B/R's MLB 30 in '30 Predicting the Best Catchers in 2030
Welcome to the Bleacher Report MLB 30 in '30 series, where we look ahead five years to the 2030 season and predict who will be the 30 best players at each position.
Up next, catchers.
Finding a franchise catcher is never easy, and there are generally only a handful of players at the position who are bona fide stars.
Offensive and defensive tools were both considered when assessing a player's outlook five years down the line, but this was ultimately a largely subjective exercise based on projection.
Before we dive into the 30 in '30, a nod to some current stars who are expected to age out of stardom before the 2030 season arrives, as well as a projection of the top 10 catching prospects five years down the road.
Catch up on the B/R 30 in '30 series: First Basemen, Shortstops, Third Basemen
Notable Veteran Omissions
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The following veterans were excluded from the rankings under the assumption that age regression will have removed them from the Top 30 at the position or they will change positions at some point in the next five years.
Retired
Elias Díaz, SD (39)
Jonah Heim, TEX (35)
Danny Jansen, TB (35)
Carson Kelly, CHC (35)
Sean Murphy, ATL (35)
Salvador Perez, KC (40)
J.T. Realmuto, PHI (39)
Jose Trevino, CIN (37)
Full-Time Move to DH or 1B
Iván Herrera, STL (30)
Ryan Jeffers, MIN (33)
Alejandro Kirk, TOR (31)
Agustín Ramírez, MIA (28)
Will Smith, LAD (35)
Tyler Stephenson, CIN (33)
Top Prospects
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Top 10 Catcher Prospects in 2030
(2030 age in parenthesis)
1. Eduardo Tait, Philadelphia Phillies (24): Hit .302/.356/.486 with 18 doubles, 11 home runs and 73 RBI in 80 games between rookie ball and Single-A in his stateside debut. Has 60-grade power and enough hit tool to consistently tap into it, with a strong arm and improving receiving skills.
2. Rainiel Rodriguez, St. Louis Cardinals (24): Hit .345/.462/.683 with 12 doubles, 10 home runs, 38 RBI and more walks (30) than strikeouts (25) over 42 games in the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut. Signed for a modest $300,000 and looks like one of the early steals of the 2024 international class.
3. Yovanny Rodriguez, New York Mets (23): Received a $2.85 million bonus as the Mets top 2024 international signing. Intriguing offensive upside, but overall defensive polish and intangibles also give him a high floor.
4. Gabriel Davalillo, Los Angeles Angels (22): Top catcher in the 2024 international class, signed for $2 million in January. Could quickly move to the top of a good collection of young catchers in the Angels system that also includes Dario Laverde and Juan Flores.
5. Andrew Costello, 2026 MLB Draft (23): Expected to be the first high school catcher off the board in the 2026 draft, despite the fact that he will be 19 years old on draft day. Has playable power and a polished catch-and-throw skills behind the plate that make him a safe bet to stick in the crouch.
6. Brayden Jaksa, 2025 MLB Draft (23): A star on the summer showcase circuit and for the U18 Team USA squad. Has a big 6'5", 210-pound frame and saw some time in the outfield for Team USA, but his 50-hit, 55-power offensive profile would obviously be more valuable if he can stick at catcher.
7. Franklin Rojas, Toronto Blue Jays (23): A good athlete for the catcher position with average-or-better tools across the board. Signed for $997,500 out of Venezuela as the No. 2 catching prospect in the 2024 international class behind Yovanny Rodriguez.
8. Omar Serna, 2025 MLB Draft (23): Has two loud tools with 55-grade power and a 65-grade arm behind the plate. Overall receiving skills are still a work-in-progress and is a limited athlete, but significant upside if things click.
9. Edgleen Perez, New York Yankees (24): Signed out of Venezuela for just $50,000 in 2023. Viewed as a glove-first backstop, but hit .283/.444/.380 over 216 plate appearances in rookie ball in his stateside debut last year. A developmental prospect with untapped potential.
10. Daniel Hernandez, Washington Nationals (22): Signed for $1.1 million in January as one of top 2025 international catching prospects. Has a smooth left-handed swing and an offensive-minded profile, which could make him more of a developmental prospect if he sticks behind the plate.
Nos. 30-26
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30. Malcolm Moore, Texas Rangers
2030 Age: 27
Moore was a candidate to be a top 10 pick in the 2024 draft before a lackluster draft-eligible sophomore season at Stanford where he hit .255/.414/.553 with 16 home runs and an 18.0 percent walk rate. The Rangers still took him at No. 30 overall, and his on-base skills and power give him a high offensive floor, but his bat will have to carry his value as an average-at-best defender.
