MLB State of the Position 2024: Every Team's 5-Year Plan at Catcher
There is a shortage of impact players at the catcher position across baseball, which makes rising stars like Adley Rutschman, Sean Murphy, Jonah Heim, Gabriel Moreno, Yainer Diaz and Francisco Álvarez even more valuable to their team's long-term outlook.
Ahead, we've broken down each team's present and future outlook at catcher, highlighting their current starter and their top prospect, followed by a prediction for who will start for each of the next five seasons.
Included with each top prospect is his tier ranking based on where he slotted in Bleacher Report's 2024 farm system rankings.
Think of this as the team's five-year plan at the position.
Catch up on the State of the Position series: First Base, Second Base, Shortstop, Third Base
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Present: Gabriel Moreno (Age: 24)
The D-backs acquired Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. from the Toronto Blue Jays last offseason in exchange for outfielder Daulton Varsho, and that trade helped propel them to an unexpected World Series appearance. Moreno hit .284/.339/.408 with seven home runs and 50 RBI during the regular season while winning Gold Glove honors, then tallied four home runs and 12 RBI in 17 playoff games.
Future: Christian Cerda (Tier 3)
Cerda hit .247/.402/.397 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs, 53 RBI and 93 walks in 108 games between Single-A and High-A, and his plate discipline has put him on the map as a legitimate prospect. The D-backs acquired him in the deal that sent David Peralta to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2022 deadline.
Five-Year Predictions: Moreno (2024-28)
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Present: Sean Murphy (Age: 29)
The Braves acquired Murphy in a deal with the Oakland Athletics last offseason and promptly signed him to a six-year, $73 million extension that includes a $15 million club option for 2029. He posted a 125 OPS+ with 21 doubles, 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 108 games while earning a starting nod in the All-Star Game in his first season with the team.
Future: Drake Baldwin (Tier 3)
Baldwin hit .341/.448/.647 with 19 home runs and 70 RBI in 60 games during his junior season at Missouri State before going in the third round of the 2022 draft. The 22-year-old reached Triple-A in his first full professional season, hitting .270/.385/.460 with 26 doubles, 16 home runs and 61 RBI, and he has a polished defensive game, albeit with an average arm.
Five-Year Predictions: Murphy (2024-28)
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Present: Adley Rutschman (Age: 26)
Rutschman has wasted little time living up to being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, racking up 9.6 WAR over his first two seasons in the majors. His arrival in the big leagues helped signal the end of a long rebuild for the Orioles, and the team has gone 158-109 (.592) in his 267 career games. He is under club control through 2027, but will be an obvious extension candidate in the coming years.
Future: Samuel Basallo (Tier 1)
Basallo flew up top prospect lists in 2023 when he hit .313/.402/.551 with 26 doubles, 20 home runs and 86 RBI in 114 games between Single-A, High-A and Double-A as an 18-year-old. He also threw out 33 percent of base stealers, though he could wind up at first base or as a trade chip with Rutschman blocking his path.
Five-Year Predictions: Rutschman (2024-28)
Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Present: Connor Wong (Age: 27)
Wong started 105 games behind the dish for the Red Sox in 2023, and while he didn't provide a ton offensively, he was a 2.2-WAR player on the strength of his defense. He is controllable through 2028, and could easily slide into a backup role once Kyle Teel is ready for the majors. Who would have guessed he would be the last man standing in Boston from the Mookie Betts trade return?
Future: Kyle Teel (Tier 1)
The Red Sox have lacked stability at the catcher position since Jason Varitek retired following the 2011 season, and Teel could finally be a long-term solution at the position. The No. 14 overall pick in the 2023 draft, he hit .407/.475/.655 with 25 doubles, 13 home runs and 69 RBI in 65 games during his junior season at the University of Virginia. The 22-year-old reached Double-A in his pro debut and appears to be on the fast track.
Five-Year Predictions: Wong (2024-25), Teel (2026-28)
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Present: Yan Gomes (Age: 36)
Gomes had a surprisingly productive 2023 season, posting a 93 OPS+ with 20 doubles, 10 home runs and 63 RBI in 116 games to emerge from what was expected to be a platoon with Tucker Barnhart. He is entering the final season of a three-year, $18 million deal and will again open the year as the starter, though Miguel Amaya could siphon off playing time as the season unfolds.
