Best Catchers in MLB The Show 23

With MLB The Show 23 out now for a little over two weeks, fans are starting to sink into the fun and exciting new game modes at their disposal. With so much to relish, enjoy, and achieve, MLB The Show 23 has delivered a remarkable new baseball video game experience that’s really surmounted expectations in a big way.

Well for those who have been enjoying the depths of Franchise Mode or have been partaking in a variety of Exhibition games, you might be wondering which players are best to use or have for certain positions. Though there’s a lot of important positions in baseball, including pitchers, catchers also happen to be one of the most integral role players in the game, on top of the fact their position is one of the most difficult to play.

Not to worry! You won’t be doing any catching from behind the plate in MLB The Show 23, in case you’re wondering. That said, you will be in control of when your catcher completes throws on steal attempts and when they hit. So having a great one, goes a long way in The Show 23.

That said, who are the best catchers in the game? In this guide, we cover the Top 5 in MLB The Show 23 along with their top skill attributes.

MLB The Show 23 – Best Catchers

A big reason why catchers are so important in MLB The Show 23, is not only due to their role, but also because of the reality that there’s not many great ones in the league. In other words, The Show 23 only has a small sample size of game changing catchers. And if you’re completing a fantasy draft in Franchise mode, they can go quick if you’re not careful.

However, this is where we come into play. Here, we provide the Top 5 catchers to use in MLB The Show 23’s offline modes along with their top skill attributes they come with:

1. J.T. Realmuto (C) – Phillies – 90 Overall

The best catcher in baseball right now, is none other than J.T. Realmuto. Year in and year out, the man continues to do it all in every which way possible, and his stats over his career only support that reality. The three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover hasn’t hit under a .263 batting average since 2015, and last season marked the third time in his career where hit over 20 HRs and 80 RBIs. Defensively, Realmuto has a cannon-of-an-arm and comes with underrated speed, all details that are featured in MLB The Show 23.

Best Attributes:

• Arm: 95
• Fielding: 80
• Speed: 78
• Contact Right: 74
• Contact Left: 74
• Power Right: 71
• Power Left: 55

2. Will Smith (C) – Dodgers – 88 Overall

Should you want to build your team with a young star catcher that comes with plenty of talent, look no further than Will Smith. Though he’s not nearly as defensively sound as Realmuto, Will Smith is electric on offense and is already an 88 overall at just 28-years old. The reason being is due to the fact that Smith had his best season to date last season, hitting 24 HRs while knocking in a career high 87 RBIs to go with a .260 batting average. Down below, we highlight Smith’s best skill attributes in MLB The Show 23.

Best Attributes:

• Durability: 84
• Arm: 77
• Clutch: 77
• Contact Right: 69
• Contact Left: 78
• Power Right: 80
• Power Left: 69

3. Alejandro Kirk (C) – Blue Jays – 86 Overall

Young Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk had a breakout season in 2022, and has solidified himself as one of the premier catchers in the game. In the 139 games Kirk played in 2022, he tallied 134 hits, 14 HRs, and 63 RBIs to go with his .285 batting average. Though the stats highlight what Kirk did offensively, Kirk’s defense is what makes him so elite, and already at only age 24. Here are some of his best skill attributes in the game.

Best Attributes:

• Fielding: 92
• Reaction Speed: 91
• Blocking Ability: 80
• Contact Right: 78
• Contact Left: 80
• Power Right: 56
• Power Left: 60

4. Salvador Perez (C) – Royals – 83 Overall

At the fourth spot, we have veteran Venezuelan catcher Salvador Perez, who’s still to this day, one of the greatest catchers this sport has seen. With seven All-Star appearances and five Gold Gloves to his name, the former World Series Champion is still as elite as they come, proving that wholeheartedly in 2021. That very season, Perez led all major leagues in both HRs (48) and RBIs (121) to go with a strong .273 batting average.

As you can imagine, Perez’s 2022 season didn’t fare the same way. But he still managed to produce at a high level, finishing the 2022 campaign with 23 HRs and 76 RBIs in only 114 games played. Though Perez might not be as strong as he used to defensively, he’s still a great catcher to have behind the plate, coming with arguably the best throwing accuracy in the game.

Best Attributes:

• Throwing Accuracy: 85
• Durability: 70
• Clutch: 80
• Contact Right: 69
• Contact Left: 80
• Power Right: 82
• Power Left: 92

5. Willson Contreras (C) – Cardinals – 83 Overall

Last but definitely not least, is the newly acquired St. Louis Cardinals catcher, Willson Contreras. Known for his pop at the plate and powerful arm behind it, Contreras is truly one of the best catchers to have in the game, and is still in the midst of his prime at age 30. In each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Contreras hit over 20 HRs and collected 55 or more RBIs before signing with the Cardinals. But what rounds out Contreras into such a good catcher, is his quality arm power and throwing accuracy. Here are Contreras’ best skill attributes in MLB The Show 23.

Best Attributes:

• Arm: 89
• Blocking: 70
• Throwing Accuracy: 70
• Contact Right: 62
• Contact Left: 60
• Power Right: 68
• Power Left: 90

If you haven’t already, check out our best hitters guide for MLB The Show 23, as well as all the updated selection of new players that have been added to the Diamond Dynasty Charisma Series.