2026 Positional Energy Rankings: Catcher

If we have been sensible, we’d write this stuff backwards. I may actually use a fully-charged battery to wade by the mess in (spoiler alert) Anaheim. However by the point you and I get to the Angels some 5 – 6 thousand phrases from now, I’ll be a chattering wretch with a mind so oversaturated by the deluge of main league-adjacent catchers that they’ll hang-out my desires for weeks. I don’t want a full mind to let you know why Cal Raleigh is the very best catcher in baseball. You don’t even want me to let you know. That is Raleigh’s second season in a row placing the Mariners on prime of our catcher positional energy rankings. Simply 5 extra in a row and he’ll break Buster Posey’s report.

In 2025, Raleigh put up 9.1 WAR and hit 60 homers with a 161 wRC+. From each side of the plate, Raleigh’s swing is designed to do harm within the air. He’s received the very best launch angle in baseball. He strikes out lots, however he hits the ball onerous and much, and he walks as a result of why would you problem a man who can do this? After issues that his framing was dropping off some, Raleigh ended the season ranked third in accordance with Statcast. He additionally completed third in innings caught and led all catchers by a large margin with 705 plate appearances. He clearly can’t hold this up endlessly, however even when he falls all the best way again to his 2022-2024 type, he’ll be an All-Star with a 117 wRC+ and nice protection.

Additional down the depth chart, Andrew Knizner put up a career-high 0.2 WAR in 2025; Mariners followers certainly hope he gained’t have a lot likelihood to enhance on that determine. Mitch Garver is coming off two down seasons and is on a minor league deal. He’s 35 and extra of a DH than a catcher, however possibly he’ll hit once more.

Alejandro Kirk is again. After two seasons with wonderful protection however a mixed 94 wRC+, Kirk ran a 116 wRC+ and put up his greatest defensive season but. The diminutive backstop launched a career-best 15 dwelling runs (plus 5 extra within the playoffs) and in addition set a profession excessive with 4.7 WAR. He doesn’t elevate the ball all that a lot, however he’s a fantastic contact hitter with above-average bat pace, and in 2025 that allowed him to surpass a 50% hard-hit price. Statcast credited him with 22 fielding runs, second solely to Patrick Bailey. He was additionally the very best blocker in a recreation by an incredibly giant margin. The projections don’t suppose he’s dropping again below the three-win mark, and Kirk’s recreation is so full you could perceive why.

Tyler Heineman was implausible in backup obligation final yr, placing up 2.1 WAR and operating an astonishing 120 wRC+. That stated, he overperformed his xwOBA by a neat 68 factors, so possibly don’t anticipate him to maintain hitting like this. Nonetheless, he’s a superb defender. Brandon Valenzuela is a glove-first 25-year-old who has spent the previous few years within the excessive minors. The projections see him as a replacement-level participant, which is okay for a 3rd catcher so long as nothing occurs to the opposite two.

Hey and welcome to the very best defender in baseball. Over his three years within the majors, Patrick Bailey has run a mixed wRC+ of 76, costing the Giants 39 runs on offense. They don’t care. Bailey has been the sport’s most useful defender in every of these three seasons. Bear in mind when “Wild Factor” Rick Vaughn threw a fastball that knocked the top off a batter? Bailey may make that pitch seem like a strike. You already know when the ball drops in Instances Sq. on New 12 months’s Eve? He may make that seem like a strike. Keep in mind that one time 50 Cent threw out the primary pitch at Citi Discipline? OK, even Bailey couldn’t assistance on that one, however you get the purpose.

One cause for warning: The projection right here has Bailey set for a career-high 4.6 WAR, however that’s largely as a result of it’s anticipating him to get almost 75 extra plate appearances than he’s ever gotten in a season. It’s additionally not less than doable the problem system may value him a couple of hard-earned stolen strikes. The excellent news? After hints that college-import supervisor Tony Vitello would possibly need the Giants to name pitches from the dugout, the crew indicated that it’ll stay Bailey’s bailiwick.

With Andrew Knizner and Sam Huff each gone, the 33-year-old Eric Haase is the one catcher right here with main league expertise. Daniel Susac has the within observe to the backup spot, particularly as a result of, as a Rule 5 decide, he has to remain on the 26-man roster. Jesus Rodriguez has spent the previous few years raking within the minors, and he’s at the moment raking throughout spring coaching, however he’s additionally a 3rd baseman and his catching remains to be a piece in progress.

The Orioles checking in at fourth on this checklist is a testomony each to how good Adley Rutschman was at first of his profession and the way good of a hitter Samuel Basallo appears to be like to be at first of his. After posting a mixed 11.1 WAR over his first two seasons, Rutschman has put up 3.9 WAR over the previous two seasons. His wRC+ fell from 129 to 99. His fielding run worth fell from 21 to six. A few of these counting stats are decrease as a result of indirect strains value Rutschman a big chunk of 2025, but it surely’s now been two season since he’s regarded like a star.

