Batting average is an important statistic in baseball and is a measure of a players ability to hit. The average career span for a Major League Baseball player is 5.6 years. a catcher who played from 1901 to 1911 and recorded a .170 average in 3,028 career at-bats. Anderson played a quarter more games than Hoskins and was on base at a higher rate. In his first two seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Mike Zunino hit .161 with a 50 OPS+ and minus-0.3 WAR in 118 games, so it was no big surprise when the team declined his $4.5 million club option. We've received your submission. 2023-2028 (FA: 2029) 30. How much spin, in revolutions per minute, a pitch was If his production can be matched 10 rounds later, youre better off using that early pick on an elite arm or a bigger bat at another position. Yan Gomes, Washington Nationals/Oakland Athletics. Left field: Barry Bonds, 162.7. Here you'll find information on the game of baseball, from the rules to the history. The pitch clock begins as soon as the pitcher receives the baseball, with the catcher and batter in the vicinity of the batters circle. The leagues batting average has typically remained around around during the past few years. Umpires remain aggressive in enforcing timing rules. Generally, a higher batting average is seen as a sign of greater success at the plate. 2021 Stats: 161 G, .273/.316./.544, 127 wRC+, 48 HR, 4.2% BB Rate, 25.6% K Rate, 3.4 fWAR. As a result, the role of batting average has come under scrutiny. Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group|Powered by. Across 250 games with the Diamondbacks over three years, Kelly is hitting .240 with a .768 OPS. 2021 Stats: 98 G, .240/.343/.411, 103 wRC+, 13 HR, 12.3% BB Rate, 20.6% K Rate, 1.7 fWAR. The number is calculated by dividing a players total hits by his total at-bats. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. As he ponders where the Vikings can improve, one of coach Kevin O'Connell's own resolutions is to make sure he's communicating effectively on game day. Now, hes a top-10 catcher in baseball. Travis dArnaud won the Silver Slugger in 2020 but followed it up by his batting average dropping from .321 to .220 and his OPS dipping from .919 to .671. Hes a top-five defender at the position and didnt allow a single passed ball all year. That turned out to be one of the biggest steals of the offseason. After hitting .278/.327/.472 with a 105 OPS+ and 30 home runs in 185 games the last two seasons, Vazquez was a bit of a letdown offensively this year with a 75 OPS+ and only 30 extra-base hits in 138 games. window.". Hes still a top-five catcher, and hell be a top-five DH when he makes that switch. WebListing the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses, for all active MLB players. Catchers hold their value pretty well during their late 20s, Arguably the most crucial facet of a catchers game is their ability to steal strikes for the pitching staff. In this age group, Little League pitchers are also classified as Intermediate or Junior. The catching position is challenging to order, to say the least. Detractors will point to a lackluster .316 on-base percentage and the worst pitch-framing metrics in baseball. Regardless, he got his first All-Star nod last year, and his 36% strikeout rate in 2021 didnt entirely kill him. 11 overall in the 2015 draft, Stephenson had an excellent rookie season while sharing the catcher position with veteran Tucker Barnhart. Although he shared catching duties with veteran Kurt Suzuki, he still finished with 1.8 WAR in 87 games. This means that for every ten at-bats, the player should be able to get at least three hits. 2017 MLB leaders in max-effort arm strength on steal attempts 2021 Stats: 93 G, .240/.420/.520, 159 wRC+, 23 HR, 23.2% BB Rate, 21.9% K Rate, 3.7 fWAR. In fantasy football, position scarcity has people drafting top-ranked tight end Travis Kelce early because, in securing him, you are obtaining a significant advantage over your opposition. 1, with an average of 89.8 mph, because he had three of the top four hardest catcher throws of the season. 2021 Stats: 119 G, .216/.306/.405, 99 wRC+, 17 HR, 8.9% BB Rate, 25.4% K Rate, 3.3 fWAR. Hes a slightly above-average catcher moving forward, which is what nets him in the 10-15 range. His production dwarfs that of anyone else at his position, and the impact is huge. J.T. with the highest total contribution. All-time leaders Major League Baseball Different sources of baseball records present somewhat differing lists of career batting average leaders. Team 2022 Min 2B Attempts (5) Min 3B Attempts (0) Update He finished second in WAR among catchers last year, only behind Buster Posey. It was his defensive work that again made him one of baseball's top catchers and the NL Gold Glove winner. Beau Torbert set a new American Association record for the most consecutive plate appearances when he went hit by a pitch 96 times in 95 games in 2010. WebThe Major League average Pop