The New York Yankees may find a solution to their catching challenges in a familiar figure connected to their catching coach Tanner Swanson. Swanson, who did not play as a catcher but instead as an infielder during his playing days, transitioned into catching instruction while coaching at the University of Washington. There, he developed innovative techniques and challenged traditional approaches, eventually establishing himself as the Yankees’ director of catching in his seventh season with the organization.
Swanson’s unconventional background gave him a unique perspective free from the typical catcher biases, which he credits for his success in developing backstops. From 2013 to 2017, several catchers under his guidance at Washington earned All-Pac-12 Conference honors and were selected early in the MLB Draft. This track record led the Minnesota Twins to hire Swanson as their minor league catching coordinator from 2018 to 2019, before the Yankees brought him into their system.
With more resources at the professional level, Swanson continued to innovate, including popularizing the one-knee stance now commonly seen in Major League Baseball. Among his early experiments were players like Ryan Jeffers, a second-round pick by the Twins in 2018 who initially faced skepticism due to his offensive focus and defensive shortcomings. Swanson and the Twins viewed Jeffers and Ben Rortvedt as test subjects for new catching philosophies, willing to adopt unconventional methods to develop their skills.
Rortvedt eventually joined the Yankees as part of the trade involving Josh Donaldson, a swap often regarded as unfavorable for New York. Now attention is turning to whether Jeffers could join the Yankees ahead of the August 3 trade deadline, especially since the team continues to search for a reliable right-handed hitting catcher.
The Bombers’ catching corps has struggled offensively, ranking near the bottom of the league. Austin Wells recently returned from injury, while J.C. Escarra and Ali Sánchez have provided limited production. Jeffers, a left-handed hitter with a strong offensive profile—including a .981 OPS against right-handed pitchers and a 163 weighted runs created plus (wRC+)—could offer a significant upgrade.
Currently on the injured list with a broken left hamate bone since May 19, Jeffers faces a 6-to-8-week recovery timetable, placing his potential return around the trade deadline. Prior to the injury, he was batting .295 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs, demonstrating the offensive promise that the Yankees seek.
Despite ongoing trade rumors, Swanson has maintained distance from contacting Jeffers, citing a desire to avoid complicating matters. The coach confirmed that he has not reached out nor been contacted by Jeffers amid growing speculation but acknowledged the connection remains close.
As the trade deadline approaches, Jeffers’ health and availability will determine whether this former "guinea pig" of Swanson’s innovative catching approach could become the Yankees’ answer to their backstop issues.