Navarro brings wealth of experience behind plate
By Manny Randhawa, Special to MLB.com
(Below is an excerpt of a story appearing on BlueJays.com; for entire article, click “Read More”)
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Only two starting catchers in Major League Baseball have been in the big leagues longer than the Blue Jays’ Dioner Navarro: A.J. Pierzynski and Yadier Molina.
Navarro has spent the majority of his career as a backup or platoon catcher, but over his 10 seasons in the Majors, he has caught more than 5,000 innings. The new Toronto backstop not only brings veteran experience to his new clubhouse, but also a very positive team-oriented outlook.
“I just try to be myself,” Navarro said when asked about how he has come to embrace whatever role he is called upon to play.
“I try to bring whatever I feel is going to be best for the team. I just do whatever I have to do to help the team win, whether that’s coming from the bench as I did last year in Chicago, or playing every day or helping my centre fielder or shortstop. I just try to help the team win. That’s the bottom line.”
