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Ranking Each MLB Team's Starting Catcher for 2026 Season
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2026 MLB preseason position rankings.
Up next is catcher, where Cal Raleigh (SEA) is the best of the bunch following a record-setting 60-homer, 125-RBI season and a runner-up finish in AL MVP balloting.
Established veterans William Contreras (MIL), Alejandro Kirk (TOR), Will Smith (LAD) and Salvador Perez (KC) are in a large second-tier group behind him, while Francisco Alvarez (NYM), Dillon Dingler (DET) Shea Langeliers (ATH) and 2025 NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin (ATL) are also part of that conversation.
Each team's projected primary starter for the 2026 season is included in the rankings. Players are ranked based on expectations for the coming campaign. Offensive and defensive contributions were both considered, and past track records played a major role in determining each player's outlook.
Catch up on the 2026 Preseason Position Ranking here: First Basemen, Second Basemen, Shortstops, Third Basemen
Top Prospects Who Will Eventually Be Starting in 2026
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Joe Mack, Miami Marlins (No. 59 on B/R Top 100)
Catcher has been a revolving door for the Marlins throughout their franchise history, with 19 different Opening Day starters in 33 seasons. That should change once Mack arrives, and after posting an .813 OPS with 21 home runs in 113 games between Double-A and Triple-A, he is knocking on the door.
Harry Ford, Washington Nationals (No. 62 on B/R Top 100)
The Nationals front office turned four years of club control over lefty reliever José A. Ferrer into a consensus Top 100 prospect and presumptive catcher of the future when they acquired Ford from the Mariners in December. With a .405 career on-base percentage in the minors, 15-homer pop, elite athleticism for the position, and a solid defensive foundation, he should push Keibert Ruiz by midseason.
Jimmy Crooks, St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals currently have a pair of glove-first options behind the dish in Pedro Pagés and Yohel Pozo, while Iván Herrera's defensive status is up in the air after surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow. That could create a path for Crooks, who is a .285/.368/.455 hitter over four minor league seasons, and had a 15-game audition during the second half last year.
Nos. 30-28
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30. Keibert Ruiz, Washington Nationals
Offense: 267 PA, 69 OPS+, .247/.277/.318, 14 XBH (2 HR), 25 RBI
Defense: 557.0 INN, 1 DRS, -8.4 FRM, 17/66 CS
WAR: 0.8
Ruiz had a strong first full season with the Nationals in 2022 after coming over from the Dodgers in the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner blockbuster, and the Nationals locked him up with an eight-year, $50 million extension. In the three years since signing that deal, he has an 83 OPS+ and 2.8 WAR in 331 games, and the addition of Harry Ford has him squarely on the hot seat.
29. Nick Fortes, Tampa Bay Rays
Offense: 242 PA, 79 OPS+, .229/.296/.349, 15 XBH (5 HR), 21 RBI
Defense: 585.2 INN, 4 DRS, 4.1 FRM, 15/82 CS
WAR: 0.7
With a .224 average and 71 OPS+ over 1,174 plate appearances in the big leagues, Fortes has firmly established himself as a glove-only backstop, but the Rays value defense more than most organizations and swung a deal to acquire him from the Marlins last summer. The 29-year-old is controllable through 2028 and will split time with Hunter Feduccia while the organization waits on the development of Dominic Keegan.
28. Pedro Pagés, St. Louis Cardinals
Offense: 389 PA, 78 OPS+, .230/.272/.363, 26 XBH (11 HR), 45 RBI
Defense: 901.2 INN, 9 DRS, 6.8 FRM, 24/86 CS
WAR: 1.4
Pagés started 102 games behind the plate for the Cardinals last season, assuming primary catcher duties with Iván Herrera limited to DH and Willson Contreras shifting to first base. His offensive skills are limited outside of some occasional pop, but he is an excellent receiver and did a good job of controlling the running game.
