Catchers are a unique lot. They need to be intelligent and handle pitchers well. They tend to be bigger and bulkier than other fielders, so they rarely are the fastest players. They also see the most on-field action, so they can get injured more often.
But the best defensive catchers in Major League Baseball are not always the best overall catchers. When we rank them by career fielding percentage — total putouts and assists divided by total number of putouts, assists and errors — Hall of Famers, World Series stars and household names sometimes miss the cut.
The top defensive backstops (with a minimum of 500 major league games) have a Latin flavor. Some hail from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba and other Spanish-speaking countries. And talk about good genes. Guess which three brothers all rank among the game’s premiere defensive stalwarts?
These are the best defensive catchers in baseball history, ranked by fielding percentage. You might be surprised who’s missing.
Note: All stats are from Baseball Reference through May 9, 2019.
25. Yorvit Torrealba
Yorvit Torrealba, left, made 5,451 putouts in his 13-year career. Tim Sharp / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9939
Teams: San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers
Years in MLB: 13 (2001-13)
Bottom line: This Venezuelan native was a September call-up in his first year with the Giants, and though he was a backup during his rookie season, Yorvit Torrealba showed a propensity for throwing out baserunners.
His best year defensively was when he played for the Padres in 2010, and led all National League catchers with a .996 fielding percentage.
23. (tie) Brian Schneider
Brian Schneider left, was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the fifth round of the 1995 MLB draft out of Northampton High School in Pennsylvania. David Zalubowski / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9940
Teams: Montreal Expos, Washington Nationals, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies
Years in MLB: 13 (2000-12)
Bottom line: Currently the catching coach for the Miami Marlins, Brian Schneider led the majors in throwing out base stealers in 2003 and 2004 with a 53 and 50 percent success rate, respectively.
In 2005, he became the first catcher in Washington Nationals history, catching the fist pitch tossed by President George Bush at RFK Stadium.
23. (tie) Jose Molina
Jose Molina, right, made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1999 and played in 947 career games with five teams. Ross D. Franklin / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9940
Teams: Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays
Years in MLB: 15 (1999, 2001-14)
Bottom line: Jose Molina is the middle brother of three siblings (older brother Bengie and younger brother Yadier) who played catcher in the major leagues. All of the Molina brothers are on this list for top defensive play.
Jose is a two-time World Series champ with the Anaheim Angels (2002) and New York Yankees (2009), and currently is a professional coach in Puerto Rico in the Los Angeles Angels’ farm system.
22. Bengie Molina
Bengie Molina, right, played in 1,285 major league games as a catcher and was as tough as they come behind the plate. Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9941
Teams: Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers
Years in MLB: 13 (1998-2010)
Bottom line: Bengie Molina is the oldest Molina brother and showed his younger siblings, Jose and Yadier, the path to being a catcher in the major leagues.
Bengie won the Gold Glove for catchers in 2002 and 2003.
Since retiring in 2010, he has been doing color commentary on the St. Louis Cardinals’ Spanish-language radio broadcast.
19. (tie) Mike Matheny
Mike Matheny, left, won seven Gold Gloves in his 13-year big league career. Jeffrey Phelps / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9943
Teams: Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants
Years in MLB: 13 (1994-2006)
Bottom line: Over his 13-year career, Mike Matheny twice led all National League catchers in fielding percentage and twice led the league in baserunners caught stealing.
After retiring, he coached Little League before the St. Louis Cardinals hired him as a special adviser — which led to a seven-year career as the team’s manager. His Cardinals teams won the 2012 wild card and three consecutive NL Central titles.
19. (tie) Yasmani Grandal
Yasmani Grandal made the NL All-Star team in 2015 while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9943
Teams: San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers
Years in MLB: 8 (2012-present)
Bottom line: Born in Cuba, where he played on the junior national team as a shortstop, Yasmani Grandal attended the University of Miami and finished second in the 2010 Golden Spikes Award voting to phenom Bryce Harper.
The slugging switch-hitter is one of three catcher in major league history to go 5-for-5 in one game with three home runs.
And he’s still active, starting games for the Brewers.