Future: Moises Ballesteros (Tier 3)
With a 5'7", 215-pound frame, Ballesteros has a similar build to Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (5'8", 245 lbs), and he does a lot of the same things well with a plus hit tool and advanced plate discipline. The 20-year-old closed out last season at Double-A, and hit .285/.375/.449 with 27 doubles, 14 home runs and 64 RBI in 117 games.
Five-Year Predictions: Gomes (2024), Amaya (2025), Ballesteros (2026-28)
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Present: Martín Maldonado (Age: 37)
The White Sox acquired both Maldonado and fellow veteran Max Stassi during the offseason to shore up the catcher position, but both will be free agents next offseason, and even league-average production would be a pleasant surprise from both players. Former top prospect Korey Lee was acquired from the Houston Astros last summer, and he could play his way into the starting role.
Future: Edgar Quero (Tier 1)
Quero was one of the top prospects to change teams at last year's trade deadline, coming over from the Los Angeles Angels in the Lucas Giolito/Reynaldo López deal. Still only 20 years old, he spent the entire 2023 season at Double-A, holding his own both offensively and defensively as one of the youngest catchers at that level. He is the catcher of the future on the South Side as soon as he is deemed ready.
Five-Year Predictions: Maldonado (2024), Lee (2025), Quero (2026-28)
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Present: Tyler Stephenson (Age: 27)
Stephenson logged career highs in games (142) and plate appearances (517) in 2023, but his offensive numbers took a step backward. He hit .243/.317/.378 for an 87 OPS+ with 20 doubles, 13 home runs and 56 RBI after posting a 133 OPS+ during an injury-shortened 2022 campaign. The 2015 first-round pick is controllable through 2026, and still hasn't fully tapped into his potential.
Future: Alfredo Duno (Tier 3)
Duno signed for $3.1 million as one of the top prospects in the 2023 international class, and he hit .303/.451/.493 with 16 extra-base hits in 45 games in the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut. He has all the tools to be a standout defensive catcher, including a durable 6'2", 210-pound frame that belies his age. His stateside debut could send him flying up top-prospect lists in 2024.
Five-Year Predictions: Stephenson (2024-26), Duno (2027-28)
Cleveland Guardians
8 of 30
Present: Bo Naylor (Age: 23)
Naylor posted a 124 OPS+ with 13 doubles, 11 home runs and 32 RBI in 67 games as a rookie last season, and now he is poised to break camp with an Opening Day roster spot for the first time in his career. His offensive potential is the reason he went No. 29 overall in the 2018 draft, and he has also developed into a solid defender behind the plate.
Future: Ralphy Velazquez (Tier 3)
One of the top bats in last year's high school class, Velazquez went No. 23 overall in the 2023 draft on the strength of his 55-hit, 55-power offensive profile. He went 8-for-23 with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI in six rookie ball games after signing, and while he will begin his pro career as a catcher, he has the offensive upside to handle a potential move to first base.
Five-Year Predictions: Naylor (2024-28)
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Present: Elías Díaz (Age: 33)
Díaz hit .277/.328/.435 with nine home runs and 45 RBI during the first half last season and won All-Star Game MVP, but his production fell off significantly during the second half. He now enters the final season of a three-year, $14.5 million deal poised to platoon with Jacob Stallings, who was signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal after he was non-tendered by the Miami Marlins.
Future: Drew Romo (Tier 2)
Romo was a consensus Top 100 prospect heading into the 2023 season, and after hitting .259/.317/.445 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs and 51 RBI in 95 games between Double-A and Triple-A, he is on the cusp of the big leagues. The 22-year-old has been viewed as one of the best defensive catchers in the minors since going No. 35 overall in the 2020 draft, so even league-average offensive production could land him in a starting role.
Five-Year Predictions: Diaz (2024), Romo (2025-28)
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Present: Jake Rogers (Age: 28)
After seeing sporadic MLB action in 2019 and 2021, Rogers finally broke through as Detroit's starting catcher in 2023. He posted a 96 OPS+ with 21 home runs and started 94 games behind the plate. He has three years of club control remaining and is now the last player left from the trade package acquired from the Houston Astros in exchange for Justin Verlander in 2017.