29. Dominic Keegan, Tampa Bay Rays
2030 Age: 29
A two-year starter at Vanderbilt where he hit .345/.430/.605 with 29 home runs and 129 RBI in 146 games, Keegan was a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft and the 10th catcher off the board in a draft class that also included Dalton Rushing and Drake Baldwin. A well-rounded defender, he hit .285/.371/.435 with 35 extra-base hits in 104 games at Double-A last season to solidify his status as the catcher of the future in Tampa Bay.
28. Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers
2030 Age: 31
The Tigers took Dingler with the No. 38 pick in the same 2020 draft class where they selected Spencer Torkelson at No. 1 overall, and while he has taken some time to hit his stride in pro ball, he broke out last season with a .308/.379/.559 line and 17 home runs in 71 games at Triple-A. A plus athlete who played center field as a freshman at Ohio State, he has made the most of his opportunity in the early going this year with Jake Rogers on the injured list.
27. Hunter Carns, Florida State University (2026 Draft)
2030 Age: 26
The top catching prospect in the 2026 draft class by a sizable margin after he somewhat surprisingly made it to campus, Carns has an .849 OPS with six home runs in 36 games as a true freshman this spring. He turned 20 years old at the beginning of April and will be draft-eligible as a sophomore, so he will be one to watch this summer if he suits up in the Cape Cod League or for Team USA.
26. Alfredo Duno, Cincinnati Reds
2030 Age: 25
One of the best teenage catching prospects in baseball right now, Duno hit .267/.367/.422 with 11 extra-base hits in 32 games at Single-A last season while throwing out 9 of 31 base stealers. A broken rib ended his season prematurely at the end of May, but he is so far ahead of the developmental curve for a catcher that should not be a major setback. The tools are all there for him to be a franchise catcher, there is just always risk projecting a backstop who is still so far from the big leagues.
Nos. 25-21
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25. Walker Janek, Houston Astros
2030 Age: 28
A three-year starter at Sam Houston State, Janek hit .364/.476/.709 with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 58 RBI in 58 games last spring before going No. 28 overall as the first catcher off the board in the 2024 draft. He struggled in his pro debut at High-A Asheville, but that was also an aggressive assignment to kick off his Astros career.
24. Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants
2030 Age: 31
Bailey is the best defensive catcher in baseball, but will he ever hit enough to be more than just a one-dimensional contributor? He batted .234/.298/.339 over 448 plate appearances last season, and has a .179/.228/.250 line with zero home runs in his first 39 games this year. His floor is Austin Hedges if he doesn't take a step forward at the plate.
23. Thayron Liranzo, Detroit Tigers
2030 Age: 27
The prospect centerpiece in the deal that sent Jack Flaherty from the Tigers to the Dodgers at the trade deadline last year, Liranzo has an extremely high offensive ceiling with a 50-hit, 60-power offensive profile. He hit .315/.470/.562 with 12 extra-base hits in 20 games at High-A following the trade, then logged a 1.158 OPS over 59 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League. Will he stick behind the plate, or eventually shift to first base?
22. Edgar Quero, Chicago White Sox
2030 Age: 28
Quero has been a bright spot for the White Sox this season, hitting .296/.390/.338 for a 112 OPS+ over 82 plate appearances since making his MLB debut on April 17 and quickly moving into the middle of the batting order. His 55-grade hit tool will drive his value, though it's fair to wonder how he fits into the South Siders long-term plans with Kyle Teel also knocking on the door for a promotion.
21. Luke Stevenson, University of North Carolina (2025 Draft)
2030 Age: 26
Stevenson has separated himself from the pack as the top catcher in the 2025 draft class, hitting .278/.451/.609 with 16 home runs, 45 RBI and a hefty 23.0 percent walk rate this spring. He hit 14 home runs as a true freshman and played for Team USA as an underclassmen last summer, so this season is just a continuation of his upward trajectory. Arguably the best draft-eligible sophomore in the 205 class and a well-rounded catching prospect.
Nos. 20-16
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20. Joe Mack, Miami Marlins
2030 Age: 28
The No. 31 overall pick in the 2021 draft and the third catcher selected after Henry Davis (PIT) and Harry Ford (SEA), Mack struggled at the plate early in his pro career before breaking out in 2024 when he hit .252/.338/.468 with 30 doubles, 24 home runs and 78 RBI in 125 games. He is raking in the upper levels of the minors to open the 2025 season, and might be the best bet to be the catcher of the future in Miami with Agustín Ramírez a better fit at first base or designated hitter.
19. Jeferson Quero, Milwaukee Brewers
2030 Age: 28
Quero might be the best defender of any top-tier catching prospect and is a safe bet to at least be a quality backup, though an average offensive game would make him a no-doubt starting catcher. He hit .262/.339/.440 with 16 home runs in 90 games at Double-A in 2023, but a torn labrum in his right shoulder limited him to just one game last year and he is still shaking off the rust in rookie ball to kick off the 2025 campaign.
