There is no shortage of options when evaluating the best MLB catchers in 2024. There are a few young catchers who enjoyed breakout seasons in 2023, enabling them to be considered among the best catchers in 2024.
This means that the major league catching hierarchy is as strong now as it has been for several years.
Top 10 MLB Players of 2024
Of course, a great season in 2023 does not necessarily mean that the player will also be among the best in 2024. It is also important to predict how the player will perform this season.
Well, we've taken a closer look at all the candidates and what things look like for them heading into next season and created a list of the top 10 MLB players for 2024.
10. Cal Rally
There may not be a better catcher in baseball right now than Cal Raleigh. He smashed 27 goals in 2022, topping that with 30 long balls in 2023.
He's certainly not necessarily the best player in baseball. But any catcher with the ability to hit 30 home runs is a huge asset.
9. Salvador Perez
Age is still just a number for Salvador Perez. The 33-year-old still isn't slowing down after more than a decade in the major leagues. He made the All-Star team for the eighth time in 2023 and hit 20-plus home runs for the seventh straight full season.
While Perez spent some time at first base and as a DH last season, he still started more than half of Kansas City's games behind the plate and still excelled defensively.
8. Wilson Contreras
Last season, Wilson Contreras faced the impossible task of being Yadier Molina's replacement in St. Louis.
Despite briefly losing his job as the starting catcher, Contreras has done a more than admirable job of filling Molina's shoes. Moving forward, there are concerns about his age and how willing the St. Louis staff is to sign him. However, the older Contreras brother is still among the most productive players in baseball.
7. Gabriel Moreno
It took the Diamondbacks' run to the World Series for the average fan to know who Gabriel Moreno is, but it's safe to say he's on everyone's radar heading into 2024.
Moreno hit just seven home runs during the regular season, but then contributed four during the playoffs, where he shined on the big stage. Power may not be his game, but Moreno is a .290 hitter early in his career. He also won a Gold Glove in his first full season in the major leagues. As a 24-year-old, Moreno still has room for improvement and the numbers to become one of the best two-way players in the game.
6. Jonah Heim
As a current champion catcher, Jonah Heim is highly regarded heading into 2024.
Keep in mind, he was also an All-Star, Gold Glove winner, and All-MLB Second Team selection last season. On the other hand, his track record before last season was mediocre, so we're not entirely convinced that last season was a sign of things to come. However, Heim deserves to be among the best players in baseball.
5. William Contreras
Being traded to the Brewers has been a great one for William Contreras. His numbers are down a bit from what he did as a backup for the Braves in 2022 when he was named an All-Star.
But Contreras has proven without a doubt that he can excel as an everyday angler. He's also one of the youngest players on our top 10 list, so there's still plenty of room for Contreras to improve.
4. GT Realmuto
When all is said and done, JT Realmuto is likely among the greatest players in MLB history. However, we are starting to see a slight regression from him, so he may not be the best catcher in the major leagues anymore.
Realmuto will be 33 years old during the 2024 season and has finished with an OPS below .800 twice in the past three years. It's still among the best. He's not ahead of the herd anymore.
3. Sean Murphy
The Braves took some risks when they traded for Sean Murphy last offseason, but the move paid off well for them. Murphy became a star for the first time in 2023, adding to his resume that includes a Gold Glove in 2021.
With an OPS of .843, 21 homers, and 21 doubles, Murphy was one of the top offensive linemen last season. Given all the help from those around him in Atlanta's lineup, there's no reason to believe he won't have another strong campaign in 2024.
2. Will Smith
Over the past several years, Will Smith has been among the best players in the major leagues. He was named to the MLB Second Team in 2022 and took another step forward last season by making his first All-Star team.
Smith's offensive numbers dipped a bit in 2023, but he remains a key piece for the Dodgers. He will still be at the top of his career in 2024, so we expect Smith to continue to be a backup star.
1. Adley Rutschman
It happened very quickly, but Adley Rutschman has surpassed Realmuto as the best catcher in MLB. He's been a remarkably consistent hitter since his debut in May 2022, living up to the hype as the first overall pick in the 2019 draft.
Last season, Rutschman became an All-Star for the first time and was a first-team all-MLB selection, not to mention a Silver Slugger winner. More importantly, he was a big reason the Orioles returned to the playoffs in 2023. Rutschman is now about to enter his prime years, so there is no doubt that he will be the best player in baseball this year.
