As pitchers and catchers hit Spring Training, check out who the best backstops are and where they play. Undoubtedly the toughest position in baseball, these guys either call great games, supply power or have the best arms behind the plate. Some have all three. Check out the Top 9 catchers in the game today.
9. Joe Mauer
He might not be featured for too long in this position as Mauer is set to become 30 years old at the beginning of the season, but he's still one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. He played 74 games at the position and did a great job fielding posting a .993 percentage.
Whatever Mauer might not do behind the plate, he makes up with his bat as he's almost a guaranted .300 hitter. Last season, he hit 10 homers, drove in 85 runs and hit .319.
8. Carlos Santana
He continues to better his craft and is entering his third season as an everyday catcher for the Cleveland Indians. Though his power was down in 2012, his average went up 13 points as he posted a .252 batting average along with 18 homers and 76 runs batted in.
Santana's defense is up to par as he threw out 25 base runners in 2012.
7. Wilin Rosario
You're probably wondering "Who's this guy?!" Only fantasy gem seekers and the Colorado Rockies might know who this guy is, but surprisingly, he hit more home runs than any other catcher in the majors.
Rosario, who is only 23 years old out of Bonao, Dominan Republic, smacked 28 home runs. He hit 10 on the road and 18 where guided by the thin airs of Coors Field.
His defense is not too bad either posting a .983 fielding percentage and throwing out 30 runners.
6. A.J. Pierzynski
This guy has been doing this for years. He gunned out 27 base stealers while posting a .994 FPCT. Though 35, Pierzynski proved young with the bat posting the best offensive numbers of his career. He hit 27 homers, drove in 77 runs while hitting .278.
This guy is durable and has a high baseball IQ. The Texas Rangers did a great job picking him up. He should be a great fit.
5. Miguel Montero
He can call a game and you can trust your pitching staff with Montero behind the plate. He gunned out 32 runners in 2012 and had a .992 FPCT. Montero can also do it with the bat as he is a great hitting catcher as well.
Montero smacked 15 homers and drove in 88 runs while hitting .286 in 2012. This is the second consecutive season the catcher posts over 15 homers, 80 runs and a batting average in the .280's.
4. Brian McCann
His production is decreasing year after year, but the way McCann can guide any pitching staff is admirable. He is entering his ninth season with the Atlanta Braves and has taken the team to the playoffs two out of the last three seasons.
Long after Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz left Atlanta, McCann has been calling games with young Braves pitchers. McCann can gun out runners throwing out 24 base stealers in 2012. He can still produce with the bat and will be one of the few Braves hitters who doesn't strikeout too often.
McCann has never struck out more than 100 trimes and has five consective seasons hitting at least 20 home runs.
3. Matt Wieters
He finally had the year many expected Wieters to put together. He was a key in getting the Baltimore Orioles into the playoffs and they almost made it to the ALCS. Wieters gunned out 32 base runners, tying him sixth in the league with Montero.
With the bat, Wieters posted career highs in homers, RBI, walks and unfortunately strikeouts as well.
2. Yadier Molina
Arguably the best defensive catcher in the league, the two-time champion, Molina, put together a typical season behind the plate, but accompanied it with a great hear at the plate.
The Molina Bros have always been known for the leather, not the wood. Yadier, however, changed that into a myth. He smacked 22 homers while driving 76 while hitting .315.
Behind the plate, Molina dominated gunning out 35 basestealers and allowing only 38 stolen bases. Nobody wants to run on him, that's true respect right there.
1. Buster Posey
Posey has posted one of the most incredible careers in baseball and this is only going to be his fourth season in the bigs. Now you have to wonder if the San Francisco Giants would have won in 2011. Posey was injured and out for the entire season after a horrific play at the plate.
Posey bounced back and led his Giants to a World Series victory as the swept the Detroit Tigers in four games. Posey only threw out the most runners, 38, and hit 25 homers with 103 RBI and a .336 batting average.
So that's three seasons and two rings for the soon to be 26-year-old.
Posey could easily be considered the face of baseball.