Nos. 27-25
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27. Joey Bart, Pittsburgh Pirates
Offense: 332 PA, 96 OPS+, .249/.355/.340, 17 XBH (4 HR), 30 RBI
Defense: 658.2 INN, -6 DRS, -0.8 FRM, 13/71 CS
WAR: 0.5
A longtime top prospect in the Giants organization who never delivered on the hype of being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Bart got a fresh start when he was traded to the Pirates last April and responded with a 121 OPS+ and 13 home runs in 80 games. The 29-year-old failed to match that level of production last season, and he has a far more tenuous hold on the starting job heading into 2026.
26. Danny Jansen, Texas Rangers
Offense: 337 PA, 101 OPS+, .215/.321/.399, 25 XBH (14 HR), 36 RBI
Defense: 739.1 INN, 6 DRS, -5.4 FRM, 20/83 CS
WAR: 2.8
The Rangers inked Jansen to a two-year, $14.5 million deal in December, a month after non-tendering Jonah Heim, and he should be the primary starter in a platoon with Kyle Higashioka. He reached double-digit home runs last year for the fifth time in eight big league seasons, and has a strong track record as a reliable defender and pitching staff leader.
25. Agustín Ramírez, Miami Marlins
Offense: 585 PA, 92 OPS+, .231/.287/.413, 55 XBH (21 HR), 67 RBI
Defense: 605.2 INN, -14 DRS, 1.4 FRM, 8/91 CS
WAR: -0.4
Ramírez ranked second among all rookies with 21 home runs last season, and with strong batted-ball metrics, his bat looks like the real deal. However, he led the majors with 19 passed balls and threw out just 8.8 percent of base stealers, so there's a good chance he shifts to a full-time DH role once top prospect Joe Mack arrives.
Nos. 24-22
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24. Logan O'Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels
Offense: 451 PA, 72 OPS+, .213/.258/.371, 28 XBH (19 HR), 43 RBI
Defense: 869.0 INN, -10 DRS, -9.4 FRM, 16/80 CS
WAR: -0.2
O'Hoppe ranks seventh among all catchers with 53 home runs over the last three seasons, though his offensive value is limited by a strikeout rate north of 30 percent and middling on-base ability. He is a good handler of the pitching staff and one of the leading voices in the Angels clubhouse, though his defensive tools are limited.
23. Bo Naylor, Cleveland Guardians
Offense: 414 PA, 82 OPS+, .195/.282/.379, 37 XBH (14 HR), 47 RBI
Defense: 945.1 INN, 1 DRS, -2.7 FRM, 27/104 CS
WAR: 1.5
Naylor is only 26 years old and going into his fourth season as the primary backstop in Cleveland, with glove-only veteran Austin Hedges behind him. He had an .872 OPS with 10 extra-base hits last September, and that could be the springboard to a breakout 2026 campaign for a player with a better hit tool than his sub-.200 average suggests.
22. Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Offense: 342 PA, 98 OPS+, .231/.316/.421, 31 XBH (13 HR), 50 RBI
Defense: 586.0 INN, -4 DRS, -5.1 FRM, 11/52 CS
WAR: 1.3
A fractured thumb limited Stephenson to 88 games in 2025, but he still managed to reach 10 home runs and 50 RBIs for the third year in a row, and he has a 104 OPS+ over six MLB seasons. Veteran Jose Trevino actually led the team with 84 starts behind the plate last year, and he will again make a couple of starts each week, with Stephenson in the mix at designated hitter.
Nos. 21-19
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21. Freddy Fermin, San Diego Padres
Offense: 347 PA, 78 OPS+, .251/.297/.339, 18 XBH (5 HR), 26 RBI
Defense: 803.1 INN, 13 DRS, 0.1 FRM, 14/56 CS
WAR: 2.0
Only seven catchers across baseball have logged back-to-back 2-WAR seasons entering 2026, and Fermin is part of that exclusive group that also includes William Contreras, Yainer Diaz, Alejandro Kirk, Shea Langeliers, Cal Raleigh, J.T. Realmuto, and Will Smith. The Padres paid a steep price to acquire Fermin last summer, and he gives them much-needed stability behind the dish as a strong defender with some untapped offensive potential.
