Rupp is the classic example of a player fitting a role. With Wil Nieves ailing, Rupp will join the Phillies in this role. Rupp will fill in as the primary back up to Carlos Ruiz.
At the plate Rupp has plus raw power, but it plays below average due to an arm bar swing that has plenty of miss to it. When he gets a hold of a ball he can take it out in any park. The approach is workable, but he isn’t going to put up gaudy walk numbers.
Behind the plate Rupp is a good receiver, who presents a large quiet target behind the plate. Last year major league umpires complemented the view he gave. His arm is strong enough to keep runners from going wild, but it isn’t a weapon.
He isn’t quite fully developed, but Rupp is ready to be a solid major league backup catcher. He won’t be a huge value, but if he can provide solid production from the backup position, he is a good development success. Sebastian Valle has been promoted to start in Lehigh Valley.<br /><br />