BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Mike Zunino, free-agent catcher, to sign with Cleveland Guardians

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Mike Zunino, free-agent catcher, to sign with Cleveland Guardians

Free-agent catcher Mike Zunino is set to sign with the Cleveland Guardians, a club source confirmed Tuesday to cleveland.com.

MLB insider Ken Rosenthal first reported that Zunino, 31, and the Guardians were in agreement on a contract pending review of medical reports.

Zunino appeared in 36 games with the Rays last season before undergoing surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder for thoracic outlet syndrome. The 2021 All-Star has hit 146 homers in his 10-year big league career and is expected to be ready for spring training.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 13, 2022 at 11:33 AM | 11 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: guardians, mike zunino

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. John Reynard Posted: December 13, 2022 at 08:53 PM (#6109436)

Hopefully he doesn't explode when close to other CLE hitters since they're like matter and antimatter on strikeout proclivity and launch angle.

2. Walt Davis Posted: December 13, 2022 at 10:13 PM (#6109443)

Not that I'd thought of him in particular but he seems like the kind of guy the Cubs should have signed this offseason.

3. Rally Posted: December 14, 2022 at 12:07 PM (#6109491)

He reminds me of a player I created in the 1980s, before I even had a computer and did simulations with dice. My catcher was Blind Bob Crawford. Excellent defensive catcher, hit about .139 with a ton of strikeouts, every now and then would connect and drive one out of the park. After his playing career Blind Bob became an umpire.

4. The Mighty Quintana Posted: December 14, 2022 at 01:03 PM (#6109502)

OK, I'll bite as a lover of dice baseball. How in the heck was a blind guy an excellent defensive catcher? Did he have ESP or sonar?

5. Ron J Posted: December 14, 2022 at 01:46 PM (#6109507)

#4 Maybe he wasn't blind. Just closed his eyes when hitting.

Sandy Koufax claimed to have done that at one point in his career.

6. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: December 14, 2022 at 02:11 PM (#6109512)

#4 Maybe he wasn't blind. Just closed his eyes when hitting.

Sandy Koufax claimed to have done that at one point in his career.

Mickey mantle once said the key to hitting was to not close your eyes before you lunge.

7. Rally Posted: December 14, 2022 at 02:33 PM (#6109518)

Blind Bob had excellent hearing. Had trouble catching a knuckleball, but then so does everybody.

8. Rally Posted: December 14, 2022 at 02:35 PM (#6109519)

Luke Skywalker was a crap hitter, until Obi-Wan put blinders on his batting helmet and told him to use the force.

9. VCar Posted: December 14, 2022 at 06:09 PM (#6109554)

Had trouble catching a knuckleball, but then so does everybody.

He should try the Uecker approach: "Wait until it stops moving and go pick it up at the backstop." (I'm paraphrasing.) When I saw him at the 2003 HOF inductions, that line got the biggest laugh of the day.

10. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: December 15, 2022 at 09:09 AM (#6109592)

You will rarely see a guy who swings as hard, and as often, as Zunino. The power is real -- I think the longest HR I've ever seen in person was one he yanked in a game against the Dodgers that almost hit the big Safeco sign in left field. For a shining moment it looked like maybe he'd figured out how to make contact just often enough to be good. Didn't last, though.

Cannon for an arm, too, at least when he was younger.

11. The Mighty Quintana Posted: December 15, 2022 at 01:10 PM (#6109622)

Ron Luciano had a good quote about the knuckler:

. . . Not only can't pitchers control it, hitters can't hit it, catchers can't catch it, coaches can't coach it and most pitchers can't learn it. The perfect pitch.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Mike Zunino, free-agent catcher, to sign with Cleveland Guardians

Reader Comments and Retorts

BBTF Partner

Support BBTF

Hot Topics