18. Keibert Ruiz, Washington Nationals
2030 Age: 31
Ruiz was acquired in the blockbuster deal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers at the 2021 deadline, and following his first full season with the Nationals he signed an eight-year, $50 million extension that could keep him around through 2032 if a pair of club options are exercised. Still only 26 years old, he has yet to fully break out, but there could still be another level to his game.
17. Logan O'Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels
2030 Age: 30
O'Hoppe posted a 99 OPS+ with 20 home runs and 2.7 WAR in 136 games during his first full season in the majors last year, cementing his status as the catcher of the present and future for the Angels. He has limited on-base skills and is carrying a 33.8 percent strikeout rate so far this year, but his 20-homer power and ability to handle a staff make him a clear building block for the Angels.
17. Blake Mitchell, Kansas City Royals
2030 Age: 26
The No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 draft on the strength of his offensive game, Mitchell hit .232/.368/.424 with 18 home runs and 51 RBI over 111 games between Single-A and High-A in his age-19 campaign last year. A broken hamate bone during spring training delayed his 2025 debut, but he is back in action now and building toward being the heir to Salvador Perez in Kansas City.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves
2030 Age: 30
One of the breakout prospects of 2024, Baldwin hit .276/.370/.423 with 19 doubles, 16 home runs and 88 RBI in 124 games between Double-A and Triple-A while throwing out a respectable 20 percent of base stealers. A spring injury to Sean Murphy opened the door for him to break camp as Atlanta's starting catcher, and he has a 171 OPS+ with four doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI in 81 plate appearances in his first MLB action.
14. Moises Ballesteros, Chicago Cubs
2030 Age: 27
With a 5'8", 215-pound frame reminiscent of Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, Ballesteros might not look the part of an elite offensive player, but he raked to the tune of a .289/.354/.471 line with 24 doubles, 19 home runs and 78 RBI in 124 games last year. An even more impressive .368/.420/.522 showing over 150 plate appearances back at Triple-A to open the 2025 season earned him his first big league promotion, and he looks like the offensive-minded catcher of the future on the North Side.
13. Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
2030 Age: 30
Moreno made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays in 2022 just a few months after his 22nd birthday, and he won a Gold Glove with the D-backs the following year when he also posted a 103 OPS+ and 4.3 WAR in 111 games. Still only 25 years old, his defensive game will keep him in the starting lineup, and he has flashed the offensive potential to be a top-10 player on this list if everything clicks.
12. Francisco Alvarez, New York Mets
2030 Age: 28
The top prospects in the Mets system for three years in a row and the No. 9 prospect in all of baseball at the start of the 2023 season, Alvarez has yet to develop into the star many expected him to be since arriving in the big leagues. However, he did slug 25 home runs as a rookie in 2023, and he has developed into a terrific defensive backstop. Only 23 years old, there is still plenty of time for him to realize his full potential.
11. Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles
2030 Age: 26
Basallo spent his age-19 season in the upper levels of the minors, hitting .278/.341/.449 with 25 doubles, 19 home runs and 65 RBI in 127 games between Double-A and Triple-A while nailing 24 percent of base stealers. The jury is still out on whether he will stick behind the plate or shift to first base, and the presence of Adley Rutschman in Baltimore further complicates things, but he could also end up being a trade chip for a team in serious need of pitching help.
Nos. 10-6
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10. Austin Wells, New York Yankees
2030 Age: 30
Wells finished third in 2024 AL Rookie of the Year voting, posting a 104 OPS+ with 18 doubles, 13 home runs and 55 RBI in 115 games while also grading out as one of the best pitch-framers in baseball. He is off to a strong start again this year on both sides of the ball, and has a chance to be the Yankees best homegrown catcher since Jorge Posada.
9. Shea Langeliers, Las Vegas Athletics
2030 Age: 32
The prospect centerpiece in the trade that sent Matt Olson to the Braves, Langeliers has settled in nicely as the starting catcher for the Athletics the last two seasons. He posted a 111 OPS+ with 29 home runs and 80 RBI in 137 games last year, with only Cal Raleigh (34) hitting more homers among catchers. He will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this coming offseason, and looks like a logical extension candidate to provide some stability for an A's franchise in flux.
8. William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
2030 Age: 33
Contreras finished fifth in 2024 NL MVP voting after hitting .281/.365/.466 for a 130 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 23 home runs, 92 RBI and 4.9 WAR hitting in the middle of the lineup for a 93-win Brewers team that won the NL Central title. A bat-first player early in his career, he has developed into a rock solid defensive catcher, and he will be an in-demand free agent when he hits the open market after the 2027 season.