20. Carlos Narváez, Boston Red Sox
Offense: 446 PA, 100 OPS+, .241/.306/.419, 42 XBH (15 HR), 50 RBI
Defense: 952.0 INN, 10 DRS, 2.0 FRM, 32/107 CS
WAR: 2.6
An April injury to Connor Wong opened the door for Narváez to get an extended look as Boston's starting catcher, and he wound up finishing sixth in AL Rookie of the Year voting while finishing as a Gold Glove finalist. His batted-ball metrics suggest some regression is coming, but his power and defensive ability give him a high floor.
19. Austin Wells, New York Yankees
Offense: 448 PA, 95 OPS+, .219/.275/.436, 44 XBH (21 HR), 71 RBI
Defense: 1,001.0 INN, -7 DRS, 10.1 FRM, 22/87 CS
WAR: 0.1
Wells was a key cog in the highest-scoring offense in baseball last year, improving on his counting numbers after a 13-homer, 55-RBI rookie season in 2024. His power and receiving skills make him a two-way contributor, though his strikeout rate (21.0 to 26.3 percent) and walk rate (11.4 to 6.7 percent) moved in the wrong direction last year, and he enters 2026 with something to prove.
Nos. 18-16
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18. Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins
Offense: 464 PA, 108 OPS+, .266/.356/.397, 35 XBH (9 HR), 47 RBI
Defense: 699.2 INN, -10 DRS, 0.6 FRM, 13/70 CS
WAR: 1.2
A defensive-first catcher when he first broke into the majors, Jeffers has a 113 OPS+ in 1,264 plate appearances over the last three years. His .356 on-base percentage trailed only Will Smith (.404) and Cal Raleigh (.359) among all catchers with at least 400 plate appearances last season, and he could be a popular name on the trade block this summer with free agency on the horizon next winter.
17. Carson Kelly, Chicago Cubs
Offense: 421 PA, 119 OPS+, .249/.333/.428, 31 XBH (17 HR), 50 RBI
Defense: 864.0 INN, 4 DRS, -4.2 FRM, 23/67 CS
WAR: 3.6
The Cubs signed Kelly to a two-year, $11.5 million deal last offseason, and he filled a bigger role than expected when injuries limited Miguel Amaya to just 28 games. He set career-high marks in hits (92), home runs (17), RBIs (50), and WAR (3.6), though much of that damage came during the first half when he logged an .899 OPS and 12 homers in 62 games.
16. Kyle Teel, Chicago White Sox
Offense: 297 PA, 121 OPS+, .273/.375/.411, 19 XBH (8 HR), 35 RBI
Defense: 501.1 INN, -4 DRS, 0.4 FRM, 10/56 CS
WAR: 1.9
The White Sox acquired Teel as one of the prospect centerpieces in the blockbuster deal that sent Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox, and he made his MLB debut on June 6. The 24-year-old had an .833 OPS with eight home runs and 29 RBIs in 210 plate appearances after the All-Star break, and he has the potential to quickly develop into one of the best offensive catchers in baseball.
Nos. 15-13
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15. Yainer Diaz, Houston Astros
Offense: 567 PA, 92 OPS+, .256/.284/.417, 46 XBH (20 HR), 70 RBI
Defense: 990.0 INN, 1 DRS, -3.5 FRM, 23/118 CS
WAR: 2.7
Diaz has averaged 20 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 3.0 WAR over the last three seasons while logging a 110 OPS+, but his production has been trending in the wrong direction since his stellar rookie campaign. The 27-year-old still finished third on the Astros in home runs and RBIs last year, but a paltry 3.5 percent walk rate and sub-.300 on-base percentage undercut his offensive impact.
14. Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
Offense: 309 PA, 117 OPS+, .285/.353/.433, 22 XBH (9 HR), 40 RBI
Defense: 598.0 INN, 1 DRS, 3.9 FRM, 10/52 CS
WAR: 1.6
Moreno is an elite defensive catcher and a positive offensive contributor, though he has yet to reach 400 plate appearances in a season. A fractured index finger cost him more than two months in 2025, but he is back to full strength this spring, and a fully healthy season could vault him inside the top 10 in these rankings.
13. Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies
Offense: 579 PA, 120 OPS+, .278/.323/.520, 64 XBH (31 HR), 91 RBI
Defense: 841.1 INN, -1 DRS, 1.3 FRM, 14/83 CS
WAR: 3.7
Goodman had a pair of 30-homer seasons in the minors, and he showed that power at the next level in 2025, winning NL Silver Slugger honors and an All-Star selection. He had a terrific .803 OPS and 18 home runs away from Coors Field, so his production is not park-dependent, and he will once again anchor the Colorado lineup.
Nos. 12-10
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12. Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants
Offense: 452 PA, 73 OPS+, .222/.277/.325, 27 XBH (6 HR), 55 RBI
Defense: 1,029.2 INN, 19 DRS, 21.0 FRM, 27/88 CS
WAR: 1.1
Bailey is the best defensive catcher in baseball, winning his second straight NL Gold Glove in 2025. His 19 DRS trailed only Steven Kwan (22) and Ceddanne Rafaela (20) among all players, but his .222 average and 73 OPS+ were both career-low marks. He has never been a positive contributor at the plate, but his defense is good enough to fit on the doorstep of the top 10.
11. J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies
Offense: 550 PA, 91 OPS+, .257/.315/.384, 39 XBH (12 HR), 52 RBI
Defense: 1,151.1 INN, -2 DRS, -7.0 FRM, 30/101
WAR: 2.5
Realmuto is one of the best catchers of the last 25 years, and while he is on the downturn entering his age-35 season, he remains a solid two-way contributor. The Phillies re-signed him to a three-year, $45 million deal during the offseason, and he will likely go down as the greatest catcher in franchise history.
10. Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
Offense: 365 PA, 90 OPS+, .220/.307/.366, 27 XBH (9 HR), 29 RBI
Defense: 573.1 INN, 10 DRS, 0.9 FRM, 12/50 CS
WAR: 1.9
Rutschman immediately delivered on his elite prospect status when he debuted with a 131 OPS+ and 5.4 WAR in 113 games during the 2022 season. He followed that up with an All-Star selection and Silver Slugger, but his production has dipped the last two years with a .240/.314/.382 line and 99 OPS+ combined. The 28-year-old is capable of a rebound performance at the plate, and his strong defensive work gives him a high-value floor.
Nos. 9-7
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9. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
Offense: 641 PA, 100 OPS+, .236/.284/.446, 65 XBH (30 HR), 100 RBI
Defense: 761.2 INN, -15 DRS, -7.6 FRM, 14/32 CS
WAR: 0.4
Perez became the 33rd catcher in MLB history to reach 11,000 career defensive innings behind the plate in 2025, and he still has plenty left in the tank entering his age-36 campaign. His 30 home runs last season were the second-highest mark of his career, and while he is no longer a Gold Glove defender, his veteran leadership is difficult to quantify.
8. Francisco Alvarez, New York Mets
Offense: 277 PA, 122 OPS+, .256/.339/.447, 24 XBH (11 HR), 32 RBI
Defense: 596.0 INN, -5 DRS, -2.5 FRM, 14/55 CS
WAR: 1.9
With a .921 OPS and 18 extra-base hits in 41 games after the All-Star break, Alvarez could be on the cusp of a true breakout performance. The 24-year-old has shown flashes of living up to his elite prospect pedigree, but injuries have limited him to 176 games over the last two seasons, and a fully healthy year might be all that's separating him from top-five production.
7. Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers
Offense: 469 PA, 108 OPS+, .278/.327/.425, 36 XBH (13 HR), 57 RBI
Defense: 1,011.2 INN, 6 DRS, 5.5 FRM, 26/82 CS
WAR: 3.1
Dingler entered the 2025 season with just 27 games of big league experience and a lackluster 40 OPS+ and negative-0.2 WAR in his limited action. An injury to incumbent starter Jake Rogers gave him an expanded opportunity, and he responded with 108 OPS+ and AL Gold Glove honors. The 27-year-old is a terrific athlete for a catcher, having played some center field in college, and it shows in his elite defensive profile.
