With pitchers and catchers for every team less than two weeks away, we look at MLB rankings of various positions for the 2019 season, starting behind the dish.
With Spring Training just a few weeks away it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2019 season and what we expect from certain players at their respective positions and do MLB rankings of the best at each position. Let’s start with the position that handles the baseball the most: the catchers.
Catcher value is hard to determine because they transcend basic metrics and do so much more than just hit and throw runners out. Catchers can accrue value through pitch framing, blocking, and even how they call a game or handle a pitching staff. So without further ado, let’s get into it. Credit for all statistics and numbers used to Fangraphs and Baseball Reference.
10. Francisco Mejia, San Diego Padres
While it’s true that Francisco Mejia isn’t technically in the majors yet, it’s expected that he will debut with the Padres at some point in 2019.
Mejia is currently ranked as the 26th overall prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline and the second-ranked catcher on that list behind only Joey Bart of the Giants.
Between the Cleveland Indians and the Padres AAA affiliates in 2018 Mejia slashed .293/.338/.471, and he profiles as that type of impact bat at the highest level too.
Mejia won’t be a big bopper and profiles more as a doubles hitter but he will still be a high-level bat and his defensive game should translate well enough for him to stick behind the plate.