Catcher Owen Ayers A Switch-Hitting Prospect For Chicago Cubs

Cubs' Late-Round Pick Aiming To Prove Himself As A Catcher

The Chicago Cubs have been on the lookout for talented catchers who can provide depth behind Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya, their top two prospects. One player they may consider is Owen Ayers, a 24-year-old switch-hitter who was picked in the 19th round of the 2024 MLB draft.

Ayers had a breakout season in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .379 in 20 games and showed impressive plate discipline. He drew more walks than any other player in the league with 22, while striking out only 10 times in 88 plate appearances. His power numbers were also solid, with five doubles and three home runs.

Despite his impressive fall performance, Ayers' prospects may be limited due to his age and lack of experience at catcher. However, he does have one key asset that could make him a valuable contributor - his strong throwing arm. According to data, Ayers has thrown out 27% of runners trying to steal since turning pro.

While it's unlikely that Ayers will make an immediate impact in the majors this season, he may be headed to High-A or Double-A ball next year where he can continue to develop and potentially take a step forward. If his "breakout" continues, Ayers could become an interesting prospect to watch for Cubs fans.

Ayers himself is aware of his limitations, but remains focused on his development. In an interview with MLB.com, he said, "I'm just trying to stay even, not get too high, too low... I know I have a lot of work left to do." If Ayers can continue to put in the work and develop his skills behind the plate, there's potential for him to become a valuable asset for the Cubs in the future.
 
I'm kinda curious how good he'll actually be, you feel? Like, .379 is sick, but at the same time, it's not like he was playing against, I don't know, super tough competition or anything ๐Ÿ˜. And yeah, his throwing arm is a huge plus, that's for sure! But, 27% steal rate? That's actually kinda low, right? ๐Ÿค”. Still, if he can just stay healthy and keep developing, he could be a solid backup catcher in a few years. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves...
 
๐Ÿค” I'm kinda curious about Owen Ayers' future prospects... like, what's the deal with catchers needing to have that strong arm? Can't they just work on their game and develop those skills too? ๐Ÿ™ƒ And I love how he's being real about his limitations - it's refreshing to see a pro athlete who knows they're not there yet ๐Ÿ’ช. The fact that he's got some solid numbers in the Arizona Fall League is cool, but at the end of the day, it's all about consistent performance over time... and if Ayers can stay focused and keep working on his game, I'd be down to watch him develop ๐Ÿ”ฅ.
 
๐Ÿคฆโ€โ™‚๏ธ Like, another prospect with a strong arm... how original ๐Ÿ˜’. But seriously, Owen Ayers does seem like he's got some legit skills. I mean, .379 AVG in the Arizona Fall League? That's pretty impressive ๐ŸŽ‰. And his plate discipline is on point - 22 walks in 88 plate appearances? That's like a superhero ๐Ÿฆธโ€โ™‚๏ธ.

The thing that really stands out to me is his throwing arm. 27% of runners thrown out since turning pro? That's some serious catcher skills ๐Ÿ’ช. Of course, he's still got work to do, but if he can keep putting in the effort and developing behind the plate, maybe we'll see him make a name for himself in the majors ๐Ÿ“Š.

It's also refreshing to hear that Ayers is humble about his abilities - "I'm just trying to stay even"... yawn ๐Ÿ˜ด. Just kidding, sorta ๐Ÿ˜œ. Anyways, I'm curious to see how he develops and if he'll become a valuable asset for the Cubs ๐Ÿ’ฅ.
 
this guy owen ayers is like the ultimate sleeper pick ๐Ÿค”... i mean who gets drafted in the 19th round but still throws out like 27% of steal attempts? that's crazy! his power numbers arent bad either, five doubles and three homers in just 20 games ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ. yeah its true he aint got much experience at catcher yet but if he can work on that and stay behind the plate he could be some solid depth for the cubs next year ๐Ÿ’ช. i think its cool that he knows his limitations too, stays humble about it all ๐Ÿ˜Š
 
I think its cool that the Cubs are looking at Owen Ayers as a catcher prospect ๐Ÿค”. He did have an awesome Arizona Fall League performance! Drawing 22 walks and only striking out 10 times is pretty impressive ๐ŸŒŸ. I'm a bit worried about his age, but if he can develop those skills behind the plate, he could be super useful for the team ๐Ÿ’ช. What do you guys think? Should we keep an eye on Ayers or are there other catchers who need more time to develop? ๐Ÿค”
 
I'm curious about this guy Owen Ayers, seems like he's got some promising stuff goin' on ๐Ÿค”. I mean, .379 batting average is insane! But yeah, his age and lack of experience at catcher are definite concerns โฐ. Still, that strong throwing arm of his could be a game-changer. If the Cubs can help him develop behind the plate, he might just become a real asset for 'em in the future ๐ŸŒŸ. I'd love to see more about what Ayers is thinkin' and how he's gonna work on his skills... maybe we'll get some updates soon? ๐Ÿ“Š
 
Wow ๐Ÿคฉ the thing that stands out to me is that his throwing arm is kinda a game-changer at catcher. I mean, being able to throw out 27% of runners trying to steal is insane ๐Ÿ’ฅ. If he can just develop some more experience behind the plate and work on his power numbers, he could be a real gem for the Cubs ๐ŸŒŸ
 
