Then Birmingham Barons bench coach Angel Rosario remembers the primary dialog he had with catcher Edgar Quero in 2024.
Quero didn’t anticipate his new coaches to return to him with concepts. He already had an thought on how he may enhance.
“The one factor that he informed us was, ‘I wish to be higher,’” Rosario informed the Solar-Occasions final week. “‘I wish to do every thing that I’ve to do to be higher. I’ve to enhance my receiving wants to enhance proper now. I wish to be higher.’”
That reminiscence is a snapshot into the mindset of the Sox’ prized younger participant. That he was so attuned to his deficiencies and wished to show them into strengths is the kind of mentality the Sox need of their younger gamers.
The Sox are 7-21 and have proven marginal enhancements of their defensive consistency and general clear play. However the report reveals they’re solely somewhat higher than final yr’s 121-loss group — on April 29, 2024, the Sox have been 6-23.
However whereas final yr’s membership nonetheless rostered previous remnants of the prior rebuild, this workforce has already seen an affect of younger expertise with Quero and Chase Meidroth. This season goes to be seen by way of the lens of how a lot, or if, the younger gamers develop and develop all through the season.
Quero’s already made an on the spot affect along with his bat, slashing .344/.462/.406 with two doubles and 6 walks in 11 video games. His businesslike strategy and affected person at-bats impressed supervisor Will Venable and his teammates. As a switch-hitter, Quero has good bat-to-ball abilities and an excellent eye on the plate.
The bat wasn’t a lot of a query for Quero. It was defensively the place the younger catcher must show himself. Nevertheless it’s a testomony to his self-awareness that Quero has been prepared to work to enhance his receiving, game-calling and blocking. Rosario mentioned the 2 — together with catching coordinator Julio Mosquera — labored to refine his approach and maintain his higher physique up in order that Quero could be presenting a much bigger goal for pitchers.
“My framing,” Quero mentioned of an space he’s improved probably the most earlier than his April 17 debut. “I used to be working loads on my framing, particularly in the beginning of the season in Triple-A. I really feel fairly good and I’m able to go.”
When Quero joined Double-A Birmingham, he was open to something that was going to assist him enhance. His inquisitiveness could be his best power to enhance his weak spot. He dug into the analytical reviews. He bought an iPad to do his personal scouting reviews and watched numerous hours of video of himself from prior years, looking for any data that might assist him.
“He’s all the time able to work and open to be taught,” Rosario mentioned. “He desires to be the most effective catchers within the big-leagues.”
However what additionally helped Quero was attending to know the pitchers and their tendencies, a crucial a part of the sport for any catcher. However studying a complete pitching workers might be daunting for a younger catcher nonetheless ironing out the nuances of the sport.
Catcher Matt Thaiss mentioned studying a pitching workers is “loads.”
“It’s one thing you do over seasons, not only one, however spring coaching and all year long,” Thaiss mentioned.
Due to his excessive ambitions, Rosario nonetheless generally has to reel him in.
“He desires to be higher on a regular basis,” Rosario mentioned. “Typically he’s very laborious on himself, and I simply attempt to inform him, ‘Hey, have enjoyable. Don’t neglect that.’”
