From The Bronx to Baltimore through San Francisco: Monell looks for backup catcher's job

If Johnny Monell ever comes with up a big hit to lead the Orioles over the Yankees, he'll be beating his hometown team. The Orioles acquired the Bronx, N.Y., native in late November, sending cash to the San Francisco Giants for Monell, a player San Francisco had designated for assignment a few days earlier. Now, after seven minor league seasons in the Giants organization, Monell is going to try and make a big league opening day roster for the first time. He's out to win the backup catching job with the Orioles. "San Francisco designated me and you don't know what is going on and in less than 24 hours, you get a call saying you've been traded to the Orioles," Monell said. "I was excited. An opportunity to back up (Matt) Wieters, be a backup first baseman and DH against right-handed pitching. It's a fresh start to take what I learned with the Giants and bring it here. Want to continue to grind and compete." In a September call-up last season, Monell went 1-for-8. The 27-year-old spent most of the 2013 season in Triple-A. He had a slash line of .275/.364/.494 with 20 homers and 64 RBIs in 121 games for Fresno. In his seven minor league campaigns in the Giants organization, Monell batted .267/.351/.456 with 77 homers and 332 RBIs in 641 games. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette talked about Monell after the club acquired him. "He's a left-handed-hitting catcher and he had a good year with the bat," Duquette said. "He has good power and he's a capable receiver. He can also play first base, but our guys like his bat, his power. He's been particularly good against right-handed pitching throughout his career." While Wieters has struggled in recent years against right-handed pitching, Monell hit .274 with an OPS of .872 against right-handers in 2012 in the Double-A Eastern League and hit .281 with an .888 OPS against right-handers in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League last season. Over those two years combined, he has 29 homers in 568 at-bats versus right-handed pitchers. Monell played in 453 minor league games behind the plate and in 73 at first base, giving him a little versatility that could help his chance to make the roster. In fact, at Triple-A last season, he made 47 starts catching and 45 at first. "I'm an athlete," he said. "If you tell me I can't do something, I'm going to do it. I'll compete within myself and get the best out of me. Whatever I can do to help the team win, I'm all for it. Coming over from a National League team that won a couple of World Series, I've grown in that organization. But this organization is capable of winning the World Series." Monell has thrown out 29 percent of attempted base stealers during his minor league career. In the PCL in 2013, he threw out just 10 of 61 for a rate of 16.4 percent, and we certainly can't know how much of those shortcomings holding runners was on the pitchers he worked with. He feels his defensive work has improved. "It is a position where it takes time to develop," Monell said. "You have to come into your own with what works for you. I feel like I have good arm strength and good footwork, block well and call a good game. "In the past, I was knocked defensively, but I feel I've grown into the position. I'm not a liability back there. I have confidence and know I can play the position at the big league level." Monell was rated as the Giants' 22nd-best prospect after the 2009 season by Baseball America and rated 28th after 2010. He is aware his fieldwork will be important playing a premium defensive position for a team that puts a high value on defense. Steve Clevenger, expected to be his main competition for the backup catching job, showed well on defense in very limited time with the O's last September. Monell will also need to quickly get up to speed on the O's pitching staff during camp in Sarasota. "Need to come into spring training and catch as many guys as I can. Communicate with the staff and coaches. Get to know what guys are good at and what they want to work on. Help them compete and get to work," he said.