Future: Dillon Dingler (Tier 3)
One of the most athletic catchers in the minors, Dingler actually played some center field during his time at Ohio State. After a lackluster season at Double-A in 2022, he rebounded last year in the upper levels of the minors, hitting .256/.361/.478 with 22 doubles, 16 home runs and 58 RBI in 89 games. The 25-year-old could be ready for his first look in the majors in 2024.
Five-Year Predictions: Rogers (2024-25), Dingler (2026-28)
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Present: Yainer Diaz (Age: 25)
After four consecutive Opening Day starts from Martín Maldonado, the Astros have officially turned the page, and Diaz is now the catcher of the present and future in Houston. In his first extended MLB action last year, he hit .282/.302/.538 for a 128 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 23 home runs and 60 RBI in only 377 plate appearances. Victor Caratini signed a two-year, $12 million deal to serve as his backup.
Future: MIguel Palma (Tier 3)
Palma is a .261/.360/.424 hitter in 930 plate appearances over four seasons in the minors, but it's his receiving and framing skills that make him the top catching prospect in a Houston system that is somewhat thin behind the plate. The 22-year-old should get his first taste of the Double-A level in 2024.
Five-Year Predictions: Diaz (2024-28)
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Present: Salvador Pérez (Age: 33)
Pérez is no longer the Gold Glove caliber defender he was in his prime, but he is still a workhorse behind the plate and one of the game's best offensive catchers. The eight-time All-Star hit .255 with 23 home runs and 80 RBI in 140 games, and he should surpass 1,500 hits and 250 home runs for his career in 2024. He has two guaranteed seasons remaining on his four-year, $82 million contract, which also includes a $13.5 million club option in 2026.
Future: Blake Mitchell (Tier 2)
The first catcher off the board at No. 8 overall in the 2023 draft, Mitchell should quickly develop into the best prospect in the Kansas City system. He has a 55-hit, 55-power offensive profile at the plate and a 70-grade rocket arm behind it. He was a legitimate pro prospect as a pitcher with a 97 mph fastball and good curveball.
Five-Year Predictions: Pérez (2024-26), Mitchell (2027-28)
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Present: Logan O'Hoppe (Age: 24)
The Angels found their long-term answer at catcher when they sent outfielder Brandon Marsh to the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for O'Hoppe. He posted an .886 OPS with four home runs and 13 RBI over his first 16 games last season before suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder that cost him nearly four months. He finished the season strong once he returned and could be a breakout star in 2024.
Future: Dario Laverde (Tier 3)
Laverde had a strong pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2022, then continued to impress stateside last year when he hit .306/.419/.455 with 14 extra-base hits in 167 plate appearances in rookie ball. The 18-year-old is a developmental prospect, but one with some intriguing upside and the potential to climb the organizational prospect ranks in a hurry.
Five-Year Predictions: O'Hoppe (2024-28)
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Present: Will Smith (Age: 28)
Smith finally received a long-deserved first All-Star selection in 2023, and he went on to hit .261/.359/.438 for a 114 OPS+ with 21 doubles, 19 home runs and 76 RBI in a 4.1-WAR season. The 2016 first-round pick has two years of club control remaining, and while the Dodgers do have some intriguing catching talent in the farm system, extending him should be a no-brainer.
Future: Dalton Rushing (Tier 1)
Rushing and Diego Cartaya are both widely regarded as two of the best catching prospects in the minors, though Cartaya struggled at the plate in 2023 and will need to rebuild his stock this year. Rushing posted an .856 OPS with 18 doubles, 15 home runs and 53 RBI in 89 games at High-A last season, and he made 23 starts at first base to add some versatility to his game.
Five-Year Predictions: Smith (2024-28)
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Present: Christian Bethancourt (Age: 32)
Bethancourt resurrected his career with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022, but his offensive game took a step backward last year when he posted a 74 OPS+ with 16 doubles, 11 home runs and 33 RBI in 104 games. The Guardians claimed him off waivers in November, then traded him to the Marlins in December for cash considerations. With club control through 2025, he could be a nice buy-low pickup if he returns to his 2022 level of production.
Future: Will Banfield (Tier 3)
Banfield put together a breakout season at Double-A Pensacola in 2023, hitting .258/.302/.472 with 25 doubles, 23 home runs and 76 RBI in 115 games. The 24-year-old has a 70-grade throwing arm and above-average receiving skills, so if he can also profile as a 15-homer guy at the next level, he could be a late-developing starter behind the plate.
