With Cam Gallagher having tested positive for COVID-19, the Kansas City Royals have literally run out of catchers on the 40 man roster.
The Kansas City Royals catching depth has already been tested and the games have yet to begin. Salvador Perez, who missed all of last season, is sidelined with COVID-19. Meibrys Viloria was placed on the Injured List with an undisclosed injury. This left Cam Gallagher as the Royals only catcher left on the 40 man roster.
Well, so much for Gallagher. Just one day after playing in the Royals intrasquad game (and hitting a home run) he has also tested positive for COVID-19.
Royals announce Cam Gallagher has tested positive for Covid-19.
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) July 11, 2020
At this point, the Royals 40 man roster does not have a single healthy catcher remaining. With Opening Day in less than two weeks, time is not on the Royals’ side as they attempt to find their new starting catcher.
As of right now, the coaching staff has a potential option in mind. MJ Melendez has impressed the coaching staff, having bulked up and is driving the ball thus far. However, he has yet to play above high-A, and struggled mightily in the Carolina League. His .163/.260/.311 batting line, with nine homers and 165 strikeouts in 419 plate appearances, does not exactly inspire confidence.
Those struggles continued in spring training, where he had two hits, albeit a homer and a double, in 16 plate appearances, striking out five times. Melendez is, however, an excellent defensive catcher, with a strong arm and incredible mobility. If the bat develops, he could be the future behind the plate in Kansas City.
That future just does not appear to be here just yet. Unless Melendez has suddenly begun to make more consistent contact, he is not ready offensively for the majors. At this point, Nick Dini, who received 64 plate appearances in 2019, Sebastian Rivero, or the recently signed Oscar Hernandez would be the Royals primary catcher.
The Kansas City Royals are now without a single catcher on the 40 man roster. Their depth has already been put to the test, and the season has yet to begin.