Phillies catching prospect Jorge Alfaro is learning patience

ALLENTOWN – Lehigh Valley manager Dusty Wathan recently had a talk with catcher Jorge Alfaro, and the gist of the conversation centered on patience.

That meant having patience at the plate and in his situation with the organization.

For the 24-year-old Alfaro, being patient isn't easy. But he understands it is his best way of eventually achieving his goal of becoming the Phillies' catcher of the future.

Alfaro is out of minor-league options after this year, so the Phillies are looking to fine-tune him both offensively and defensively. Of utmost importance is his approach at the plate.

"We sat down with him and said [patience] is something we need you to work on," Wathan said.

Then the manager was even more candid.

"We told him, 'You will probably be here for the rest of the year,'" Wathan said. "Everybody knows he is out of options, so let's work on some things and best prepare him for the big leagues as well as we can so that when that opportunity comes for him somewhere, he has done everything he can do to prepare himself for the big leagues."

Being told that he likely will stay all season at triple A probably wasn't what Alfaro wanted to hear, especially after having a late-season cameo with the Phillies last year, when he hit .125 in just 16 at-bats.

However, Alfaro didn't get down and took the message to heart.

"I want to go out and keep trying hard for my team 100 percent and not worry about what is going to happen next year or even this year," Alfaro said. "I have to try to keep working."

His patience has shown recently. Entering Thursday, Alfaro had walked only 12 times in 261 plate appearances. However, eight of those walks came in his last 12 games.

"I feel I am more patient at the plate and not swinging at too many balls in the dirt," Alfaro said. "I feel it is working."

Last year, Alfaro had an impressive season at double-A Reading, hitting .285 with 21 doubles, 15 home runs, and 67 RBIs. Entering Thursday, he was hitting .256 with six home runs and 35 RBIs but just a .307 on-base percentage because of his lack of walks.

"If you don't walk and just go out there swinging, big-league pitchers will eat you alive," Wathan said. "It is not necessarily the walk. It is seeing a few more pitches, picking a pitch to drive, and the product of that is walks."

The 6-foot-2, 236-pound Alfaro also still needs to refine his defensive skills. He has a strong arm but doesn't always receive the ball well, and calling a game is a work in progress.

Wathan, a former longtime minor-league catcher, has seen progress in Alfaro's defensive game recently.

"He has really been focused on preparing himself," Wathan said. "His balance has been a lot better. His consistency, I think, has been a lot better the last couple of weeks."

Alfaro and Wathan are always talking about the art of catching, whether it is right after the game or the next day when the manager provides individual instruction.

"It's great to have people like him who really want to help you and want to see you get success," Alfaro said.

Alfaro says being with the Phillies for the brief time last year was a great experience, and he can't wait to return.

Yet he says he is willing to be patient on several fronts  if it helps him achieve his long-range goal: staying in the big leagues for good the next time he arrives.