Call to the pen
Fansided

U.S. World Baseball Classic Dream Would Look Like This

By Alan Rubenstein

Aug 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) reacts to a strike in the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.Los Angeles Angels won 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) reacts to a strike in the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.Los Angeles Angels won 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 10
Next

Catchers

Jun 17, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 17, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

C-Buster Posey/ Jonathan Lucroy

The 2006 and 2013 U.S. teams carried three catchers and the 2009 team had two on their roster. The team will likely carry three, but two are significantly better than anyone else. Buster Posey and Jonathan Lucroy should be those two catchers.

The Giants won the World Series in Posey’s first full season two years after Posey was the fifth overall pick in the 2008 draft. They also won World Series titles in 2012 and ’14. In his eight seasons in the majors, Posey has 114 home runs, 511 RBIs, and .307 career  batting average.

Lucroy had been with Milwaukee since he debuted in 2010. He spent his entire career there until the Brewers traded him to Texas ahead of the August 1 trading deadline this season. He has a .289 career batting average with 89 home runs and 412 RBIs.

Lucroy ranks fourth overall and second among American catchers with an 8.5 defense rating and Posey is one spot behind scoring an 8.2.

There are a few ways the U.S. could go if they decide on a third catcher. Brian McCann seems to be the most frequently mentioned. The best candidate would be the Marlins’ J.T. Realmuto. Realmuto has a 10.1 defensive rating, ranking between Lucroy and Posey. Realmuto is hitting .313 with ten home runs and 41 RBIs this season.

McCann’s batting average has dipped in three of the last four seasons, but his power remains. McCann is hitting .238 with 19 home runs and 55 RBIs in 382 at-bats this season. Among nine qualified catchers, McCann is the only one with a negative number defensively at -1.7.

Evan Gattis is another possibility as the third catcher. He has 32 home runs and 70 RBIs, but just a .249 batting average and a -0.9 defense rating.

Next: First basemen

Home/World Baseball Classic