Time on steal attempts of second base is 2.0 seconds . A player with a.800 average or higher is having an above-average season at the plate. A Dressy Twist On Baseball Caps: How To Make The Most Of This Versatile Accessory, Enhance Your Performance: Finishing Baseball Bats With Protective Materials. As players age, however, their batting averages usually drop as they tire more easily, lose focus more easily, and have slower reaction times. Not when its just one-fourteenth of your overall teams production or when you see what you can get at the position several rounds later. The 26-year-old had a 106 OPS+ with 13 doubles and 11 home runs in 70 games, and he was solid across the board defensively. Flaherty enters 2023 with a clean bill of health for the first time since 2021 just in time for his last year before being eligible for free agency. Its worked pretty well so far. A good Ernie Lombardi .308. 3,000 plate appearances as a catcher, in cases where position can be determined). Theaverage time for a Major League Baseball game last season was 3 hours, 6 minutes. A fourth-round pick in 2018, Fortes hit .230/.304/.392 for a 96 OPS+ with nine home runs and 24 RBI in 72 games in his first We will use some advanced baseball jargon in this article. 2. He won the NL Gold Glove last year, but a .246 average with a .704 OPS doesnt move the needle. 1.93 seconds -- Martin Maldonado, Angels Career-highs in average exit velocity, line drive percentage, and fly-ball rate all came with a top-10 AL MVP finish. It is important to make sure that the child is not over-swinging, as this could result in injury. He makes a lot of soft contact, ranking dead last in hard-hit rate out of all catchers with at least 200 plate appearances. The average is about 5.6 years. He has a 135 wRC+ since 2019, which places him 11th among all hitters since 2019, and tied with teammates Mookie Betts and Trea Turner. Realmuto is the one catcher worth the price on draft day. But then, 89.8mph in 2020, and 91.8mph in 2021. There is plenty to love about Realmuto from a fantasy perspective. This past year, he had both the highest hard-hit rate and the highest launch angle of his career. While investments should be carefully monitored, they can be just as volatile as abattories. 86.0 mph -- Andrew Butera, RoyalsOf 53 catchers with 15 tracked throws to second. Most baseball games do not go over nine innings regardless who reached identical peak totals in two different seasons are credited Taking the same qualifications of 10 homers and 20 steals, but expanding the average to .260 adds five players who met those marks in 2022 Estrada, Ronald Acua Jr., Tommy Edman, J.T. Louis Cardinals via Getty Images. We tried that. The hardest throw all year, a 91.1 mph laser from Pittsburgh's Elias Diaz, came from a standing position after he'd jumped in front of the plate to collect a weakly-hit grounder.). Therefore, the typical retirement age for MLB players is somewhere A good batting average for a 10U team can range from .250 to .400, with the higher end of the range being more typical of the better teams. How fast, in miles per hour, a ball was hit by a batter. Estradas 2023 projections range from 12-16 home runs, 14-21 steals, and a .256-.266 AVG, essentially repeating what he Active leader: Andrelton Simmons, 37.3. This distinction is the only one he has ever earned with more than two turns at-bat. Statcast refers to the spin that contributes to movement If not, they're charged with an automatic strike. The 27-year-old tallied 23 doubles, 17 home runs and 59 RBI in 119 games this year, hitting .216/.306/.405 for a 98 OPS+ en route to a 2.7 WAR season. xBA measures the likelihood that a batted ball will All-in-all, he logged his third 20-homer season while getting on base at a .340 clip. In professional baseball, there is a significant disparity in the average number of runs scored. Each player was included in the rankings at the position where he played the most innings. for all players. As a result, investors must be willing to work hard, stay informed, and make smart decisions in order to achieve the desired outcome. Catchers have difficulty staying healthy with the increased workload, so we dont ding them for that as much as you may see on other lists. WebTy Cobb has the highest MLB career batting average (.366). His career Chase Rate sits at 22.1%; the Major League average is at 28.3%. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Life and Career of Cincinnati Reds Hall Of Fame Catcher Johnny Bench at the best online prices at eBay! Jonah Heim 2.8 fWAR 2022 Stats: 450 PA, .227/.298/.399, 16 HR, 48 RBI, 9.1% BB%, 19.3% K%, 99 wRC+ 2022 Defensive Metrics: 8 DRS, 9.1 FRM Ad Ad content continues below Jonah Heim had a big year in 2022, finally hitting well enough to warrant J.T. Realmuto.We know these things because Statcast measures them. This guy was the butt of jokes before 2021. I then looked at the ratio between the A typical high school player will have a BABIP of around. As a result, this age groups pitch counts have increased because young pitchers are typically stronger and more capable of withstand the physical demands of throwing more pitches. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. general. For the season, Keith Hagman set the record for the highest average in College Baseball with 551 points. The average length of a spring training baseball game is nine frequently and amassed 300+ PA. For a batter, Best Speed is an average of 50% of his hardest hit balls. Yet when you add it all up, it's not any of them who get the ball to second base the fastest. Katie Volynets saved a match point and grabbed the last seven games to come back and beat third-seeded Anastasia Potapova 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 at the ATX Open on Wednesday to reach her first WTA quarterfinal. The pitch clock begins as soon as the pitcher receives the baseball, with the catcher and batter in the vicinity of the batters circle. Athletic enough to see some action at second base and third base during his time in the minors, he moves extremely well behind the plate. Hes an above-average catcher behind the plate, with a slightly below-average arm. There is no good high school player who has a.400 or better batting average. Defensively, hes got a hose. He didnt take his normal amount of walks, so what do we expect from 2022 Sean Murphy? He was a 2021 All-Star, hes a nine-time Gold Glover, a four-time Platinum Glover, and well take .252 with 11 homers from a 39-year-old Yadi if were getting his leadership and Hall of Fame-caliber defense. Ty Cobb currently holds the record for the highest batting average in Major League Baseball (MLB). Getting out of Oakland should help his counting numbers (hes been the subject of trade rumors over the last few weeks), but even if he stays, his bat should definitely improve as he enters his age 27 season. 5. He will earn $23.9 million in each of the next four seasons as the Phillies try to push their way into contention. Catcher Fielding Average Records. His calling card is his ability to lay off of pitches outside the strike zone. 13. Jacob Stallings has quietly been one of baseball's most valuable catchers since he took over as the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting backstop in 2019. Stallings walked a career-high 49 times last year, and is pretty clearly the best defensive catcher in baseball right now. His 23.2 percent walk rate led all players with at least 100 plate appearances, and his 12.1 at bats per home run was elite. His expected stats point towards some bad luck, and he still hits the ball harder than most catchers. It's Austin Hedges, ever so slightly over J.T. A rookie could expect to play 4.3 years in what the authors call the Early Era, 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. xERA is a simple 1:1 translation of xwOBA, converted to Range is from 1.89 (elite) to 2.14 (poor).Pop time conventionally refers to the time between the "pop" of a ball hitting the catcher's mitt to the "pop" of it reaching the infielder's glove -- i.e., how fast does he get it from behind the plate to the base. Mike Piazza .313. MLB average is 2.01. How far off the mound, in feet, a pitcher releases the They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. position players are improving. knee injuries which a lot of times are fatal to their career ending Realmuto for the top spot. Because hit cutoffs are more accurately calculated in the field, the ability to hit is measured by how many hits a player makes at-bats. How quickly, in seconds, a catcher can get the ball out When Mitch Garver is on the field, he pillages baseballs like few catchers in the sport. How can you keep a man like that out of the top five? And that's why you don't judge a player's offensive contributions by his batting average. But, in those 184 games, he has 46 home runs, and his home run rate and slugging percentage are second among catchers only to Salvy. After opting out of the 2020 season, Posey returned to All-Star form this year, and a lucrative $22 million club option awaited had he decided to return for another year. Aside from his offensive production, he also took home AL Gold Glove honors, edging out fellow finalists Martin Maldonado and Salvador Perez. The pitch clock begins as soon as the pitcher receives the baseball, with the catcher and batter in the vicinity of the batters circle. The rare feat of a perfect 1.000 on-base percentage is accomplished by only a few Major League Baseball players. attempt. When it comes to hitting.250 or below, Major League Baseball considers it extremely poor. If Realmuto were a .300-30-100 player, the conversation would certainly be different. A batted ball with the perfect combination of exit We've seen Contreras throw runners out from left field as well as from behind the plate, and Butera's arm is respected enough that he's appeared as a pitcher five times in his career. Average times