Remember Jim Hegan? Chances are you probably don’t, since Hegan last played in 1960. Regardless, Hegan was a catcher in the big leagues for 17 seasons, mostly with the Cleveland Indians. For 10 of those seasons he was the regular catcher for the Tribe, handling a staff that featured a trio of Hall of Famers in its rotation: Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, and Early Wynn, along with 3-time All-Star Mike Garcia. Hegan is the name that frequently comes up when baseball people refer to catchers who are predominantly “catch-and-throw” guys, which is another way of saying they don’t hit much (Hegan batted .228 for his career), but their skills behind the plate are so superior, you really have to let them play.
Ladies and gentleman, meet Wil Nieves. That’s Wil with only one “l,” short for Wilbert.
Nieves was signed by the Nationals as a minor league free agent last winter. At 30, it’s likely the Nats looked at Wil as someone who could help out in spring training, and be a mentor to the catching prospects coming up through the farm system. Having signed major league free agent catchers Paul LoDuca and Johnny Estrada to take over for the departed Brian Schneider, Nieves didn’t appear to have much of an immediate big league future.
Frequently, however, things happen for a reason, and when Estrada was hurt in spring training, Nieves got a few more springtime look-sees. He still didn’t make the opening day roster, but the club decided they wanted future everyday catcher Jesus Flores catch everyday in the minors, and then LoDuca got whacked on the hand by a pitch, and — voila! — Nieves is wearing a big league uniform again.
Nieves, you see, has played in the majors before, just not very much. He began the 2006-2007 seasons in Yankee pinstripes, backing up Jorge Posada. He totaled 67 at-bats over those two years in the Bronx, with just 10 hits. He had broken into the majors with San Diego (where his older brother Melvin had played) in 2002, hitting just .181 in 28 games. He had actually been a pretty decent hitter in the minors going back to 1996 — .287 in nearly 3,500 at-bats — but his big league label was good catch-no hit.
Until this past week, that is. On Friday night Nieves hit his first big league home run, a walk-off 2-run shot on a 2-strike pitch — to the opposite field no less — that beat the Cubs 5-3. He had another key RBI in Sunday’s shutout victory over Chicago, and is hitting .350, albeit in just 20 at-bats. He’s putting the bat on the ball, plain and simple.
I’m not suggesting for a moment that Nieves should be the everyday catcher, but on defensive skills alone, he’s the best receiver the club has. Old-time baseball men use the designation “receiver” only for the best defensive catchers, and Nieves has earned the title. Still, what to do when LoDuca’s able to play again? The switch-hitting Estrada is a valuable tool off the bench, and both he and LoDuca are making guaranteed 7-figure salaries. It’s a dilemma.
I can’t imagine it’s a decision either Jim Bowden or Manny Acta are particularly looking forward to. Think they’ll ask for input from the pitching staff?
Hear Phil Wood Saturdays at 10 a.m. on SportsTalk 980 AM and is a contributor to Nats Xtra on MASN. Contact him at [email protected].
