Salt Lake Bees: Team boasts experience with pair of catchers

First-year Salt Lake Bees manager Bobby Mitchell has a problem — but he sees it as a good one, though.

In catchers Ryan Budde and Bobby Wilson, the Bees are deep and won't have much of a drop-off when either guy is behind the dish.

"Offense is pretty much secondary to what they do behind the plate, and both of them are solid behind the plate and work well with our pitching staff," Mitchell said.

Budde played 47 games in Salt Lake last year and hit .295 with four homers and 28 RBIs, while Wilson played 40 games with the Bees and hit. 295 with three homers and 22 RBIs.

Wilson played 50 additional games in Arkansas, while Budde played in 12 games with the Angels.

"They are both quality catchers and from an organizational standpoint that's what we stress," Mitchell said. "They are both solid and they'll both get playing time, and even if one of them isn't catching they can play first or they can DH."

Both Budde and Wilson are listed on the Angels' 40-man roster.

Budde spent almost three months with the Angels last year after Mike Napoli went down with injury. He made five starts with the big club. He made his major league debut on July 31.

He hit .167 with a double and RBI in 12 games, and is champing at the bit to get back, but he knows he has to get it done in Salt Lake before that can happen.

"I got a cup of coffee (last year) and I want to be there. That is our goal, to get there and stay there," he said. "You still have to play the game right: hit the ball, throw the ball, and make the plays. That's what I'm going to do and hopefully when that time comes I'll get to go and play."

After being called up from Arkansas to Salt Lake midway through the year last year, Wilson didn't skip a beat.

"I feel like I got right in and was able to play with the caliber of ball here," he said. "I didn't feel out of place here."

Last year, he battled injuries with limited his time a little, but a good offseason helped him get in better shape and he had a good spring.

"This is a place for me to work on my game and get better," he said. "I'm healthy, and getting into the best shape possible this year has helped."

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E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com