Wasn\u2019t that long ago that Basallo was the most prodigious power hitting catcher under the age of 22 in MLB history<\/a>, as we documented at the time. He also left a game against Toronto briefly back in May wincing and leaving with trainers, only to pop back up in the on deck circle late in the game, only to experience more issues that clownish rookie manager Craig Albernaz tried to minimize<\/a>,only to end up on the IL in July, after all, with what was deemed \u201cright shoulder inflammation\u201d<\/a> and struggle mightily ever since.<\/p>\n Carrying three catchers for most of the second half of the season, again, in a lost season, there seemed to be a mounting case for shutting down a young man who ended up catching infinitely more innings for this team than alleged star Adley Rutschman and endured his fair share of adversity in a rookie season at a very young age for someone manning this position. That seemed smart ever before he took a foul tip tot he head Monday that had him getting checked for a concussion.<\/p>\n It seems even more obvious, now. <\/p>\n This kid barely caught 200 games in the minors, and I am thoroughly convinced the shoulder situation has been fairly significant for way longer than they got around to putting him on the IL. Regardless, the second half has been a mess.<\/p>\n Hitting The Wall<\/p>\n Basallo has not seemed comfortable at all since being reactivated and his power stroke is lacking and he\u2019s been getting under the ball a lot and failing to line things up. His strikeout rate has gone from 26% to 30%. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Split\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0G \u00a0 GS\u00a0\u00a0 PA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 HR\u00a0 RBI\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 BA\u00a0 OBP\u00a0 SLG\u00a0 OPS<\/p>\n 1st Half\u00a0\u00a0 83 \u00a070 \u00a0301\u00a0\u00a0 16\u00a0 \u00a046 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .248 .309 .464 .772<\/p>\n 2nd Half\u00a0 29 \u00a024\u00a0 98\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a08 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .140 .235 .221 .456<\/p>\n In May, as Basallo came into his own, he did what he always did in the minors \u2013 destroy fastballs. He hit .314 of fastballs that month and slugged .543. Since then, he is 15-for-100 against fastballs with just five extra base hits (all homers). That\u2019s a massive red flag and I tend to think health and wear and tear have much to do with it. And probably some mounting frustration with one of MLB\u2019s worst hitting staffs that has undermined many a fledgling career already. <\/a><\/p>\n Any chances of trying to end this season at anything close to the power and ferocity with which he was swinging the bat in midsummer is long gone. How much first base he ends up playing in the future \u2013 or even picking up some right field \u2013 remains to be seen. And hopefully he will not need any sort of procedures or clean ups this offseason.<\/p>\n
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