Impact Prospect Rankings: Catchers

I began the year at RotoGraphs by producing a semi-regularly-updated Top 25 prospects list. For the second half of the year and into the offseason, I’ll be rotating expanded Top 10, 12 or 15 lists (on a far more regular basis) by position: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF/RF, CF, RHSP (tier 1), RHSP (tier 2), LHSP. Whether you play traditional formats of fantasy baseball or dynasty/keeper styles (or you’re just a prospect nut like me), you’ll surely find these lists indispensable.

#1 Blake Swihart | Red Sox | ETA: 2015 (C)

July 28 Notes: The 26th selection from the 2011 amateur draft, Swihart’s offense has gotten  stronger with each passing season. His gap power has started to manifest itself in more over-the-fence pop and he’s continued to hit for average. The Red Sox appear set for the future with both Swihart, 22, and defensive whiz Christian Vazquez, 23, behind the dish.

#2 Kevin Plawecki | Mets | ETA: 2015 (C)

July 28 Notes: Plawecki is knocking on the door of a big league promotion after less than three seasons in professional baseball. Originally selected 35th overall out of Purdue University in 2012, the young backstop has improved his defense behind the plate while also showing a solid stick thanks to a great contact rate and gap power. Travis d’Arnaud currently has the title of ‘Catcher of the Future’ for the Mets but his offensive inconsistencies could open the door for Plawecki to come stomping on through.

#3 Austin Hedges | Padres | ETA: 2015 (C)

July 28 Notes: When the 2014 season began, I had Hedges ranked as the No. 1 catching prospect in baseball — and the 34th overall best prospect. Fast-forward four months and he now sits third in the catcher ranking. We know defence will always be Hedges’ calling card and offence with come a distant second but a .280 on-base percentage in Double-A is more than a little underwhelming. Add in the fact that his modest power has regressed and you have to be concerned.

#4 Chance Sisco | Orioles | ETA: 2017 (C/DH)

July 28 Notes: Former No. 1 pick Matt Wieters no longer appears to be ‘the catcher of the future’ in Baltimore and it’s quite possible that he’ll leave Baltimore once he’s eligible for free agency. The most intriguing in-house option is Sisco. The young catcher has hit extremely well in his first taste of full season ball and boasts a triple-slash line of .347/.410/.459 in 83 games. The left-handed hitting teenager is loaded with offensive potential but his defense needs a lot of polish.

#5 Max Pentecost | Blue Jays | ETA: 2017 (C/DH)

July 28 Notes: The Toronto Blue Jays enjoyed two first round draft picks in 2014 and nabbed perhaps the best catcher available in the class with the 11th overall selection. Since turning pro, Pentecost has shown a strong offensive game, albeit in short-season-ball leagues. Look for him to jump on the fast track in 2015 and quite possibly open the year in High-A ball.

#6 Jorge Alfaro | Rangers | ETA: 2016 (C)

July 28 Notes: Alfaro has his share of promoters on the prospect evaluation landscape but both his offensive and defensive games need polish. The most intriguing facet of the 21-year-old Colombia native is his raw power, which comes with high strikeout rates and low walk rates. If he develops as hoped, though, he could be a special player.

#7 Christian Bethancourt | Braves | ETA: 2014 (C)

July 28 Notes: Bethancourt is similar to Hedges as a plus defender with a questionable bat. The 22-year-old backstop has spent some time in the Majors over the past two seasons and he may have to eventually settle into a back-up role in deference to the offensive-minded Evan Gattis — assuming the Panama native remains in the organization.

#8 Andrew Susac | Giants | ETA: 2015 (C)

July 28 Notes: Susac is not in the most enviable position. A solid catching prospect, he’s stuck behind big league star Buster Posey. The organization is understandably fond of the backstop prospect so they haven’t been swayed to part with him in a deal just yet but it may only be a matter of time; his bat is too intriguing to be stuck in a back-up role.

#9 Gary Sanchez | Yankees | ETA: 2016 (C)

July 28 Notes: Sanchez, 21, was once considered the top catching prospect in baseball but his star no longer shines as brightly and the long-term contract bestowed upon Brian McCann certainly creates a significant roadblock. The young Dominican catcher may now be most valuable to the Yankees as trade fodder. He continues to tease talent evaluators with flashes of a potentially above-average bat.

#10 A.J. Jimenez | Blue Jays | ETA: 2015 (C)

July 28 Notes: It hasn’t been an easy road through the minor leagues for Jimenez, who is in his seventh pro season and missed a significant portion of the 2012 season after an elbow injury that required reconstructive surgery. Now 24, the Puerto Rico native shows flashes of holding his own at the plate while playing above-average defense behind it.