Dodgers, Padres And Orioles Have Rich Abundance Of Young Catchers

GLENDALE, AZ — Getting an all-star caliber catcher is one of the toughest priorities to fill for a Major League Baseball team. It requires a player with a unique combination of skills that often erode quickly due to the rugged nature of the position.

To have two highly regarded catchers ready to play at the top level at the same approximate time is even more rare. The Los Angeles Dodgers may soon have three.

Will Smith, a first-round pick in 2016, was a National League All-Star in 2023 and is the established starter. Dalton Rushing, a second-round choice in 2022, is ranked as the sixth-best backstop product by MLB Pipeline in 2024; Diego Cartaya, signed for $2.5 million as a Venezuelan teenager in 2018, is ranked No. 10.

Rushing signed for $1,956,890 and opened his pro career by belting 8 homers in 28 games with a .424 average at Rancho Cucamonga in 2022. Last year, he hit 15 homers in 89 games for the Class A Great Lakes Loons. His progress was derailed by a concussion when hit in the head by a bat on an opponent’s backswing.

Did I mention the rigors and accompanying attrition playing behind the plate?

Rushing, 23, is now healthy and the powerful lefty slugger is playing some at first base. His strong right arm and agility still make him a prospective catcher, though he is very inexperienced at calling a game. In college, he played more at first base at Louisville before catcher Henry Davis was picked No. 1 overall and given a $6.5 million signing bonus by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021.

Cartaya, 22, has been compared to Kansas City Royals perennial all-star Salvador Perez. He showed power in 2021 and 2022 across 126 games by slugging for a total of 32 homers and 103 RBI in 476 at-bats. He regressed in 2023, batting .189 in 93 games at Double-A Tulsa. He did have 19 homers but his swing got way too long as he tried to pull everything out of the park. His on-base percentage dropped from a nice .389 to pitiful .278.

The 6-foot-3 receiver did improve behind the plate. He projects as a slightly above average defender with excellent leadership skills and good pitch framing. His calling card is offense, however, and he must make more consistent contact. The power will naturally be there.

San Diego’s Two Young Backstops

Luis Campusano projects as San Diego’s starting catcher in 2024. He hit .319 with 7 homers in 49 games after being called up last season. He’s good.

Ethan Salas may be better. Signed for $5.6 million 13 months ago at age 16 out of Venezuela, Salas is the top catching prospect in the game and No. 8 overall on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100.

His defense is far advanced for a now 17-year-old. Scouts rave about all aspects of his game: receiving, throwing, blocking pitches in the dirt and taking command of a game. At bat, he shows a smooth, powerful left-handed swing from an athletic 6-foot-2 frame. He went directly to Class A ball last summer and had 9 homers and 41 RBI in 66 games.

That’s good, but doesn’t yet approach Campusano’s numbers in 387 games in the minors. The muscular 5-foot-11 catcher hit for a .300 average with 85 doubles, 52 homers and 256 RBI.

Signed for $1.3 million as a 2017 draft pick, he hit an-opposite field homer in his first MLB game four years later. He has a great arm and continues to improve all aspects defensively. His offense, however, can make him a fantasy league fan favorite – and eventually a very rich ballplayer.

Baltimore’s Best Backstops

Adley Rutschman made the American League All-Star team in 2023 in his second MLB season. The switch-hitter checks all the boxes offensively and defensively. He got $8.1 million as the top overall pick in 2019 and the Orioles would be wise to make him much richer by signing him to a long-term deal before he becomes eligible for contract arbitration in 2025.

On the Orioles’ horizon is Samuel Basallo, signed for $1.3 million at age 16 from the Dominican Republic. Now 19, he has hit .291 with good power from the left side. Scouts forecast the 6-foot-3 slugger to get more powerful and maybe moved to first base or possibly right field, given his strong throwing arm.

For now, he’s still a catcher developing his defense. The team’s decision ultimately will be driven by Basallo’s progress behind the plate – or perhaps an overwhelming offensive output that warrants him becoming the multi-tooled Rutschman’s teammate at another position in Baltimore.

Cleveland’s Conundrum

Cleveland had two nice catching prospects in 2021. The organization loved Bo Naylor for his agility, power and defense so much to have made him a first-round pick and pay him a $2,578,137 signing bonus in 2019. They were intrigued enough with Yainer Diaz’s batting skills to have signed him for $25,000 at age 18 in 2016.

In 2021, Naylor struggled to hit .189 at Double-A Akron, though played strong defense. Diaz had hit over .300 at every level and was batting .314 with 50 RBI in 61 games at Class A Lynchburg when the parent club was presented with a decision.

Cleveland decided to deal Diaz and veteran reliever Phil Maton to Houston for outfielder Myles Straw. When Naylor hit 21 homrers and stole 20 bases in the minors in 2022 along with good defense, it appeared the decision was sound.

Meanwhile, Diaz batted .306 with 25 homers, 96 RBI in the Astros’ farm system. Houston called him up and he hit .282 with 23 homers last year. Naylor split time between Triple-A Columbus and Cleveland, totalling 24 homers and 80 RBI.

Guardians fans lament losing Diaz, since Straw has been abysmal at the plate. Cleveland still looks strong at catcher, however. The future for both catchers should be inyteresting.

San Diego Sent A Good One To Cleveland

In December 1989, the Padres had two catchers with exemplary skills. Benito Santiago was a 24-year-old all-star who played great defense, hit and ran. In the farm system, 23-year-old Sandy Alomar Jr., hit 306 with 101 RBI and also played great defense.

San Diego kept Santiago, who had been the NL Rookie of the Year in 1987, and dealt Alomar to Cleveland, where he became the 1990 AL Rookie of the Year.

Santiago played 20 years and batted .263 with 920 RBI over 1,978 games. He won three gold gloves and was a five-time all-star. Alomar hit .273 with 588 RBI over 20 seasons and 1,377 games and was a six-time all-star.

Let’s see if these exciting young catchers of today can match or exceed them.