Let us process this information: Andrew Knizner has out-hit Willson Contreras so far in 2023

As we'll explore, this is actually a good thing as we look forward

With dropped jaws, please process the following True Internet Facts:

• Catcher Willson Contreras, the team’s signature winter addition, this season has an OPS+ of 85, which means his park-adjusted OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) is 15% worse than the league-average figure of 100. 

• Backup catcher Andrew Knizner this season has an OPS+ of 90, which means he’s been modestly better with the bat on a rate basis than Contreras this season. 

To say that this is contrary to expectations, even a mere one-third of the way through the season, is to indulge in felonious levels of understatement. Each of these things merits further exploration, so let us do that now by breaking down the offensive performances of these catchers so far in 2023.