Evaluating the impact that an MLB catcher has as a defensive player can be tricky.
There are several components to catching: footwork, throwing arm strength and accuracy, blocking ability, communication with his pitchers, and framing are some of them.
Yes: catching for an MLB team is extremely difficult.
Another important stat to measure how much a catcher helps (or interferes) with his team’s success is catcher’s ERA, or CERA.
Catcher’s ERA (CERA) is nothing more than the earned run average (ERA) of the hurlers pitching when the catcher in question is catching.
In this sense, the Baltimore Orioles‘ Adley Rutschman is highly rated.
“Catcher ERA in 2022: Adley Rutschman —-> 3.43 Robinson Chirinos —-> 4.44,” Codify Baseball tweeted.
Catcher ERA in 2022:
Adley Rutschman —-> 3.43
Robinson Chirinos —-> 4.44— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) September 6, 2022
The tweet was made as a comparison between the Orioles’ starter and his backup.
Evidently, there is a huge drop-off between Rutschman, the starter and one of MLB’s best five catchers already in his first season, and Chirinos, a career backup-type.
Rutschman Is A True All-Around Star
There isn’t a single aspect of Rutschman’s game behind the plate that is even below-average.
He is a fantastic framer (5.5 Framing Runs), he has 16 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), he has a good, accurate arm, and he has established a brother-like bond with most of the Orioles pitchers.
You can see he is a good leader, he communicates well, he can call a great game, and he has a huge impact in the outcome of games.
The Orioles were 16-24 when he was called up in late May.
They are 71-64 now, fighting for a postseason spot.
Besides his defensive prowess, Rutschman has 10 home runs, 27 doubles, and a .813 OPS.
He is the real deal, and could have a chance to win the American League Rookie of the Year award with a big finish.
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