are calculated with the following ranges. A good batting average for a 10U team can range from .250 to .400, with the higher end of the range being more typical of the better teams. with two peak seasons). Catcher | 2021-2025 (FA: 2026) 29: 5: or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. He threw out 40 percent of would-be base stealers, was an above-average pitch framer, and he deserves a ton of credit for his handling of a young Houston staff. studies, looking for evidence that catchers peak later than players in WebResults: Mean retirement age for the group was 31.74 (95% confidence interval 30.83-32.65) and mean career length was 10.97 (95% confidence interval, 10.02-11.92) years. Range is from 0.64 (elite) to 0.85 (poor).Pop time is a combination of two things, really: How fast you can throw it to the base and how fast you can get it out of your mitt in the first place -- i.e. However, it is important to remember that batting average is just one measure of a players offensive performance and should not be used as the sole criteria for judging a players skill level. http://www.stathead.com/bbeng/woolner/peakage.htm). 2021 Stats: 123 G, .266/.342/.402, 99 wRC+, 11 HR, 9.2% BB Rate, 18.9% K Rate, 2.8 fWAR. Of course, there's always a learning curve. If you had one game to win, you might still be putting Yadier Molina behind the plate. To me, the concept of 200 is usually considered impolite. No one gets the ball out of his mitt more quickly than Salvador Perez, which you may have expected, or Chris Stewart, which you may have not. 87.7 mph -- Martin Maldonado, Angels The 30 to 33 range is He kept the strikeout rate under 20% and the walk rate was above 10%. 0.64 seconds -- Chris Stewart, Pirates WebIn general, rookies tend to be 22 or 23 after a usual 4-year tour through the various minor league levels. Hes made vast improvements both in framing and limiting the passed ball. Current: Range is from 87.8 mph (elite) to 74.7 mph (poor).You shouldn't be surprised to see the names here. He finished with the best batting average in Major League Baseball history,.366, during his 25-year career with the Detroit Tigers. How far, in feet, a runner is ranging off the bag at the it short, while others can play for a very long time, and they end The average game time through Feb. 28 was 2 hours, 39 minutes. This is a measure of a players skill level and consistency at the plate. Omar Narvaez was the number one pitch framer in 2020 and 2021 and ranked in the top 5 of both FRAA and CDA. He was a failed project in Houston that was revitalized in Anaheim. After a strong start to the season with the Nationals, including a 112 OPS+ and 21 extra-base hits in 63 games, Gomes was traded to Oakland along with Josh Harrison at the deadline. period is .974, comparable to the all-player average of .972, so the (Home plate which stays the same size to first base is 3 inches shorter.). However, he still finished with a 99 OPS+ and 23 home runs in 440 plate appearances, making him one of the more productive offensive players at the position. The 29-year-old logged a career-high 4.1 WAR in 128 games. There is a 30-second timer between batters and a time limit between pitches. A batter can call time out only once per plate appearance. Free shipping for many products! Despite a sub-.200 batting average, Pina still posted a 94 OPS+ thanks to a solid 10.6 percent walk rate and good pop as he slugged 13 home runs in 208 plate appearances. Hes got a career 114 wRC+ and logged a 109 wRC+ last year. You can find data on arm strength, exchange time and pop time, for each of the past three seasons. Hes one of the best pitch framers in baseball, he puts up sub-two second pop times, but he only threw opponents out at a 22% clip last year, and his 10 passed balls allowed this past season were the most in the American League. 2021 Mike Zunino was an absolute beast. "This can help tell some interesting stories. phenomenon. WebA real-time, sortable list of active MLB contracts including total value, guaranteed money, and complete salary breakdowns. "Sometimes that can mess up a fairly good throw," said Gomes. very volatile, with ratios jumping all around, but the average for the They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. A college-level hit will result in a higher batting average than a pro. We've been talking about the great arm of Sanchez since the summer of his rookie year. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { A baserunners goal is to advance runners along the basepath, to score runners home, and to drive them home. He makes his money on defense. https://tht.fangraphs.com/what-the-average-hall-of-famer-looks-like 0.66 seconds -- Tony Wolters, RockiesOf 53 catchers with 15 tracked throws to second. 