Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting Catcher for the 2024 Season | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Ava White
Published Mar 23, 2026
Next Man Up: Victor Caratini
With Martín Maldonado no longer blocking his path and veteran-loving manager Dusty Baker no longer at the helm in Houston, Yainer Diaz has a golden opportunity to build off a strong rookie season and emerge as a top-tier option at the catcher position.
The 25-year-old hit .282/.308/.538 for a 128 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 23 home runs and 60 RBI in 377 plate appearances last season, but much of his playing time came at designated hitter when Yordan Álvarez and Michael Brantley were both sidelined.
He only started 42 games at catcher, but he thwarted 15 of 50 base stealers during that time, and the pitching staff's work with him behind the plate (399 INN, 4.06 ERA, .243 BAA) was similar to what they produced throwing to Maldonado (1,006.2 INN, 3.91 ERA, .238 BAA).