19. (tie) Brad Ausmus
Houston Astros catcher Brad Ausmus gets control of the ball as Atlanta Braves’ Jeff Francoeur, left, charges him at the plate in the sixth inning in National League baseball Thursday, June 8, 2006, in Houston. Francoeur was out trying to score from third base on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by John Thomson. Pat Sullivan / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9943
Teams: San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers
Years in MLB: 18 (1993-2010)
Bottom line: Brad Ausmus played 18 years in the bigs, and he led the American and National Leagues four times in fielding percentage and twice in percentage of baserunners caught stealing.
His 12,839 putouts are the third-most in MLB history among catchers.
After his playing days, he managed the Detroit Tigers from 2013 to 2017 and currently manages the Los Angeles Angels.
17. (tie) Tyler Flowers
Tyler Flowers, left, made his major league debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2009 at age 23. Paul Beaty / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9944
Teams: Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves
Years in MLB: 11 (2009-present)
Bottom line: Tyler Flowers’ glove work is strong, even though he doesn’t the strongest arm (in 2017 and 2018, he caught just 23 percent of base stealers).
Signed by the Atlanta Braves in 2006, Flowers was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 2008 and made his pro debut with White Sox in 2009, before being traded back to the Braves.
Now, he is Atlanta’s starting catcher.
14. (tie) Lenny Webster
Lenny Webster played in 587 major league games over 12 seasons. The most games he played in a season was 108 in 1998 with the Baltimore Orioles. Roberto Borea / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9947
Teams: Minnesota Twins, Montreal Expos, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox
Years in MLB: 12 (1989-2000)
Bottom line: Lenny Webster was a journeyman catcher who played for five different teams during his 12-year career.
He gave up his No. 42 jersey when Major League Baseball retired the number in honor of Jackie Robinson and was a durable backup.
He went error-free in five different seasons, playing in 45 games or less.
14. (tie) Salvador Perez
Salvador Perez has won five Gold Gloves. Jeff Roberson / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9947
Teams: Kansas City Royals
Years in MLB: 8 (2011-present)
Bottom line: After moving to the U.S. from Venezuela, Salvador Perez was signed to a minor league contract when he was 16 years old in 2007.
He is a six-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove Award winner who also won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award in 2015.
He will miss the 2019 season due to an elbow injury that required “Tommy John” surgery, but still is one of the best all-around catchers in the game today.
14. (tie) Chris Iannetta
Chris Ianetta was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round of the 2004 MLB draft out of the University of North Carolina. Nick Wass / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9948
Teams: Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks
Years in MLB: 14 (2006-present)
Bottom line: The starting catcher for Team USA in 2009, Chris Ianetta has had a solid major league career mostly as a platoon catcher.
He was a backup for the Colorado Rockies when the team went to the World Series for the first time in 2007.
In 2012, with the Los Angeles Angels, he caught Jared Weaver’s first no-hitter.
11. (tie) Dan Wilson
Dan Wilson shows why a catcher’s equipment is nicknamed the “tools of ignorance.” Jim Mone / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9948
Teams: Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners
Years in MLB: 14 (1992-2005)
Bottom line: How about a catcher who can leg out an inside-the-park home run? Dan Wilson did it in 1998, two years after his lone All-Star appearance.
Also in 1998, he played in 123 games and posted a .999 fielding percentage (one error in 744 chances).
Over a 14-year career, he twice led the American League in fielding percentage and baserunners caught stealing.
11. (tie) Yadier Molina
Yadier Molina has made many highlight-worthy plays at catcher in his career. Jeff Roberson / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9948
Teams: St. Louis Cardinals
Years in MLB: 16 (2004-present)
Bottom line: The youngest of the Molina brothers isn’t just the best catcher in the family. He is one of the best backstops in major league history.
The nine-time All-Star still is going strong as the Cardinal’s starting backstop and is first among active catchers with 41 percent of baserunners caught stealing and 65 pickoffs.
He has won nine Gold Gloves, two World Series and could end up in Cooperstown when his playing days are over.
10. Alex Avila
Who says baseball isn’t a contact sport? Alex Avila blocks the plate against Boston Red Sox catcher David Ross during a 2014 ALCS game. Matt Slocum / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9949
Teams: Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks
Years in MLB: 11 (2009-present)
Bottom line: The son on Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila, Alex Avila was the starting catcher on the Tigers’ four straight AL Central Division titles (2011-2014).
Due to being a magnet for foul tips — and having a history of concussions — Avila picked up the nickname “The Titanium Catcher.”
