2. Gary Sanchez – New York Yankees
With the New York Yankees making a huge splash this offseason with their trade for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, all the buzz is how many home runs will Stanton and Aaron Judge hit this coming season. Looked at as the third piece of the puzzle, Gary Sanchez also fits into that mix of power.
Sanchez, 25, burst onto the MLB scene in 2016 as a rookie and promptly, hit 20 home runs in just 53 games. His rookie season tear almost earned him AL Rookie of the Year, but because of his midseason call-up, he finished second behind Detroit Tigers’ pitcher Michael Fulmer.
The Yankees’ catcher had another strong campaign in 2017. He hit .278/.345/.531 with 33 home runs, 90 RBI, 79 runs and a 4.1 bWAR. His performance earned him his first All-Star appearance and his first Silver Slugger award.
And with Judge hitting a massive amount of home runs, a lot of the attention faded from Sanchez in 2017. However, Sanchez led all catchers in home runs, RBI and runs scored.
If there’s any mark against Sanchez, it’s his defense. He allowed 16 passed balls in 2017, and many think that he might transition to first baseman one day because of his defense. But for now, Sanchez remains the Yankees’ catcher and No. 2 on this list.
1. Buster Posey – San Francisco Giants
There’s no questioning who the best catcher in MLB is. Without a doubt, San Francisco Giants’ catcher Buster Posey takes No. 1 on this list. Posey’s only 30 years old, but he is already a lock for the Hall of Fame one day.
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Not only does Posey hold the numbers to make it to Cooperstown but he has the resume to back it up too. In 8 MLB seasons, Posey’s earned the NL Rookie of the Year award, NL MVP, five All-Star nominations, a Gold Glove award, four Silver Sluggers and a batting title. Posey’s also won three World Series with the Giants. His career bWAR sits at 37.5, which ranks 18th best all-time among catchers in MLB history.
Last season, held a slash line of .320/.400/.462 with 12 home runs, 67 RBI, 62 runs and a bWAR of 4.0. Playing at a notorious pitcher’s park in AT&T Park has cost Posey in some stats like home runs and RBI, but that doesn’t hold him back from being the best at his position.
However, with the devastating knee injury he suffered back in 2011, Posey has slowly begun to play more at first base. That might become a permanent move sooner rather than later, but for now, Posey remains a catcher and the best one in MLB.
Next: Landing spots for Yu Darvish
Agree or disagree with these rankings? Let us know what your top 10 MLB catchers are in the comment section below.