# Astros Prospects Korey Lee and Yainer Diaz Compete for Backup Catcher Position in 2022
With the retirement of Jason Castro and the departure of Christian Vázquez in free agency this offseason, the Astros are looking for a new backup catcher behind veteran Martín Maldonado. This presents a great opportunity for two young prospects, Korey Lee and Yainer Diaz, to compete for the spot. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the competition between the two, their prospects for the 2022 season, and what the Astros are looking for in a backup catcher.
## Korey Lee: Former First-Round Pick Making His Debut in 2022
Korey Lee, the former first-round pick, made his debut in 2022 and is now looking to make the most of his opportunity to be the Astros’ backup catcher. Ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Astros’ organization by MLB Pipeline at the end of last season, Lee spent most of 2022 in Triple-A, slashing .238/.307/.483 with 25 homers and 76 RBIs in 104 games with Sugar Land. He had some ups and downs mechanically at the plate, but his elite arm behind the plate is key considering the emphasis on defense and run prevention the Astros place on their catchers.
Lee has been working out at Minute Maid Park each morning, hitting and catching bullpens, and building strong relationships with the pitchers. He was called up to the big leagues on July 1 of last year when Castro was placed on the injured list, and although he was sent back down to Triple-A when the Astros acquired Vazquez in an Aug. 1 trade, he was called up again when rosters expanded a month later.
## Yainer Diaz: Astros’ No. 3 Prospect
Yainer Diaz, the Astros’ No. 3 prospect, is also competing for the backup catcher spot this year. Diaz could get the first shot to make the club this year because of his bat (he could DH and play some first base). Lee and Diaz have a friendly competition, but they are still competing for the same spot.
## What the Astros are Looking For in a Backup Catcher
The Astros are looking for a catcher who can handle the defensive duties of the position and provide a strong bat. They also want a catcher who can build strong relationships with the pitchers and help the team win. Lee and Diaz both have the potential to do that, and it will be interesting to see which one will win the backup catcher spot this year.