SF Giants sign former Nationals catcher to minor league contract

The SF Giants signed catcher Jakson Reetz to a minor-league contract earlier this week and assigned him to Triple-A Sacramento. On Wednesday, Reetz started in left field and made his debut for the River Cats. Reetz had been playing in the Kansas City Royals organization this season but was released on June 16th. Reetz has previously had one short MLB stint back in 2021, appearing in two games with the Washington Nationals.

Reetz was drafted in the third round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of high school by the Nationals and spent several seasons in the lower minor league ranks. He seemed to turn a corner in 2019, hitting .253/.371/.441 with 18 doubles, two triples, and 13 home runs in 96 games at High-A before posting a .973 OPS in the Arizona Fall League. However, his positive momentum was cut off by the canceled minor-league season in 2020.

In his first taste of the upper minors in 2021, Reetz hit just .189 with an abysmal on-base and slugging percentage. Despite his struggles, a series of injuries depleted Washington's depth chart and led Reetz to receive a short big-league call-up. He received two plate appearances in two games and was 1-for-2 with a double.

Reetz became a minor-league free agent following the 2021 season and has bounced between the Milwaukee Brewers and Royals organizations. While he did the bulk of his damage at Double-A, he posted a .934 OPS with 30 home runs in the upper minors in 2022. This year, Reetz hit .274/.349/.526 with 12 doubles, four home runs, nine walks, and 34 strikeouts in 106 plate appearances with the Royals Triple-A affiliate.

Reetz only played behind the plate for the bulk of his career but began experimenting in left field last season. With catchers Joey Bart and Ricardo Genovés already on the Triple-A roster, Jakson Reetz' versatility will likely help him crack the lineup a little more frequently. Perhaps he can hit his way back to the majors with the SF Giants.