Five-Year Predictions: Bethancourt (2024-25), Banfield (2026-28)
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Present: William Contreras (Age: 26)
The Brewers acquired Contreras in the three-team trade that also sent Sean Murphy from Oakland to Atlanta, and he had a fantastic first season in Milwaukee. He hit .289/.367/.457 for a 125 OPS+ with 38 doubles, 17 home runs and 78 RBI to win NL Silver Slugger honors and finish 11th in NL MVP voting in a 3.8-WAR season. His club control runs through 2027, but he could be moved before that time with his salary rising and Jeferson Quero rising the ranks.
Future: Jeferson Quero (Tier 1)
Signed for just $200,000 out of Venezuela in 2019, Quero checks all the boxes to be a perennial All-Star behind the plate. The 21-year-old spent the entire 2023 season at Double-A where he hit .262/.339/.441 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI while throwing out 35 percent of base stealers. The Brewers don't have to rush him with Contreras manning the position, but he has put himself on the fast track.
Five-Year Predictions: Contreras (2024-25), Quero (2026-28)
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Present: Ryan Jeffers (Age: 26)
After hitting a combined .203/.277/.384 for an 84 OPS+ in 529 plate appearances during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Jeffers looked like a career backup. The fact that the Twins signed Christian Vázquez to a three-year, $30 million deal last offseason further speaks to those expectations. However, Jeffers hit .276/.369/.490 for a 134 OPS+ with 14 home runs and 43 RBI in a 3.3-WAR season in 2023, and now he will open 2024 as the starter.
Future: Jair Camargo (Tier 3)
Camargo has eight years of pro ball under his belt, but he is still only 24 years old and coming off a breakout season. He posted an .826 OPS with 21 home runs and 63 RBI in 90 games at Triple-A last year, and the Twins added him to the 40-man roster during the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He should be next in line for a roster spot if Jeffers or Vázquez miss time in 2024.
Five-Year Predictions: Jeffers (2024-26), Camargo (2027-28)
New York Mets
18 of 30
Present: Francisco Álvarez (Age: 22)
Only five catchers in baseball history have hit more home runs during their rookie season than Álvarez did for the Mets in 2023 when he posted a 25-homer, 63-RBI campaign. He still has a long way to go in his development, evidenced by a lackluster .209 average, .284 on-base percentage and multiple extended slumps, but the potential is there for him to be an offensive force and a solid defensive backstop.
Future: Kevin Parada (Tier 2)
Parada hit .361/.453/.709 with 26 home runs and 88 RBI in 60 games as a draft-eligible sophomore at Georgia Tech, and he went No. 11 overall in the 2022 draft. He hit just .248/.324/.428 with a 27.6 percent strikeout rate while reaching Double-A in 2023, then struggled to a .186 average with 29 strikeouts in 75 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League. He still has significant upside, but his stock has taken a hit.
Five-Year Predictions: Álvarez (2024-28)
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Present: Jose Trevino (Age: 31)
With Kyle Higashioka traded to the San Diego Padres in the Juan Soto blockbuster, Trevino is the veteran incumbent who will help take some of the pressure off rookie Austin Wells in the early going. The 2022 All-Star and Platinum Glove winner played just 55 games last season before suffering a torn ligament in his right wrist that required surgery, and he is banged up again early this spring with a calf strain.
Future: Austin Wells (Tier 2)
Wells has hit every step of the way in the minors since going No. 28 overall in the 2020 draft, and he debuted with a bang last season, tallying six doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI In 19 games as a September call-up. The 24-year-old is the favorite to break camp as the team's starting catcher, but he still needs to prove himself on the defensive side.
Five-Year Predictions: Trevino (2024), Wells (2025-28)
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Present: Shea Langeliers (Age: 26)
Langeliers was the key prospect piece acquired in the Matt Olson trade with the Atlanta Braves, and while he may never level the scales on that deal, he does look like a solid big leaguer. He posted a 92 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 22 home runs and 63 RBI in his first full season in the majors in 2023, and while he is under club control through 2028, he could become a trade candidate as soon as he is arbitration-eligible following the 2025 season.
