MLB Position Rankings 2023 for Every Team's Starting Catcher
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2023 MLB position rankings series!
With the beginning of a new baseball season right around the corner, we'll rank each team's starter at every position to provide a full position-by-position preview for the campaign.
Up next are the catchers, with J.T. Realmuto (PHI) the consensus headliner at the position, though he could soon be overtaken by rising superstar Adley Rutschman (BAL). There was also plenty of movement at the position during the offseason, with William Contreras (MIL), Willson Contreras (STL), Sean Murphy (ATL) and Christian Vázquez (MIN) among the notable backstops changing teams.
Ahead, we've ranked all 30 projected starting catchers from across baseball.
Players were ranked based on expectations for the 2023 season. Offensive and defensive contributions were both considered, and past track records played a major role in determining each player's outlook.
Included on each slide is also a glance at the next man up at catcher. This is who would take over as the starter if the incumbent were to miss significant time. In some cases, it's a minor leaguer or bench player, and in others, it's a starter moving over from a different position.
Let the debate begin!
Catch up on previous Position Rankings articles: First basemen, Second basemen, Shortstops, Third basemen, Outfielders
30. Austin Hedges, Pittsburgh Pirates
1 of 30
Next Man Up: Henry Davis
In search of a veteran backstop to anchor their young rotation, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Austin Hedges to a one-year, $5 million deal in free agency.
The 30-year-old was arguably the worst offensive player in baseball last season with a .163/.241/.248 line and 42 OPS+ in 338 plate appearances, and that was roughly on par with his numbers from the 2021 season as well.
His value comes from his receiving skills and ability to handle the pitching staff. Anything he contributes at the plate is a bonus.
29. Elias Díaz, Colorado Rockies
2 of 30
Next Man Up: Brian Serven
Elias Díaz put together an under-the-radar breakout season for the Colorado Rockies in 2021, posting a 95 OPS+ with 18 doubles, 18 home runs and 44 RBI in a 2.2-WAR season while emerging as the team's primary backstop.
The front office rewarded him with a three-year, $14.5 million extension, and he promptly crashed back to earth last year.
The 32-year-old hit .228/.281/.368 for a 73 OPS+ in a 0.4-WAR season, and he will need to earn his playing time this year with Brian Serven flashing some intriguing offensive upside at Triple-A last year before holding his own in his MLB debut.
28. Jake Rogers, Detroit Tigers
3 of 30
Next Man Up: Eric Haase
Once upon a time, Jake Rogers was one of the key prospects pieces the Detroit Tigers acquired in the blockbuster deal that sent Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros.
The 27-year-old has dealt with a variety of injuries since joining the Detroit organization, including Tommy John surgery in 2021 and an elbow sprain that kept him on the sidelines for the entirety of the 2022 campaign.
The defensive-minded Rogers is finally healthy and poised to break camp as the team's starting catcher thanks to a strong spring. Slugger Eric Haase will still see time behind the plate as well, but he's a below-average receiver and will also play some corner outfield.
27. Jacob Stallings, Miami Marlins
4 of 30
Next Man Up: Nick Fortes
The Miami Marlins traded controllable starter Zach Thompson and prospects Kyle Nicolas and Connor Scott to the Pittsburgh Pirates last offseason in exchange for Jacob Stallings, who was fresh off winning NL Gold Glove honors.
The 33-year-old led all of baseball with 21 Defensive Runs Saved during the 2021 season, and he also held his own at the plate relative to other catchers with a 91 OPS+ and 29 extra-base hits in 427 plate appearances on his way to a 3.0-WAR season.
His numbers plummeted both offensively (.223 BA, 67 OPS+) and defensive (minus-9 DRS) last season when he was a minus-0.7 WAR player, so he'll need to prove his strong 2021 season was not a fluke before he can move any higher up in these rankings.
26. Reese McGuire, Boston Red Sox
5 of 30
Next Man Up: Jorge Alfaro
Once a top prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Reese McGuire has spent the past few seasons bouncing around to different teams, but he may have finally found a home with the Boston Red Sox.
The 28-year-old was acquired from the Chicago White Sox last year at the deadline in exchange for reliever Jake Diekman, and he took over as Boston's starting catcher down the stretch after Christian Vázquez was dealt.
