Hayden Senger’s Fight to Stick in Queens Is All About the Glove-and Just Enough Bat
Hayden Senger’s arrival in the majors with the New York Mets in 2025 was one of those baseball stories that doesn’t make headlines but quietly earns respect in clubhouses. A 24th-round pick back in 2018-710th overall out of Miami University in Ohio-Senger didn’t ride a wave of hype to Citi Field.
He climbed the ladder rung by rung, grinding through more than 400 minor league games and even picking up offseason shifts at Whole Foods to keep the dream alive. Now that he’s finally here, the challenge is staying put.
A Catcher Built on Defense
Senger’s offensive numbers might not turn heads-his batting average started with a “1” in 2025, and his OPS didn’t crack .500-but that’s not the full story. What keeps him in the conversation is his glove. Behind the plate, he’s the kind of catcher pitchers want to throw to.
Last season, Senger posted a pop time of 1.89 seconds-good for the 91st percentile among MLB catchers. That’s elite territory.
He also ranked in the 80th percentile in Blocks Above Average, which speaks volumes about his ability to handle errant pitches and keep runners honest. In a league where defensive lapses can flip a game in an instant, Senger brings a level of security that doesn’t show up in most box scores.
He’s not flashy, but he’s fundamentally sound. He frames well, blocks well, and throws well. And for a team like the Mets, who have a young pitching staff and a rising star in Francisco Alvarez behind the plate, having a dependable backup who can steady the ship is more than just a luxury-it’s a necessity.
The Bat Is a Work in Progress
Now, let’s talk about the bat-because we have to. Senger’s 2025 offensive line was rough: a .181 average, .221 OBP, and no home runs in 78 plate appearances.
He struck out 22 times and walked just four. His OPS?
A tough-to-swallow .415. That’s a steep hill to climb in today’s game, even for a backup catcher.
But the deeper numbers help explain the struggle. Senger chased pitches outside the strike zone at a 39% clip and whiffed on 33.1% of his swings. That’s not just a slump-that’s a sign of a hitter who’s having trouble recognizing and reacting to big-league pitching.
There is, however, a faint silver lining. When Senger did make contact, he wasn’t just tapping the ball-he was squaring it up.
His Hard-Hit rate sat at 38.5%, which is actually a solid mark. The issue isn’t power or strength-it’s approach.
If he can tighten his strike zone and be more selective, there’s a path to competence at the plate.
What 2026 Might Look Like
So what’s the outlook for 2026? Projection systems like Steamer and ZiPS aren’t overly optimistic, but they do see some improvement-something in the neighborhood of a .205 average and a wRC+ around 60. That’s still well below league average, but for a backup catcher with strong defensive chops, it might be just enough.
Senger’s role isn’t to carry the offense. It’s to give Alvarez a breather without the Mets losing control of the game behind the plate. If he can trim that chase rate and push his average closer to the Mendoza Line, he’ll give himself a real shot to stick on the roster.
There’s no glamour in being a backup catcher, but there’s value-especially when you can control the running game, block balls in the dirt, and manage a pitching staff. Senger has already beaten the odds just by making it to the majors. Now, he’s trying to carve out a niche as the kind of player every contender needs: steady, smart, and ready when called upon.