Faces of Milwaukee: Omar Narváez

The spectacular success of the Brewers' pitching staff has been driven in major part by their catchers with the subject of today's portrait, Omar Narváez, leading the way. Originally from Aragua, Venezuela, he was drafted at age 16 by the Tampa Bay Rays, gaining experience in the Rays' farm system for several years until he was acquired by the White Sox. He saw his first major league action in July of 2016, hitting his first home run several months later. He put up modest numbers during several years there before being traded to the Seattle Mariners where his offensive numbers rose substantially, hitting 22 home runs and 55 RBIs in 2019.

He was traded to the Brewers mid-2019 and after a dip in production, has seen his offensive numbers get closer to where they were earlier in his career. However it is his defensive work and his excellence as a catcher that have moved him to the next level, and earned him his first all-star selection in 2021. After studying how the best catchers frame pitches to get better outcomes for their pitchers, he made a major statistical leap in the "runs from extra strikes" category. He has also improved in his ability to block wild pitches and avoid passed balls, and in throwing out runners attempting to steal. Many point to his rapport with the pitchers though as his most valuable asset, with a unique ability to understand what is working for them at the time, and calling a game that plays to their strengths with a few surprises to keep hitters guessing. He was behind the plate for both the Burnes-Hader combined no-hitter earlier this month, and when Freddy Peralta went eight no-hit innings earlier this year.

Omar Narváez truly embodies the Brewers approach of continuous, data-driven improvement that has brought them sustained success, and he will surely be a critical piece of their postseason run.