How Francisco Mejia has caught on as Rays’ top catcher

ST. PETERSBURG — Jalen Beeks was in a tough enough spot Monday night, entering the game with two on and two out in the sixth inning, the Rays’ one-run lead on the line. Dangerous Shohei Ohtani stepping in to pinch hit for the Angels increased the degree of difficulty exponentially.

Beeks decided, from a repertoire of nasty pitches, to go exclusively with his best: the changeup.

That was in part due to another advantage he had. With catcher Francisco Mejia behind the plate, Beeks had the confidence to go all out. He expanded the zone after getting ahead, bouncing an 0-2 pitch outside that Mejia deftly blocked, then came back low and inside to get Ohtani swinging at strike three for the biggest out in the 2-1 win.

“I feel like he’s so good that we get used to it,” Beeks said. “Really, I feel like I could throw the ball anywhere in front of the plate and — not waste a pitch, but I just ripped it — I felt really comfortable with him back there.

“Which is something I’ve got to remember that a lot of guys don’t have, even in the big leagues. Frankie’s just an awesome catcher. And we’re lucky to have him.”

Mejia, 26, has been known for a few things since signing with Cleveland as a 16-year-old in 2012:

Top prospect status with the Indians and Padres — as high as 20th in the game in 2017, and three All-Star Futures Game selections — that he hadn’t lived up to. A 50-game hitting streak over two Class A levels in 2016 — longest in the minors in more than 60 years. An obvious, though not uncommon, habit of blinking his eyes shut as he catches pitches, prompting social media chatter.

Now, Mejia is getting attention — and lavish praise — for the quality work he is doing behind the plate.

Having stepped in when an injury in early June shut down starter Mike Zunino for the season, Mejia has stepped up his performance in terms of game-planning, pitch-calling, receiving, throwing to bases and providing counsel and leadership to the Rays’ dynamic and diverse stable of arms.

“He’s commanding the game,” reliever Ryan Thompson said. “He’s doing a lot of things that I think a lot of people miss, a lot of things that a lot of people don’t realize that he’s doing behind the plate as far as giving the pitchers confidence to throw what they’re throwing.

“We’re talking in between innings in the dugout, planning what to do when to which guy. Doing certain little things with his head and with his glove that indicates what he’s looking for. Mejia is very methodical. He’s a mental player as much as he is physical, and he’s been huge for us.”

Pitching coach Kyle Snyder and field coordinator/catching coach Paul Hoover also have been impressed with Mejia, who the Rays got from the Padres (along with Luis Patino and two minor-leaguers) for Blake Snell in December 2020.

“He’s grown considerably for me, as well,” Snyder said. “He’s really shortened the learning curve in terms of just how our process feels our pitchers’ stuff is best put to work. And we’ve been able to just basically take that out there and put it into action, instill confidence in these guys to throw particular pitches in particular situations.

“I think he’s just absorbed a lot of our information more quickly this year. Some of that’s come with opportunity with reps and being out there. But the amount of pride he takes in preparing for the outings and doing his best to get the most out of each of the pitchers, it’s been obvious to all of us.”

It’s also been surprising, in a way, given the reputation that preceded Mejia.

“At least the information we got before (the trade) probably didn’t do him justice,” Hoover said. “He is very knowledgeable about the game, but he’s very quiet. And if you don’t get to know him, and he doesn’t get comfortable, it’s hard to see that. But now that he is, you can see he’s intelligent, he knows what’s going on in the game.”

Despite his stoic demeanor on the field and seemingly quiet nature — during one of Mejia’s typically low-key post-game interviews, manager Kevin Cash walked by and teased, “Calm down, Frankie” — Mejia actually is quite a clubhouse comic, mixing jokes and zingers.

“He’s hilarious,” reliever Jason Adam said. “Sneaky hilarious. He’s got a great personality. He’s a great teammate. And a phenomenal catcher.”

Mejia welcomes the opportunity to be the starter for the first time in his six big-league seasons.

He has immersed himself in his preparation to handle the pitching staff, making that his top priority, while alleviating concerns about his offense. Thanks to a sizzling six-week run (.352 average, .880 OPS), he is hitting at a respectable level — .264 average and .700 OPS entering play Tuesday — while continuing to deliver in key moments.

“It feels good to be the frontline catcher,” Mejia said via team interpreter Manny Navarro. “It’s unfortunate that ‘Z’ got hurt. I’m used to being the backup everywhere I’ve been. But I think it’s going to be a good opportunity, and I can take advantage of it.”

Snyder seems sure of it.

As the pregame meeting with the starting pitcher and catcher ends, Snyder tells Mejia, “It’s up to you.” He’ll say it again just before Mejia takes the field, and a half dozen or so times during the game.

“It started out as a joke,” Snyder said. “Now I say it every day, and I’m like, ‘It’s real.’ Like. ‘This is very real. If you want to embrace the full responsibility of your role, you are the most important guy and most likely it is up to you.’

“And I think he’s just pushed himself a little bit further. Once ‘Z’ got hurt and (Mejia0 got more of an opportunity, he’s really done his best to make the most out of the opportunity, and he’s really endeared himself to pitchers.”

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