Breaking down All-MLB catcher candidates

November 10th, 2020

For the second time, fans and an expert panel will elect players to the All-MLB Team, honoring the best of the regular season at each position. Voting for the 2020 All-MLB Team presented by CohnReznick is underway and runs through 2 p.m. ET on Friday, with 50% of the vote coming from fans and 50% coming from a panel of experts.

You can vote right here, and may continue to do so once every 24 hours between now and when voting ends on Friday. The 2020 All-MLB Team will be announced during the week of Dec. 7 on MLB Network.

There is a deep pool of catchers on this year's ballot -- seven to be exact. All were among the best players in the game during an unprecedented season, and each has a unique case for your consideration. But you can only choose one.

Here's a breakdown to help with your decision:

Travis d'Arnaud, Braves
2020 stats: .321 AVG, 9 HR, 34 RBI, 1 SB, .919 OPS
Though it was a shortened season, d'Arnaud broke out at the plate, finishing with a .533 slugging percentage, exactly 100 points higher than it was in 2019. It also ranked third among All-MLB catcher candidates, behind the Royals' Salvador Perez and the Dodgers' Will Smith.
The case for d'Arnaud: d'Arnaud drove in 34 runs, more than any other catcher in baseball, and his .386 on-base percentage was second only to Smith among All-MLB catcher candidates.
Key number: 57.8% -- d'Arnaud's hard-hit rate in 2020, which ranked second in baseball only to Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.

Yasmani Grandal, White Sox
2020 stats: .230 AVG, 8 HR, 27 RBI, 0 SB, .773 OPS
After betting on himself with a one-year deal with the Brewers in 2019, Grandal landed the contract he was hoping for with the White Sox, and he put up another solid season at the plate while shining defensively in 2020.
The case for Grandal: Per FanGraphs, Grandal was the best defensive catcher of the All-MLB candidates, with 8.4 Defensive Runs Above Average.
Key number: 46.2% -- Grandal's caught-stealing percentage, far and away the best among All-MLB catcher candidates.

Sean Murphy, A's
2020 stats: .233 AVG, 7 HR, 14 RBI, 0 SB, .821 OPS
Murphy had a great rookie season, helping a powerful A's lineup fuel Oakland's run to its first American League West title in seven years. His batted-ball profile was very good, which bodes well for his future.
The case for Murphy: His average exit velocity, per Statcast, was 92.2 mph, and his hard-hit rate was 49.4%, both second only to d'Arnaud among All-MLB catcher candidates.
Key number: 12.7% -- Percentage of Murphy's batted balls that were barrels in 2020, according to Statcast.

Austin Nola, Mariners/Padres
2020 stats: .273 AVG, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 0 SB, .825 OPS
Nola joined the Padres midseason as part of San Diego's flurry of Trade Deadline moves, and though he didn't hit particularly well as his new club pushed toward the postseason, he ended up with solid numbers at the plate overall.
The case for Nola: Nola was able to successfully transition from Seattle's pitching staff to San Diego's, helping a young rotation navigate through the thick of a pennant race, particularly with his framing ability.
Key number: 51.6% -- Nola's strike rate, per Statcast, representing the rate at which he got a called strike on borderline pitches just out of the strike zone (second to Realmuto among All-MLB candidates).

Salvador Perez, Royals
2020 stats: .333 AVG, 11 HR, 32 RBI, 1 SB, .986 OPS
Perez had the best offensive season of any catcher in baseball in 2020, leading all backstops in OPS, home runs (tied) and wins above replacement (1.9 per FanGraphs). His .325 expected batting average, per Statcast, ranked fifth in baseball.
The case for Perez: Perez was the most valuable catcher by WAR and led catchers in most offensive categories.
Key number: 9.75 -- The average number of plate appearances between barrels for Perez in 2020.

J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
2020 stats: .266 AVG, 11 HR, 32 RBI, 4 SB, .840 OPS
Realmuto had another great all-around season, launching 11 homers and posting an .840 OPS at the plate while continuing to be one of the best defensive backstops in the game behind it.
The case for Realmuto: He's the best all-around catcher in the game, and his excellence offensively and defensively continues to back up that accolade.
Key number: 88.2 mph -- Realmuto's average arm strength from behind the plate, highest among the All-MLB candidates.

Will Smith, Dodgers
2020 stats: .289 AVG, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB, .980 OPS
The 2020 season was big for Smith, who emerged as one of the best offensive catchers in the game, helping the Dodgers finally win that elusive World Series title.
The case for Smith: Smith led all catchers (minimum 50 plate appearances) with a 164 OPS+, edging out Perez's 161. So as far as bang for your buck goes, Smith has a case as the best offensive performer among catchers in 2020.
Key number: .411 -- Smith's weighted on-base average in 2020, highest among catchers (min. 50 plate appearances).