Future: Daniel Susac (Tier 2)
Susac was viewed by many as the best all-around catcher in the 2022 draft class, and the Athletics scooped him up at No. 19 overall after some talks that he could be a top-10 selection. The 22-year-old hit .301/.365/.428 with 33 extra-base hits and 62 RBI in 112 games between High-A and Double-A last year,
Five-Year Predictions: Langeliers (2024-25), Susac (2026-28)
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Present: J.T. Realmuto (Age: 32)
Realmuto is entering the fourth season of his five-year, $115.5 million contract, and while he didn't quite match his stellar 2022 numbers, he was still one of baseball's best catchers. He posted a 106 OPS+ with 28 doubles, 20 home runs, 63 RBI and 16 steals in a 3.6-WAR season and was a Gold Glove finalist. He will be 34 years old in the final season of his contract, so the Phillies could sign him to a shorter extension to close out his career.
Future: Eduardo Tait (Tier 3)
Tait hit .333/.400/.517 with 12 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 36 RBI in 44 games in the Dominican Summer League last year in his pro debut, and he also threw out 17 of 39 base stealers. The 17-year-old still has a long way to go in his development, but it's telling that other teams were inquiring about his availability in trade talks this offseason.
Five-Year Predictions: Realmuto (2024-25), Free Agent (2026-27), Tait (2028)
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Present: Yasmani Grandal (Age: 35)
Former No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis was expected to compete for the starting catcher job this spring, but he could also head back to the minors to continue working on his defensive game after playing almost exclusively in the outfield in his MLB debut. The club added Grandal on a one-year, $2.5 million deal to provide a stopgap if he does head back to Triple-A to open the year.
Future: Endy Rodríguez (Age: 23)
Rodríguez entered the 2023 season as one of baseball's top prospects after hitting .323/.407/.590 with 39 doubles, 25 home runs and 95 RBI in 125 games over three minor league levels in 2022. He made his MLB debut on July 17 and started 45 games behind the plate for the Pirates last year, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in December and is expected to be sidelined for the bulk of the 2024 season.
Five-Year Predictions: Grandal (2024), Rodríguez (2025-28)
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Present: Luis Campusano (Age: 25)
Campusano has seen MLB action in each of the past four seasons, but he finally staked his claim to a big league job last year when he hit .319/.356/.491 for a 134 OPS+ with seven home runs and 30 RBI in 174 plate appearances. The former Top 100 prospect will serve as the offensive-minded end of a platoon with newcomer Kyle Higashioka.
Future: Ethan Salas (Tier 1)
How quickly will Salas reach the big leagues? The most hyped prospect in the 2023 international class signed for $5.6 million in January, and by the end of the year he had made his Double-A debut. Still only 17 years old until June 1, he hit .248/.331/.421 with 13 doubles, nine home runs and 41 RBI in 66 games, and he is by far the most advanced teenage catching prospect to come along in years. He could make a run at being baseball's No. 1 overall prospect in the near future.
Five-Year Predictions: Campusano (2024-25), Salas (2026-28)
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Present: Patrick Bailey (Age: 24)
With Joey Bart viewed as the catcher of the future, more than a few eyebrows were raised when the Giants used the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 draft on Bailey. Now that looks like a stroke of genius as Bart has failed to develop as hoped and Bailey is fresh off a terrific rookie season. His offensive numbers don't jump off the page, but he is an elite defensive backstop and should anchor the San Francisco staff for years to come.
Future: Onil Perez (Tier 3)
Perez hit .299/.360/.393 with 19 extra-base hits and 23 steals in his first season above the rookie ball level, and while he doesn't offer much upside in the power department, his 55-grade hit tool and strong defensive profile make him a prospect to watch.
Five-Year Predictions: Bailey (2024-28)
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Present: Cal Raleigh (Age: 27)
Raleigh broke out with a 27-homer, 63-RBI season in 2022, then backed it up last year by leading all catchers with 30 home runs while logging his second straight 3-WAR season for the Mariners. A third-round pick in the 2018 draft, he has developed into a terrific all-around catcher, but with Harry Ford waiting in the wings his long-term outlook in Seattle is up in the air.
Future: Harry Ford (Tier 1)
An elite athlete behind the plate and one of baseball's most promising catching prospects, Ford hit .257/.410/.430 with 24 doubles, 15 home runs, 67 RBI and 24 steals in 118 games at High-A last season after starring for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic. He is athletic enough to potentially handle second base or the outfield, but he also profiles as an elite defensive catcher. It will be interesting to see how the Mariners handle his arrival in the majors, which could come in 2025.
