Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting Catcher for the 2025 Season
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2025 MLB preseason position rankings.
With the beginning of a new baseball season right around the corner, we'll be ranking each team's starter at every position in the coming weeks to provide a full position-by-position preview for the 2025 campaign.
Next up is catcher, where William Contreras (MIL), Cal Raleigh (SEA), Adley Rutschman (BAL) and Will Smith (LAD) make up the top-tier of talent, though veterans Salvador Perez (KC) and J.T. Realmuto (PHI) still have plenty left in the tank.
Meanwhile, up-and-comers such as Shea Langeliers (ATH), Gabriel Moreno (ARI), Logan O'Hoppe (LAA) and Austin Wells (NYY) are quickly rising the ranks, while Patrick Bailey (SF) is in a category of his own as the consensus best defensive catcher in baseball.
Players were ranked based on expectations for the 2025 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 look at the next man up at catcher. This is who would take over if the current starter was to miss significant time. In some cases, it's a minor leaguer or bench player; in others, it's a starter moving over from a different position.
Catch up on the 2025 Position Rankings Series: First Basemen, Second Basemen, Shortstops, Third Basemen, Center Fielders, Right Fielders
Nos. 30-26
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30. Nick Fortes, Miami Marlins
Next Man Up: Liam Hicks
Fortes is a glove-first catcher who profiles best as a backup, but he has been the Marlins' primary catcher the last two seasons, logging minus-0.3 WAR in 218 games. The 28-year-old posted a 56 OPS in 335 plate appearances last season, and he is under club control through the 2028 season.
29. Elias Díaz, San Diego Padres
Next Man Up: Luis Campusano
The Padres plucked Díaz from the scrapheap last season after he was released by the Rockies, and they saw enough during his time with the team to bring him back on a one-year, $3.5 million deal. The 2023 All-Star Game MVP has a chance to be a nice bargain pickup, though much of his past offensive success came in a Colorado uniform with the benefit of home games at Coors Field.
28. Korey Lee, Chicago White Sox
Next Man Up: Kyle Teel
A first-round pick in 2019 and top prospect in the Astros uniform, Lee was traded to the White Sox for reliever Kendall Graveman at the 2023 trade deadline. He hit .210/.244/.347 with 14 doubles, 12 home runs and 37 RBI in a career-high 394 plate appearances last year, but he is just keeping the position warm while Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero continue to rise the minor league ranks.
27. Jacob Stallings, Colorado Rockies
Next Man Up: Drew Romo
Stallings won 2021 NL Gold Glove honors and the Pirates promptly sold high, trading him to Miami where he tallied minus-1.5 WAR in 202 games over two seasons. The Rockies scooped him up on a minor league deal last offseason, and he posted a 118 OPS with 27 extra-base hits and 1.8 WAR in 82 games while providing his usual strong defense. The 35-year-old re-upped with the Rockies in November on a one-year, $2.5 million contract.
26. Miguel Amaya, Chicago Cubs
Next Man Up: Carson Kelly
Amaya posted a respectable 82 OPS with 23 extra-base hits over 363 plate appearances in his first full season in the big leagues last year, but his real value came behind the plate. The 26-year-old tied for second among all catchers with 1.5 Defensive WAR, and the former top prospect now has a solid platoon partner in veteran Carson Kelly who signed a two-year, $11.5 million deal in free agency.
Nos. 25-21
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25. Bo Naylor, Cleveland Guardians
Next Man Up: Cooper Ingle
The No. 29 overall pick in the 2018 draft on the strength of one of the best hit tools in that year's prep class, Naylor enjoyed a breakout 2022 season in the minors that solidified his status as the catcher of the near future in Cleveland. In his first season as the unquestioned starter last year, he hit .201/.264/.350 with 10 doubles, 13 home runs, 39 RBI and 0.7 WAR in 123 games. Those numbers don't jump off the page, but he is still just 25 years old and will be for the entire 2025 season.
