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Although overlooked, the catcher position is one of the most important on the diamond. These players not only guide pitchers on what to throw but are responsible for protecting home plate from would-be baserunners. Catchers need to have heightened game sense to command the defense and quick reflexes to throw out base stealers or swipe tags at home. Enlisting the following players will help solidify your defense and help you win ballgames.
11 Cal Raleigh - 80
The Seattle Mariners have been the ones to watch for a while, and fans can thank Cal Raleigh for part of it. With 23, the 26-year-old catcher is entering his second season as the starting catcher.
Raleigh is an exceptional fielder behind the plate (90), capable of securing bunts or soft hits. His arm strength (79), blocking (73), and accuracy (68) are somewhat lacking, but Raleigh makes up for it with a fast reaction time (90). Being a switch-hitting power hitter gives Raleigh an advantage on offense and excels in pinch-hitting situations.
10 William Contreras - 80
In the 2022 offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired All-Star catcher William Contreras from the Atlanta Braves in a three-team deal. Contreras was one of the best prospects in Atlanta’s system and his potential was only being realized with a breakout season in 2022. Now, the 25-year-old will be a focal point in Milwaukee.
From a defensive standpoint, there are better options than Contreras. He has extremely low ratings in fielding (46), arm strength (69), accuracy (49), reaction (47), and blocking (49). Contreras’s value comes from the offensive side with high marks against left-handers (94 contact hitting) and decent marks against right-handers (80 power hitting).
9 Tyler Stephenson - 81
Surprisingly (or maybe not for Reds fans), Tyler Stephenson is the highest-rated player on the Cincinnati Reds. In just his third full season with the Reds, Stephenson established himself as a building block for this young team as it transitions from long-time great Joey Votto.
Stephenson doesn’t boost the greatest defensive ratings, the highest being his arm strength (78), but he does have an exceptional eye at the plate. He’s coming off an outstanding .319 batting average and is one of the best all-around contact hitters (87 right, 88 left) among catchers.
8 Sean Murphy - 81
Acquired by the Atlanta Braves in the 2022 offseason, Sean Murphy spent the first four years of his career with the Oakland A’s. Although the A’s failed to make the postseason in the last two seasons, Murphy still entrenched himself as a top catcher in the league.
Murphy manages to get by at the plate with subpar contact and power ratings but he has a cannon for an arm behind the plate. His arm strength (90) is Murphy’s highest attribute and allows him to excel at throwing base stealers out, while also having adequate marks in fielding (75), reaction (76), accuracy (70), and blocking (70).
7 Salvador Perez - 83
After spending the entirety of his 11-year career with the Kansas City Royals, it’s only fitting that Salvador Perez is the highest-rated player on the team. Or maybe having a 32-year-old catcher be the highest-rated player on the team doesn’t bode with for that team’s success?
Nonetheless, Perez has an accurate arm (85) but struggles mightily in other defensive categories. His seven All-Star selections have mostly been a result of his offensive projection. Perez is a massive power hitter (82 right, 92 left) who excels at hitting fastballs and pitches outside of the strike zone.
6 Travis d’Arnaud - 83
Having quality depth at any position is important but teams with more options at the catcher spot might prove more dividends than anywhere else. With the physical toll catchers experience each game, the Atlanta Braves bolstered the position by adding Sean Murphy behind incumbent starter Travis d’Arnaud.
Coming off his first All-Star selection, d’Arnaud is one of the star players in the Atlanta Braves. The 34-year-old makes an impact defensively and offensively with decent ratings in fielding (82), reaction time (82), arm strength (72), contact against left-handers (88), and clutch performance (80).
5 Willson Contreras - 83
It’s a new era behind the plate for the St. Louis Cardinals. For 19 years, Yadier Molina led the Cardinals and entrenched himself as the leader of the team. But with his retirement after the 2022 season, Willson Contreras tried to fill in the void he left behind.
The Cardinals signed the All-Star free agent to a massive five-year contract from the division rival Chicago Cubs in the offseason. The 30-year-old has a big arm (89) that helps him throw out many base stealers. At the plate, Contreras feasts on fastballs and left-handed pitching (90 power).
4 Adley Rutschman - 84
There hasn’t been much to cheer for when it comes to the Baltimore Orioles. In the six seasons before 2023, the Orioles have finished in last or second to last place in the American League East. Baltimore is once again projected to finish near the bottom of the division but now has a young promising catcher in Adley Rutschman to rally around.
In his rookie season, Rutschman had a .254 batting average with 13 home runs and 42 RBI. He excels at hitting fastballs and doesn’t strike out often with a high discipline rating (95). Rutschman is also an excellent defensive player (93), throwing out 11 base stealers last season behind his strong arm (90) and reaction time (94).
3 Alejandro Kirk - 86
Alejandro Kirk has already established himself as the best catcher in the American League. He’s part of a blossoming core of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Kirk is an all-around hitter, using his high contact marks against right-handers (78) and left-handers (80) to smack the ball anywhere on the field. He has great vision at the plate (92) and remains focused when he’s down in the count. Behind the plate, Kirk is an amazing defender (92) with high reaction time (91) but has below-average marks in arm strength (64) and accuracy (61).
2 Will Smith - 88
Year after year, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in contention for a World Series championship, and a part of it is because of their ability to develop players. Will Smith made his major league debut in 2019 but didn’t become the full-time catcher until 2021. The careful development in his early career has elevated him to the top of his position.
Unlike other catchers, Smith doesn’t have an extremely high category; the highest mark he has is in durability (84). But the majority of Smith’s attributes are slightly above-average, making him a well-rounded player on the field.
1 J.T. Realmuto - 90
The best catcher in MLB The Show 23 resides in the City of Brotherly Love. After joining the Philadelphia Phillies via trade in 2019, J.T. Realmuto signed a huge contract extension and went to work cementing himself as the best in the business.
He was named to his third All-Star game in 2021 and was a major factor in the Phillies reaching the World Series in 2022. Behind the plate, Realmuto has incredible arm strength (95) and accuracy (97) with decent marks in fielding (80), reaction time (80), and blocking (80). The 32-year-old isn’t an outstanding hitter but he can make contact against right-handers (74) and left-handers (74).