In 2020 the Milwaukee Brewers signed catcher Luke Maile. He spent that entire season at the Brewers alternative training site. A year later he appeared in 15 games for the Brew Crew and elected free agency at seasons end. He spent all of 2022 with the Cleveland Guardians where he split duties with Austin Hedges. The Guardians elected to non-tender him and he now has signed within the NL Central.
Luke Maile’s new team will be the Cincinnati Reds. His deal is good for one year. The Reds will be his fifth team throughout his seven year big league career.
Welcome to Reds Country, Luke Maile!
The #Reds have signed the catcher to a one-year deal for the 2023 season. Maile attended Covington Catholic High School and played collegiately at Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/NVu02rLUn0
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) November 28, 2022
Where will Luke Maile fit in on the Reds? Will the Brewers see him in game action in 2023?
The expectation is that Luke Maile will back up Tyler Stephenson. Stephenson appeared in just 50 games last season as he underwent surgery to repair a broken collarbone. Currently, it is just Stephenson and Maile on the Reds 40-man roster. Anything is possible in the baseball world, so Maile could be called upon more often at any point next season.
Offensively, Maile has a career OPS+ of 61. His calling card is his defense. This makes him the perfect fit as a back up defensive minded catcher. He has appeared in the post season each of the last two years, but odds are that streak will not continue in 2023. The Reds are not expected to be playoff contenders next season.
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