Eli Whitney | March 14, 2025
As the 2025 MLB season approaches, the National League West boasts some of the most intriguing and pivotal catching situations in baseball. From Gold Glove winners and World Series veterans to promising young talents, each team in the division faces unique challenges and opportunities behind the plate.
This article takes a closer look at the catchers poised to play a crucial role in their teams’ fortunes, including Gabriel Moreno’s bid for redemption with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Will Smith’s push to bounce back for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the San Diego Padres’ quest for stability. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants are looking to build around Patrick Bailey, a defensive maestro with sky-high potential.
Whether they’re seeking consistency, a sense of leadership, or a breakout, the NL West’s catchers are set to be a major storyline in 2025.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Gabriel Moreno has been nothing short of a revelation behind the plate for a Diamondbacks organization that has struggled to find a long-term answer at catcher for nearly a decade. Moreno began his career in the Blue Jays system before being traded to Arizona in December 2022 as part of the package that brought outfielder Daulton Varsho to Toronto.
In his first full season as a pro in 2023, Moreno made an immediate impact and was an essential part of the Diamondbacks’ run to the World Series. He posted a slash line of .284/.339/.408 and secured his role as the Diamondbacks’ starting catcher.
While his offensive numbers were impressive, it was his defense behind the plate that truly turned heads. He was rewarded for his exceptional performance with an NL Gold Glove, making him the first catcher in Diamondbacks history to win the award. Over the course of the year, Moreno also posted a 4.3 bWAR, the highest of any Diamondbacks catcher since two-time All-Star Miguel Montero, who had a 4.5 bWAR in 2012.
The 2024 season proved to be a challenging one for both Moreno and the Diamondbacks. Moreno battled a string of injuries that kept him sidelined for nearly 70 games. A left thumb sprain in late June set the catcher back for a few weeks, while a left groin strain forced him to miss almost all of August. Moreno reinjured the groin at the end of September, and Arizona ultimately decided to shut him down for the remainder of the season. As a result of these setbacks, Moreno played in fewer than 100 games for the Diamondbacks.
Moreno was unable to replicate the same rhythm he had in 2023 at the plate last year, with his numbers declining across all major statistics. This decline can be attributed to the aforementioned injuries and pitchers generally adjusting to him in his second season. Moreno had difficulty handling the higher volume of breaking balls thrown his way, leading to a nearly 24% swing-and-miss rate. However, he did make notable strides in plate discipline, finishing in the top 20% of MLB in Chase%, Whiff%, K%, and BB%.
Despite the injuries, Moreno’s defense remained elite. According to Baseball Savant, his average pop time was 1.89 seconds, ranking him 10th in all of MLB. He was also well above the league average in CSAA (Caught Stealing Above Average) and Framing Value.
The 2025 season will be a pivotal one for both Moreno and the Diamondbacks. With high-profile offseason additions like Corbin Burnes and Josh Naylor, amid departures of high-profile bats in Joc Pederson, and Christian Walker, the pressure to recapture the postseason success of 2023 is mounting. For Moreno, 2025 offers a chance to demonstrate that his impressive offensive performance in 2023 was no fluke, while also boosting his value ahead of his first trip through arbitration next winter.
Diamondbacks top prospect Adrian Del Castillo will also be firmly in the mix as Moreno’s backup and possibly for DH starts as well. Drafted in the 2nd round out of Miami in 2021, Del Castillo posted a stellar .893 OPS in a cup of coffee last season for Arizona and may be a catalyst for the D-Backs. 28-year-old Jose Herrera (-0.8 career bWAR) will also be in the mix for backup catcher starts.
Los Angeles Dodgers
As the Dodgers gear up for 2025, Will Smith stands poised to anchor their title defense, his catcher’s mitt still warm from catching the final out of the 2024 World Series. The 29-year-old has cemented himself as one of the National League’s premier catchers.
