A few of the key positions have seen quite a bit of turnover within the National League East, but catcher is not one of them. All five teams expect to begin the year with the same starting backstop that finished last season in that exact role.

Let’s take a look at the five catchers and how they rank amongst each other going into the 2024 season.

Sep 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Tanner Scott (66) and catcher Nick Fortes (4) shake hands after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Miami won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 – Nick Fortes, MIA 

For each of the last two seasons, the expectation was Jacob Stallings would be the starting catcher for the Marlins. He did not perform, and as a result, Nick Fortes found himself in an expanded role. The former fourth-round draft pick struggled with his bat for large stretches of the 2023 campaign, slashing .204/.263/.299/.562 with six home runs and 26 runs batted in across 108 games.

That did not come as a surprise, as Fortes is a .220 hitter for his career, so he has yet to take a step forward in that area of his game. With Stallings now a member of the Colorado Rockies, he will get another chance to prove that he can be the Marlins starting catcher. If not, the team can go to the former Tampa Bay Ray Christian Bethancourt, who the team acquired via trade back in December.

Jul 7, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) throws to first base on a ground out by San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 – Francisco Álvarez, NYM

The gap between No. 3 and No. 4 on this list is slim, so a case can be made for either player to go ahead of one another. I have decided to go with Francisco Álvarez at No. 4, given his limited sample size at the big league level. The Mets prospect had an up-and-down year in 2023, slashing .209/.284/.437/.721 with 25 home runs, 63 runs batted in, and a 95 OPS+ in 423 plate appearances.

Álvarez’s power is one of his best traits, but with that comes a lot of strikeouts at this stage of his career. He had a 26% strikeout rate last season, which appears to be his biggest weakness. To his credit, Álvarez has improved as a defender behind the plate. But in order to become one of the best catchers in baseball, he will need to become a little more balanced offensively.

Oct 1, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Washington Nationals designated hitter Keibert Ruiz (20) hits a ground-rule double to drive in two runs against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 – Keibert Ruiz, WSH

Keibert Ruiz was once the top prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, but since being traded to the Washington Nationals in the summer of 2021, he has underperformed given his high expectations. Ruiz appeared in a career-high 136 last season, slashing .260/.308/.409/.717 with 18 home runs and 67 runs batted in. Those numbers are solid, especially for a player in his age-24 season, but when you consider that he was the big piece in a return for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, fans are always going to want more.

If the Nationals are going to take a step forward in 2024, Ruiz will need to give his team a little more offensively. His defense is okay, but can improve as well. Ruiz lands a spot ahead of Álvarez because of his larger sample size and his overall numbers at the plate.

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No. 2 – J.T. Realmuto, PHI

J.T. Realmuto has been the premiere catcher in the National League for the better part of the last six years, but the wear and tear on his body is beginning to show just a little bit. The 32-year-old has done a remarkable amount of catching over the last eight years, playing in 125 games or more in eight consecutive full seasons (excluding the 60-game season in 2020). But Realmuto had maybe his worst year with the Philadelphia Phillies, slashing .252/.310/.452/.762 with 20 home runs and 63 runs batted in across 489 at-bats.

He is still a very good catcher, both offensively and defensively, but if we are simply looking at 2024, it is difficult to predict how this season will go. Players at the catcher’s position typically begin to slow down around Realmuto’s age, so how will he cope with that? The Phillies need him to be a big-time performer at the plate in order to reach their goals, so staying healthy will be key. But at the moment, he is the second-best catcher in the division.

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No. 1 – Sean Murphy, ATL

Sean Murphy joined the Atlanta Braves as a catcher who was best known for his defense, but the 2023 season showed that he can do some damage at the plate as well. He was a first-time All-Star last season, slashing .251/.365/.478/.844 with 21 home runs, 68 runs batted in and 42 extra-base hits in 370 plate appearances. Murphy slowed down as the season progressed, but the Braves didn’t suffer too much because they had Travis d’Arnaud as an alternative to the former Oakland Athletic.

The Braves backstop has not performed at this level for as long as Realmuto, but the difference in age plays a big role. Murphy is just 29-years-old, so he is at a point in his career where he should be healthy. It is important to note that d’Arnaud can step in behind the plate, so there will be days when Murphy can be the team’s designated hitter. Realmuto does not have that same luxury with the Phillies, so anytime he is in the lineup, he will also be catching. So right now, I give the slight edge to Murphy going into 2024.

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