Nos. 6-4
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6. Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves
Offense: 446 PA, 126 OPS+, .274/.341/.469, 39 XBH (19 HR), 80 RBI
Defense: 759.2 INN, -2 DRS, -2.0 FRM, 14/102 CS
WAR: 3.3
An injury to Sean Murphy opened the door for Baldwin to break camp with a roster spot last spring, and he never looked back, taking home 2025 NL Rookie of the Year honors by a narrow margin over Cubs pitcher Cade Horton. His batted-ball metrics provide reason to believe his production is sustainable, and with Murphy sidelined again, he will be the everyday catcher to open the year.
5. Shea Langeliers, Athletics
Offense: 523 PA, 134 OPS+, .277/.325/.536, 63 XBH (31 HR), 72 RBI
Defense: 928.0 INN, -10 DRS, -6.7 FRM, 18/115 CS
WAR: 3.9
Only 12 different catchers have had a 30-homer season over the last 25 years, with Langeliers joining that group with a career-high 31 bombs in 2025. His offensive trajectory has been a steady climb from 2023 (89 OPS+, 22 HR) to 2024 (111 OPS+, 29 HR) to 2025 (134 OPS+, 31 HR), and he enters 2026 as the biggest power threat at the position outside of Cal Raleigh.
4. William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
Offense: 659 PA, 111 OPS+, .260/.355/.399, 45 XBH (17 HR), 76 RBI
Defense: 1,111.2 INN, 0 DRS, -2.7 FRM, 22/82 CS
WAR: 3.9
During his time in Milwaukee, Contreras has a 122 OPS+ while averaging 34 doubles, 19 home runs, 82 RBIs, and 4.1 WAR, and the Brewers have made the playoffs in each of his three seasons with the team. His power production dipped from the 130 OPS+ and 62 extra-base hits he logged in 2024, but there was no downturn in his quality of contact, and he remains one of the club's middle-of-the-order run producers.
Nos. 3-1
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3. Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
Offense: 506 PA, 111 OPS+, .282/.348/.421, 33 XBH (15 HR), 76 RBI
Defense: 965.1 INN, 9 DRS, 11.8 FRM, 17/86 CS
WAR: 2.3
An elite defensive catcher with some of the best contact skills in baseball and a knack for driving in runs, Kirk is one of the most underrated players in the sport heading into 2026. His 11.7 percent strikeout rate was the lowest among all qualified catchers, and that contact-oriented approach didn't rob him of his run production value. He hit .315 with runners in scoring position, and added five home runs and 13 RBIs over 18 games in the postseason.
2. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Offense: 436 PA, 152 OPS+, .296/.404/.497, 38 XBH (17 HR), 61 RBI
Defense: 865.1 INN, -8 DRS, -6.8 FRM, 25/92 CS
WAR: 4.5
In five seasons as the Dodgers' primary catcher, Smith has been a model of consistency, posting a 125 OPS+ while averaging 21 home runs and 75 RBIs. He has been a 3-WAR player for five years running, and the only other position players that can say that are Mookie Betts, Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers, Freddie Freeman, Aaron Judge, Francisco Lindor, Shohei Ohtani, Matt Olson, José Ramírez, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Juan Soto, Kyle Tucker, and Trea Turner.
1. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
Offense: 705 PA, 169 OPS+, .247/.359/.589, 84 XBH (60 HR), 125 RBI
Defense: 1,072.0 INN, 2 DRS, 11.1 FRM, 21/99 CS
WAR: 7.4
Who else but Raleigh in the No. 1 spot following a 60-homer, 125-RBIs performance that stands as perhaps the greatest offensive season ever at the catcher position? The fact that he put up those numbers while logging 1,072 innings behind the plate, the third-highest total in baseball, speaks to a rare combination of durability and production. Regression is likely coming, but with three straight 30-homer seasons and a Platinum Glove on his mantle, his gap to the field is massive.