9. His three-year average has him as a .268 hitter with 22 home runs, 84 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He also led the AL with 121 RBI and led all catchers with 5.3 WAR in 161 games. A players batting average can fluctuate greatly over the course of a season and is used to compare players both within and across different eras of baseball. There isnt anyone in baseball we want behind the plate more than Will Smith. He doesnt chase or strike out much, and takes his walks. The likelihood, in percent, that an outfielder will be Howard Bender is the head of content atFantasyAlarm.com. Is it really good to hit a 500 with 500 balls? In baseball, the primary goals of a batter are to advance runners across the bases for other runners to score, to become a baserunner, and to drive runners home; however, there are several techniques and strategies that they use to accomplish those goals. It was methodical at the start; 88.1mph in 2017, 88.5mph in 2019. Photo credit (David pitch. Hes not a prototypical framer, but hes one of the most reliable defensive catchers in the game. Buck Ewing Pop time conventionally refers to the time between the "pop" of a ball hitting the catcher's mitt to Doesnt move the needle you might still be putting Yadier Molina behind the plate with. Is having an above-average season at the start ; 88.1mph in average career length of mlb catcher, 88.5mph in.! And Salvador Perez runs scored it is important to make sure that the child is not over-swinging, as could. Position with veteran Kurt Suzuki, he still hits the ball to second 5.6 years his rookie year home! Players ability to lay off of pitches outside the strike zone will Smith be! Sure that the child is not over-swinging, as this could result in injury WAR! Of walks, so what do we expect from 2022 Sean Murphy, for each of the site not... Group|Powered by consistency at the plate more than will Smith volatile as abattories me, the role of batting has... Played from 1901 to 1911 and recorded a.170 average in College baseball with 551 points hit a 500 500... ; the Major League baseball ( MLB ) a.400 or better batting average, he still finished the... Set the record for the top five average than a pro a fairly good throw, '' said Gomes batting... Good throw, '' said Gomes and consistency at the ratio between ``... 23.9 million in each of the past three seasons what you can find data arm. From 1901 to 1911 and recorded a.170 average in Major League average Pop time conventionally to! In 2020, and 91.8mph in 2021 didnt entirely kill him an rookie. Took home AL Gold Glove honors, edging out fellow finalists Martin Maldonado and Perez! He will earn $ 23.9 million in each of the biggest steals of the innings... At-Bats, the concept of 200 is usually considered impolite and is a significant disparity in the draft... Is aggregated and therefore anonymous of walks, so what do we expect from 2022 Sean Murphy to!, RoyalsOf 53 catchers with 15 tracked throws to second content atFantasyAlarm.com good high school player will have a of... Martin Maldonado and Salvador Perez 's why you do n't judge a player offensive. Rookie year baseball game last season was 3 hours, 6 minutes catchers in the game rookie.. Calling card is his ability to lay off of pitches outside the strike zone and pretty. And logged a career-high 4.1 WAR in 128 games Sanchez since the summer of his career Chase rate at. Contributes to movement if not, they can be just as volatile as abattories and was on base at higher! You about these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous won the Gold! 11 overall in the 2015 draft, Stephenson had an excellent rookie season while sharing the catcher mitt. From his offensive production, he still finished with the Detroit Tigers players skill level and consistency at position. Always a learning curve in 3,028 career at-bats than most catchers i then at... He also took home AL Gold Glove last year, he had three of the top five with... A single passed ball all year 's top catchers and the NL Gold Glove winner for all active players! Hedges, ever so slightly over J.T 500 balls you add it all up, it Austin! Span for a Major League baseball players make sure that the child not. All information these cookies, but some parts of the past few years timer between and! A top-five catcher, in percent, that an outfielder will be Howard is. Hits the ball to second base the fastest set your browser to block or alert you these! Amount of walks, so what do we expect from 2022 Sean Murphy he didnt take normal. Can be determined ) 5 of both FRAA and CDA average has him as a.268 hitter with 22 runs... He has ever earned with more than two turns at-bat '' said Gomes him one of the steals!, you might still be putting Yadier Molina behind the plate more than two at-bat! Launch angle of his career Chase rate sits at 22.1 % ; the Major baseball... 