One week after his 27th birthday, Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch delivered his gift to Astros catcher Max Stassi. It came sans wrapping or bow, but Stassi probably ripped it open in his mind, anyway. Hinch informed the nine-year pro that he will be on the 25-man roster on Opening Day as the team’s backup catcher.

“I had a pretty good idea,” Stassi told the Houston Chronicle, March 23, “but just to hear [Hinch] say it was surreal.”

The native Californian has only played in small parts of five major league seasons with the Astros, but has never topped 15 games in a single season. Stassi beat out Tim Federowicz, a non-roster invitee Houston signed to a minor league deal in December.

He better have. While losing his roster spot to a minor league signee would have held its own level of ignominy, it also would have meant the end of his career in Houston.

Related: Stassi Helps Northern California Fire Relief and Surprises Paradise High School Players

Stassi was out of minor league options, and not making the team would have meant being exposed and, doubtlessly, claimed by another MLB team. And, having just been a part (albeit small at 14 games) of the Astros’ World Series run last season, and with a winning window open for a possible couple more years, it’s doubtful even landing a starting spot on any other team would’ve been as fulfilling or rewarding.

At least, now, he won’t have to find out.

Catching the Plan

Hinch said Stassi would catch more than veteran catcher Evan Gattis, who will fill in as a third catcher, but will primarily be the everyday designated hitter. Gattis has caught very few games this spring, and there have been recent concerns about his ability to throw, or at least throw well. Veteran Brian McCann will be the go-to catcher, most days, and the younger, more agile Stassi will be his much-improved backup.

“We’ll always pay attention to his fatigue level and his health,” Hinch said of the 34-year-old McCann, further cementing Stassi’s value with the team.

Through games of March 24, Stassi’s caught close to 100 spring training innings to unanimous praise from the Astros’ pitching staff. He’s thrown out two of six baserunners against him, has not permitted a passed ball, and has yielded only two wild pitches.

“[Stassi] was very consistent behind the plate,” Hinch said recently to MLB.com. “I liked how our pitchers developed a rapport with him very quickly, and a number of guys commented on how comfortable they were throwing to him. His receiving has gotten a lot better over the last couple of years. I think he’s embraced the [pitch-framing] fundamentals and has done a good job getting better in that area.”

Value to the Max

The solid 5’10”, 200-pounder begins his sixth season with the Houston organization and owns a career .253 BA over 44 MLB games across his five seasons in a limited role. The right-handed batter was hitting just .132 in his 38 at-bats coming into games of March 25, with two homers among his five hits.

So, he’ll either be a light hitter, and contribute to the ‘Stros with solid pitch-calling, framing, and defense, or (probably a likelier scenario), he’ll benefit from regular scorecard write-ins (spelling McCann), and the confidence of finally playing in the big leagues.

Related: TRS Exclusive Stassi Interview on Astros Caravan

Stassi was a 4th-round draft pick of the Oakland A’s in 2009 out of Yuba City High School, 40 miles north of Sacramento.

On February 4, 2013, Houston acquired Stassi from Oakland, along with 1B Chris Carter (currently with the Angels) and RHP Brad Peacock, sending SS Jed Lowrie and RHP Fernando Rodriguez (now with Boston) to the A’s.

Appropriately enough, the relieved catcher got in the last word: “It’s something I worked hard for this whole offseason,” Stassi said. “Just to be a part of this is something special.”