Below are our rankings of catchers entering the 2019 season. The list was last updated on January 14, 2019.
Rank | Player | Comment |
1 | J. T. Realmuto (MIA) | 21 homers and 74 RBI as a Marlin in 2018. Imagine what he could produce on a real team in a decent hitters park? |
2 | Yadier Molina (STL) | The last time Molina had a batting average under .260 was 2006. The highest floor of any catcher on the board. |
3 | Wilson Ramos (NYM) | He led all catchers with a minimum of 300 at-bats in 2018 by sporting a .845 OPS. |
4 | Salvador Perez (KC) | He led the catching corps last year with 27 homers and 80 RBI. He also posted a .235 BA and .274 OBP. Take the good with the bad and be content. |
5 | Gary Sanchez (NYY) | In 2017 Sanchez went 33-90 with a .278 BA and .345 OBP. In 2018 he faded into 18-53 with a .186 BA and .291 OBP. 2019 will go a long way in determining whether we comp him to Mike Zunino or Mike Piazza. I’m betting on somewhere in-between. |
6 | Willson Contreras (CHC) | The memories of that 2017 breakout campaign faded rather quickly. Did he enroll in the same off-season training program as Gary Sanchez? There is simply too much talent to see a repeat of that ten homer 2018 campaign. |
7 | Yasmani Grandal (MIL) | The rumor mill had him passing on a four-year $60 million offer from the Mets only to sign a one-year $18.25 million dollar contract with the Brewers. Hmmm.., somebody screwed up… |
8 | Buster Posey (SFG) | The power continues to fade, although that loss is offset by the always solid on-base skills. |
9 | Danny Jansen (TOR) | The contact skills demonstrated down on the farm were evident in his brief time with the Jays last season. 2019 will be a learning experience, but the potential is there for him to graduate into the ranks of the top-tier catchers. |
10 | Jorge Alfaro (PHI) | Still young, and with Wilson Ramos on the move, moving into a full-time role. The best is yet to come. |
11 | Yan Gomes (WAS) | Mid-teens power with a middling BA. A definite upgrade over Matt Wieters. |
12 | Isiah Kiner-Falefa (TEX, 2B-20, 3B-46) | He led all catchers last year with seven stolen bases and the retirement of Adrian Beltre should guarantee the soon-to-be 24-year-old 400 plus at-bats. A double-digit stolen base season is in his future. |
13 | Mike Zunino (TAM) | Another 20+ homer campaign in 2018 for Zunino. Another year struggling to break the Mendoza line. |
14 | Robinson Chirinos (HOU) | The move to Houston has him on the cusp of a 20-homer season, but don’t bet on the BA to be an asset. |
15 | Tucker Barnhart (CIN) | If you’re looking for a rather boring 7-to-10 homer, 45-50 RBI, and a .250 BA he’s your guy. This folks is a mid-tier catcher in 2019. |
16 | Welington Castillo (CWS) | I prefer my “Beef” steroid free. |
17 | Manny Pina (MIL) | Back-to-back seasons hitting nine homers with a decent BA. The bar has been set. |
18 | Austin Hedges (SD) | He missed seven weeks in May and June but bounced back nicely with ten homers in the second half. Don’t give up on him yet, even though the rumor mill has the Padres doing exactly that. |
19 | Carson Kelly (ARZ) | Stuck behind one of the best in the game, Yadier Molina wasn’t helping his cause. Last year at Triple-A Memphis he hit seven homers in 294 at-bats and struck out 48 times. He also walked 48 times. I like the hit-tool and am expecting to see positive value as he slowly moves into the #1 role in Arizona. |
