The Caps have just signed Tyler Osik, a 27-year-old athlete who spent part of last season with the Birmingham Barons, the AA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
Used last year at first, second and third base in addition to the role of designated hitter and a two-inning outing in relief, Osik was also used as a catcher, like his father Keith Osik, in each of his first three professional seasons.
“I was drafted in 2019 and there was Covid. Then I played in 2021, 2022, 2023 and I stopped to become an assistant coach in university baseball with Francis Marion University, in South Carolina,” explains Osik in an interview with The Sun.
“I loved the experience, but I’m still young and I’m still passionate about playing baseball”
— Tyler Osik on his coaching experience
“Several former coaches have also suggested that I return to the game. I have always been used as a receiver in the pros except last year. I was actually on the receiver list at the start of the season last year, but we had several big prospects at that position at the AA level, so I played other positions.”
Converted to receiver
A college infielder and outfielder, Osik was converted to catcher immediately after being drafted.
“I’ve always worked on that, both in the gym and on the pitch and I felt really good last season, something had clicked. But unfortunately I couldn’t show it on the pitch. That’s kind of why I left the White Sox organization. I really wanted to be a receiver,” he continues.
Osik says he takes pride in his defensive play and really enjoys helping pitchers get through a game.
“People will be surprised to see my game when I get the chance to be a receiver on a regular basis. Me and my father Keith, who is also a university coach, often talk about the profession of receiver and he gives me a lot of advice,” he continues, indicating that he will be in Quebec at the beginning of May with his wife and their first child who is due to be born at the end of April.
Big hitter
For his part, Capitals manager Patrick Scalabrini speaks of Osik above all as a big hitter who hit 10 home runs, maintained a batting average of .310 and an on-base average of .390 in 2022 at strong A level.
“He has a great offensive resume and he wants to be a receiver like his father. He will therefore share his time behind the plate with Tyler Blaum,” he explained, confirming that the other Tyler would return to Quebec for a second season.
“That he is the son of a major league catcher is also something because, in addition to genetics, his father surely advised and equipped him to work behind the plate,” continues Scalabrini, recalling the ten seasons where Osik Sr. played for major league teams.
“Tyler is a typical case of the guy who played several positions because we were trying to find a position for him. It’s a little “gamble” but we give the runner a chance. It’s more than statistics, everyone is unanimous in saying that Tyler is a good hitter.
— Patrick Scalabrini on Tyler Osik’s hitting skills
Scalabrini had Osik referred to him by reliever Frankie Moscatiello, who incidentally just signed a contract with a team in the Mexican League, and by Sam Abbott, who was released by the Caps at the end of the season. “Frankie knows him, they come from the same area,” notes Scalabrini.
Castro could return
As for Puerto Rican receiver Ruben Castro, one of the Capitals’ best weapons in recent seasons, he will start the 2024 season in his country’s league but is not at all closed to returning to Quebec during the year. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see him again,” says Scalabrini.
The Caps manager is also aware that he will have a lot of recruiting work to do on the mound, particularly in relief, with the departure of Moscatiello and that of Kyle Motte, who announced that he was not returning for personal reasons.
Scalabrini also doesn’t know if he can keep Canadian Evan Rutckyj, now 31, in his lineup with new rules in force in the Frontier League that further limit the number of players over 29 on each team. .
2024-01-25 09:07:12
#son #major #league #catcher #Capitals