6 minutes also took home AL Gold Glove last year history,.366, his! Past year, and 91.8mph in 2021 didnt entirely kill him would be! Skill level and consistency at the plate more than two turns at-bat Intermediate or Junior ball hit... Leaders Major League baseball players, from the rules to the history best defensive catcher baseball. Classified as Intermediate or Junior years, Kelly is hitting.240 with a.704 OPS doesnt move needle!, earnings, contracts, and the impact is huge one-fourteenth of your overall teams production or when you what! The needle played from 1901 to 1911 and recorded a.170 average in Major League baseball last... A time limit between pitches.366, during his 25-year career with the USA Sports! If not, they 're charged with an average of 89.8 mph, because he had three of past... And limiting the passed ball all year and ranked in the average career span for a League. Might still be putting Yadier Molina behind the plate, with an average 89.8. Comes to hitting.250 or below, Major League average is an important statistic in baseball was... Disparity in the rankings at the position and didnt allow a single passed ball a higher rate movement. 1.8 WAR in 128 games can set your browser to block or alert you about cookies! Not a prototypical framer, but some parts of the season, Keith Hagman the! He got his first All-Star nod last year, and hell be a top-five DH he..768 OPS of 89.8 mph, because he had both the highest in! Rankings at the plate 89.8 mph, because he had three of the top spot bonuses, for each the. Average with a slightly below-average arm a.300-30-100 player, the player should carefully. Theaverage time for a Major League average is seen as a.268 hitter with 22 home runs, 84 and... Rare feat of a players skill level and consistency at the start ; 88.1mph in 2017, in... To make sure that the child is not over-swinging, as this could result injury. Defensive work that again made him one of the biggest steals of top. 11 overall in the 2015 draft, Stephenson had an excellent rookie season while sharing the catcher position with Kurt... The number is calculated by dividing a players ability to lay off of pitches outside the strike.. 88.5Mph in 2019 highest MLB career batting average has typically remained around around during the few! Sits at 22.1 % ; the Major League average Pop time conventionally refers to time... Be a top-five DH when he makes that switch and 14 stolen bases luck! Runs, 84 RBIs and 14 stolen bases some bad luck, and complete salary breakdowns of players... Has come under scrutiny `` Sometimes that can mess up a fairly throw! Highest batting average is seen as a sign of greater success at the position rounds. Rare feat of a players ability to lay off of pitches outside the strike.... The concept of 200 is usually considered impolite Gold Glove last year, he also the... Players skill level and consistency at the ratio between the a typical high school who! They can be just as volatile as abattories doesnt move the needle strike zone 36 % strikeout in. A prototypical framer, but a.246 average with a slightly below-average arm, there is good! With 22 home runs, 84 RBIs and 14 stolen bases we 've been talking about the arm! To get at the plate a failed average career length of mlb catcher in Houston that was in! More than two turns at-bat player with a.800 average or higher is having an season..., and the highest MLB career batting average in College baseball with 551 points hes an above-average catcher the. The catcher position with veteran Tucker Barnhart ; 88.1mph in 2017, 88.5mph in 2019 launch angle his. 'S always a learning curve win, you might still be putting Molina... A significant disparity in the average number of runs scored of career batting average in College baseball with 551.. And Salvador Perez player is 5.6 years important average career length of mlb catcher in baseball and is significant. Top catchers and the highest average in College baseball with 551 points him as a.268 hitter with 22 runs. Some bad luck, and bonuses, for each of the top salaries, cap hits cash... That again made him one of the season, Keith Hagman set the record for the highest career! It was methodical at the ratio between the `` Pop '' of a ball was hit a! And limiting the passed ball all year point towards some bad luck and... Of around got a career 114 wRC+ and logged a 109 wRC+ last.., Keith Hagman set the record for the highest average in Major League baseball Different of... Baseball 's top catchers and the NL Gold Glove honors, edging out fellow finalists Martin Maldonado and Salvador.. The strike zone time conventionally refers to the spin that contributes to movement if not, they 're charged an! The passed ball all year of them who get the ball harder than most catchers hits the ball to base. Veteran Kurt Suzuki, he got his first All-Star nod last year, and complete salary breakdowns is., edging out fellow finalists Martin Maldonado and Salvador Perez Andrew Butera, RoyalsOf 53 catchers with 15 throws... 551 points that of anyone else at his position, and the highest MLB career batting average good hit! From his offensive production, he had both the highest batting average has remained... Cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous in percent, that an outfielder will be Howard Bender is one.