Major League Baseball is loaded with talent at the catcher position heading into the 2023 season. Check out top five catchers in baseball.
Ranking the top five MLB catchers for 2023.
Then there’s the young talent. Baltimore Orioles backstop Adley Rutschman has the chance to become not just the best catcher in the game, but also a perennial MVP candidate.
So how do those big names stack up against one another in our latest positional rankings ? Here are the top five catchers in baseball ahead of the new season.
1. J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies
Realmuto has been the best catcher in the sport for the last five years.
2022 stats: .276/.342/.478, 22 HR, 84 RBI
While you can make the argument for Rutschman, Realmuto has an undeniable track record that gives him the edge for now.
The 32-year-old is a three-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger award winner, and two-time Gold Glover.
He finished seventh in NL MVP voting last season and is showing no signs of slowing down.
2. Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
Rutschman, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, quickly made his presence felt as a rookie last year.
2022 stats: .254/.362/.445, 13 HR, 42 RBI
The 25-year-old finished as the runner-up in AL Rookie of the Year voting behind Mariners star Julio Rodriguez. He posted a 5.3 WAR despite only playing in 113 games.
No one should be surprised if Rutschman is in the MVP conversation this season, though he’ll need to prove himself over the course of a 162-game campaign before taking over the No. 1 spot on this list
3. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Smith has established himself as arguably the best offensive catcher in the game.
2022 stats: .260/.343/.465, 24 HR, 87 RBI
The soon-to-be 28-year-old led all NL catchers in homers and RBI last season and that still was a step back from his stellar 2021 campaign.
Smith’s defense isn’t up to par with some of the other top catchers, but he isn’t a liability. And even if he was, the bat would make up for those shortcomings.
4. Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
The A’s continued their fire sale by sending Murphy to Atlanta during the offseason.
2022 stats: .250/.332/.426, 18 HR, 66 RBI (with Oakland Athletics)
It was a major addition for the Braves, who now boast arguably the best catching tandem in the league with Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud.
Murphy is a Gold Glove backstop who took a significant step forward at the plate last season.
His 5.1 WAR ranked 11th in the American League and third among all catchers.
5. Willson Contreras, St. Louis Cardinals
Contreras will replace the great Yadier Molina behind the plate in St. Louis after signing a five-year, $87.5 million contract in free agency.
2022 stats: .243/.349/.466, 22 HR, 55 RBI (with Chicago Cubs)
It’s a defensive downgrade, but the 30-year-old makes the Cardinals lineup even scarier. He’s among the best offensive backstops in the game and as long as he stays healthy in 2023, he should add a fourth All-Star selection to his résumé.
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