6. Yasmani Grandal – Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers possess a lot of players that’ll make it onto these MLB top 10 lists. And that is one of the main reasons why we saw them make the Fall Classic in 2017. Dodgers’ catcher Yasmani Grandal comes in at No. 6 on this list.
Last season, Grandal hit .247/.308/.459 with 22 home runs, 58 RBI, 50 runs and a 2.2 bWAR. As a left-handed hitting catcher, Grandal mostly plays when a right-handed pitcher is on the mound.
Among MLB catchers in 2017, Grandal ranked fourth in home runs, and he tied for third in doubles with 27. He provides a lot of power for the Dodgers’ offense. However, his average lacks. If Grandal can combine his power with an increased average, he could find himself even higher on this list next season.
5. Salvador Perez – Kansas City Royals
Well known for his defensive skills behind the plate, Kansas City Royals’ catcher Salvador Perez had one of the best offensive seasons of his career. With the Royals losing a majority of their star players after 2017, Perez carries on as the face of the franchise.
With a strong 2017 season, Perez made his fifth straight All-Star game appearance. His stats included a slash line of .268/.297/.495 with 27 home runs, 80 RBI, 57 runs and a 2.5 bWAR. He saw career highs in home runs, RBI and runs scored.
However, the only downside of 2017 was Perez seeing his four-year streak of winning the Gold Glove award snapped when Los Angeles Angels’ catcher Martin Maldonado earned the honors in 2017.
Perez, 27, has just entered the prime of his career. Look for the Royals’ catcher to starting performing even better over the next coming years.