This is how Josh Jacobs (Redbird Rants 3-9-23) sees the catching situation for ’23:
Catchers
(2) – Willson Contreras and Tres Barrera
We are only one position group in and there is already a change from the 1.0 predictions. While Willson Contreras’ role as the primary catcher is obviously intact, the backup catcher position has become even more of a competition than we originally had thought, and the early favorite to make the roster appears to be Tres Barrera.
Our own J.T. Buchheit broke down the competition recently, as incumbent Andrew Knizner appears to have a very real chance of missing the roster out of camp. There have been a number of questions raised about Knizner’s long-term role with the club this offseason, but I think most would have assumed he got another shot on the roster to begin the year.
Barrera, 28, has come in and impressed both the coaching and pitching staffs enough to invoke praise from manager Oli Marmol, and with Knizner’s struggles at the plate to begin the spring, this could be a sign of some changes at the position coming. Knizner will still compete with Barrera throughout the spring, but at this point, it feels like Barrera has the inside track.
Just missed: Andrew Knizner