2017 Blue Jays Season Review: Jarrod Saltalamacchia

 

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was signed to a minor-league deal in February 2017 with an invitation to Spring Training. He was expected to be the Blue Jays’ backup catcher at the start of the season.

 

To say he hit poorly would be an understatement. Saltalamacchia got his first hit of the season in his first game (April 7th against the Rays). He didn’t get a second. He finished April with a batting average of .040 in 25 at-bats, and the Blue Jays designated him for assignment on April 28th before releasing him on the 3rd of May.

 

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His lone walk of the season came in his final game, facing the Cardinals on April 27th. That gave him an OBP of .077, a walk percentage of 3.8%, and with 16 strikeouts, he had a strikeout rate of 61.5%. At one point he struck out in ten consecutive plate appearances, setting a Blue Jays franchise record.

In 52 innings logged behind the plate, he didn’t have any passed balls. However, he was 0-for-9 in catching base stealers.

 

 

After the Blue Jays released Saltalamacchia in May, they then signed him to another minor-league deal two weeks later. He hit .162/.271/.243 with one home run, 17 walks and 51 strikeouts in 111 at-bats in Triple-A, before being released for good on June 30th.

 

Contract Status:

Saltalamacchia was released and hasn’t yet signed with another team.

 

Regular Season Grades:

Jay Blue: F

Emily: F-

 

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