They were the second-most productive catching tandem in the major leagues when it came to hitting in 2017, and the Braves’ Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki also were praised for their work with the pitching staff and particularly Flowers’ pitch-framing ability.
So it should come as no surprise that manager Brian Snitker plans to use them in a similar manner as last season, when Flowers made 85 starts and Suzuki 71. Snitker will work out the schedule after talking to his catchers early and often as the season wears on, but said he expects a similar split of duties as last season, when both catchers thrived despite their relatively advanced age (for catchers) and Atlanta’s summer heat.
“In talking to those guys, we’ll get together again just like we did and kind of plot our strategy as we go,” Snitker said. “I think in keeping both of those guys as fresh as we can, I think we saw what we’re capable of. I know Zuk (Suzuki) feels really good coming in about last year. He doesn’t feel like that was just a (fluke) year.”
The Braves re-signed Suzuki, 34, and picked up a $4 million option on 32-year-old Flowers’ contract, both decisions easy considering the bargain prices. The only surprise to some in the Braves’ re-signing of Suzuki to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Sept. 23 was that Suzuki re-upped at that price so early, without testing the free-agent market after hitting .283 and setting career highs in home runs (19) and OPS (.887).
His 19 homers came in just 309 plate appearances, surpassing Suzuki’s previous best of 15 homers in 614 plate appearances at age 25 in 2009.
Flowers hit 12 home runs and had career-bests in average (.281), on-base percentage (.378) and slugging percentage (.445), despite playing much of the second half in pain from being hit by pitches in the left forearm in June and the left wrist in September -- two of the 20 hit-by-pitches he had in 370 plate appearances, the third-most HBPs in the majors and more than Flowers had in any two seasons combined before 2017.
Braves catchers ranked second in in the majors in on-base percentage (.364) and slugging percentage (.487), behind the Cubs in both categories. They ranked third in batting average (.283), tied for third in home runs (30) and fourth in RBIs (98).
Flowers played the final two weeks of the season with a fractured wrist from a Sept. 13 hit-by-pitch, he and the Braves unaware of the fracture until an MRI after the season. He had surgery to repair that fracture and to remove debris from intersection syndrome in his forearm related to the midseason HBP.
He couldn’t lift weights for two months, but has regained his strength and is going full-bore at spring training. Flowers and Suzuki, along with other catchers including just-signed veteran Chris Stewart, are working with new catching coach Sal Fasano on drills that Fasano has introduced in the opening week of camp. The catching-coach position is a newly created one for the Braves.
“I watch them both (Flowers and Suzuki) out there, and they’re working with Sal and both making adjustments still, trying to get better,” Snitker said, his tone one of admiration. “It’s pretty cool to watch. I don’t think there’s any reason to believe that we can’t go out there and with that two-man tandem get similar (results) that we had last year.”
Stewart signed a major league contract in the first week of camp to give the Braves depth and a backup plan in case of injury to Flowers or Suzuki. If there are no injuries this spring, the Braves probably will ask Stewart to accept an assignment to Triple-A, though he would have the right to refuse and opt for free agency if he chooses.