Final yr at the moment, we may blame the mid-season thumb damage Rutschman suffered in 2024. This yr, we are able to’t. Rutschman is 28, and the projections have him bouncing again to place up a 116 wRC+ and three.7 WAR, principally one thing between his first two years and the final two. That’s what projections do. However I don’t suppose anyone actually is aware of what to anticipate proper now.

Regardless of operating a 55 wRC+ over a 31-game massive league debut in 2025, Basallo is our prime catching prospect and fourth-ranked prospect general. His Prime 100 blurb calls him a kaiju. A kaiju! The 21-year-old positively has energy. He earned that call-up by operating a 151 wRC+ in Triple-A. He chases an excessive amount of, his receiving isn’t nice, and he’s handled accidents. However he ought to mash, and that’s sufficient. Haverick Mandley – sorry, Maverick Handley, I’ve a situation – rounds out the group.

If I have been William Contreras, I’d be livid to seek out myself all the best way down right here at fifth (however I’d additionally, hopefully, be targeted on extra necessary stuff). Contreras led all catchers in WAR in each 2023 and 2024, then completed fourth in 2025. Since 2023, Raleigh leads all catchers with 18.8 WAR, Contreras is behind him at 15.0, then Will Smith is in third down at 10.6. Contreras might not belong with Raleigh, however he’s been a minimize above everyone else and someway the Brewers nonetheless haven’t cracked our prime 4.

That stated, Contreras took a step again in 2025. His 113 wRC+, although nonetheless nice for a catcher, was the worst quantity he’d put up since 2021, as was his 102 DRC+. His protection remains to be good, however not as far above common because it as soon as was. That’s nonetheless sufficient to make him a top-six catcher, and he’s solely 28. It may simply be a blip. He simply ran the very best stroll and strikeout charges of his profession, and he nonetheless mashes the ball.

Gary Sánchez remains to be hanging on at 33. His bat is correct round common lately, and his framing is effectively under it. Sánchez put up -0.1 WAR final yr and 0.4 the yr earlier than, however he can nonetheless hit the ball a great distance. Reese McGuire is on a minor league deal, and will he make the membership, he can present good protection; he’s one of many recreation’s greatest framers on pitches on the prime of the zone. The 23-year-old Jeferson Quero simply ranked 76th on our Prime 100 and needs to be a strong common when he’s prepared.

Austin Wells began mashing on the All-Star break in 2024. Two implausible months earned him a 114 wRC+ within the second half, and rapidly, he regarded not similar to a great rookie catcher, however a real star. In 2025, his bat fell again to simply south of league common. His glove was nonetheless nice, and he took benefit of Yankee Stadium’s quick porch to launch 21 homers. The projections suppose he can hold it going with one other three-win season. He was the very best framer in baseball on low pitches, however struggled mightily on excessive ones. He’s a fantastic participant who’s nonetheless simply 26, and who is aware of, possibly he’ll hit one other sizzling stretch once more.

Ben Rice put up a monster 2025 with 26 bombs and a 133 wRC+, however he took simply 20% of his plate appearances at catcher, and we see him getting even fewer reps there in 2026. The Yankees got here into 2025 excessive on J.C. Escarra’s glove, and the 30-year-old rookie didn’t disappoint, racking up three fielding runs in roughly 23 video games price of labor. He didn’t hit and received despatched down in early September, however he has run good offensive numbers within the minors for the previous two years. Even when that by no means interprets within the Bronx, he’ll contribute with the glove. In addition to, three left-handed hitting catchers is simply plain enjoyable, even when one in every of them doesn’t do a lot hitting and one other’s not fairly a catcher anymore.

If these rankings have been nearly every crew’s beginning catcher, the Diamondbacks could be within the prime 5. Gabriel Moreno has carried out like a star in every of the previous two years, however accidents have saved him below 100 video games and three.0 WAR. He’s a contact hitter with a surprisingly good hard-hit price, and his protection is great. If Moreno will get again as much as one thing like 115 video games performed, he may lastly get the All-Star nod that has thus far eluded him. The dangerous information right here is that Moreno has elbow irritation and has been shut down. The excellent news is that an MRI revealed no structural harm; it’s hoped that he ought to solely be out for a couple of days.

Behind Moreno, James McCann is coming into his age-35 season. McCann ran a 76 wRC+ over the earlier 4 seasons, so that you’ll excuse the projections for not believing within the 110 mark he put up in 2025. His protection has graded out as common, however that is what a veteran who’s shifted right into a backup position appears to be like like. Final yr, Adrian Del Castillo checked in at no. 30 on the Prime 100. He raked within the minors, however struck out 35.9% of the time with an 87 wRC+ over 44 video games in Arizona, and that quantity was buoyed by some critical batted ball luck. The projections see him placing up roughly the identical offensive line, simply with precise enchancment taking the place of the batted ball luck. He’ll additionally get a late begin after a calf pressure, but it surely’s doable the numbers are underestimating him right here.

