Yan Gomes, Catcher, Chicago Cubs


Date of Birth: 7/19/1987
Birthplace: Sao Paulo, Brazil
College: University of Tennessee, Barry University

Yan Gomes, catcher for the Chicago Cubs, was first drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. After spending almost four years in the minor leagues, Gomes was called up to the Blue Jays in 2012 to play in 43 games with them.

The Blue Jays traded Gomes to the Cleveland Indians in November, 2012. In 2013, his first season with the Indians, Gomes batted .294 with 86 hits and 18 doubles in 88 games. As a catcher, he played in 85 games and made 663 putouts and 3 errors with a .996 fielding percentage. He caught players stealing an impressive 40.8% of the time.

At the end of March, 2014, Gomes and the Indians agreed on a six-year, $23 million contract extension. He won his first Silver Slugger award in 2014. He finished the season with 135 hits, 25 doubles, 21 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .278 batting average.

Gomes spent time on the DL in 2015. He played in 95 games with the Indians. He finished the season with a .231 batting average, 84 hits, 22 doubles, and 45 RBIs. As a catcher in 91 games, he made 58 assists, 746 putouts, and 3 errors. He caught players trying to steal 32.8% of the time and he had a .996 fielding percentage.

Gomes was again on the DL in 2016. He finished the season with 42 hits and a .167 batting average in 74 games with the Indians. Defensively, as the Indians' catcher in 73 games, he made 32 assists, 539 putouts, and 3 errors. He had a .995 fielding percentage and he caught players trying to steal 36.7% of the time. In the postseason, he had no hits and 2 strikeouts in 4 at-bats in 4 games.

Gomes finished the 2017 season with 79 hits, 15 doubles, 14 home runs, 56 RBIs, 99 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a .232 batting average in 105 games. In the postseason, he had 2 hits and 1 RBI in 6 at-bats in 3 games. Defensively, as the Indians' catcher in 103 games, he made 60 assists, 938 putouts, and 9 errors. He caught players trying to steal 42.1% of the time.

Gomes played in 112 games in 2018. He had 107 hits, 26 doubles, 16 home runs, 48 RBIs, 119 strikeouts to 21 walks, and a .266 batting average. Defensively, as a catcher in 111 games, he made 49 assists, 994 putouts, and 9 errors. He caught players trying to steal 29.0% of the time and he had a .991 fielding percentage. In the postseason, he batted .250 with 2 hits in 8 at-bats in 3 games. He struck out four times and walked once.

The Indians traded Gomes to the Washington Nationals on November 30, 2018. He finished the 2019 season with 70 hits, 16 doubles, 43 RBIs, 84 strikeouts to 38 walks, and a .223 batting average in 97 games. As the Nationals' catcher in 93 games, he made 41 assists, 842 putouts, and 3 errors, and he caught players trying to steal 30.5% of the time. In the postseason, he batted .241 with 7 hits, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 9 strikeouts to 2 walks in 29 at-bats in 11 games.

Gomes played in 30 games in 2020. He finished the season with 31 hits, 6 doubles, 4 home runs, 13 RBIs, 22 strikeouts to 6 walks, and a .284 batting average. Defensively, he was the Nationals' catcher in all 30 games.

The Nationals traded Gomes to the Oakland Athletics on July 30, 2021. He finished the 2021 season with 88 hits, 15 doubles, 14 home runs, 52 RBIs, 78 strikeouts to 19 walks, and a .252 batting average in 63 games with the Nationals and 40 games with the Athletics.

Gomes became a free agent on November 3, 2021. He signed with the Cubs on December 1st.

Career batting statistics for Gomes through 2021 include:

  • 882 games played
  • 742 hits
  • 158 doubles
  • 117 home runs
  • 416 RBIs
  • 794 strikeouts to 185 walks
  • .247 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Gomes as a catcher through 2021 include:

  • 813 games played
  • 437 assists
  • 6,768 putouts
  • 55 errors
  • 33% caught stealing percentage
  • .992 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Yan Gomes
ESPN - Yan Gomes