2025 WK Pre - Rome Raiders : Catchers

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2025 WK Pre - Rome Raiders : Catchers

Current Ranking - 7/8 (Voorneveld)
Prospect Ranking - 1/8 (Voorneveld)
Overall Ranking - 4/8

C Ramon Barron - 22

This is Ramon's fourth year in the EBA after having spent some time in the AAA with Treviso. While his second season with Rome was disappointing compared to his stronger rookie year, he finished up last season with an improved 0.7 WAR. The team hopes that Ramon can continue to improve, and return to the .339/.400/.492 player that he was in 2022.

A big guy, Ramon is very slow on the bases, and has shown average ability in his catching ability, but does display some strong defensive skills.

Ramon is currently earning $100,000 through to the end of this season.

C Robert Grenier - 23

Another large catcher, Canadian Grenier is still looking for the opportunity to crack the Raiders lineup.

Grenier was traded to Rome in 2022 in the Austerlitz trade with Belfast. While Austerlitz headed off to North America to join the Yellow Springs Nine that year, Grenier has been quietly productive with Treviso.

Grenier displays average ability as catcher, and other than a strong instinct stealing bases, is not very quick on the base path.

At bat, Grenier has been able to take advantage of his patience and good eye to produce a consistently high OBP.

Grenier is earning $150,000 through to the end of the 2025 season.

C Dominique Vizzoni - 29

Having been originally drafted by Rome in 2013, Italian native Vizzoni has moved around the EBA. Having had good offensive success with Munchen, he has since struggled to find his bat. While he used to consistently produce an annual WAR of 5 to 6 in most seasons with the Brauers, productions has fallen of in 2024.

As Vizzoni is barely an asset behind the plate, he will need to regain some of his offensive prowess this year. His $482,000 contract is ending this year and he will need to convince GM White that he should remain Rome's veteran catcher.

C Jacky Voorneveld - 24

Voorneveld had been living up to his expectations in AAA and last year was brought up to play with the Raiders. While not as successful in the EBA, he nonetheless was a slight asset to the team through the end of the season.

With Treviso last year, Voorneveld's mark was his 32 home runs and his 5.7 WAR. He only played in three games last season with Rome, so the expectation is that he can continue to hone his skills at the plate.

Defensively, Voorneveld is below average, and is a sloth on the bases.

Summary

The Raiders have some youth at the catching position, but it isn't a strong position for the team. Defensively, the group is weak, and will therefore need to produce some offence in order to help the team as a whole. For 2025, it is likely that Voorneveld and Vizzoni start out the year on the big club, while Barron and Grenier focus on the AAA club.

In time, a developing Voorneveld/Barron tandem is the most hopeful pairing, barring bringing in some new talent.

[recte44]

At one time Vizzoni looked headed for the MBBA.