20 | Austin Barnes (LAD) | A decent second catching option in two-catcher sets. He’s holding down the fort until the Dodgers either sign a free agent option or determine that one of Keibert Ruiz or Will Smith is ready to roll. |
21 | Francisco Cervelli (PIT) | Cervelli is coming off a career season at the age of 32. Maybe the Pirates should have a Plan “B” at the ready. |
22 | Kurt Suzuki (WAS) | With 31 homers in the past two seasons, Suzuki has found the fountain of youth. As a backup to Yan Gomes, he’s a definite upgrade over Matt Wieters. |
23 | Mitch Garver (MIN) | Be aware that both Jason Castro and Willians Austidillo are part of the equation in Minnesota, but for now he’s the go-to guy. |
24 | Omar Narvaez (SEA) | The breakout that we witnessed in 2018 is intriguing. |
25 | Willians Austidillo (MIN) | There is no doubt that the kid can hit, but be careful as he could face a challenge finding at-bats in the rapidly changing and upgraded Twins lineup. |
26 | Grayson Greiner (DET) | He’s looking like the best bet to be the #1 catcher in Detroit this year and worthy of a look at a second catcher. Greiner did hit 14 homers in 328 at-bats at Double-A in 2017. |
27 | Elias Diaz (PIT) | “Plan B” also enjoyed a career year. Is there a Plan C? |
28 | Tyler Flowers (ATL) | Who do you believe has the potential for a bounce-back campaign, Tyler Flowers or the recently signed Brian McCann. I’ll give Flowers a slight edge. |
29 | Jonathan Lucroy (LAA) | Last year I asked the question, “He really can’t be 2017 bad again….can he?” The answer is, yes. Yes, he can. |
30 | Chris Iannetta (COL) | If only the Rockies played all 162 games at home. |
31 | Brian McCann (ATL) | |
32 | John Hicks (DET, 1B-59) | |
33 | Max Stassi (HOU) | |
34 | Chance Sisco (BAL) | |
35 | Kevin Plawecki (CLE) | |
36 | Francisco Mejia (SD) | |
37 | Austin Romine (NYY) | |
38 | Russell Martin (TOR, 3B-21) | |
39 | Travis d’Arnaud (NYM) | |
40 | Alex Avila (ARZ) | |
41 | James McCann (CWS) | |
42 | Josh Phegley (OAK) | |
43 | Sandy Leon (BOS) | |
44 | Christian Vazquez (BOS) | |
45 | Chris Herrmann (OAK) | |
46 | Sean Murphy (OAK) | |
47 | Austin Wynns (BAL) | |
48 | Devin Mesoraco (FA) | |
49 | Roberto Perez (CLE) | |
50 | Jason Castro (MIN) | |
51 | Keibert Ruiz (LAD) | |
52 | Jacob Nottingham (MIL) | |
53 | Eric Haase (CLE) | |
54 | Matt Wieters (FA) | |
55 | Victor Caratini (CHC, 1B-20) | |
56 | Kevan Smith (LAA) | |
57 | Will Smith (LAD) | |
58 | Nick Hundley (FA) | |
59 | Andrew Knapp (PHI) | |
60 | Jose Briceno (LAA) | |
61 | Aramis Garcia (SFG) | |
62 | Blake Swihart (BOS, OF) | |
63 | Michael Perez (TAM) | |
64 | Zack Collins (CWS) | |
65 | Martin Maldonado (FA) | |
66 | Caleb Joseph (FA) | |
67 | John Ryan Murphy (ARZ) | |
68 | Cameron Rupp (SFG) | |
69 | Tony Wolters (COL) | |
70 | Jeff Mathis (TEX) | |
71 | Jake Rogers (DET) | |
72 | Andrew Susac (BAL) | |
73 | Curt Casali (CIN) | |
74 | Chad Wallach (MIA) | |
75 | Cam Gallagher (KC) | |
76 | Tom Murphy (COL) | |
77 | Stephen Vogt (FA) | |
78 | Seby Zavala (CWS) | |
79 | Meibrys Viloria (KC) | |
80 | David Freitas (SEA) | |
81 | Luke Maile (TOR) | |
82 | Erik Kratz (MIL) | |
83 | Rocky Gale (LAD) | |
84 | Deivi Grullon (PHI) | |
85 | Daulton Varsho (ARZ) | |
86 | Reese McGuire (TOR) | |
87 | Spencer Kieboom (WAS) | |
88 | Jesus Sucre (FA) |
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