24. Connor Wong, Boston Red Sox
Next Man Up: Carlos Narváez
Wong had a breakout season in 2024, hitting .280/.333/.425 with 24 doubles, 13 home runs, 52 RBI and a 110 OPS over 487 plate appearances. Despite those strong numbers, he ranks as one of the biggest regression candidates in baseball based on his underlying metrics. His gap between batting average (.280) and expected batting average (.231) was the second-largest among qualified hitters, and he ranked near the bottom of the league in hard-hit rate (20th percentile) and average exit velocity (11th percentile).
23. Keibert Ruiz, Washington Nationals
Next Man Up: Riley Adams
The Nationals locked up Ruiz with an eight-year, $50 million extension less than two years after he was acquired from the Dodgers in the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner blockbuster at the 2021 deadline. The 26-year-old has hit .247/.293/.379 for an 89 OPS and averaged 22 doubles, 13 home runs, 53 RBI and 1.2 WAR in three seasons at the team's starting catcher, but still has some untapped upside.
22. Danny Jansen, Tampa Bay Rays
Next Man Up: Dominic Keegan
The catcher position has been a revolving door for the Rays since their inception as a franchise in 1998, and they again opted for a short-term veteran solution this offseason when they signed Jansen to a one-year, $8.5 million deal. The 29-year-old had a down year in 2024, but logged a 120 OPS in 754 plate appearances over the previous three seasons in a platoon role.
21. Iván Herrera, St. Louis Cardinals
Next Man Up: Jimmy Crooks
The emergence of Herrera last season allowed the Cardinals to shift Willson Contreras to first base, plugging the hole left behind when Paul Goldschmidt departed in free agency. The 24-year-old hit .301/.372/.428 for a 124 OPS with 18 extra-base hits in 72 games, though he could experience some regression with those numbers propped up by a .370 BABIP. He will also need to do a better job controlling the running game after allowing 55 steals in 59 chances.
Nos. 20-16
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20. Jonah Heim, Texas Rangers
Next Man Up: Kyle Higashioka
Heim hit .282/.338/.474 with 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 59 RBI during the first half of the 2023 season, earning the starting nod for the AL in the All-Star Game. His production dipped in the second half, and then he hit .220/.267/.336 with 12 doubles, 13 home runs, 59 RBI and 1.1 WAR in 131 games last year, but his recent high-level success gives him a higher ceiling than some of the guys ranked above him.
19. Jake Rogers, Detroit Tigers
Next Man Up: Dillon Dingler
The Tigers pitching staff had a 3.32 ERA in 761 innings with Rogers behind the plate last year, compared to a 3.94 ERA over 686 innings when someone else was handling catching duties. His defensive value is the reason he ranks inside the top 20, as he batted just .197 with a 71 OPS in 337 plate appearances, though did provide some pop with 16 doubles, 10 home runs and 36 RBI.
18. Francisco Alvarez, New York Mets
Next Man Up: Luis Torrens
The Mets went 65-35 (.650) when Alvarez was in the lineup last season, compared to 24-38 (.387) without him, which is a good way to illustrate that his value stretches beyond just his surface-level stats. After a 25-homer rookie season, he posted a 101 OPS in 342 plate appearances last year, and he might still possess the highest offensive ceiling of any young catcher in baseball. Unfortunately a broken hamate bone in his left hand will sideline him for the start of the 2025 season.
17. Joey Bart, Pittsburgh Pirates
Next Man Up: Endy Rodríguez
Bart looked like the heir apparent to Buster Posey in San Francisco when he was taken No. 2 overall in the 2018 draft, but a combination of injuries, inconsistent performance and the rise of Patrick Bailey brought his time in the Giants to an end when he was designated for assignment last March. The Pirates plucked him from the scrapheap and he logged a 120 OPS with 11 doubles, 13 home runs, 45 RBI and 2.2 WAR in 80 games. The 28-year-old is controllable for three more seasons, and has finally started to realize his potential.
16. Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins
Next Man Up: Christian Vázquez
Following a breakout 2023 season where he logged a 133 OPS and 3.2 WAR in 96 games, Jeffers solidified his status as the Twins' primary catcher last year. The 27-year-old logged a 103 OPS with 22 doubles, 21 home runs and 64 RBI in 122 games, and he will again be backed up by veteran Christian Vázquez as he enters the final season of a three-year, $30 million deal.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Next Man Up: Jose Trevino
Stephenson has consistently been an above-average offensive contributor over his four full seasons in the big leagues, including last year when he posted a 112 OPS with 26 doubles, 19 home runs, 66 RBI and 2.4 WAR in 138 games. He made 88 starts hitting in the No. 3, 4 or 5 spot in the batting order, and he will again be counted on to serve as a key run producer once he returns from an oblique strain.
14. Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
Next Man Up: Drake Baldwin
The Braves signed Murphy to a six-year, $73 million extension shortly after he was acquired from the Athletics following the 2022 season, and he earned his first All-Star selection while posting a 127 OPS and 4.0 WAR in his first season in Atlanta. The 30-year-old is currently dealing with a rib injury that will sideline him to open the year, and that opens the door for top prospect Drake Baldwin to get a shot.
13. Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
Next Man Up: Tyler Heineman
Kirk posted a 127 OPS with 14 home runs, 63 RBI and 4.0 WAR while earning an All-Star selection and winning AL Silver Slugger honors during his age-23 season in 2022. With elite contact skills and solid defense, he has logged a 93 OPS and 3.9 WAR in 226 games the last two seasons, and with Danny Jansen gone, he will be counted on to handle a bigger workload.
12. Logan O'Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels
Next Man Up: Travis d'Arnaud
The Angels found a franchise catcher when they acquired O'Hoppe from the Phillies in a one-for-one swap that sent Brandon Marsh the other way at the 2022 deadline. In his first full season in the big leagues last year, he hit .244/.303/.409 for a 100 OPS with 17 doubles, 20 home runs, 56 RBI and 2.7 WAR in 136 games. The 25-year-old is controllable through 2028 and could be an early extension candidate.
11. Austin Wells, New York Yankees
Next Man Up: Rafael Flores
Wells posted a 103 OPS with 18 doubles, 13 home runs, 55 RBI and 2.5 WAR in 115 games as a rookie last season, finishing third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. With a patient approach and 11.4 percent walk rate, he is expected to hit leadoff ahead of Aaron Judge this season, at least when there is a right-handed starter on the mound. The 25-year-old has a chance to be the team's best homegrown catcher since Jorge Posada.
Nos. 10-6
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10. Shea Langeliers, Athletics
Next Man Up: Daniel Susac
Langeliers was the prospect centerpiece in the deal that sent Matt Olson to the Braves, and he took a significant step forward last year in his second season as the Athletics starting catcher. The 27-year-old logged a 111 OPS and 2.9 WAR in 137 games last year, and his 29 home runs trailed only Cal Raleigh (34 HR) among all catchers. He also threw out 26.9 percent of base stealers, well above the leaguewide 21.8 percent average.
9. Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
Next Man Up: Adrian Del Castillo
The D-backs acquired Moreno in the deal that sent Daulton Varsho to the Blue Jays, and he won NL Gold Glove honors in a 4.3-WAR season in his debut in the desert in 2023. An adductor strain limited him to 97 games last year, but he still logged a 105 OPS and 2.6 WAR as one of the best two-way catchers in the sport. Still only 25 years old, he has the upside to be a top-five player at the position.
8. J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies
Next Man Up: Rafael Marchán
Realmuto is in the final season of his five-year, $115.5 million contract, and he has racked up 16.5 WAR over the first four seasons of that deal. The 34-year-old has logged at least 3.0 WAR in each of the last seven full seasons, and while catchers rarely age well into their late 30s, he still had a strong 2024 campaign at the plate while handling one of the league's best rotations.
