Tampa Bay Rays Claim Catcher Jose Lobaton Off Waivers; Move Troy Percival to 60-Day Disabled List

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 31, 2009 12:00 AM EDT

A 24-year-old catcher formerly of the San Diego Padres system. Lobaton will be placed on the 40-man roster, apparently he'll head to Montgomery.

Lobaton did little to inspire in his short major league stint but that shouldn't worry you in the least. He's a switch hitter who spent his entire career in the Padres organization. Finally reaching Triple-A this year he hit .241/.292/.353 in a little under 150 plate appearances. The previous season he hit .259/.338/.422 in Double-A and in 502 High-A plate appearances hit .246/.341/.411. He walks, strikes out, and shows a little pop. B-Ref has his caught stealing rates at 27% and 25% over the last two seasons and Baseball America named him the best defensive catcher in the Padres system two years running.

No idea what, if anything, this means for any of the Rays higher level catchers. Shawn Riggans and John Jaso are currently in Durham and of course Dioner Navarro and Michel Hernandez man the fort in St. Petersburg. Could be simply for depth, could be foreshadowing something else. We'll see.

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AA Montgomery

by sstamour on Jul 30, 2009 11:44 PM EDT reply actions

we are stacked with shitty catchers that is for sure

we must be the new training site for the future bullpen catchers of America.

by Dbullsfan on Jul 30, 2009 11:45 PM EDT reply actions

Seems good

He’s a switch hitting catcher, he was ranked the top Padres defensive catcher by BaseballAmerica.com, what more do you want? :P

by raysman1 on Jul 31, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions

I like Lobaton.

If only because he all but guaranteed Percival is done here.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 30, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, Woo

PERCIVAL IS CLEANING OUT HIS LOCKER!!!

Come ON Pat the Bust, Navi can not have more homers than you

by 4QB on Jul 31, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Lobaton is Venezuelan, Navarro is Venezuelan

And so is Victor Martinez. Coincidence? Yes

by GvilleRay on Jul 31, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions

Why am I always so excited?

I am so dumb.

2010 starters

C Non on active roster 1B Carlos Pena 2B Ben Zobrist SS Jason Bartlett/Reid Brignac 3B Evan Longoria LF Carl Crawford CF B.J Upton RF Matt Joyce DH Pat Burrell

by joeybw on Jul 31, 2009 12:06 AM EDT reply actions