Dodgers: Will Smith Labeled Third Best Catcher in Baseball
Dodgers catcher Will Smith was named, just a couple weeks ago, the second-best catcher in baseball in MLB Network's Top 10 Right Now series, just behind Philadelphia's JT Realmuto and just ahead of Baltimore's Adley Rutschman. Shortly after that, MLB Network flip-flopped Smith and Rutschman in their overall Top 100 Right Now, with Smith ranking 42nd and Rutschman 41st.
Now, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden has put out his list of the top 10 catchers, and he agrees with MLB Network's flip-flopped version, going Realmuto-Rutschman-Smith for the top three. Here's what he had to say about Smith:
Smith can rake and has a knack for getting on base. He uses the whole field and has 25-home run power. He’s a clutch hitter who likes being up with the game on the line. Last season, he threw out only 18 percent of the runners attempting to steal, but Dodgers pitchers’ slow times to the plate hurt him. He’s thrown out 23 percent of would-be stealers in his career.
Smith has been outstanding in his four-year career, so this is more about Rutschman passing him (in Bowden's mind) than Smith slipping. In fact, Bowden was tempted to put Adley even higher.
I gave serious consideration to putting Rutschman at No. 1 after his sensational rookie year. I’m convinced he’ll be the best overall catcher of his generation and the face of the Orioles for the next decade. He can hit for power (35 doubles and 13 homers in 398 at-bats) and is an elite defender (18 Defensive Runs Saved, second most by a catcher). He’s also a special leader.
Rutschman has the prospect pedigree as the first overall pick in the 2019 draft. When a player with that hype gets to the big leagues and completely lives up to it, it's hard to keep him down. Smith is a different type of player with a different personality than Rutschman, so this is no slight to Will. Being able to say you're the best catcher in baseball except a potential Hall of Famer in Realmuto and the brightest young catching star of this generation is still pretty solid.
