WooSox skipper Chad Tracy on Caleb Hamilton: ‘He will get pitches that’s out of the zone and turn them into strikes’
New Red Sox catcher Caleb Hamilton had quite a Thursday morning.
Hamilton was recalled from the WooSox on Wednesday night after Reese McGuire was diagnosed with a right oblique strain. McGuire hurt himself swinging in an at-bat during the sixth inning against the Twins.
Hamilton learned about his call up after he left Polar Park on Wednesday. After packing a bag for Minnesota, he hoped on a flight at 5:34 am Thursday morning to make it to Target Field for the series finale with the Twins.
After getting about three hours of sleep, he arrived in Minneapolis around 8 a.m. CT and was in the clubhouse for 9 a.m.
“I’ve had quite a bit of coffee this morning,” Hamilton joked to reporters, including MassLive’s Chris Cotillo pregame.
Hamilton will serve as Connor Wong’s backup and is expected to only play sparingly while he is with the club. Sox skipper Alex Cora told reporters that Hamilton will catch one of the games against the White Sox this weekend.
“Playing well, good defender,” Cora said. “He knows how to call the game, veteran. I like the at-bat. I saw it in spring training. He’s very patient and that’s what we saw in spring. Hopefully, he comes here, he doesn’t try to do too much and he can help us win a few ballgames.”
WooSox manager Chad Tracy described Hamilton as an “elite framer” behind the plate.
“He’s an exceptional receiver, that’s an easy answer,” Tracy said to Beyond the Monster postgame.
“His receiving at the bottom of zone… really all over. I think he’s No. 2 according to our stuff that we track, I think he’s No. 2 in all of Triple-A in stealing strikes. He’s an outstanding receiver at the bottom of the zone. He will get pitches that’s out of the zone and turn them into strikes,” added Tracy.
The Red Sox claimed the 28-year-old off waivers from the Twins last season. Hamilton made his major league debut with the Twins prior to being designated for assignment, he is 1-for-18 with his only hit, a home run.
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