Phillies: Jorge Alfaro could end 2018 as the best catcher in NL East

The Phils are expecting offensive and defensive improvement from Alfaro this summer. Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images.
The Phils are expecting offensive and defensive improvement from Alfaro this summer. Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images.

By the time the 2018 season is through, Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro could take the title as the National League East’s best catcher.

At this moment, the best catcher in the National League East plays for the Miami Marlins. Backstop J.T. Realmuto is a talented young catcher whose title as the best catcher in the division is easy to claim. He’s up against declining veteran Matt Wieters in Washington, the platoon of Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki in New York, and the forgettable duo of Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki in Atlanta. In Philadelphia, there is some competition. Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro is on the rise.

Over the next 162 games, Alfaro has a chance to claim responsibility away from Realmuto. For this to happen, Realmuto may need to leave the division. He’s on the trade block, but the best match in a trade would keep him in the NL East.

The Washington Nationals are the team rumored to have the most interest in Realmuto. If he goes from the Miami Marlins to the Nationals, Alfaro will have a tougher time moving to the top of the list.

Can Jorge Alfaro do it on his own?

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Jorge Alfaro showed plenty of promise in 2017. Through 114 trips to the plate, the 24-year-old batted .314/.360/.514. Alfaro also showed off some power potential with a respectable five home runs in the limited opportunities.

As the projected starter for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018, Alfaro will have many more chances to climb the rankings. Cameron Rupp should take a backseat to Alfaro as the future Phillies’ catcher grabs tomorrow and brings it into today.

While I do see Alfaro making some incredible strides this upcoming season, it’s tough to imagine he has a better year than Realmuto. Realmuto has been a consistent hitter for several years now. He’s also trying to play his way out of Miami.

League Ranking

Don’t expect the 2018 season to future too many promising stories about catchers. The league is at a point where the position is rather weak. Even outside of the NL East, catching is a shallow position.

Beyond Buster Posey, Gary Sanchez, and other superstar backstops, there is a small patch of catchers in the middle tier. Guys like Yasmani Grandal fall into that category. Jorge Alfaro hasn’t played enough to land anywhere. We can only make assumptions.

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Based on last year’s performance, there’s no reason to doubt Alfaro’s abilities. Even if he has to claim second place in the division, the Phillies can confidently end 2018 knowing they are securer behind the plate than their closest rivals.