

The D-backs would likely say they could always use more talent behind the plate, but taking a look at their instructional league roster, they do seem to have a bit of an embarrassment of riches at the lower levels of the Minors.

Arizona has six catchers attending instructs this fall, all of whom played at Class A Kane County or lower during the 2016 season. Two from the 2016 Draft — second-rounder Andy Yerzy and eighth-rounder Ryan January — are on the D-backs’ Top 30 prospects list currently. Jose Herrera certainly could be if not for some injury issues that have held him back developmentally. All are 22 or younger.

“They are bunched up together,” D-backs farm director Mike Bell agreed. “It’s a focus for a lot of organizations. I do think we have a few good ones we can bring along. I’m anxious to watch them together and how they develop over the next few years.”

They’ll get to develop together for the time they are at instructs at the D-backs’ training complex at Salt River Field. And while there are only 11 games against other organizations on the schedule — including one at Chase Field on Oct. 15 — there will be a number of intrasquad games as well.

“We’ve cut down our instructional league a bit in terms of games with outside competition,” Bell said. “But we have a lot of intrasquad games, so they can compete head to head. They’re good kids, they all work well together. When they have been on the same teams, they’ve picked each other up. It’s a good, healthy, competitive relationship that’s just starting to develop.”

Yerzy, as the early-round pick, might be the best known of the bunch, especially for his power bat. But Bell was pleased with how he has improved defensively over the course of his first full summer and after struggling initially, was happy that Yerzy worked his way back up to Missoula in the Pioneer League. January spent all summer in Missoula and banged out 10 homers. Bell saw him early in his season but saw a completely different player behind the plate later in the year, one who took the wisdom from …

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