He hit .337/.377/.500 with five doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI in 108 plate appearances following the trade, and now he'll get a shot at the starting job for a full season. However, Boston also signed experienced veteran Jorge Alfaro to a minor-league deal to provide some depth.
25. Tucker Barnhart, Chicago Cubs
6 of 30
Next Man Up: Yan Gomes
It's a bit of a misnomer to call Tucker Barnhart the starting catcher for the Chicago Cubs, as he will most likely be part of an even-split platoon with incumbent Yan Gomes in an effort to keep both veterans fresh.
Barnhart, 32, is a two-time Gold Glove winner with a modest 7.0 WAR over nine seasons in the big leagues, eight of which were spent with the Cincinnati Reds.
With a 9.4 percent walk rate for his career, he does have some on-base ability, but his value comes from his defensive skills and his veteran presence in the clubhouse. He signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal during the offseason that includes a matching player option for the 2024 season.
24. Omar Narváez, New York Mets
7 of 30
Next Man Up: Francisco Álvarez
One day after trading underperforming veteran James McCann to the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Mets signed Omar Narváez to a one-year, $8 million deal that includes a 2024 player option.
The 2021 All-Star will be tasked with keeping the catcher position warm while top prospect Francisco Álvarez continues to refine his defensive game at Triple-A, though the expectation is that he will be pushed to a backup role before the 2023 season is over.
Narváez, 31, hit just .206/.292/.305 in 296 plate appearances last season, but he has been a solid offensive contributor throughout his career with a 100 OPS+ in over 2,000 plate appearances.
23. Joey Bart, San Francisco Giants
8 of 30
Next Man Up: Roberto Pérez
Potential and upside are the only things keeping Joey Bart this high in the rankings, as he has yet to figure things out at the MLB level.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft and a top prospect throughout his time in the minor leagues, Bart saw his first extended MLB action last year when he replaced the retired Buster Posey. Bart hit just .215/.296/.364 with 11 home runs and 25 RBI in 291 plate appearances.
He is still only 26 years old, and it often takes catchers longer to develop than players at other positions. The next step in his development will be finding a way to cut down an untenable 38.5 percent strikeout rate.
22. Martín Maldonado, Houston Astros
9 of 30
Next Man Up: Korey Lee
Martín Maldonado does not bring much to the table offensively, but he is a respected veteran catcher with a Gold Glove on his resume and a rocket arm that has cut down 35 percent of base-stealers over the course of his 12-year career.
The 36-year-old did set career-highs in home runs (15) and RBI (45) last year, and he always had decent power when he connects, but he's not in the lineup for his bat.
In the final season of a two-year, $9 million deal, he could be coming to the end of the road in Houston with up-and-coming catchers Korey Lee and Yainer Díaz ready to take over behind the plate.
21. Austin Nola, San Diego Padres
10 of 30
Next Man Up: Luis Campusano
Originally drafted as a middle infielder in 2012, Austin Nola didn't see his first action behind the plate until the 2016 Arizona Fall League, and he didn't make his MLB debut until he was 29 years old in 2019.
He hit .306/.373/.531 in 110 plate appearances with the Seattle Mariners during the 2020 season before he was traded to the San Diego Padres at the deadline in a seven-player deal that sent Ty France and Andres Muñoz the other way.
He has not matched that level of offensive production since he was traded, but he has developed into a reliable starting catcher, and he has some of the best contact skills on the San Diego roster with an 8.6 percent walk rate and 15.1 percent strikeout rate.
20. Christian Bethancourt, Tampa Bay Rays
11 of 30
Next Man Up: Francisco Mejía
It's been a long, winding road to MLB success for Christian Bethancourt.
The 31-year-old began his pro career as a top prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization, was traded to the San Diego Padres where he saw semi-regular action in 2016, briefly tried to convert to pitching in 2017, spent a year in the KBO in 2019 and finally resurfaced during the 2022 season with the Oakland Athletics.
The Rays acquired him in early July in exchange for a pair of prospects, and he finished the 2022 season with a 100 OPS+ while tallying 17 doubles, 11 home runs and 34 RBI in 100 games before starting both of Tampa Bay's playoff games.
Backup Francisco Mejía is a former top prospect with significant offensive upside, so expect a fairly even platoon split.