Dillon Dingler simply put up 4.1 WAR with a 109 wRC+. He gained a Gold Glove, excelling at framing, blocking, and throwing (which, in the event you’re protecting observe at dwelling, is all of the stuff we measure). The projections see his bat taking a step again this yr, and you’ll perceive why. He strikes out loads, he doesn’t stroll a lot, his bat pace is just middling, and he’s most likely not going to run a .345 BABIP once more. However Dingler additionally simply posted a forty five.6% hard-hit price. It’s actually doable that he’ll carry on dingling, hit one other 13 dwelling runs, and discover his option to one other above-average offensive line. Even when he doesn’t, protection like that can make him one of many higher catchers within the recreation.

After two years as Detroit’s principal catcher, Jake Rogers is now backing up Dingler. His protection took a step again in 2025, however the projections see the 30-year-old rebounding to be an above-average defender and a priceless backup. Coming into his age-32 season, Tomás Nido will as soon as once more function a protected veteran choice as a 3rd catcher. Eduardo Valencia is Detroit’s eighth-ranked prospect, and he’s been mashing within the minors, however he’s been splitting time between catcher, first base, and DH, and will not see a lot time behind the dish.

Drake Baldwin wasted no time. Atlanta’s prime prospect coming into 2025 shot out of the gate, operating a 176 wRC+ over the primary 28 video games of his profession. He completed the season with a 125 wRC+, 3.1 WAR, and the NL Rookie of the 12 months award. The projections don’t anticipate that a lot regression on the plate, which is shocking contemplating Baldwin additionally ran a 125 wRC+ within the minors in 2024. The downgrade they’re anticipating comes from his protection, which graded out a bit under common. I’m not saying I’m as sensible because the computer systems, however I believe the offense is extra more likely to worsen than the protection. It’s simply onerous to anticipate anybody to take care of the tempo after a rookie marketing campaign like that.

Hip labrum surgical procedure is anticipated to maintain Sean Murphy out till Might; the damage had been bothering him for a number of years when he went below the knife final September. Murphy’s protection has all the time been nice, however his offense dropped type wonderful to under common within the final two seasons. Assuming he will get and stays wholesome sufficient to obtain vital taking part in time, he needs to be a helpful piece, even when his offense doesn’t bounce again the best way the projections anticipate.

That leaves Jonah Heim because the crew’s major backup for now. For one wonderful season in 2023, Heim regarded like a star, however he’s put up detrimental WAR in every of the previous two seasons. He fell off a cliff on each protection and offense, and in 2025, he tried a brand new tactic of simply not swinging at pitches within the zone. It, uh, didn’t work.

Thirty is the brand new no matter age Will Smith desires it to be. The Dodgers backstop celebrated a brand new decade on the earth by placing up his first four-win season since 2022. He ran a 153 wRC+, and got here 4 factors of batting common and three factors of slugging from reaching .300/.400/.500.

The projections clearly don’t see Smith operating again a 153 wRC+, however he drastically lowered his swing price and added a few ticks to each his bat pace and what proved to be a career-high, Ninetieth-percentile exit velocity. These are metrics that are typically sticky; Smith may need unlocked one thing right here. His protection is beginning to border on being a legal responsibility, however even when his offense steps again to the extent the projections anticipate, nobody will care.

In 2023, Daulton Speeding ran a 147 wRC+ within the minors. In 2024, he ran a 145 wRC+ within the minors. In 2025, he ran a 143 wRC+ throughout his time at Triple-A. However in Los Angeles, he posted a 62 wRC. He struck out almost six occasions greater than he walked. He didn’t slug the best way you’d anticipate from a man who hits the ball that onerous. His protection wasn’t nice, both. The projections nonetheless consider in Speeding’s bat. Let’s give him one other likelihood. Seby Zavala is the third catcher that each crew desires to have and no crew desires to make use of.

I need to consider in Francisco Alvarez. In 2025, he completed sturdy and put up a 124 wRC+, regardless of a hamate fracture, a begin so dangerous it earned him a month in Triple-A Syracuse, and a thumb sprain. Nonetheless, his protection dropped off in an enormous approach.

Right here is his DRC+ over every of his 5 main league seasons: 101, 97, 97, 101, 98. DRC+ sees a totally common hitter, as does xwOBA. Nonetheless, our projections see Alvarez operating a 116 wRC+ this yr. He whiffs an excessive amount of, however his swing choices graded out nice and he ran an absurdly excessive hard-hit price and common exit velocity final yr. As I write this on March 15, he’s batting .375 and slugging .625 throughout spring coaching. This can be a rosy projection, but it surely’s actually not not possible, particularly if Alvarez’s protection bounces again some.

