A look through the entire organization to see what kind of catcher depth the club has going into the 2014 MLB draft.
Once upon a time the Padres had Benito Santiago. Wait that's too far back. So there was this top pick named Ben Davis. Oh wait, again too far back, plus he flopped anyway. Wiki Gonzalez was kinda cool. Remember him? Anyway, the team went through a few vets in the 2000s before it was finally thought that Nick Hundley would be the first quality catcher the team had produced since Santiago. They even gave him a contract extension to show faith in him. Hasn't exactly worked out. Still, after the acquisition (and eventual return from suspension and resumption of health) of Yasmani Grandal the team is as deep at catcher as it has been in a while. Oh yeah, and some guy named Austin Hedges is lurking around here somewhere.
Majors
Elite: None
Top: None
Promising: Yasmani Grandal
Depth: Nick Hundley, Rene Rivera
Grade: C+.
AAA
Elite: None
Top: None
Promising: None
Depth: None
Grade: F. The team currently has 30 year old Adam Moore behind the plate and 26 year old 2010 24th round pick Rocky Gale getting very limited playing time. Cody Decker even gets some spot starts behind the dish, which is the only thing of promise at this level.
AA
Elite: Austin Hedges
Top: None
Promising: None
Depth: None
Grade: A-. Can't do much better than an elite prospect catching every game. Only thing keeping this from a A is that Hedges' bat keeps him from being an even higher ranked prospect.
A+
Elite: None
Top: None
Promising: None
Depth: John Nester, Jeremy Rodriguez
Grade: D. I'll be generous and call these guys depth. They currently split time behind the dish and are 25 and 24 years old respectively.
A
Elite: None
Top: None
Promising: None
Depth: Dane Phillips.
Grade: C-. Phillips at one point would have got the "promising" label, but after a failed trial with the Storm last year he is back in Fort Wayne. He has been hitting though, so maybe the promise is still there.
Others
Elite: None
Top: None
Promising: Rodney Daal
Depth: None
Grade: C+. Daal is out for the year due to injury, but scouts really like him. He hit well for Fort Wayne last year and when he returns as a 21 year old he'd still be on track whether he's back with the TinCaps or with the Storm.