Five-Year Predictions: Raleigh (2024-25), Ford (2026-28)
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Present: Willson Contreras (Age: 31)
Contreras signed a five-year, $87.5 million deal with the Cardinals last offseason after spending the first seven years of his career with the rival Chicago Cubs. He got off to a slow start, but finished strong to post a 124 OPS+ with 27 doubles, 20 home runs and 67 RBI in a 3.4-WAR season. He will now help usher in a new-look pitching staff in St. Louis.
Future: Leonardo Bernal (Tier 2)
Bernal spent his age-19 season last year at Single-A where he hit .265/.381/.362 with 19 extra-base hits and a terrific 15.2 percent walk rate in 323 plate appearances. He profiles as an above-average defensive catcher, and while he is still working to tap into his raw power, his on-base ability already gives him starting catcher upside. Contreras has seen some time in the outfield in the past, so he could shift out from behind the plate once Bernal is ready.
Five-Year Predictions: Contreras (2024-26), Bernal (2027-28)
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Present: René Pinto (Age: 27)
Pinto is the only catcher on the 40-man roster for the Rays heading into spring training, and he is expected to be the starter after showing some intriguing potential last year. He posted a 97 OPS+ with six home runs and 16 RBI in 105 plate appearances, while also grading out as a strong pitch-framer. He is controllable through the 2029 season.
Future: Dominic Keegan (Tier 2)
Keegan has a chance to halt what has long been a revolving door at the catcher position for the Rays following a breakout 2023 season. The Vanderbilt product and 2022 fourth-round pick hit .287/.386/.467 with 20 doubles, 13 home runs and 65 RBI in 106 games between Single-A and High-A, then hit .340/.446/.585 with seven extra-base hits in 15 games in the Arizona Fall League. He could climb onto leaguewide Top 100 lists in 2024.
Five-Year Predictions: Pinto (2024-25), Keegan (2026-28)
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Present: Jonah Heim (Age: 28)
Heim showed some flashes during the first half of the 2022 season, then fully broke out in 2023 when he hit .258/.317/.438 for a 103 OPS+ with 28 doubles, 18 home runs and 95 RBI in a 2.9-WAR season. The 2023 All-Star Game starter is controllable through the 2026 season, but looks like an obvious extension candidate with now heir apparent in the system.
Future: Liam Hicks (Tier 3)
Hicks is on the older end of the prospect scale heading into his age-25 season, but he is one to watch after hitting .449/.553/.522 with five doubles, 12 RBI and twice as many walks (16) as strikeouts (8) in 85 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League.
Five-Year Predictions: Heim (2024-28)
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Present: Alejandro Kirk (Age: 25)
The one-two punch of Kirk and Danny Jansen was a strength for the Blue Jays once again in 2023, producing a combined 3.5 WAR while platooning behind the plate and seeing occasional action at designated hitter. Kirk is controllable through the 2026 season, while Jansen will be a free agent next winter, so an extension for one of them in the near future makes sense.
Future: Franklin Rojas (Tier 3)
Rojas signed for $1.1 million as one of the top catchers in the 2024 international class, Rojas will make his pro debut later this year. MLB.com gave him at least 50-grade tools across the board, including 55-grade power that could help him emerge as a top-tier prospect in short order.
Five-Year Predictions: Kirk (2024-28)
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Present: Keibert Ruiz (Age: 25)
The Nationals signed Ruiz to an eight-year, $50 million extension last offseason that could keep him with the team through 2032 if a pair of club options are exercised. He will now serve as a cornerstone piece of their ongoing rebuilding efforts, and after hitting .300/.342/.467 with 13 doubles, nine home runs and 36 RBI in 257 plate appearances after the All-Star break last year he could be in for a huge breakout season.
Future: Drew Millas (Tier 3)
Millas is the third catcher on the 40-man roster for the Nationals behind Ruiz and Riley Adams, and he went 8-for-28 with two doubles and one home run in his first MLB action last season. The 26-year-old profiles more as organizational depth than anything else, but he could play his way into a backup role.
Five-Year Predictions: Ruiz (2024-28)
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