Luis Torrens debuted in 2017, however someway, he gained’t attain free company till subsequent yr. The final time he ran a wRC+ above 89 was 2021, however he’s quietly put up respectable underlying numbers over the previous two years, and his protection took an enormous step ahead in 2025. No one’s anticipating Torrens to abruptly begin taking part in like a star in his age-30 season, however he put up 1.6 WAR final yr, so possibly this projection doesn’t seem to be a stretch in any respect.

“Would you moderately have Ben Rortvedt, Hayden Senger, or Austin Barnes as your third catcher?” is the type of query each GM hopes they by no means must reply.

Welcome to the center of the pack, and congratulations to the Twins for bettering their roster at precisely one place this offseason. Ryan Jeffers is an efficient hitter and a not good defender who will see time at catcher and DH. In 2025, he had a way more passive method, which become a bunch extra walks and a strikeout price that dipped under 20% for the primary time in his complete profession. He ran a career-low ISO, however getting on base is enjoyable too. The projections will hold viewing him as an above-average hitter till he stops being an above-average hitter.

Victor Caratini parlayed a few above-average seasons on the plate in Houston into one other two-year deal a thousand miles north. Nevertheless, his protection took an enormous step again final yr, and the projections don’t actually belief his bat. They see a contact hitter who hit a couple of extra dwelling runs than standard regardless of hitting the ball softer. Alex Jackson has a profession wRC+ of 48 and is now on his eighth main league franchise, however in 2025, he parlayed some nice batted ball luck into 1.1 WAR.

The 19-year-old Eduardo Tait (pronounced Tah-eet) ranked forty sixth on our Prime 100, however he’s a great distance away.

The projections don’t actually know what to do with the 26-year-old Bo Naylor. He raked within the minors and ran a 123 wRC+ as a rookie in 2023. Within the following two seasons, he’s put up a mixed 3.1 WAR with a 79 wRC+. His protection was nice in 2024, then common in 2025. The projections see him as a median hitter going ahead, anticipating a bit extra batted ball luck and a bit extra slug. Possibly Naylor will flip into the ability hitter we as soon as anticipated, however he’s now greater than 300 video games and 1,000 plate appearances into his profession. He would possibly simply be a median catcher.

Chances are you’ll be shocked to be taught that Austin Hedges remains to be simply 33 years outdated. He may hold doing this for an additional seven or eight years. And once I say “this,” I imply being an elite receiver whereas placing up an acrophobic wRC+. In every of the final two seasons, Hedges received precisely three base hits that weren’t yanked down the left area line, however he additionally caught the ball actual fairly. David Fry hasn’t caught a lot prior to now two seasons, however experiences out of camp have him getting extra reps behind the dish. Keep in mind that sizzling stretch in 2024 when he was the very best hitter in baseball? The Guardians positively do. Dom Nuñez has 48 main league plate appearances prior to now three seasons.

Pedro Páges is beginning to seem like an excellent defender, which is nice as a result of he has a profession wRC+ of 79 and his offensive numbers weren’t all that significantly better within the minors. He can yank homers down the left area line, however that basically appears to be his solely trick. The Cardinals have made it clear that he’s going to be their starter, so they are going to be hoping towards hope that he retains up the good framing and throwing.

Iván Herrera can actually hit, and after offseason surgical procedure to scrub up his throwing elbow, the crew hopes he can return to catching. Nonetheless, the backup job might go to Yohel Pozo. Final yr, Pozo made it again to the majors for the primary time since 2021, and he put the ball in play a complete lot. He simply didn’t hit it onerous, and his 76 wRC+ saved him proper round substitute stage. Jimmy Crooks is our 93rd-ranked prospect with a reputation straight out of a a Chicagoland gangster film. He’s a elegant defender who would possibly be capable of run into sufficient dwelling runs to make issues work. If he can’t, the beefy Crooks can all the time return to breaking thumbs. Not but on the checklist however on everybody’s thoughts is Rainel Rodriguez, the 19-year-old who simply checked in at no. 25 on our Prime 100. Rodriguez will want some time, however he destroyed the Advanced League and Low-A in 2025.

What are you doing all the best way down right here, Shea Langeliers? Don’t you realize you simply put up a 3.9-WAR season with 31 homers and a 132 wRC+? You’ve now hit 60 dwelling runs prior to now two years with a mixed 121 wRC+. Rise up towards the highest and jockey with Alejandro Kirk! What’s that you simply say? You’ve additionally been among the many recreation’s worst defenders behind the dish for years now? Why didn’t you say so earlier than, you insolent rhetorical system? I suppose you may keep down right here in any case.

Enjoying in Sacramento may need boosted Langeliers’ dwelling run totals final yr – he hit six greater than Statcast would have anticipated – however he’ll be taking part in there once more, and even when his numbers come again down their 2024 ranges, he’ll be lots productive.