Yet after a rollercoaster 2024 marked by a lucrative contract extension, a second-half slump, and further postseason struggles, Smith enters the new season with something to prove.
Smith’s 2024 regular season was a story of two halves. He finished with a respectable .248/.327/.433 slash line, 20 home runs, and a 111 WRC+. His defense was a tale of highs and lows, as he was in the 100th percentile of caught stealing above average, but ranked at the bottom of the league in both framing and blocks above average. While Smith had a strong start to the season, his bat cooled to a .206 average after the All-Star break, and nagging ankle injuries sparked concerns about his workload.
The postseason was even tougher; three home runs could not mask the inconsistency indicated by Smith’s .143 average in the postseason as the Dodgers clinched their eighth title. For 2025, Smith’s challenge is clear: sustain his early season brilliance all the way through October.
The stakes are higher now, thanks to a 10-year, $140 million extension signed in March 2024, tying him to Los Angeles through 2033. It’s a vote of confidence from a franchise that sees him as its long-term backbone, especially with stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani in tow.
Smith certainly deserved that contract–though $14 million per year is a downright steal for LA–as he ranks 1st in runs scored & walks and 3rd in home runs and wRC+ among all MLB catchers since 2021.
This offseason, Smith has doubled down, reportedly tweaking his swing and attempting to rehab the ankle injury that hindered him throughout the latter part of 2024. Yet, the ankle injury lingers as a storyline, with reports that there is still pain. Dave Roberts commented on the situation saying, “it’s a bone bruise that’s deep, clearly, and [nine] months hasn’t helped the pain go away.”
The question now arises, will the Dodgers lean on veteran backup catcher Austin Barnes to spell Smith more often? Or will MLB Pipelines 30th ranked prospect Dalton Rushing get an opportunity to prove he belongs? Rockies fans should be weary of the thought of Rushing in the big leagues as he could become the next great Dodgers position player.
Smith’s role in 2025 goes beyond the numbers. With two World Series rings under his belt, he serves as the steady leader of a talented pitching staff, all aiming to bring the Dodgers their third title in five years. As the heartbeat of the team behind the plate, Smith is a homegrown talent with a championship pedigree. If he can manage his workload and find relief from his ankle injury, there’s every reason to believe he can regain his form and consistency, helping to lead Los Angeles on another deep postseason run.
San Diego Padres
As the San Diego Padres head into the 2025 season, their catching situation remains a point of intrigue in the National League West. After a 2024 campaign that saw unexpected offensive production from Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka–both of whom have since departed in free agency–the Padres are once again tasked with identifying a reliable backstop.
On January 30th, the team signed former Rockies catcher Elias Diaz to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2026, signaling their intent to stabilize the position while maintaining flexibility for the future (i.e., top prospect Ethan Salas). Diaz appears poised to take the reins as the starting catcher, though competition for the spot still remains.
Diaz, 34, brings a seasoned presence to San Diego. A 2023 All-Star with Colorado, Diaz has been inconsistent in recent years though offers big strengths behind the plate, particularly his pitch-framing and game-calling abilities, skills that Padres manager Mike Shildt has emphasized as critical for the role.
In 2024, Diaz split time between the Rockies and Padres, finishing with a .190/.292/.429 slash line across 12 games in San Diego. While his offensive output was modest all year (.695 OPS), his glove work stood out, making him a valuable asset behind the plate during the Padres’ postseason run.
With Higashioka now in Texas and Sanchez in Baltimore, Diaz’s signing fills a gap left by the exodus of last year’s contributors. His experience could prove vital for a pitching staff that includes household names like Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish.
However, Diaz isn’t without competition. Luis Campusano, 26, remains on the 40-man roster and is the incumbent with the most upside. A former top prospect, Campusano was given every chance to claim the starting job in 2024 but faltered, posting a .642 OPS and struggling defensively before being demoted to Triple-A El Paso. His postseason further underscored the Padres’ lack of confidence in his consistency. Still, at his age, Campusano has room to grow, and general manager A.J. Preller has expressed optimism about his potential.
