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Who is the best catcher in baseball?

The catcher position is arguably the toughest in all of baseball, and as a result, there’s plenty of incredible players battling over the No. 1 spot year in, year out. In 2026, there’s a great mix of youth and experience in that battle, and after a history campaign from a top star a year ago, we’re starting to see better offensive production from the position.

While there’s few catchers that will ever fill the mold of a Buster Posey or Yadier Molina, the position has transformed in the past few years, and now, things look very different behind the plate. That doesn’t mean worse, just different, and after plenty of turnover, there’s so many candidates for this incredibly competitive list.

Here is a look at the top 10 catchers rankings list in 2026:

Honorable Mention

Cal Raleigh

Team: Seattle Mariners

Last season, Cal Raleigh had arguably the greatest campaign in Major League Baseball history for a catcher, and while it didn’t end with an MVP, it was fully deserving of one. Following his historic 60 home run campaign, Raleigh has taken a step back as an offensive player in 2026, with just 7 home runs and 18 RBI through his first 35 games played.

Defensively, Raleigh has never been the most dominant player, and with a DWAR of just 0.2, he’s proven to be slightly above average through the Mariners disappointing start to the season. On paper, Raleigh can still be a very good player, and by the end of the 2026 campaign, he’s more likely than not to be on this list, but given the amount of exciting young catchers in the game, he’s been pushed out early in the year.

Top 10 MLB Catchers 2026 Rankings

10. Ryan Jeffers

Team: Minnesota Twins

Ryan Jeffers has been struggling to find his consistent best across six seasons with the Minnesota Twins, but in 2026, he may have finally found his groove behind the plate. With a career high of 21 home runs, Jeffers is well on pace to surpass that mark, with 5 already through his first 29 games played.

On top of that, he’s driven in 22 runs and is hitting .302 on the year, and with better than average defense behind the plate, he’s leading the way for a surging Twins team. At 28-years of age, this season may be the last chance for him to establish himself as a full-time starter in the majors, and if the start of the year is anything to go by, it’s looking good for him.

9. Adley Rutschman

Team: Baltimore Orioles

A few seasons ago, Adley Rutschman was shaping up to be an elite level catcher for a long time to come, but after hitting just .220 a season ago, there were fears he may have already peaked early in his career. In 2026 however, the former top prospect has bounced back in a massive way, hitting .313 on the season with his defense turning a corner as well.

In just 22 games behind the plate, the 28-year old has hit 4 home runs and driven in 20 runs with an OPS of .930, and while it may be early to declare, the Rutschman we came to know may be back. With his return to form, the Orioles may be genuine playoff threats in 2026, but for now, it’s simply good to see Rutschman finally fulfilling potential.

8. William Contreras

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

For a long time, William Contreras has been a stellar offensive performer, with 17 or more home runs hit in each of his last four campaigns, three of which have come with the Milwaukee Brewers. This season, he’s hit just three home runs, but he’s also driven in 23 runs for a red-hot Milwaukee team, with the .286 batting average and .764 OPS a major step up from 2025.

Defensively, Contreras has always been limited, but he’s also been a valuable contributor for this team, especially as a leader and a veteran for the Brewers. At 28-years of age, William already has a great career behind him, but with another hot start coming in 2026, he’s shown very few signs of slowing down.

7. Dillon Dingler

Team: Detroit Tigers

Recently, the Detroit Tigers have added some special young players to their roster, and after a solid rookie campaign last year, 27-year old Dillon Dingler has taken a huge leap early in 2026. In just 113 at bats, Dingler is almost half way to his home run and RBI total of a year ago, with 6 home runs and 26 RBI early in the season setting him up as a huge offensive force for Detroit.

That paired with his OPS of .784 show that he’s quickly adjusted at the Major League level, and with good defense, the Tigers have a key piece of their future locked up. If he continues on this pace, Dingler is a great All-Star candidate in the American League, and while he got a late start to his MLB career, right now, he looks like he could be a success for a long time to come.

