MLB The Show 24: Best Catchers

Highlights

Catchers are underrated but crucial in MLB The Show 24, with key defensive roles and impact on a team's success.
Top catchers like Johnny Bench, Joe Mauer, and Adley Rutschman offer valuable skills in hitting and defense.
Young talents like Ethan Salas and Drew Romo also shine as diamond status players, contributing powerfully to their teams.

Pitchers, shortstops, and center fielders are usually the favorite players on a baseball team. Meanwhile, the catcher gets left in the figurative diamond dust. Fans don’t often choose the catcher as their favorite player, or wear their jersey, even though they are critical to a team's success.

MLB The Show 24 Spencer Strider Pitching

MLB The Show 24: Best Teams To Join As A Starting Pitcher

The starting pitcher job in MLB The Show 24 is a daunting task, and players can expect to jump into the lineup quickly by joining one of these teams.

MLB The Show 24, the nineteenth game in the series, flips that idea on its head. A team’s catcher is an important part of the best teams in the game. The catcher calls the pitches, makes game-changing tags at home plate, and needs to be able to throw when opposing players go for the steal. Players shouldn't overlook the best catchers in MLB The Show 24. Their average defensive stats are important when putting together a dream team.

10 Luis Campusano

San Diego Padres

FLD: 63
ARM: 83
ACC: 86
BLK: 70

Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Luis Campusano has become one of the most-respected catchers in Major League Baseball. He signed with the Padres in 2020 and hit a solo home run in his opening game.

In real life, Luis may have faced a lot of injuries that prevented him from playing a majority of the regular season and playoff games, but he’s still an asset in MLB The Show 24. He may not always have the most accurate throws, but he’s an impressive hitter and very consistent behind the plate.

9 Will Smith

Los Angeles Dodgers

FLD: 80
ARM: 78
ACC: 66
BLK: 77

No, this isn’t the Will Smith that fights intimidating aliens and faced a controversy after the 2022 Academy Awards. This is the baseball player Will Smith, a Kentucky boy who was drafted by the Dodgers in 2012.

Will Smith is a formidable player in MLB The Show 24. He’s got diamond status hitting and a gold level badge for defense, so he’s a solid, reliable player on offense and defense. Will isn’t the most accurate thrower in the world, but he’s a catcher who will mostly come through when he’s needed.

8 Johnny Bench

Cinncinnati Reds

FLD: 82
ARM: 75
ACC: 73
BLK: 77

Gamers will witness a living legend in action if they recruit Johnny Bench for their team. This all-star was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds before he finished high school. Their organization was blown away by his strength and defensive skills.

Johnny is just as much of a standout in MLB The Show 24. He can catch the best pitches in the game and make some truly spectacular plays at home plate. Plus, he’s got endurance for days, and has a solid arm that can throw out players when they go for the steal. Johnny may not be a top-notch hitter, but he’s still a worthwhile addition to any team.

7 Joe Mauer

Minnesota Twins

FLD: 82
ARM: 75
ACC: 73
BLK: 77

Joe Mauer is an MLB all-star. He is a Gold Glove winner, holds one of the best batting records for a catcher, and in 2024, became eligible for the Hall of Fame. Joe is also 6’5”, so he’s one of the tallest players in the game as well.

A team needs players who can do it all, and Joe rises to the challenge. He’s a reliable hitter who can knock it out of the park on left or right-handed pitchers. With his slow speeds, nobody should put Joe in center field in MLB The Show. However, he’s a dependable catcher behind the plate with decent accuracy and reaction speeds.

6 Jonah Heim

Texas Rangers

FLD: 87
ARM: 85
ACC: 81
BLK: 69

Jonah Heim has gotten around in the Major Leagues. He signed on with the Baltimore Orioles at the 2013 draft, and since then, has been traded to the Rays, the Athletics, and the Rangers.

MLB The Show 24: Best Teams To Join As A Shortstop

The Shortstop position in MLB The Show 24 is arguably the most important one in the infield, and these teams require major help in Road To The Show.

Everybody wants Jonah, and for good reason. He’s an extraordinarily talented fielder with good stamina, notable strength, and consistent accuracy. Jonah might not be able to snag the wild pitches like some other catchers, but any team in MLB The Show 24 is still much stronger with him on the roster.

5 Blake Mitchell

Kansas City Royals

FLD: 62
ARM: 95
ACC: 90
BLK: 77

Blake Mitchell is relatively new to the MLB. He signed with the Royals in 2023, so he’s still early in his career. Time will tell how his career will shape up in the real world.

All that extra time doing bicep curls in the training room must be working. Blake is far from a game character who hides his strength. He has a cannon of an arm, and to make it even better, it’s also insanely accurate. Players who try to steal second base are no match for Blake’s powerful throw.

4 Josh Gibson

Free Agent

FLD: 80
ARM: 81
ACC: 85
BLK: 85

There was a time in the history of baseball where players were segregated into different teams because of the color of their skin. Josh Gibson was part of that era, but despite those struggles, he managed to emerge as one of the finest baseball players of all time.

MLB The Show 24 isn’t a historically accurate video game, and in this case, it makes it even better. Josh Gibson is a free agent who can play for any team. With diamond status hitting and defense, he’s one of the best athletes in the game. He’s got strong reaction times and can run faster than many other catchers.

3 Adley Rutschman

Baltimore Orioles

FLD: 80
ARM: 88
ACC: 70
BLK: 93

There aren’t as many players who were more coveted in the 2019 Major League draft than Adley Rutschman. He was the first choice for the Orioles due to his powerful bat, and just a few years later, he won the Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award.

MLB The Show 24: Best Young Prospects To Trade For

Building a team in MLB The Show 24 is easier when young players can take over major roles, and these prospects will boost a team's overall rating.

Baseball fans appreciate Adley for his all-around abilities as an offensive and defensive player. Like many of the other best catchers in MLB The Show 24, Adley’s ability to steal and aggressiveness while running leave a lot to be desired. However, he more than makes up for it with a strong arm and the ability to catch the wildest pitches thrown his way.

2 Ethan Salas

San Diego Padres

FLD: 85
ARM: 87
ACC: 76
BLK: 88

Ethan Salas is new to the MLB. He was signed in 2023 by the Padres as one of the top international free agents and quickly promoted to class AA at only 17-years-old.

While he may be young, Ethan is one of the best catchers in MLB The Show 24. He’s diamond status in hitting and defense, and because he isn’t a video game character who is thousands of years old, he also has plenty of stamina thanks to his age. Ethan’s a powerful hitter against right-handed pitchers, and he comes in clutch when a big hit is needed most.

1 Drew Romo

Colorado Rockies

FLD: 85
ARM: 84
ACC: 85
BLK: 85

Drew Romo was chosen 35th in the 2020 MLB draft. This put him in a unique spot as being one of the few catchers drafted in the top 100 picks since 1998. Not bad for a rookie.

In the game, Drew is just as valuable. He has impressive stats in all defensive areas. He may not be the strongest hitter, and he’s worse at stealing than a shifty-eyed kid in a candy store, but with a sturdy build and one of the best arms in the game, Drew is a valuable member of any team.