Jason Jaramillo

2013

There was no outlook written for Jason Jaramillo.

2012

Jaramillo missed a golden opportunity for extended playing time in 2011 when an elbow injury limited him to 53 total games, split between Triple-A Indianapolis and the majors. He saw action with Pittsburgh in just six contests in a season the Pirates rostered eight different backstops. Jaramillo will look to catch on as a backup in 2012. Most likely he'll spend most of the season in Triple-A. He holds a .235 batting average in parts of three big league seasons and 235 at-bats. The 29-year-old switch hits equally poorly, hitting .238 against righties and .222 versus lefties.

2011

Jaramillo seemed to have a future carved out for himself with Pittsburgh in 2009, playing well behind the plate when called upon and even taking Johan Santana deep to win a game. He regressed in 2010, however, on both sides of the ball. The switch-hitting backstop compiled a line of .149/.227/.207 with one homer and six RBI in 87 big-league at-bats. Only a paucity of catching depth within the organization gives Jaramillo an outside chance of spending more time in the majors. He's in the right place at the right time, but that doesn't mean he should be anywhere near fantasy rosters.

2010

Jaramillo was one of many Pirates players to make his major league debut in 2009. The backup backstop took Johan Santana deep for his first dinger, but the memories really start and end right there. With his competition (Robinzon Diaz) gone, Jaramillo figures to see considerable playing time once starting catcher Ryan Doumit breaks a bone or gets traded. Fantasy owners need to consider whether they want a lot of .250-type hitting, however. Jaramillo strung together a line of .252/.309/.364 last season and projects somewhere in that neighborhood again in 2010.

2009

Jaramillo spent his second straight season in Triple-A in 2008, again posting decent numbers with a .266 batting average and eight home runs in 421 at-bats with Lehigh Valley. The Phillies traded him to Pittsburgh for Ronny Paulino, where Jaramillo could crack the roster and serve as the primary backup to oft-injured starter Ryan Doumit. Even if he's with the Pirates on Opening Day, his upside is limited as long as Doumit is healthy.

2008

Jaramillo is one of the Phillies' top-10 prospects and as a 25-year-old catcher, he has the potential to make the team as a backup to sophomore starter Carlos Ruiz. He'll compete for the job this spring.

2007

A middling catching prospect, Jaramillo's main assets are his good batting eye, solid defense and switch-hitting. They don't make him a standout prospect, however, because he doesn't have much power and doesn't draw a lot of walks. Jaramillo will have a shot at the Phillies' catching job in 2008 after spending 2006 at Double-A.