The catchers didn’t add much to the success of the Marlins in 2011 and they hope that changes in 2012. 31-year old righty swinging John Buck was a disappointment with both the bat and the mitt in 2011. Buck played in 140 games for the Marlins last year and he was 106 of 466 (.227 avg, .683 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 16 homers and 57 RBIs. He has now played in 842 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 671 for 2,788 (.241 avg, .716 OPS) with 312 runs scored, 106 homers, 382 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Buck caught 135 games for the Marlins last year and he had 5 errors and 7 passed balls. Buck only threw out 15 of 100 (15%) base stealers last year but Marlins’ pitchers had a 3.90 ERA with him behind the dish. The Marlins hope for improvement out of Buck with the bat and the mitt in 2012.

28-year old righty swinging Brett Hayes will be the Marlins’ backup once again in 2012. Hayes played in 64 games for the Marlins last year and he was 30 for 130 (.231 avg, .706 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 5 homers and 16 RBIs. He has now played in 104 games in his first three years with the Fish and he is 49 for 218 (.225 avg, .701 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 8 homers and 24 RBIs. Hayes played in 50 games behind the plate for the Marlins last year and he didn’t have any errors, but he did have 3 passed balls. Hayes threw out 5 of 27 (18.5%) base stealers last year and Marlins’ pitchers had a 4.14 ERA with him behind the dish.

The Marlins traded for 24-year old lefty swinging Jake Jefferies over the winter. He played in 66 games in A+AA-ball last year and he was 53 for 223 (.238 avg, .610 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 2 homers, 32 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Jefferies played in 350 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 321 of 1,264 (.254 avg, .661 OPS) with 138 runs scored, 13 homers, 153 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: C-