7. Harry Ford, Seattle Mariners
2030 Age: 28
A rare athlete for the catcher position who has drawn comparisons to Craig Biggio, Ford has impressed every step of the way in the minors, showcasing a nice mix of hit tool, power, speed and on-base ability. All told, he has a .263/.405/.417 line with 38 home runs, 88 steals and a 16.7 percent walk rate in 386 games since going No. 12 overall in the 2021 draft. He is also the face of Team Great Britain after starring at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
6. Kyle Teel, Chicago White Sox
2030 Age: 29
Teel hit .407/.475/.655 with 25 doubles, 13 home runs and 69 RBI during his junior season at Virginia before going to the Red Sox at No. 14 overall in the 2023 draft in a pick that looked like a steal from the jump. He hit .288/.386/.433 with 23 doubles, 13 home runs and 78 RBI while reaching Triple-A in his first full professional season, and the Red Sox flipped him in the Garrett Crochet blockbuster in December. A polished defender with a 55-grade hit tool and solid pop, he could debut before the All-Star break.
5. Yainer Diaz, Houston Astros
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2030 Age: 31
The Houston Astros acquired Yainer Diaz in the 2021 deadline deal that sent Myles Straw to the Cleveland Guardians, and that is shaping up to be one of the more lopsided deals in recent history.
He finished fifth in 2023 AL Rookie of the Year balloting while sharing time behind the plate with veteran Martín Maldonado, then moved into the starting role last season and hit .299/.325/.441 for a 116 OPS+ with 29 doubles, 16 home runs, 84 RBI and 3.3 WAR in 148 games.
Despite a slow start at the plate this season, his future remains bright thanks to an advanced hit tool and 20-homer upside, and he has also been better than expected on the defensive side of the ball.
4. Dalton Rushing, Los Angeles Dodgers
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2030 Age: 30
Dalton Rushing was the No. 40 overall pick in the 2022 draft, but the first selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers that year after they had their first pick moved back 10 spots as a penalty for exceeding the highest level of the luxury tax threshold.
After playing in just 38 games his first two seasons at Louisville while sitting behind Henry Davis, he batted .310/.470/.686 with 23 home runs as a junior, and he has continued to hit every step of the way since starting his pro career.
He went 2-for-4 with a walk in his MLB debut on Thursday, and his 50-hit, 55-power offensive profile is safer to project than some of the other catching prospects in the lower levels of the minors.
With Will Smith blocking his path, he saw time in left field last year, but he checks all the boxes to be a standout defender behind the plate.
3. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
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2030 Age: 34
With back-to-back 30-homer seasons to his credit and 2024 AL Platinum Glove honors to boot, Cal Raleigh has a solid case for the title of best catcher in baseball right now.
Catchers don't typically age well, but there is some precedent for a longtime producer still putting up strong numbers in his age-34 campaign:
Jorge Posada (2004): 109 OPS+, 19 HR, 71 RBI, 4.4 WAR
Ivan Rodriguez (2005): 97 OPS+, 13 HR, 69 RBI, 3.1 WAR, Gold Glove
Buster Posey (2021): 140 OPS+, 18 HR, 56 RBI, 3.6 WAR
Salvador Perez (2024): 120 OPS+, 27 HR, 104 RBI, 2.5 WAR
Raleigh has the well-rounded game to still be an impact contributor in the final years of his prime, and the Mariners locked him up with a six-year, $105 million extension in March.
2. Ethan Salas, San Diego Padres
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2030 Age: 25
Ethan Salas is quite possibly the most hyped international catching prospect of all-time, and the San Diego Padres did little to quell excitement when they brought him stateside for his pro debut and had him playing at Double-A by season's end.
He was sent to High-A for his first full season last year where he was one of the youngest players in the Midwest League, and he took his lumps, hitting .206/.288/.311 with 33 extra-base hits in 113 games.
He fared much better in the Arizona Fall League, posting a .751 OPS with six doubles, four home runs and 21 RBI in 23 games, and he was sent to Double-A to begin the 2025 season.
The on-field production might not match expectations just yet, but he has a 50-hit, 50-power offensive profile and the potential to be an elite defensive catcher and perennial Gold Glove candidate.
1. Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
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2030 Age: 32
Despite a sluggish second half last season and a slow start to the 2025 campaign, Adley Rutschman still looks like the best bet to be baseball's premier catcher in the years to come.
The No. 1 overall pick in 2019 draft arrived in the majors with a bang in 2022, racking up 5.4 WAR in 113 games to join Johnny Bench (1968), Thurman Munson (1970), Carlton Fisk (1972) and Mike Piazza (1993) as the only rookie catchers in MLB history to post a 5-WAR season.
He followed that up with his first All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger in 2023, and earned the starting nod for the AL in the All-Star Game last year with a .275/.339/.441 line that included 16 home runs and 59 RBI at the break.
A quality defender and receiver who does a great job managing the pitching staff, he is one of the most obvious candidates in baseball for a long-term extension, and there's a good chance we have yet to see the best he has to offer.
