The American League list of catchers featured very experienced veterans for the most part. The same cannot be said for the National League’s catchers. Young players highlight the National League's game callers. In fact, only one player on the following list has more than four years of catching experience.
5. Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh Pirates
A fourth-year player, Ryan Doumit is one of the best catcher you’ve never heard of. Doumit has only played in 29 games for the Pirates this season, four of them being pinch-hitting appearances. However, Doumit has put up significant numbers this season, which indicates that he deserves to be on this list.
Doumit’s .350 batting average leads the National League amongst catchers who have played in over 20 games. He also has 15 runs batted in, with five home runs and 36 hits.
4. Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers
Canadian-born Russell Martin is in his third year playing for the Dodgers. All signs indicate that Martin’s future is bright. He doesn’t have the stuff to make the All-Star game this year, but his time will come.
Martin has a .419 on-base percentage, the highest amongst these catchers. He has shown that he is a very patient hitter, drawing 31 walks this season. He also has three home runs and 18 runs batted in.
3. Benjie Molina, San Francisco Giants
Benjie Molina, the oldest of these five catchers, has let his experience show this season. The 10-year veteran is on pace to have a pretty good season from behind the plate.
Molina is hitting .294 on the season, with four home runs and 24 runs batted in. He has only struck out nine times this year in 153 plate appearances.
Defensively, Molina is solid. He has not made a single error this season.
2. Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
Geovany Soto is the least experienced catcher on this list, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he hits. Soto won Rookie of the Month honors in April, and is set to have a stellar career behind the plate in Chicago.
Soto has nine home runs and 34 runs batted in, both statistics that lead the National League amongst catchers. He has a .314 batting average and a .997 fielding percentage on defense.
1. Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
Another fourth-year player, Brian McCann is making things happen for the Braves. The Georgia native has proven to be very productive on both sides of the ball in his home state.
McCann has 294 putouts, the most amongst National League catchers, and has yet to make an error. McCann also boasts a .324 batting average, with 54 hits, eight home runs, and 31 runs batted in.
McCann’s significant offensive advantage over Soto is his paltry 16 strikeouts. Soto has struck out 41 times this season.
American League
C A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox
1B Next Up (Tentatively scheduled for Monday, May 26)
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National League
C Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
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4 months ago
Doumit has been great so far this year. If he hadn't broken his thumb three weeks ago he would deserve to be even higher on this list.
4 months ago
It has to be Soto right now. He is completely raking as of late and he has been the one real consistent bat in the lineup. McCann is great and has done a nice job with the Braves rotation, but Soto shuld get the starting nod
4 months ago
Brain McCann? Soto is clearly hitting the cover off the ball. Granted I know you didn't see the inside the parker, but this guy has really turned himself into a good ball player. The hitting we saw towards the end of last year, and he has really worked to improve his defense. It will make for an interesting race though.
4 months ago
When you say Martin's time will come, didn't he start last year's all-star game for the NL? I think so. He is simply the best defensive catcher in baseball right now. He's a terrific leader of the staff and throws and catches well. And he's hitting .300. In McCann, Soto and Martin, we seem to have 3 outstanding catchers in the NL for years to come.
4 months ago
Soto is easily better offensively. He deserves to start at the catching position for the All Star team
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