7. Salvador Pérez, Kansas City Royals
Next Man Up: Freddy Fermin
One of the best offensive catchers in MLB history, Pérez posted the eighth 20-homer season of his career in 2024, logging a 119 OPS with 28 doubles, 27 home runs and 104 RBI while doing a lot of the heavy lifting alongside Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino in the Kansas City lineup. The 34-year-old is no longer the standout defender he was in his prime, but he remains an impactful run producer.
6. Yainer Díaz, Houston Astros
Next Man Up: Victor Caratini
After splitting time with veteran Martín Maldonado during a standout rookie season, Díaz put together a terrific first full season as the primary backstop, hitting .299/.325/.441 for a 118 OPS with 29 doubles, 16 home runs, 84 RBI and 3.3 WAR in 148 games. The 26-year-old is controllable through the 2028 season and has the tools to be one of the best offensive catchers in baseball for years to come.
5. Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants
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Next Man Up: Sam Huff
According to the DEF metric at FanGraphs that measures the value of a player's overall contributions on the defensive side of the ball, Patrick Bailey was the best defensive player in baseball during the 2024 season by a wide margin.
The 25-year-old graded out as the league's best pitch-framer, he threw out 27.1 percent of base stealers, and his 20 Defensive Runs Saved trailed only Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (22) among all players across all positions.
That elite work behind the plate makes anything he provides in the batter's box icing on the cake, and he hit .234/.298/.339 with 16 doubles, eight home runs and 46 RBI in 121 games.
4. Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
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Next Man Up: Samuel Basallo
In just three big league seasons, Adley Rutschman has racked up 13.1 WAR while earning a pair of All-Star selections and winning a Silver Slugger, delivering on the hype that came with being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft.
He hit .250/.318/.391 for a 107 OPS with 21 doubles, 19 home runs, 79 RBI and 3.4 WAR last season, and doing more to keep him fresh this season will be a priority after his OPS dropped almost 200 points after the All-Star break.
The 27-year-old still checks all the boxes to be a perennial All-Star and franchise cornerstone, even coming off a disappointing second half. And with free agency fast approaching after the 2027 season, he is a prime candidate for an early extension.
3. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Next Man Up: Dalton Rushing
The Dodgers gave Will Smith a 10-year, $140 million extension just before Opening Day last season, and despite slumping after the All-Star break, he again finished with some of the best overall numbers of any backstop.
The 29-year-old logged a 116 OPS with 24 doubles, 20 home runs, 75 RBI and 3.5 WAR in 128 games while making his second straight All-Star Game appearance, and he has a 125 OPS since debuting in 2019.
He was also a Gold Glove finalist thanks to his work controlling the running game, leading the NL in runners caught stealing (32) and caught stealing percentage (33.3%).
2. William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
9 of 10
Next Man Up: Jeferson Quero
William Contreras was arguably the best player on a 93-win Brewers team last year, leading the club with 4.9 WAR and finishing fifth in NL MVP balloting while also taking home NL Silver Slugger honors.
The 27-year-old hit .281/.365/.466 for a 129 OPS with 37 doubles, 23 home runs, 92 RBI at the plate while also continuing to make strides defensively after starting his career as a bat-first backstop.
He threw out 21 base stealers at a 22.6 percent clip and was one of only six catchers to log 1,000 innings behind the plate defensively, tallying 6 DRS and 11.3 DEF as a plus all-around defender.
1. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
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Next Man Up: Harry Ford
Cal Raleigh led all catchers in home runs and won AL Gold Glove and Platinum Glove honors as the best all-around catcher in baseball and a true rising star for the Seattle Mariners.
The 28-year-old had a 119 OPS with 34 home runs and 100 RBI, becoming the first catcher since Mike Piazza with back-to-back 30-homer seasons, and he was a 4.7-WAR player in 153 games.
He led all catchers with 1,122 innings behind the plate, threw out 32 base stealers at a 28.3 percent rate, and trailed only Patrick Bailey with 17 DRS behind the dish. His offense or defense by itself would give him a strong case for a top-five spot, and combined make him baseball's best catcher heading into the 2025 season.
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