6. Hunter Goodman

Team: Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies are a team that allows for massive offensive production given the climate at Coors Field, and while some hitters aren’t consistent elsewhere, the boost it gives is great for those players. It’s unclear if that boost has helped Hunter Goodman more than others, but after a career year in 2025, he has taken huge leaps on both sides of the ball.

While he’s driven in just 15 runs on the year, Goodman has 9 home runs already while posting a fantastic .804 OPS, and right now he’s one of the more consistent players in baseball. The team around him may not have consistent success, but right now, Goodman can turn a game like no other, and by seasons end, he’ll no doubt be considered a top catcher in the sport.

5. Ivan Hererra

Team: St. Louis Cardinals

Ivan Herrera has been fighting for the starting role in St. Louis for years now, and after solidifying his position a year ago, he’s taken his game to new heights in 2026. This year, Herrera has a fantastic OPS of .811, and with 28 walks, 4 home runs and 17 RBI, he’s improving in every facet of the game as the Cardinals look to take a step forward.

At 25-years of age with the experience he already has, Herrera has the potential to be a long-term replacement for Yadier Molina in St. Louis, and already, things are shaping up well. While those are lofty comparisons, those with the Cardinals hope he can be the long-term answer, and through his performances thus far in 2026, there’s no reason to doubt him.

4. Drake Baldwin

Team: Atlanta Braves

Like so many other young catchers in baseball, Drake Baldwin broke out in the past few years, and at 25-years of age, he’s shaping up as the future of not only the Atlanta Braves, but Major League Baseball as a whole. Like most young catchers, that success comes at the plate, and after hitting 19 home runs and driving in 80 runs in his rookie year, the future looks bright.

Through his first 38 games played, Baldwin has 9 home runs and 30 runs driven in, and with an average of .303, he’s tied for first among catchers with 47 hits on the season. With some superstars around him, Baldwin has been able to develop at his own rate, he’s blossoming into one of the best catchers in the league right before our eyes.

3. Liam Hicks

Team: Miami Marlins

Liam Hicks is one of the most underrated players in Major League Baseball, but after a solid rookie campaign of 119 games in 2025, he’s taken a huge leap this year. In 113 plate appearances, Hicks has an OPS of .956 while hitting .319 to go with his 9 home runs and 34 RBI, as he’s become a major driving force for the Miami Marlins offense.

Defensively, Hicks has a DWAR of 0.2, so he’s been slightly above average behind the plate, but at just 26-years of age, the Toronto native is set up for a big career in the coming years. Whether it’s the power, the contact or the defense, Hicks has many tools to lean on, and while it may be early to crown him a top catcher, the production in 2026 can’t be denied.

2. Dalton Rushing

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Last season, very few people outside of LA had heard of Dalton Rushing, but in 2026, he’s been the talk of the baseball world, and not always for the most positive of reasons. Already, the 25-year old has been criticized for the way he’s handled himself on the diamond, but when he gets his opportunities, he’s hit it out of the park.

In just 19 games and 58 at bats, Rushing has hit 7 home runs and 17 RBI, and while he doesn’t qualify for the OPS leaderboard due to a lack of playing time, he has a ridiculous 1.124 mark when he is on the field. Whether you like him or not, Rushing is a star of the future, and even though he’s not the Dodgers No. 1 option, he’s the best they’ve got at the dish.

1. Shea Langeliers

Team: Oakland Athletics

Shea Langeliers burst onto the scene in 2023 as a rookie with the Athletics, and since then, the 28-year old has done nothing but get better and better as the years go by. Last year, Langeliers clubbed a career high 31 home runs, and early in 2026, he’s on pace to shatter that mark, with 11 home runs and 20 runs driven in already this season.

On top of that, he’s got the highest OPS of any catcher in the major leagues with an astonishing 1.031, and with an average of .338, this is shaping up to be a career year. Whether or not the A’s can compete for a playoff spot this year, only time will tell, but given the level of Langeliers play, it’s easy to see why he’s the focal point of the Athletics future.