You have to be tough to get a moniker like that.
9. A.J. Pierzynski
A.J. Pierzynski was not the most popular player in MLB history, but he was a solid catcher. Paul Beaty / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9950
Teams: Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves
Years in MLB: 19 (1998-2016)
Bottom line: One of only 10 catchers in major league history to collect 2,000 or more hits, A.J. Pierzynski was a fiery player who holds the American League record for consecutive errorless chances (962), beating the mark that had been held by Yankees great Yogi Berra since 1959.
Pierzynski’s best offensive year was 2011, when he notched 27 home runs and won the Silver Slugger Award for catchers.
6. (tie) Damian Miller
Damian Miller made one All-Star team, in 2002, during this career. Morry Gash / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9952
Teams: Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Oakland A’s, Milwaukee Brewers
Years in MLB: 11 (1997-2007)
Bottom line: Damian Miller’s best seasons as a defensive standout were from 2002 to 2004, when he played for three different teams in no less than 90 games per campaign and never had a fielding percentage lower than .997.
Footnote: Because he was a replacement player during the 1994 strike, Miller’s name doesn’t appear on any official merchandise from the Arizona Diamondback’s World Series win in 2001.
6. (tie) Jason Castro
At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Jason Castro has great athleticism for a catcher. Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9952
Teams: Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins
Years in MLB: 9 (2010, 2012-present)
Bottom line: Jason Castro was born in Castro Valley, California, and signed by Houston after being a first-round pick in 2008 out of Stanford University. He played in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game and threw out a runner and hit a three-run homer.
He was called up in 2009 but missed the entire 2011 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Castro went to the 2013 All-Star Game, but did not play.
Now, he is the starting catcher for the Twins.
5. Mike Zunino
Mike Zunino’s salary with the Rays in 2019 is $4.4 million. Rick Scuteri / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9955
Teams: Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays
Years in MLB: 7 (2013-present)
Bottom line: The third overall pick of the 2012 draft by the Mariners, Mike Zunino soared to the show the following year.
His career fielding percentage (.9955) speaks for itself, but his offensive performances have fluctuated from year to year.
In 2018 with Tampa Bay, Zunino caught James Paxton’s no-hitter.
3. (tie) Mike Redmond
Mike Redmond played in 763 major league games. John Froschauer / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9958
Teams: Florida, Minnesota, Cleveland
Years in MLB: 13 (1998-2010)
Bottom line: Mike Redmond was a solid platoon catcher who hit .331 in his rookie season with the Florida Marlins in 1998.
He was the backup to Ivan Rodriguez when the Marlins won the World Series in 2003.
Redmond went on to manage the Marlins from 2012 to 2015 and currently is a bench coach for the Colorado Rockies.
3. (tie) Ryan Hanigan
Ryan Hanigan made 4,440 putouts in his major league career. Mark Duncan / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9958
Teams: Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies
Years in MLB: 11 (2007-17)
Bottom line: During 11 years in the majors, Ryan Hanigan played for four teams as a platoon player.
In 2014, he notched a .998 fielding percentage by committing just one error in 79 games.
He caught two no-hitters — both pitched by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey, in 2012 and 2013.
2. A.J. Ellis
A.J. Ellis was an 18th-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2003 MLB draft out of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. Reed Saxon / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9968
Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres
Years in MLB: 11 (2008-18)
Bottom line: A.J. Ellis bounced back and forth between the minors and the majors until he became the starting catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012, when he hit .270.
In 2013, he started 109 games, threw out 44 percent of would-be base stealers and had a .997 fielding percentage, but lost out on the the Gold Glove to Yadier Molina.
After playing with San Diego in 2018, he joined the Padres’ front office as a special assistant.
1. Chris Snyder
Chris Snyder made 4,565 putouts in 10 major league seasons. Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo
Career fielding percentage: .9976
Teams: Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles
Years in MLB: 10 (2004-13)
Bottom line: Chris Snyder was drafted in the second round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002 out of the University of Houston and was called up in 2004.
He became the starting catcher for the Diamondbacks in 2005 and had a stellar fielding percentage (.997), but batted just .202.
In 2008, he played in 112 games and didn’t commit a single error, even though he missed some time with a testicular fracture.
That tells you all you need to know about Snyder’s toughness. If not for his .224 career batting average, he might have lasted longer in the majors.