I'm telling ya, it's like they're playing catch up from back when Adam Dunn was the catcher, you know? This Owen Ayers kid has got some nice stats going on but he's still a ways off from being a pro behind the plate. I mean, 24 and only just getting picked in the 19th round, that's not exactly what I'd call a powerhouse pick. But hey, at least he's got a strong arm to work with, reminds me of some of those old-school catchers like Benito Santiago or Mike Piazza. Maybe if he can keep his head down and keep working on it, who knows? He might just become the next big thing for the Cubs ๐Ÿค”
 
๐Ÿค” The Cubs are always on the lookout for that next big thing, but you gotta wonder about this Owen Ayers kid... He had a sick season in the Arizona Fall League, no doubt about it. But 24? Yeah, I know that's not old, but catching is one of those positions where experience counts, you feel me? ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ Still, his arm is strong, and if he can develop some more skills behind the plate, maybe he'll be a solid backup for Kelly and Amaya. Wouldn't hurt to see him get some playing time in High-A or Double-A next year and show us what he's got... ๐Ÿ’ช
 
๐Ÿค” The thing is, you gotta wonder how much the Cubs are willing to invest in a player like Owen Ayers at this point. I mean, he's got some solid stats, but is it just a flash in the pan? ๐Ÿ“Š The fact that he was picked so late in the draft raises questions about his overall value to the team. And let's be real, experience matters when you're trying to become a catcher - can Ayers really overcome those limitations? ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ The Cubs are taking a calculated risk here, and it'll be interesting to see how that plays out in the long run. Will they give him enough rope to prove himself or will he get stuck in the minor leagues forever? That's what this is all about - opportunity vs experience and where do you draw the line? ๐Ÿคฆโ€โ™‚๏ธ
 
I'm thinkin' the Cubs might be onto somethin' with Owen Ayers ๐Ÿค”

Here's my 2 cents: I love how he's got that strong throwing arm - it's a game-changer at catcher โšพ๏ธ
Imagine him behind the plate, makin' those quick throws to second base and keepin' guys on base ๐Ÿ˜Ž
But, yeah, his age and lack of experience at the position might be a bit of a concern ๐Ÿค”
Still, if he can keep workin' hard and developin' those skills, I think he's got potential to become a solid catcher for the Cubs ๐ŸŒŸ
Maybe we'll see him in High-A or Double-A next year, gettin' some more experience under his belt โšพ๏ธ
If he keeps puttin' in that work, who knows? Maybe one day we'll see him makin' waves at Wrigley Field ๐Ÿ˜Ž
 
OMG, can you believe Owen Ayers is getting some love from the Chicago Cubs? ๐Ÿคฉ I mean, .379 AVG in 20 games is straight fire ๐Ÿ”ฅ! And those power numbers aren't bad either - five doubles and three homers, nice! ๐Ÿ’ช The thing that really stands out to me is his throwing arm, though. 27% of runners caught trying to steal since he turned pro? That's crazy accurate ๐ŸŽฏ! He may not be a shoo-in for the majors just yet, but if he can keep honing those skills and taking it one game at a time, I'd love to see what he's working with. Cubs fans might need to hold their breath for now, but Ayers' got potential ๐Ÿ’ซ!
 
I'm so down for more catcher depth on the Cubs! ๐Ÿคฉ They've got some great young talent coming up, but you gotta give it to Ayers - that Arizona Fall League performance was insane ๐Ÿ”ฅ. The fact that he's got a strong throwing arm is huge, I mean, defense behind the plate can make all the difference in this game. And 27% of runners caught trying to steal since pro? That's like, elite ๐Ÿšซ. Of course, his age and limited experience at catcher are legit concerns, but if he keeps grinding and developing those skills... who knows, maybe he'll surprise us ๐Ÿ˜ฎ.
 
I'm loving the Cubs' focus on building depth behind their top prospects ๐Ÿคฉ. It's not all about the stars, it's about creating a strong foundation for success. Owen Ayers might not be a household name yet, but his plate discipline and power numbers are straight fire ๐Ÿ”ฅ! And let's be real, a strong throwing arm is key at catcher โšพ๏ธ. I'm intrigued by his potential to develop into a valuable contributor ๐Ÿค”. It's always exciting to see young players like Ayers putting in the work and staying focused on their goals ๐Ÿ’ช.
 
So I think this is gonna be super interesting to watch - Owen Ayers' development as a catcher. His power numbers aren't off the charts but that throwing arm of his is top-notch ๐Ÿคฉ and could definitely help out behind Carson Kelly & Miguel Amaya. It's also sick how he's got great plate discipline, like, 22 walks in 88 plate appearances - that's no joke ๐Ÿ’ฏ.

But at the same time, I get why there might be concerns about his experience at catcher & being only 24, which is kinda old for a prospect... but hey, age isn't everything, right? ๐Ÿ˜Š And it's not like he's gonna come in and save the Cubs' season overnight - he needs to develop & get reps, and that's cool with me.

I love how Ayers himself seems chill about his limitations & is all about putting in work & development ๐Ÿ™. If he can keep up that pace, I think we're looking at a legit prospect on our hands ๐Ÿ”ฅ.
 
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