Put aside the tailspin that currently befalls the big-league team in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, which alone might justify the move, but there are plenty of other potent reasons for the need for a catching promotion. The arguments against, by the way, are as weak as Randal Grichuk’s breaking-ball stats.
Carson Kelly is coming up on 3,000 innings behind the plate, and has been roundly praised for his defensive prowess after converting from third base when he was 19 years old.
He’s thrown out 32 percent of baserunners, and while not as important a stat as at other positions, his range factor is impressive.