Austin Wynns has a profession 74 wRC+, however – small pattern measurement alert – over the previous two seasons, he has a mixed 137 wRC+. It’s wonderful what you are able to do with smoke, mirrors, and a .388 BABIP. Shane McGuire is 26 and he reached Triple-A for the primary time in 2025. I believe we are able to all agree he’s as a result of make his debut.

Carson Kelly got here out of nowhere to run an absurd 151 wRC+ within the first half of 2025. Within the second half, he posted a 69. He ended at a 115 and a couple of.6 WAR, each the very best marks of his complete profession. In any case that noise, the projections see him proper under league common on the plate and proper above league common with the glove, and, effectively, certain. Why not? The final two years have been one thing of a renaissance for Kelly, who had exceeded 0.6 WAR simply twice within the first eight seasons of his profession. Good for him.

Moisés Ballesteros is our 84th-ranked prospect, and – cease me in the event you’re getting bored with listening to this – he appears to be like like he’ll be too good a hitter to spend all that a lot time catching. Miguel Amaya isn’t going to repeat the 124 wRC+ he put up in an indirect strain-shortened 2025, however over his three seasons within the majors, he’s quietly put up underlying numbers that aren’t all that far under league common. His protection leaves one thing to be desired, however that’s backup catchers for you. If they might do all of it, they’d simply be catchers.

Yainer Diaz had some tough luck in 2025. He ran a career-best DRC+ of 115, however a wRC+ of simply 92. That type of variance can occur once you by no means stroll and nearly by no means strike out. Diaz has loads of pop, and he reached 20 homers for the second time in his profession. However when the ball didn’t go away the yard, it tended to discover a glove. The projections see him proper round his profession wRC+ of 109 and catching sufficient baserunners to almost make up for his deficiencies as a framer and blocker.

Victor Caratini didn’t simply go away Houston for Minnesota; he swapped locations with Christian Vázquez, who signed a minor league take care of the Astros. Vázquez hasn’t hit in years now, however he’s a veteran and a great clubhouse presence, and everyone wants a job. Our Depth Charts have César Salazar as the first backup, and whereas he’s a greater hitter than Vázquez, that’s not likely the type of factor you place in your résumé.

If you happen to suppose you realize what to anticipate from Salvador Perez this yr, I might love to listen to your methodology. Certain, we must always anticipate someplace between 23 and 30 dwelling runs, and we must always anticipate a complete lot of aggressive hacks on pitches outdoors the zone, however Salvy does that in each his good years and his dangerous years. He’s 35 now, and solely one of many previous 4 years – 2024, when he put up a 117 wRC+ and three.3 WAR – has been a great yr, however Perez is a kind of gamers it is best to by no means depend out.

Nonetheless, I buried the lede right here. Have a look at the desk. Carter Jensen is projected to outperform Perez (which, it’s price noting, he managed to do by placing up 0.7 WAR in a 20-game cup of espresso final yr). As Leo Morgenstern famous in final yr’s energy rankings, we’ve been speaking about Perez’s substitute in these pages for years. Each season or two, the title of the substitute modifications, whereas Perez stays entrenched because the starter and launches one other 30 bombs or so.

Right here’s the case for why Jensen is perhaps completely different. He’s our Thirty second-ranked prospect and he’s carried out nothing however rake within the minors. Between Triple-A and the majors, he ran a 59% hard-hit price final yr. Fifty-nine p.c! He may need a gap in his swing, and he won’t have sufficient barrel variability to be a fantastic hitter, however he actually has the ability and the method to make the bundle work. His protection wants work, however he’s simply 22. The Royals signed Elias Díaz to a minor league deal, which signifies that Jensen is certainly going to get loads of taking part in time, even when he begins the season in Triple-A.

In the end, San Diego’s catching nightmare is over. Gone are Elias Díaz and Martín Maldonado. Mid-season acquisition Freddy Fermin is best suited as a backup (to Salvador Perez, in fact), however he’s a wonderfully cromulent catcher, and wow is that an improve for the Padres. He can block, he can throw out runners, he can put the ball in play. He doesn’t make good swing choices, however he isn’t a legal responsibility.

That’s the top of the excellent news. Luis Campusano spent almost the whole 2025 season within the minors. He’s put up -0.1 WAR over the course of his profession, and prior to now two seasons, that quantity is -0.9. His protection has all the time graded out poorly, however he did rake within the minors final yr, which is presumably why our Depth Charts see him posting a .318 wOBA. Be skeptical. The 28-year-old Rodolfo Durán doesn’t seem to own a lot upside, both, however after 11 years within the minors, he’s actually due for his first shot on the massive leagues.

