The 15 Best Catchers In baseball
Top Catchers In Major League Baseball
In the past few years we have seen a lot of good catchers retire, in guys like Jason Varitek, Jorge Posada and possibly the best defensive catcher of all time, Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez.
All three of them have retired in the last three seasons. Those three men were the class of catchers for a decade and now they are all gone.
But the catching position has possibly grown stronger as a whole, with young guys like Buster Posey, Matt Weiters and J.P. Arencibia, and veterans like Yadier Molina, A.J. Peirzynski and Joe Mauer.
The catching position is young and strong. This is possibly the best crop of catchers that there has been for decades.
To be a big league catcher now you have to be able to hit. It is no longer a strictly defensive position. Mauer has led the league in batting average multiple times, Weiters and Arencibia were called up very young for their power when hitting and Posey won the National League MVP last year. And it wasn’t for his defense.
Molina is the guy I have mentioned that is here because of his defense. Like Rodriguez it can be argued that Molina is the best defensive catcher of all time. The entire Molina family is amazing defensively.
But even Molina hits well. He is the leader of the St. Louis Cardinals offensively. He has taken a huge part of the production that was left by Albert Pujols a couple of seasons ago.
The crop of catchers in the majors right now is definitely one of the best baseball as a whole has ever seen.
#13 Jesus Montero
The Seattle Mariners paid a large price for Jesus Montero two seasons ago when they traded Michael Pineda for him. Montero played well last year, but not as well as the Mariners were expecting.
With the fences coming in at Safeco Field we will see if Montero can be the power hitter the Mariners need him to be.
#9 Miguel Montero
After being in the majors for a few years with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Miguel Montero finally broke out two seasons ago. He did play very well last year, but not up to the level from 2011.
I doubt Montero can continue to play 140 games per season, especially in the heat of Arizona. But he will still be very good.
#7 Joe Mauer
Joe Mauer would have been number one on this list a few seasons ago. Back while he was playing in the Metrodome, but Target Field has had a big effect on his numbers.
Mauer is definitely going to be moved to first base within a year or two so the Minnesota Twins can protect their hometown kid.
#3 Russel Martin
Russel Martin has been very good for the New York Yankees over the last few seasons. I can see his move into Pittsburgh this year going one of two ways.
Either taking the pressure of playing in New York off will allow him to play much better than he has or not having the pressure to succeed might make Martin relax and fall off a bit.
#2 Buster Posey
What, Buster Posey isn't number one? Not in my book. Now don't get me wrong Posey is definitely the best offensive catcher in the league and definitely deserved his MVP last season.
There is one man who is so far ahead defensively, though, that I couldn't let Posey be number one.
#1 Yadier Molina
Yadier Molina is number one for me.
His defense is so far ahead of anyone else in the league that even if he struck out every single at bat I would still have him in my top 10. But he is no longer an offensive problem for the St. Louis Cardinals, he is one of their best hitters.
Many people may question my choice to put Molina at number one instead of Posey, but to me there is no competition.