In anticipation of the 2023 MLB season, MLB Community has been posting some positional participant rankings within the final week.

With regards to catchers, Willson Contreras stays an elite selection regardless of switching groups.

Earlier within the offseason, the St. Louis Cardinals gave him a really good five-year contract to be Yadier Molina‘s long-term substitute behind the plate.

His work with the Chicago Cubs gave him a top-five rating in MLB Community’s train.

Nuevo equipo, mismo Willson. 🦾

Willson Contreras es el 5to mejor receptor de @LasMayores 2023 según @MLBNetwork. 🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/rHWgAbi2Lz

— MLB Venezuela (@MLBVenezuela) February 3, 2023

Philadelphia Phillies backstop J.T. Realmuto was topped as MLB’s high catcher in response to the train.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith got here in second, Baltimore Orioles younger star Adley Rutschman was third, and newly-acquired Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy checked in at fourth.

Right here is the complete high 10:

A full take a look at @MLBNow’s #Top10RightNow behind the plate 🍽️

What would you modify? pic.twitter.com/2Z6dE3zKSm

— MLB Community (@MLBNetwork) February 3, 2023

Contreras, 30, will probably be an improve over ‘Yadi’ offensively, and whereas he’s no Molina behind the plate, his protection could be very, excellent.

In 2022, he had certainly one of his most interesting seasons in latest reminiscence, hitting .243/.349/.466 with 22 house runs and a 132 wRC+ in 113 video games and 487 plate appearances.

He posted a rock-solid 3.3 Wins Above Alternative, or WAR.

In St. Louis, he will probably be surrounded by some wonderful hitters like Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson, Tyler O’Neill, Tommy Edman, and others.

Contreras is not only an offensive pressure superior to even prime Molina, however he additionally has playoff expertise after successful the 2016 World Sequence with Chicago as a rookie.

All the things appears to point that the Venezuelan will do exactly nice in St. Louis.

So long as he retains an identical stage than the one he has proven over his complete profession, followers will love him.