Hunter Goodman is a enjoyable participant to observe. He’s received loads of bat pace and he hits the ball lots onerous. He ripped 31 dingers final yr they usually traveled fairly far. He’s additionally received among the worst plate self-discipline in baseball. He strikes out greater than 1 / 4 of the time. He walks by no means. He isn’t a foul framer, however hassle controlling the operating recreation holds him again. He very a lot made that bundle work in 2025, placing up 3.4 WAR on the again of these 31 dingers and a .331 BABIP. However even when he retains the house run whole up, he’s most likely due for some regression towards league common land. He’ll nonetheless be enjoyable to observe, particularly in the event you get pleasure from wholesome cuts and mild breezes.

Braxton Fulford is a weak defender who fell off our Rockies’ prime prospects checklist in 2025, the identical season he ran a 49 wRC+ in his debut. Nevertheless, he’s hit effectively at nearly each cease of the minors and he’s received an enormous league title if I’ve ever heard one. It appears to be like like he’ll get one other likelihood this yr. At age 32, Brett Sullivan has 112 main league plate appearances below his belt. He’s on a minor league deal, and it’s onerous to think about him beating out Fulford.

Listed below are J.T. Realmuto’s WAR totals for the previous three seasons: 2.0, 2.0, 2.1. As soon as the premier catcher within the recreation, Realmuto is about to be 35, and whereas the bat and arm are hanging on, the receiving is among the worst within the recreation. Realmuto additionally possessed the sport’s largest framing break up in 2025: He was price seven runs on the third base aspect of the plate, and he value the Phillies seven runs on the primary base aspect. Our projections say he could make it 4 years in a row in that slender band of WAR, however the offense actually did appear to take a step again in 2025, and he’s received much less meniscus than he as soon as had, which tends to meet up with you in the end. If 2026 doesn’t go effectively, the three-year contract he signed over the offseason may really feel fairly lengthy.

Rafael Marchán took over Garrett Stubbs’ backup spot final yr, and he went out and put up the very same 0.3 WAR that Stubbs had posted in 2024. Marchán is all contact, no energy – an enchancment over Stubbs’ some contact, no energy – and the projections suppose he can most likely outdo the .230 BABIP he put up final season, dragging him midway towards respectability on the plate. There isn’t a lot upside right here, and the draw back may get ugly in a rush if Realmuto ought to miss any time.

The necessary factor to notice is that Agustín Ramírez is the primary catcher on this checklist with a optimistic projected baserunning worth. In reality, he’s one in every of simply two catchers anticipated to see main league time this yr who has a optimistic quantity within the baserunning column. Agustín Ramírez, demon on 26.7-mph-sprint-speed wheels, we salute you and your 0.1 projected baserunning runs.

Ramírez got here to Miami within the Jazz Chisholm Jr. commerce. He entered his rookie marketing campaign ranked forty third on our Prime 100, and though he ran a 91 wRC+, the underlying numbers have been higher, and he showcased the ability we’d heard about, hitting 21 homers and operating a 47% hard-hit price. His protection was significantly ugly – he was the worst blocker within the recreation and it wasn’t shut – however he’s nonetheless studying and he’s solely 24. He’s made it identified that he spent the offseason engaged on his protection, and he’ll get an opportunity to point out that he’s improved, although he gained’t have to worry about recreation calling: After a trial run in September, the Marlins will probably be calling pitches from the dugout, presumably liberating their catchers up to consider life’s deeper mysteries.

The Marlins are additionally the primary crew we’ve seen with three catchers projected to recover from 100 plate appearances. Lefty-hitting Joe Mack was Miami’s aggressive stability spherical decide in 2021, and he’s now our 56th-ranked prospect. He’s received massive energy and a questionable hit instrument, and our prospect-knowers love his receiving, blocking, and throwing. He’ll strike out loads, and the projections are none too rosy on the bat proper now, however he could possibly be enjoyable. Mack is just 10 months youthful than Ramírez.

In his main league debut, Liam Hicks mixed an especially passive method with implausible contact expertise and non-existent bat pace. Pitchers have been already pounding the zone towards him, however it’s a must to think about his 11% stroll price will drop once they notice they need to be giving him the complete Luis Arraez remedy. His receiving graded out simply round common, however the arm dragged down his protection.

If this have been 2022, we’d be speaking about Danny Jansen and Kyle Higashioka as a top-10 catching duo. Nevertheless, the quickly to be 31-year-old Jansen has bounced across the previous couple years. His protection as soon as graded out effectively sufficient, however regardless of wonderful blocking, his arm and his framing are crushing his worth. When he’s not lifting and pulling the ball over the fence, he’s not doing a lot of something. Nonetheless, Jansen has all the time earned his walks, which supplies him a excessive offensive ground for a catcher.

Higashioka has put up someplace between 1.0 and 1.6 WAR in every of the final 4 seasons, and whereas Statcast didn’t like his protection in 2025, DRP and DRS did. Nevertheless, the projections see his offense trending downward, and as he approaches his age-36 season, they don’t seem to be inclined to provide him the good thing about the doubt. Higashioka appears to have traded some bat pace for contact capability lately, and he nonetheless hit 11 dwelling runs in 2025. Possibly he could make it work, however he’ll be doing so with out the blessing of the computer systems.

