Chicago Cubs have a catching core that could be great for years to come

We are still a long way out from the next crop of stars making their major league debut for the Chicago Cubs. That being said, while the club is currently set behind the dish, it is never too early to look ahead to the future.

Time flies when you’re having fun. At least that is what we know to be true. It has been a decade since the Chicago Cubs signed All-Star backstop Willson Contreras as an international free agent out of Venezuela, initially as a third baseman. It took the club until 2012 to shift him behind the plate where he has become the most electric catcher in all of Major League Baseball.

As Contreras is just now entering the prime of his career, Cubs fans need not worry too much about the state of the position. The team has Contreras under control through 2022, and at just 26 years of age, he is the mainstay behind the plate and will continue to be so for, at the very least, the next few years.

Nevertheless, it is always important to look towards the future as a franchise. The Cubs currently have Victor Caratini behind Contreras on the big league depth chart. however, Caratini has slashed a pitiful .237/.303/.317 since arriving in the Show, leading to the possibility of the team moving him, especially with more young talent waiting for their opportunity to make an impact moving forward.

Chicago Cubs: Earning the opportunity

2022 is as close as far away gets. While there is an excellent chance Contreras signs an extension before the market snatches him from the Cubs’ grasp, the team will continue to monitor the next crop of near Major League-ready talent in their system. Enter top overall prospect, Miguel Amaya.

The Cubs signed Amaya as part of their 2015-16 international free agent class. His contract settled at $1.25 million. Chicago hopes that, in Amaya, they have their future backstop and potential successor to Contreras behind the plate.

Amaya significantly improved from 2017 to 2018, as every offensive category saw a boon. Seeing action in 116 games at Class-A South Bend, Amaya slashed .256/.349/.403 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI. More impressively, he increased his walk rate substantially from 4.5 percent the year before to a whopping 10.4 percent last season. Amaya finished with an above-average .345 wOBA and 114 wRC+.

Through his first three years in professional baseball, Amaya has a .988 fielding percentage behind the plate. In 2017, he posted a 41 percent caught stealing rate, which is a solid number considering he was just 18 years old at the time. The prospect of Amaya one day taking over in Chicago is realistic, and Cubs fans should be ecstatic at his ceiling.

Chicago Cubs: Surprising down south

If one top catching prospect wasn’t enough, the Cubs have another one waiting for his opportunity. Jhonny Pereda currently ranks as the club’s 20th overall prospect in the organizational Top 30. Part of the 2012-13 international class, the team, made Pereda a late addition. They signed him for just $7,500.

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Pereda spent the first two seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League before moving on to the Rookie League. He fared much better there, compiling a .258/.344/.368 line with a .712 OPS. However, when Pereda started his professional journey, he was still only 17 years old.

Now 22 years old, Pereda is an under-the-radar prospect to keep an eye on moving forward. Last season, Pereda earned the starting role in High-A Myrtle Beach, playing 122 games and finishing at .272/.347/.363 with eight home runs and 57 RBI. He even swiped four bags.

Pereda improved virtually in every facet of his game. The strikeout rate was down, the walk rate remained consistent, and both his wOBA and wRC+ saw a substantial increase. Concerning his fielding, Pereda posted a substantial .991 fielding percentage across 709 2/3 innings. He still needs consistency with receiving and framing; however, did post a 38 percent caught stealing rate last season and displays the potential for growth in all areas.

Finally, Pereda displays exceptional plate discipline, and some of the best in the entire organization. While he has a higher likelihood to become a serviceable backup for the club, the possibilities are endless for the young right-hander.

Chicago Cubs: Excitement for this team

The Cubs are in a unique position. While Contreras continues to grow in the prime of his career, having two catchers in the system who could one day help fill out a big league roster is exciting. As catcher can be a somewhat volatile position in Major League Baseball, it feels as though the Cubs are locked and loaded for the next decade.

If Contreras can get back on the track he appeared to be on heading into last season, the front office may look at at least one of these guys as a potential trade chip. But, should Contreras’ defensive liabilities and second-half offensive woes from last season carry forward into 2019, the continued development of both Amaya and Pereda gains further significance.

The goal remains to keep Contreras in Cubbie blue for the entirety of his career, however knowing the ceiling behind him is a comforting thought. Amaya and Pereda could very well be the future of this franchise, and that is just fine and dandy.