19. Logan O'Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels
12 of 30
Next Man Up: Max Stassi
The catcher position has been a revolving door for the Los Angeles Angels since Chris Iannetta departed following the 2015 season, and they took a major step toward stability when they shipped promising young outfielder Brandon Marsh to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for MLB-ready prospect Logan O'Hoppe.
The 23-year-old was a 23rd-round pick in the 2018 draft, but he quickly outperformed his draft position to emerge as one of the top prospects in the Philadelphia system.
He hit .283/.416/.544 with 14 doubles, 26 home runs and 78 RBI in 104 games at Double-A last season before making his MLB debut as a September call-up. He has drawn rave reviews for his leadership and makeup and could be a dark horse in the AL Rookie of the Year race.
18. Mike Zunino, Cleveland Guardians
13 of 30
Next Man Up: Bo Naylor
The Cleveland Guardians signed Mike Zunino to a one-year, $6 million deal to serve as a stopgap to top prospect Bo Naylor, and that could wind up being one of the steals of the offseason if he returns to his pre-injury form.
The 31-year-old played just 36 games last season before he was sidelined by a shoulder injury, which eventually led to thoracic outlet surgery. However, he is just a year removed from posting a 136 OPS+ with 33 home runs and 3.8 WAR as one of the breakout stars of the 2021 season.
He has been a full-go this spring, but he still needs to shake off the rust from all the time he missed.
17. Yasmani Grandal, Chicago White Sox
14 of 30
Next Man Up: Seby Zavala
With a 155 OPS+, .420 on-base percentage, 23 home runs and 3.7 WAR, Yasmani Grandal was undoubtedly one of the most productive catchers in baseball in 2021 while playing in the second season of a four-year, $73 million deal with the Chicago White Sox.
The third year of that deal was a different story.
The 34-year-old hit just .202/.301/.269 for a 64 OPS+ in 376 plate appearances last season, and his minus-1.4 WAR made him one of the least valuable players in all of baseball.
This ranking is assuming he's at least going to land somewhere in the middle of those two extremes during the upcoming season, and a return to form would be a major in-house boost for the South Siders.
16. Shea Langeliers, Oakland Athletics
15 of 30
Next Man Up: Manny Piña
Shea Langeliers was the top prospect acquired in the blockbuster deal that sent first baseman Matt Olson to the Atlanta Braves, and after Sean Murphy was shipped out this offseason in a separate deal with Atlanta, Langeliers now has a clear path to the starting catcher job in Oakland.
The 25-year-old hit .283/.366/.510 with 19 doubles, 19 home runs and 56 RBI in 92 games at Triple-A last year, and he made his MLB debut in mid-August.
In a 40-game audition in the big leagues, he logged a 98 OPS+ with 10 doubles, six home runs and 22 RBI, and with 20-homer power and a rocket arm behind the plate, he has the tools to be a solid two-way contributor.
15. Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
16 of 30
Next Man Up: Carson Kelly
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Gabriel Moreno as the centerpiece in the deal that sent Daulton Varsho to the Toronto Blue Jays during the offseason, and he now has a clear path to playing time after being blocked by Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen.
The 23-year-old hit .319/.356/.377 for a 111 OPS+ in 73 plate appearances in his first MLB action last season after starting the year ranked as the No. 7 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America.
With Carson Kelly expected to miss significant time with a fractured forearm, Moreno will open the season as the D-backs' starting catcher, and he could take that opportunity and never look back.
14. Christian Vázquez, Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Next Man Up: Ryan Jeffers
Christian Vázquez drew widespread interest in free agency this offseason as the second-best available catcher and a more realistic option for teams unwilling or unable to meet Willson Contreras' asking price.
The 32-year-old ultimately signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Minnesota Twins after hitting .274/.315/.399 for a 99 OPS+ with 23 doubles, nine home runs, 52 RBI and 2.1 WAR last season with the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros.
Nothing he does jumps off the page, but he's a reliable two-way player and should shore up the catcher position in Minnesota while they search for a long-term option.
13. Keibert Ruiz, Washington Nationals
18 of 30
Next Man Up: Riley Adams
The Washington Nationals made it clear they view Keibert Ruiz as the catcher of the present and future when they signed him to an eight-year, $50 million extension that includes a pair of club options for the 2031 and 2032 seasons.