The Rangers claimed Willie MacIver off waivers from the A’s. The 29-year-old made his main league debut in 2025. Jose Herrera is on a minor league deal and has put up detrimental WAR in three of his 4 massive league seasons.

After lastly placing collectively two wholesome, full seasons in a row, life caught up with Tyler Stephenson. A fractured thumb and an indirect pressure restricted him to 88 video games in 2025. He ran a 99 wRC+ with poor framing numbers. Stephenson has an honest eye, and though he doesn’t possess nice bat pace, he ran a 49.2% hard-hit price in 2025. Nevertheless, he sacrificed some contact to get there, and his strikeout price jumped all the best way as much as 33.9%. This won’t be the very best model of Stephenson, but it surely’s adequate.

As soon as among the best framers within the recreation, Jose Trevino put up simply common defensive numbers in 2025. The framing was nonetheless okay, however the blocking particularly fell onerous, and throwing has by no means been his sturdy go well with. Mix that with a 66 wRC+, and he was price simply 0.3 WAR. The projections anticipate him to bounce again, and it’s comprehensible. Every of the massive three defensive metrics says he was price not less than six runs on protection in each season from 2021 to 2024, after which all of it simply disappeared. Trevino is 33 now, but it surely doesn’t often vanish that rapidly.

Again when he was a Marlins prospect, Will Banfield was drawing Austin Hedges comps, which is smart, as a result of the final time he ran a wRC+ above 99 at any minor league stage was 2018. He received his first cup of espresso in 2025, and hopefully the glove can hold him afloat the subsequent time he arrives in Cincinnati, as a result of his .248 projected wOBA is the bottom on this whole checklist. The 20-year-old Alfredo Duno ranked twenty second on our Prime 100 with massive energy and a excessive ceiling, however he’s more likely to want a while to develop.

Carlos Narváez was a revelation in 2025. Acquired from the Yankees, the place he was caught at fourth on the depth chart, Narváez supplied wonderful protection and managed a 97 wRC+. He fell off after a very sizzling begin, however he’s received strong bat pace and get in touch with high quality, and if he can discover a approach to enhance his plate self-discipline, he could possibly be an honest hitter. Nonetheless, he’s by no means been all that nice a hitter within the minors, and the projections see him with a wRC+ someplace round 90.

Narváez is on his personal, although. Regardless of placing up -0.7 WAR in 2025, Connor Wong seems to be the backup once more. Have you learnt how badly it’s a must to play to place up -0.7 WAR in simply 63 video games? You already know all these pink and blue sliders on Baseball Savant pages? Wong is a catcher, and the furthest slider to the suitable on his web page is dash pace. He put up a fluky 112 wRC+ in 2024, and his 39 wRC+ in 2025 was most likely fluky too, each due to dangerous batted ball luck and since he fractured a finger in April and missed lower than a month. Nonetheless, he needs to be a 3rd catcher.

The Crimson Sox claimed Mickey Gasper off waivers from the Nationals, who claimed him from the Twins, who acquired him in a commerce with the Crimson Sox. The 30-year-old has actually hit within the minors prior to now couple years, however his protection has graded out poorly and over his quick main league profession, he has a .133 batting common. Matt Thaiss is on a minor league deal and has been good for 0.3 profession WAR.

Kyle Teel suffered a Grade 2 hamstring pressure throughout Crew Italy’s pool play win over Crew USA (he homered off Nolan McLean earlier within the recreation), and can possible miss the primary month or so of the season. The White Sox could be well-advised to watch out with him, as a result of he’s actually an thrilling younger participant. He arrived in Chicago because the centerpiece of the Garrett Crochet commerce, and he hit the bottom operating, posting an excellent 125 wRC+ in his rookie season and placing up 1.9 WAR over simply 78 video games. His blocking and his arm damage him some, however his framing graded out advantageous.

Teel’s largest power on the plate is his plate disciple; he doesn’t blow anybody away together with his exit velocity or contact capability. That is the place I let you know that he solely had a 100 DRC+, and the projections see him as a league-average bat going ahead. Nonetheless, it was a formidable debut, and his protection ought to enhance.

Till Teel returns, Edgar Quero will function the starter, with Korey Lee filling in as backup. Two years youthful than Teel, Quero additionally made his debut in 2025, stepping into 111 video games and operating a 95 wRC+. His protection was significantly dangerous, however Quero appears to have some underlying instruments on offense. Whether or not he places them collectively is anyone’s guess. Lee has a profession wRC+ of 54, a far cry from the 113 he managed in 40 main league plate appearances final yr.

