Our rankings season for the 2025 MLB season continues with the 10 best catchers. The top five for this year looks significantly different, thanks to batting woes from several notable names and the rise of a few young & talented power-hitting catchers. Here’s our top 10, starting with a name who baseball fans got familiar with in the 2024 World Series.
10. Austin Wells
We’ll start with Austin Wells, who sneaks into the top-ten desptie strong cases that can be made for Tyler Stephenson, Kyle Higashioka, and Danny Jansen, among others who just missed out. Wells finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year vote after he hit .229/.322/.396 with 13 home runs, 32 extra-base hits, and the third-best framing runs (12) figure in the Majors, per Statcast.
Wells’ 2024 slash line doesn’t tell the whole story. The 25-year-old got off to a cold start and was platooned with Jose Trevino. However, Wells got the majority of the playing time over the second half and thrived, with a .745 OPS over the second half. He’s got pop and given Wells is a left-handed bat, could be a 20-25 home run hitter with the Yankees at some point.
9. Logan O’Hoppe
Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe had an underrated 2024 campaign, despite a poor second half. O’Hoppe hit 20 home runs last season, tied for sixth among catchers (min. 40% GP at C) and finished ninth in total bases (196). Those were strong numbers for a power-hitting backstop who hit 14 home runs in 51 games two years ago, an injury-shortened campaign.
The 24-year-old still has a lot of room for growth. However, there are some holes in his game. For one. O’Hoppe ranked below-average in blocking and framing, per Statcast, as well as pop time. Another problem for O’Hoppe was that he was ice-cold in the second half, with a .578 OPS that ranked in the bottom 15 of the league. The Angels played him 136 games last season and could see less time behind the plate, with Travis d’Arnaud now in Anaheim.
8. Shea Langeliers
The Athletics haven’t been in the playoff conversation over the last three seasons — but there have been some bright spots. One of those bright spots is Shea Langeliers, arguably the most underrated catcher in the game. Langeliers tied for fifth in home runs (57) among catchers, with now-infielder Willson Contreras. He’s also one of the more efficient catchers, in terms of pop time (1.91s per Statcast, 86th percentile).
Langeliers had arguably his best season in 2024, with 29 home runs, a number that ranked second-most among Athletics hitters. He’s not an efficient framer (-6 Catcher Framing Runs). But, his bat, with above-average bat speed and pop, does provide plenty of value for the Sacramento-bound Athletics.
7. Yainer Diaz
With Martin Maldonado gone, Yainer Diaz became the Astros’ full-time — although, he did spend time at first and as DH — catcher in 2024. It went fine, although Diaz couldn’t replicate his gaudy 2023 numbers. Diaz hit 16 home runs and posted a .766 OPS over 619 PA, down from the 23 homers and .846 OPS he recorded over 377 plate appearances.
Diaz will likely see fewer time at first in 2025, with Christian Walker now at first in Houston. The 26-year-old doesn’t frame well, with a -8 Catcher Framing Runs. However, Diaz blocks well (+4 Blocks Above Average) and has a roughly average arm.
6. J.T. Realmuto
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto was arguably the most unique catcher in baseball, thanks to his plus defensive prowess, as well as his bat and speed. However, 2024 wasn’t kind to Realmuto, who missed a month thanks to knee issues. The 33-year-old still hit 14 home runs and slugged well (.429), although his OPS of .751 was the lowest of his career since 2015 (.696).
Defensively, Realmuto’s defensive performance has declined. Last season, Realmuto posted a -2 Blocks Above Average (BAA) and -3 Catching Framing Runs (CFR). Those numbers are down significantly from 2021, when Realmuto (+8 BAA, +4 CFR) ranked above-average in those metrics.
5. Adley Rutschman
Adley Rutschman — the #1 catcher on our same list from a year ago — would have ranked higher on this list, had the 26-year-old not had such a cold stretch during the second half of 2024. Rutschman posted the 15th-worst OPS (.585) in the league from the All-Star break onward and posted a .282 OBP in that span. He still posted the ninth-most home runs among catcher between 2022-24. However, Rutschman declined in virtually every metric last season, including defensive ones, last year.
The Orioles have been careful with how Rutschman has been deployed, often using him as the DH or at first. Expect that theme to continue in 2025, with Gary Sanchez now in Baltimore. And, Samuel Basallo not too far away from the Majors.
4. Salvador Perez
Salvador Perez‘s bat is his calling card; after all, he is the all-time leader for most home runs in a season by a catcher. The Royals captain stepped up for Kansas City last season, as Perez hit 27 home runs and drove in 104, the second-highest RBI total of his career. He was also a steady presence in Kansas City’s lineup, as Perez played in 158 of 162 contests.
Perez would rank higher on this list had it not been for his defensive metrics. The 34-year-old isn’t a strong blocker (20th percentile) or thrower (17th percentile) behind the plate. However, the Royals used Freddy Fermin a lot as catcher, to keep Perez in the lineup and keep him fresh.
3. Will Smith
It wasn’t a quiet season for Dodgers backstop Will Smith, who hit 20 home runs last year, the third time in four years he blasted 20+. Smith, though, got overshadowed on a deep Dodgers team. That doesn’t change the fact that the 29-year-old has been one of the most productive catchers over the last three seasons. Smith had the fifth-most total bases (645) and third-most home runs (63) from 2022-24.
The 29-year-old isn’t a good framer; he ranked at the bottom (-9) at that metric. However, Smith does a strong job of mowing down runners, as his +11 Caught Stealing Above Average was first in baseball.
2. William Contreras
At this stage, it’s hard to argue the Brewers didn’t get the best of the three-way deal that saw Sean Murphy go from Oakland to Atlanta. The Brewers picked up William Contreras, who’s been arguably the best catcher in the game over the last two seasons. No catcher has more doubles (75) and total bases (524) than Contreras, who finished second in OPS (.828) in that span among backstops, behind only his brother.
Contreras hasn’t become a plus defender behind the dish. Although, he ranked roughly average in all notable metrics last season, a significant improvement from when he was a Brave.
1. Cal Raleigh
No catcher in baseball has more home runs (64) over the last two seasons than Cal Raleigh. Raleigh’s known for clutch hits but in 2024, the “Big Dumper” proved to be Seattle’s best run-producer. The 28-year-old finished 2024 leading the Mariners in home runs (34, 1st among catchers) and RBI (100, 2nd among catchers).
Why Raleigh gets the edge over Contreras is that the former is a better receiver behind the plate. Yes, Raleigh ranked below-average in blocks in 2023-24. However, the 28-year-old is an exceptional framer, a critical asset for arguably the best rotation in baseball. Raleigh’s +13 Catcher Framing Runs was second-best in baseball last year, behind only Patrick Bailey (+16).
Make sure to check out our rankings of the 10 best relievers heading into 2025.