Acquired in the blockbuster deal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2021 trade deadline, Ruiz took over as the starting catcher on a rebuilding Nationals squad last year and hit .251/.313/.360 for a 95 OPS+ with 22 doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBI in 112 games.
The former top prospect has significant offensive upside, and he will now be a long-term building block for a Nationals team in the early stages of reworking the roster.
12. Jonah Heim, Texas Rangers
19 of 30
Next Man Up: Mitch Garver
Which version of Jonah Heim will we see in 2023?
The 27-year-old hit .262/.313/.467 with 11 doubles, 12 home runs and 33 RBI during the first half of last season but batted just .181/.279/.311 with 14 total extra-base hits after the All-Star break.
He is one of the best pitch-framers in baseball, which gives him a high floor and should mean he continues to receive regular playing time even if he starts off slow at the plate, but that first-half showing last year was a glimpse of his potential upside if everything clicks.
The Texas Rangers have quietly assembled a solid offensive core, and more of what we saw from Heim during the first few months last year would take their lineup to another level.
11. William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
20 of 30
Next Man Up: Victor Caratini
William Contreras earned a spot on the NL All-Star team with the Atlanta Braves last year while splitting his time between a catching platoon with Travis d'Arnaud and designated hitter duties.
Now he'll be the primary catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers after he was traded in the three-team deal that sent Sean Murphy from Oakland to Atlanta, and the team is counting on him to be one of the primary run producers in the middle of the lineup.
The 25-year-old still has work to do refining his defensive game, but his production at the plate is what earns him a spot just outside the top 10 in these rankings. He posted a 138 OPS+ with 14 doubles, 20 home runs and 45 RBI in only 376 plate appearances last year.
10. Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
21 of 30
Next Man Up: Curt Casali
Tyler Stephenson made three separate trips to the injured list last year with a concussion, broken thumb and broken clavicle that required season-ending surgery.
In between, he hit .319/.372/.482 with nine doubles, six home runs and 35 RBI in 183 plate appearances, which extrapolates to a 25-double, 16-homer, 96-RBI season over 500 plate appearances.
The 26-year-old has skills to be a perennial All-Star, he just needs to stay healthy, and he could see more regular action at first base this year in an effort to minimize the wear and tear of catching.
The Reds will likely carry three catchers to start the year with veterans Curt Casali and Luke Maile both signed to one-year deals during the offseason
9. Jose Trevino, New York Yankees
22 of 30
Next Man Up: Kyle Higashioka
The New York Yankees acquired Jose Trevino from the Texas Rangers just a few days before Opening Day last year in exchange for Albert Abreu and prospect Robby Ahlstrom, and it ended up being one of the best moves of the offseason.
The 30-year-old won Gold Glove and Platinum Glove honors while earning an All-Star selection, and he also had a career year at the plate, posting a 90 OPS+ with 12 doubles, 11 home runs and 43 RBI in a 2.3-WAR season.
Even if his offensive production dips, he makes a big enough impact defensively to warrant a spot inside the top 10 in these rankings once again, and the Yankees have him under club control through the 2025 season.
8. Salvador Pérez, Kansas City Royals
23 of 30
Next Man Up: MJ Melendez
How much does Salvador Pérez have left in the tank?
The 32-year-old has spent 9,325.1 innings behind the plate in his career, which is more than any other active catcher by a landslide ahead of J.T. Realmuto (7,781.1) and Yasmani Grandal (7,723.2).
After a 48-homer, 121-RBI season in 2021, he came back to earth a bit last season, posting a 110 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 23 home runs and 76 RBI as a thumb injury limited him to 114 games.
He is no longer the Gold Glove defender he was in his prime, so the bulk of his value comes from his bat, and his offensive game has always been extremely power-reliant with limited on-base skills.
7. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
24 of 30
Next Man Up: Tom Murphy
Cal Raleigh led all catchers with 27 home runs last season, and he added another in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series off Toronto Blue Jays ace Alek Manoah.
The 26-year-old hit just .211 with a .284 on-base percentage overall, but his power production was enough to give him a 122 OPS+. Additionally, his solid defensive skills made him a 3.9-WAR player and one of the breakout stars of 2022.
He is one of the league's best pitch-framers, threw out 32 percent of base-stealers and he posted a .959 OPS with eight home runs and 18 RBI during the final month of the season, so there is plenty of reason to believe the best is yet to come.
6. Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
25 of 30
Next Man Up: Danny Jansen
MLB.com gave Alejandro Kirk a 60-grade hit tool prior to the 2021 season, one of the highest given to any prospect that year, and those elite bat-to-ball skills were on full display during a breakout 2022 campaign.
The 24-year-old hit .285/.372/.415 for a 126 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 14 home runs, 63 RBI and more walks (63) than strikeouts (58) in his first full season in the majors, earning the starting nod in the All-Star Game.
With Danny Jansen expected to split time with him behind the plate and newcomer Daulton Varsho also capable of catching, the Blue Jays have the best collection of backstops in baseball right now.
5. Willson Contreras, St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Next Man Up: Iván Herrera
For the first time since 2004, the St. Louis Cardinals will have someone other than Yadier Molina behind the plate on Opening Day.
With the future Hall of Famer calling it quits, the Cardinals moved quickly to solidify the catcher position, signing top free agent and longtime rival Willson Contreras to a five-year, $87.5 million deal that includes a club option for 2028.
The 30-year-old was an All-Star for the third time last season, posting a 128 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 22 home runs and 55 RBI in a 3.9-WAR season, which marked the fifth time in the past six years he has been a 3-WAR player.
He should slot nicely in the No. 5 spot in the batting order behind Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado.
4. Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
27 of 30
Next Man Up: Travis d'Arnaud
Sean Murphy was one of the few bright spots on the Oakland Athletics roster last season, hitting .250/.332/.426 for a 120 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 18 home runs, 66 RBI and 3.5-WAR in 148 games.
The perpetually rebuilding Athletics took that opportunity to sell high this offseason, flipping him to the Atlanta Braves in a three-team deal that saw 2022 All-Star William Contreras and top pitching prospect Kyle Muller among the players sent the other way by Atlanta.
Aside from his stellar offensive production, Murphy also has a cannon arm and won AL Gold Glove honors in 2021, making him one of the most well-rounded catchers on this list. The Braves inked him to a six-year, $73 million extension shortly after he was acquired.
3. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
28 of 30
Next Man Up: Austin Barnes
Will Smith has done nothing but hit since making his MLB debut during the 2019 season, posting a 129 OPS+ while averaging 29 doubles, 33 home runs and 104 RBI per 162 games played.
The 27-year-old batted .260/.343/.465 with 26 doubles, 24 home runs and 87 RBI last season while hitting primarily cleanup in a stacked Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, and he also had the best defensive season of his career, tallying 1.4 dWAR after posting a combined 0.8 dWAR his first three years in the majors.
With club control through the 2025 season there is no rush, but signing him to a long-term extension should be a priority for the Dodgers in the coming years as he keeps getting better following a career-high 4.1 WAR in 2022.
2. Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
29 of 30
Next Man Up: James McCann
Adley Rutschman lived up to the hype of being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, debuting with a 128 OPS+ with 35 doubles, 13 home runs, 42 RBI and 70 runs scored in 113 games last season.
The Orioles went 60-47 in games he started last year—23-32 when his name was not penciled into the starting lineup—and that's a big reason why he finished 12th in AL MVP voting.
A standout defender on top of his obvious offensive skills, he posted 5.2 WAR to become just the fifth rookie catcher in MLB history with a 5-WAR season, joining Carlton Fisk (7.3, 1972), Mike Piazza (7.0, 1993), Thurman Munson (5.5, 1970) and Johnny Bench (5.0, 1968).
Don't be surprised if he makes a serious run at the No. 1 spot on this list in 2023.
1. J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies
30 of 30
Next Man Up: Garrett Stubbs
J.T. Realmuto has been widely regarded as the best catcher in baseball for several years running, and he only solidified his status with the best season of his career in 2022.
The 32-year-old hit .276/.342/.478 for a 129 OPS+ with 26 doubles, 22 home runs, 84 RBI, 75 runs scored and 21 steals in 22 attempts, becoming just the second catcher in MLB history with a 20/20 season.
He also won his second career Gold Glove Award en route to a career-high 6.5 WAR, and he topped things off with a game-winning home run in the 10th inning in Game 1 of the World Series.
Until someone proves otherwise, Realmuto is the best catcher in baseball.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.
