2021 Position Series: Catcher
by Rowan Kavner
(Editor’s Note: Throughout the offseason, Dodger Insider will recap each position group from the 2021 season. The series starts at catcher.)
OVERVIEW
Will Smith’s maturation into one of the top young catchers in the game took another step in his first full season as a Major Leaguer in 2021. Two years ago, he burst onto the scene with a Dodger record 19 RBI in his first 14 games. Last year, he built on his success as the OPS leader of the World Series champs. This year would require a new challenge for Smith, who caught more than twice as many games as any previous Major League season. He looked prepared for the marathon.
Smith was a model of consistency, posting an OPS of .800 or better each month from March to August. After thriving down the stretch of the 2020 season, he was again at his best in the second half this year. Smith hit .266/.376/.560 with 15 home runs in 56 games after the All-Star break. Kansas City’s Salvador Perez and Philadelphia’s J.T. Realmuto were the only Major League catchers with more hard-hit balls than Smith, who again clobbered fastballs (.317 average, 18 homers against heaters). He was one of three catchers, along with Perez and Buster Posey, to finish the year with an OPS of at least .850 while recording at least 400 plate appearances. He also continued his clutch ways, leading the Dodgers in homers (seven) and RBI (17) in late and close situations.
Smith started 111 games behind the plate, with Austin Barnes catching 51. Prospect Keibert Ruiz also made two appearances behind the plate before getting traded to Washington in the deadline deal for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner — another example of the Dodgers’ long-term confidence in the 26-year-old Smith, who has already established himself as one of the premier catchers in the game.
PLAYING BREAKDOWN
· Will Smith: 111 starts, 117 appearances, 1,004 2/3 innings
· Austin Barnes: 51 starts, 52 appearances, 442 1/3 innings
· Keibert Ruiz: no starts, two appearances, five innings
TEAM STATS (C)
(Note: The following stats are accumulated for players who played that position at the time of the at-bat. For example, only Barnes’ stats while playing catcher are included rather than his pinch-hitting stats or overall stats for the year.)
AVG: .245 (7th in MLB)
OBP: .346 (4th)
SLG: .446 (6th)
OPS: .792 (5th)
HR: 28 (T-6th)
R: 90 (2nd)
RBI: 87 (4th)
wOBA (Weighted On-Base Average): .340 (4th)
wRC+(Weighted Runs Created Plus): 115 (4th)
K%: 21.2 (8th best in MLB)
BB%: 11.0 (5th)
WAR: 5.4 (2nd)
BASERUNNING
SB: 3 (T-6th)
CS: 0 (T-1st)
rBR (Baserunning Runs): -2 (T-15th)
DEFENSE
Def (Defensive Runs Above Average): 17.9 (7th)
DRS (Defensive Runs Saved): 10 (3rd)
Framing Runs: 16.1 (6th)
Fielding Runs Above Average: 15.7 (8th)
Errors: 12 (5th most)
Fielding %: .993 (T-20th)
TOP TWO (BY PLAYING TIME)
· Will Smith
Overall (246 PA) — .258/.365/.495, 25 HR, 71 R, 76 RBI, 3 SB, 130 wRC+, 4.6 fWAR, 3.5 bWAR
As C (472 PA) — .263/.369/.506, 24 HR, 68 R, 69 RBI, 2 SB
Fielding, As C — 6 E, .995 FP, 5 DRS, 72 SB, 24 CS (25%), 9 PB, 35 WP, 3.12 pitchers’ ERA
Postseason — .250/.365/.500, 3 HR, 6 R, 4 RBI
· Austin Barnes
Overall (104 PA) — .215/.299/.345, 6 HR, 28 R, 23 RBI, 1 SB, 79 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR, 0.4 bWAR
As C (103 PA) — .206/.293/.312, 4 HR, 22 R, 18 RBI, 1 SB
Fielding, As C — 6 E, .989 FP, 5 DRS, 36 SB, 10 CS (22%), 3 PB, 17 WP, 2.81 pitchers’ ERA
Postseason — 0-for-2
HIGHLIGHT MOMENTS
- While it occurred as a pinch-hitter, Smith’s walk-off blast against the Giants on July 20 couldn’t be left off the highlight moments. Smith hit four home runs over a seven-game span from July 18–25, none more important than the three-run, ninth-inning blast off Tyler Rogers that completed the comeback in a game the Dodgers at one point trailed 6–1.
- High-scoring affairs might be the norm when the Dodgers and Rockies face off, but Austin Barnes’ solo homer was all the offense needed in a 1–0 win against the Rockies on July 24. Tony Gonsolin allowed only two hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings to snap a three-game Dodger losing skid.
- With the season on the line, Smith’s two-run home run officially put Game 4 of the National League Division Series away. Smith, who homered and doubled in the win, slashed .333/.429/.778 in the series against the rival Giants.
LOOKING FORWARD
Smith has already emerged as one of the top offensive catchers in the game and should continue to build on an electric start to his career. With Smith’s bat and Barnes’ ability to call a game, the Dodgers again look to be in strong shape behind the dish in 2022.
