There isn’t a scarcity of choices when assessing MLB’s prime catchers in 2024. There are just a few younger catchers who had breakout seasons in 2023, enabling them to be thought of among the many finest catchers in 2024.
Which means the catching hierarchy within the huge leagues is as sturdy proper now because it’s been in a number of years.
10 Greatest MLB Catchers in 2024
In fact, an awesome season in 2023 doesn’t essentially imply a participant can even be among the many prime catchers in 2024. It’s additionally vital to challenge how a participant will carry out this season.
Nicely, we took an in depth have a look at the entire candidates and the way issues search for them heading into the upcoming season and created a listing of MLB’s 10 finest catchers for 2024.
10. Cal Raleigh
There is likely to be no higher power-hitting catcher in baseball proper now than Cal Raleigh. He smashed 27 homers in 2022, solely to prime that with 30 lengthy balls in 2023.
Granted, he’s not essentially essentially the most well-rounded catcher in baseball. However any catcher with the potential to hit 30 house runs is a big asset.
9. Salvador Perez
Age continues to be only a quantity for Salvador Perez. The 33-year-old nonetheless isn’t slowing down after greater than a decade within the huge leagues. He made the All-Star Staff for the eighth time in 2023 and hit over 20 house runs for the seventh straight full season.
Whereas Perez spent a while at first base and as a DH final season, he nonetheless began greater than half of Kansas Metropolis’s video games behind the plate and nonetheless excels defensively.
8. Willson Contreras
Final season, Willson Contreras had the inconceivable job of being Yadier Molina’s alternative in St. Louis.
Regardless of briefly dropping his job as the first catcher, Contreras did a greater than admirable job of filling Molina’s footwear. Shifting ahead, there are issues about each his age and the way keen the St. Louis pitching employees will likely be to throw to him. Nevertheless, the older Contreras brother continues to be among the many most efficient catchers in baseball.
7. Gabriel Moreno
It took the Diamondbacks attending to the World Sequence for the typical fan to be taught who Gabriel Moreno is, however it’s protected to say he’s on everybody’s radar heading into 2024.
Moreno hit simply seven house runs through the common season however then contributed 4 through the playoffs, as he shined on the massive stage. Energy will not be his recreation, however Moreno is a .290 hitter early in his profession. He additionally gained a Gold Glove in his first full season within the huge leagues. As a 24-year-old, Moreno nonetheless has room for enchancment and figures to change into among the best two-way catchers within the recreation.
6. Jonah Heim
Because the catcher for the reigning champions, Jonah Heim is very regarded heading into 2024.
Bear in mind he was additionally an all-star, Gold Glove winner, and All-MLB Second-Staff choice final season. However, his monitor document earlier than final season was unimpressive, so we’re not fully bought on final season being an indication of issues to come back. Nevertheless, Heim deserves to be within the dialog among the many prime catchers in baseball.
5. William Contreras
Being traded to the Brewers labored out nice for William Contreras. His numbers dipped just a little from what he did as a backup for the Braves in 2022 when he was named an all-star.
However Contreras proved indubitably that he can excel as an on a regular basis catcher. He’s additionally one of many youngest catchers on our top-10 listing, so there may be nonetheless loads of room for Contreras to get higher.
4. J.T. Realmuto
When all is claimed and accomplished, J.T. Realmuto is prone to be among the many greatest catchers in MLB history. Nevertheless, we’re beginning to see just a little decline from him, so he will not be the highest catcher within the majors anymore.
Realmuto will likely be 33 through the 2024 season and has completed with an OPS underneath .800 twice within the final three years. He’s nonetheless among the many finest round; he’s simply not head and shoulders forward of the pack anymore.
3. Sean Murphy
The Braves took just a little little bit of a threat once they traded for Sean Murphy final offseason, however that transfer paid off effectively for them. Murphy grew to become an all-star for the primary time in 2023, including to his resume, which features a Gold Glove in 2021.
With an OPS of .843, 21 homers, and 21 doubles, Murphy was among the best offensive catchers final season. Given the entire assist round him in Atlanta’s lineup, there’s no motive to suppose he gained’t have one other sturdy marketing campaign in 2024.
2. Will Smith
For the final a number of years, Will Smith has been among the many finest catchers within the huge leagues. He was a Second-Staff All-MLB choice in 2022 and took one other step ahead final season by making the All-Star Staff for the primary time.
Smith’s offensive numbers fell off just a little in 2023, however he remained a key cog for the Dodgers. He stays within the prime of his profession in 2024, so we’re anticipating Smith to proceed to be an elite backstop.
1. Adley Rutschman
It occurred slightly rapidly, however Adley Rutschman has surpassed Realmuto as the most effective catcher in MLB. He’s been a remarkably constant hitter since making his debut in Could 2022, residing as much as the hype as the primary total decide within the 2019 draft.
This previous season, Rutschman grew to become an all-star for the primary time and was a First-Staff All-MLB choice, to not point out a Silver Slugger winner. Extra importantly, he was an enormous motive why the Orioles bought again to the playoffs in 2023. Rutschman is just now about to enter his prime years, so there may be little doubt he’ll be the most effective catcher in baseball this yr.
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