Joey Bart has quietly put collectively a pair good offensive seasons now. Since arriving in Pittsburgh in 2024, he has a mixed 110 wRC+, and he’s posted two straight 1.3-WAR seasons. In 2025, his stroll price jumped to 12%, because of the third-best SEAGER rating in baseball – proper under the precise Corey Seager, the truth is. Bart nonetheless strikes out an excessive amount of, his energy appeared to vanish in 2025, and his protection has now graded out as under common in three of the previous 4 seasons. That’s what you anticipate on the backside of the checklist, however Bart may find yourself shocking us once more.

Henry Davis reportedly got here into camp with a complete new swing after present process a biomechanical evaluation. With a profession batting common of .181, he may stand to strive one thing new. The excellent news is that in 2025, for the primary time, Davis’s protection graded out as above common, largely as a result of he did a fantastic job of throwing out baserunners. Rafael Flores Jr. came to visit within the David Bednar commerce, and there are actual questions on his arm and his bat, however he has raked and hit loads of homers within the minors. In some way Endy Rodríguez has a greater offensive projection than Davis. As soon as a 55-FV prospect, accidents have derailed the early a part of his massive league profession.

Welcome to the underside tier. It’s darkish in right here. Nick Fortes put up 1.0 WAR final yr. He’s nonetheless a strong defender, and he’s nonetheless not a hitter, so why not simply put him down for an additional one-win season and name it a day? Most likely as a result of he put up 0.6 WAR within the two earlier seasons, however hope springs everlasting.

Hunter Feduccia, who the Rays acquired from the Dodgers final commerce deadline, managed to place up -0.4 WAR in simply 38 video games final yr, which is spectacular in its personal approach. Dom Keegan has been optioned to minor league camp, and final yr, Eric Longenhagen wasn’t satisfied he may stick behind the plate, although he’s on the 40-man. And that’s it. That’s the Rays catching state of affairs. They’ve Nick Fortes and Hunter Feduccia. Nathan Flewelling, the highest-rated catcher of their farm system from final checklist cycle other than Taitn Grey, final yr’s third-round decide, simply turned 19. I do know the Rays aren’t on the very backside right here, however for my cash, that is the scariest state of affairs on the checklist.

The Nationals keep away from rating thirtieth because of Harry Ford, however they’re the one crew with out a single catcher projected for not less than 1.0 WAR. That’d change if let’s imagine confidently that Ford would be the starter, however he’s in a contest with Keibert Ruiz.

Ruiz has accrued detrimental worth in every of the final three seasons, and in 2025, a pair of concussions ended his season in July. Ruiz makes tons of contact, however he by no means walks and he by no means hits the ball onerous. He ran the second-worst SEAGER rating of all catchers, forward of solely Jonah Heim, who, you would possibly recall, simply stopped swinging. Ruiz’s protection has been disastrously dangerous for years now.

Ford, acquired from the Mariners this offseason, has misplaced a few of his prospect shine. His bat pace is common, he’s struggled to catch as much as excessive fastballs, and he’s nonetheless not a fantastic receiver. The upside is decrease. However he’s athletic, he’s received a fantastic method, and he’s hit effectively at each stage. He’s 74th on our Prime 100, and he’s projected to be common at and behind the plate. If all you probably did was swap the plate look totals round so Ford received 320 and Ruiz received 154, the Nationals would immediately transfer right into a tie for 18th place. If Ford doesn’t win this competitors, Washingtonians ought to take into account rioting.

We’ve received Drew Millas penciled in for a shocking variety of plate appearances, which is nice. Riley Adams has acquired greater than sufficient probabilities, with -1.4 profession WAR to point out for it.

Nicely, we lastly made it. Welcome to Anaheim, or because it’s identified round these elements, the underside. Logan O’Hoppe got here into the season with a profession wRC+ of 105, and regardless of bashing 19 dwelling runs, his wRC+ in 2025 was 72. That tends to occur once you strike out almost 31% of the time, stroll simply 5.3% of the time, and run one of many recreation’s worst whiff charges. O’Hoppe can hit the ball onerous sufficient, however he simply didn’t make sufficient contact final yr. He additionally took an enormous step again in all three sides of catcher protection. The projections see O’Hoppe bouncing again to be advantageous with the bat and, effectively, nonetheless fairly dangerous defensively. If he doesn’t bounce again, the Angels must do one thing, something.

Sadly, they don’t have too many choices. The 37-year-old Travis d’Arnaud is subsequent on the depth chart, and he suffered two concussions final yr. Over the previous six seasons, d’Arnaud has alternated between good and dangerous years on the plate, so possibly he’s as a result of put up a wRC+ over 100 in 2026, however the projections aren’t shopping for it, and he jumped all the best way as much as a 32% strikeout price in 2025. It’s additionally been a pair years since he put up a median defensive season. Sebastián Rivero’s projected .249 wOBA is the second-lowest of the 101 catchers you’ve seen on this web page, and it’s 24 factors above his profession mark.