Luis Edu
Today’s best Latino catchers play in the Major Leagues, leading their respective teams’ pitching staffs during the long 162-game season.
In this list, we will mention 5 Venezuelan players who stand out in the best baseball in the world for their enormous ability to defend home plate, along with their great hitting.
5.- Yadier Molina – St. Louis Cardinals
Yadier Molina is a living legend of the St. Louis Cardinals, and in the upcoming MLB season he will once again be the starting catcher in the middle of a fierce battle for the American League Central Division pennant.
In his lifetime with St. Louis, the Puerto Rican has a .280 average and .330 OBP, with 171 home runs and 998 homers.
Despite suffering from the normal physical problems of a player approaching 40 years of age, Molina is one of the men who command the most respect from any team.
4.- Salvador Pérez – Kansas City Royals
Salvador Pérez is the main star of the Kansas City Royals, after registering an impressive performance in 2021 that placed him among the candidates for the American League MVP award.
The 31-year-old Venezuelan catcher seems to have overcome his physical problems. His power with the bat and defensive excellence make him an undisputed star at the position.
In the 2021 MLB season, Pérez finished with 48 home runs and 121 RBIs.
3.- Yasmani Grandal – Chicago White Sox
Yasmani Grandal is one of the Latino catchers who have had the opportunity to command the pitching staff of contending teams in recent years: Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox.
The Cuban has always demonstrated his strength with the bat during his 10 years in the Major Leagues, and currently records 172 home runs and 505 runs batted in.
Grandal is a player who can definitely figure on any MLB roster, although he has recently been suffering from physical problems that have limited his performance.
2.- Willson Contreras – Chicago Cubs
Willson Contreras proved he has the ability to be a star for the Chicago Cubs since they brought him up to the majors during the 2016 season, a year in which he managed to win the World Series after firing 12 home runs in the regular round.
Chicago is going through a rebuilding process, and the 29-year-old Venezuelan shortstop is one of the key pieces to make things go as smoothly as possible in the upcoming MLB season.
After 6 campaigns in the majors, the star player has a .259 average and a .349 OBP, with 95 home runs and 310 runs batted in.
1.- Gary Sánchez – New York Yankees
Despite his inconsistent performance over the past two seasons, Gary Sánchez remains in the elite club of the best Latino catchers in the Major Leagues.
The Dominican baseball player will have to demonstrate defensive solvency in order to win the New York Yankees’ starting catcher’s job.
At this point, no one disputes that Sánchez is a power hitter who will fade the ball against any MLB pitcher. However, he is a hitter who tends to go through prolonged periods of poor performance with the bat.
In the 2021 MLB season, Gary Sánchez posted a .204 average and .307 OBP, with 23 homers and 54 RBIs.
5 players that leave the name of Latin America very high in the United States, and surely in the upcoming MLB season we will be able to see them shine in the main stages of this sport.
