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RALPH HENRIQUEZ
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CATCHER
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Born: April 7, 1987 Height: 6’1″ Weight: 205 Bats: Both Throws: Right Drafted: 2nd Round, 72nd Overall, 2005 (Astros) How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent High School: Key West (FL) HS Agent: N/A |
WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES |
| Henriquez was a second round draft pick — albeit in the years when Houston was largely ignoring its farm system — but he quickly became an organizational catcher. He was regarded when drafted as having decent catch-and-throw skills, although as a pro he’s thrown out only 24% of base stealers. He was also thought to have some power potential, but that’s never shown up. He’s seldom hit much and generally had poor walk and strikeout rates. The Astros traded him to the Mets in a minor deal after only two full seasons and he spent five years as an organizational catcher with New York and Seattle. He played in independent ball in 2013. The Pirates signed him to a minor league deal for 2014.
2005 Henriquez was the primary catcher for Houston’s advanced rookie affiliate. It was probably a challenging assignment for a high school draftee and he struggled to hit. He threw out only 19% of base stealers. 2006 The Astros sent Henriquez back to advanced rookie ball and he got largely the same results at the plate. 2007 The Astros moved Henriquez up to full season ball, where he continued to be the regular catcher. He appears to have been overmatched at the plate. After the season, Houston traded him to the Mets for a low-level, organizational pitcher. 2008 Henriquez played in only 29 games in his first year with the Mets. I don’t know whether that’s because he was hurt or whether the team employed him as lower-level depth. 2009 The Mets continued to employ Henriquez as a lower-level organizational catcher. He made a little progress with his hitting in short season ball. The Mets released him after the season and he signed with the Mariners. 2010 Seattle mainly employed Henriquez as a backup in high A. He didn’t hit much even though he was playing at High Desert, which is probably the best hitting environment in pro ball. 2011 Henriquez split his time between AA and AAA, playing about half the time at each spot. 2012 Henriquez served as a backup in AA. Seattle released him late in the season. 2013 Henriquez caught on with Long Island of the independent Atlantic League. He showed a little power but only threw out 14 of 72 base stealers. 2014 Henriquez filled in at times at Altoona and once at Indianapolis. He didn’t hit at all and walked just once in 89 plate appearances. He threw out only five of 48 base stealers. Henriquez will be a free agent again. The Pirates should be able to find a better upper level veteran. |
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STATS
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| Baseball Reference–Minors Fangraphs MiLB.com |
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CONTRACT INFORMATION
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| 2014: Minor League Contract |
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PLAYER INFORMATION
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| Signing Bonus: $485,000 MiLB Debut: 2005 MLB Debut: N/A MiLB FA Eligible: 2014 MLB FA Eligible: N/A Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible Added to 40-Man: N/A Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
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TRANSACTIONS
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| June 7, 2005: Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2nd round, 72nd overall pick; signed on June 11. December 6, 2007: Traded by the Houston Astros to the New York Mets for Josh Appell. November 20, 2009: Released by the New York Mets. December 11, 2009: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Seattle Mariners. August 13, 2012: Released by the Seattle Mariners. December 15, 2012: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Colorado Rockies. March 26, 2013: Released by the Colorado Rockies. November 25, 2013: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. |
