In 10 words or less: MLB-ready. Good defensive catcher with pop.
Position: C | Age (2016): 26
Bats: R | Throws: R
Height: 6’4″ | Weight: 235
2015 Rank: 25
OFFENSE
Contact – B. Bandy’s ability to make contact has never been in question. His contact rates have remained constant at every stop in the minors. This is surprising because at times, Bandy can have a bit of a longer swing, but he just isn’t very easily fooled up there.
Power – B. Bandy has always had “plus” strength, but it never fully manifested itself until the year before last in AA as a 24 year old. Often power is the final tool to develop and this was the case with Bandy. Now, granted he’ll never compete for a HR crown, but he has Iannetta type of power. He’s likely going to be a platoon catcher because that’s the way Scioscia assorts his catching situation, but even in that role around 10 HRs a year could be expected. If he were a full-timer, 15-20 would be more like it.
Discipline – B. Jett has shown a willingness to reach base above all else in the high minors. This was another of those tools of his that took a little longer to develop, but once it did, it has become apparent that Bandy won’t embarrass himself up in the majors with the bat.
Speed – C. Bandy has decent speed for a catcher. Obviously it’s below average if we’re comparing him to any other position, but he can run well enough that you don’t absolutely have to pinch run for him in the late innings.
DEFENSE
Arm – B+. Truth is, Bandy has a cannon for an arm, but much of his ability to control the run game resides on the pitcher’s ability to hold a runner. His arm is as strong as Carlos Perez’s, though his release isn’t as quick.
Fielding – B. Bandy is an above average catcher with a good glove. It doesn’t sound as if much growth is really required for him to begin providing the Angels with the benefit of a young catching tandem.
Range – A. This is where Bandy really excels, he has flat out EXCELLENT lateral movement. He isn’t as quick as Carlos Perez, but he’s stronger, and bigger and thus can cover the same, if not more room than Carlos can.
OVERALL
Performance – B. Bandy’s first year in AAA went as expected, he was solid with the bat, good with the glove. He even got a couple ABs in the majors and hit a homerun. It was a pretty good year.
Projection – C+. Because of the system he plays in, Bandy likely will never be a starting catcher in the major leagues because the Angels don’t use “starting” catchers. It’s a platoon to keep both backstops fresh. Bandy profiles to be a very good platoon mate with Carlos Perez, or if he ends up playing for another team someday, which is likely, then he’ll be platoon mate there too. He has a fair amount of upside on both sides of the ball and is just a very solid player.
What to expect in 2016 – Truth be told, Jett Bandy is probably better than Geo Soto, who the Angels brought in to platoon with Carlos Perez. But catching depth was needed. So Bandy will likely spend a fair chunk of the year in AAA, but you can also expect him to spend some time in Anaheim as well serving as depth. If Bandy takes another step forward (which isn’t needed as he’s already good) and Soto fails to establish himself, we could see Bandy up for good this year.
Most Likely Scenario – Bandy will grow into a very good platoon catcher and is defensively strong enough to where he’s going to spend the next 10 years in the major leagues behind the plate in some fashion or another. At times, it’ll be as a starter, at others, it will be backup, but most of the time it’ll be a fairly even timeshare. I don’t envision him staying with the Angels for any longer than three years or so, because of the emergence of Top Prospect Taylor Ward, but who knows, maybe they’ll share catching duties. You never know. He might be an Angel for life.
Grade as a Prospect – B-. Bandy is just too good of a prospect, too close to the majors to be anything less than a “B” prospect. He isn’t elite, but he’s good.
Estimated Time of Arrival – 2016. He’s ready and is here to stay.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
