A big breakout year for the backstop
We are nearing the end of our Season In Review series but we saved some of the best for last. Today we examine one of the bigger threats in the lineup and one of the better catchers in the league. Step on up, Shea Langeliers.
How was he acquired?
The club acquired Shea Langeliers as one of the main returning pieces in the infamous Matt Olson trade, headlining a package that also included center fielder Cristian Pache and pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes. That March ‘22 trade is looking like it’s worked out for both sides even with Pache out of the picture. A former 1st-round pick, Langeliers was immediately considered the long-term option behind the plate and he would make his debut later that year in a quick cup of coffee to get his feet wet in the majors.
What were the expectations?
The team gave Langeliers the everyday job in 2023 with the hope that some seasoning in the majors would be beneficial. The club also had top prospect Tyler Soderstrom rising through the minor leagues so the team needed to see what they had in the big backstop one way or another. His first full season saw him display great power from the catching position but also a subpar batting line, just barely keeping his batting average above the Mendoza line. Yes, he swatted 22 home runs but also struck out 143 times compared to just 34 walks. That lead to a .268 OBP and a below-average 89 OPS+ over 135 games. Heading into his second full season the club wanted to see more out of the backstop after expected rookie struggles. This time he had a full season of experience and expectations were higher for the former top prospect, especially with Soderstrom rising the ranks and nearing the majors. The time was now for Langeliers to show he could handle the best pitching in the world.
2024 Results
‘Bangeliers’ as he’s become known to A’s fans looked much more comfortable in his second full season. The power showed up again as he improved on his ‘23 totals by hitting 29 home runs. More encouraging than the extra power was how much more comfortable he looked in the batters box compared to his rookie season. While still somewhat subpar he boosted his on-base percentage by 20 points, showing improvement in Year 2 as he occupied a critical spot in the middle of the lineup. Even better, Langeliers also looked better on defense, though he still has a long ways to go in that department. He really came into his own in the second half of the season, slashing .241/.321/.472 with 12 home runs after the All-Star break. Whether he figured something out or was just finishing the season strong, we will have to wait and see but there was definite improvement from Langeliers in his second full season.
2025 Outlook
Langeliers is locked in as the starting catcher heading into the new season. It’s fair to expect the 27-year-old to play just about everyday in 2025 with a little break here and there. He makes up a huge part of the offensive core along with Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler as he’ll be expected to provide power in the middle of the lineup while also handling an improving pitching staff. Much of his value lies in how he handles the young pitchers that’ll be tasked with taking a step forward this year. The power will be there, and playing in a minor league ballpark in Sacramento will likely help him break that 30-homer threshold and he could even approach 40 long balls. If he can handle the staff while improving on his strikeout rate then we could be looking at an All-Star season coming for Langeliers. The club hasn’t had a catcher in the All-Star game since Stephen Vogt back in 2016. Langeliers will look to break that streak with a big year as he enters his third full season as the starting catcher of the Athletics.
