Detroit Tigers sign 33-year-old catcher Anthony Bemboom to minor-league contract
The Detroit Tigers have added to their catching depth in the minor leagues.
Anthony Bemboom, who turns 34 in mid-January, signed a minor-league contract with a non-roster invitation to MLB spring training, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement. He is expected to be assigned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the 2024 season.
The Tigers already have catchers Jake Rogers and Carson Kelly on the active roster in the big leagues. If an injury occurs, Bemboom will be a candidate to fill a spot on the roster as a short-term replacement.
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Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in mid-February.
Bemboom, a left-handed hitter, has played 82 games across five seasons in his MLB career for the Tampa Bay Rays (2019), Los Angeles Angels (2019-21) and Baltimore Orioles (2022-23), hitting .161 with five home runs, 17 walks and 63 strikeouts.
The veteran catcher has reached the majors in each of the past five seasons, but after playing 22 games for the Orioles in 2022, he only appeared in six games in the 2023 season.
Bemboom spent most of last season in Triple-A Norfolk with the Orioles. He hit .288 with three home runs, 15 walks and 28 strikeouts in 38 games.
He is an above-average defensive catcher with a plus grade in pitch framing. He also avoids chasing pitches outside of the strike zone on offense. He has recorded 144 walks compared to 240 strikeouts over 329 games and 1,241 plate appearances in his Triple-A career, with a .252 batting average.
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Bemboom has 11 seasons of professional experience since the Los Angeles Angels selected him in the 22nd round of the 2012 draft. He competed for Iowa Western Community College and Creighton University.
In Triple-A Toledo, Bemboom could evolve into a mentor for catching prospect Dillon Dingler.
Dingler, 25, hit .202 with three homers, eight walks and 34 strikeouts across 26 games with the Mud Hens last season, following his promotion from Double-A Erie. He was added to the 40-man roster in mid-November.
The agreement between the Tigers and Bemboom was first reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers sign catcher Anthony Bemboom, 33, to minor-league deal