Spring Training will continue to serve as an arena for the competition in a battle for the opening day nod, with Diaz’s veteran stability likely to give him the early edge.
The Padres’ catching depth also includes Brett Sullivan and Martín Maldonado, and while neither instills much confidence, Maldonado is one of the most respected backup catchers in recent years with a 6.5 career bWAR despite a .622 career OPS. Sullivan has limited big-league experience, while Maldonado hit a dismal .119 in 2024.
Looking ahead, top prospect Ethan Salas looms as the potential long-term answer, but his struggles in 2024 suggest that he’s at least a year away from contributing, if not more. Salas, still 18, has been challenged with an appearance in Double-A as a 17-year-old in 2023, though his .599 OPS in High-A this past season will slow the Padres pacing of their prized young catcher.
For 2025, the Padres seem content to lean on Diaz as their starter, banking on his leadership to guide a contender. Yet, their history of finding catchers off of the proverbial “scrap heap” suggests that they’ll remain open to surprises. Whether Diaz holds the job, or Campusano rises to the occasion, San Diego’s catching situation will be one to watch within the NL West.
San Francisco Giants
As the San Francisco Giants prepare for the upcoming season, their catching situation has emerged as a clear strength. Leading the charge behind the plate is Patrick Bailey, a 25-year-old defensive wizard who has quickly established himself as one of the game’s elite backstops. With a Gold Glove already under his belt and a promising offensive ceiling, Bailey is poised to anchor the Giants’ pitching staff and provide lineup stability as the team aims to climb out of recent mediocracy under new leadership from President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey.
Drafted 13th overall out of NC State in 2020, Bailey burst onto the scene in 2023 and solidified his role as the Giants’ starting catcher. His 2024 campaign was a breakout defensively, earning him the NL Gold Glove with jaw-dropping defensive metrics; he led all catchers with 16 framing runs and posted a strike rate well above the league average, per Statcast.
His ability to steal strikes and manage a pitching staff–now featuring veterans like Logan Webb, Justin Verlander, and Robbie Ray–makes him invaluable. Bailey’s arm is another weapon, with a pop time consistently among the league’s best, deterring base stealers and controlling the running game. In an era where catcher defense is undervalued, Bailey’s skills bring a vital edge to the Giants.
Offensively, Bailey is still a work in progress, but he possesses a stable floor with some untapped upside. In 2024, he hit .234/.298/.339 with 8 home runs and 46 RBI across 121 games, showing flashes of both power and patience. His 8.7% walk rate suggests a maturing approach at the plate, and with his 6-foot, 210-pound frame, there is room for more pop as he enters his prime.
Spring Training reports indicate that he’s been working on his swing mechanics, aiming to drive the ball with more consistency. If Bailey can nudge his on-base percentage a bit over .300 and boost his slugging, he could emerge as a two-way star–a rare commodity at the position.
The Giants backup catcher situation, however, is murkier. Tom Murphy, signed as Bailey’s understudy, is sidelined with a herniated disk and likely to miss opening day, thrusting untested options into the spotlight.
Sam Huff, acquired in the offseason, is the frontrunner, bringing a power bat (.258/.313/.455 career in limited MLB action) but less polish defensively. Veteran Max Stassi, a non-roster invitee recovering from hip surgery, is a dark horse; his experience and defensive acumen could earn him a spot if he proves healthy. Posey’s influence–a former catcher steering the franchise–adds intrigue, as he may prioritize a reliable No. 2 to complement Bailey’s workload.
With Bailey at the helm, the Giants have a catcher who blends elite defense with untapped offensive potential. The team’s 2025 aspirations rest on multiple factors including their retooled pitching staff and new offensive firepower, but Bailey’s presence offers a steady foundation. As he continues to refine his game, Bailey could become the kind of homegrown talent that defines the new era of Giants baseball, setting the stage for a resurgence in San Francisco.
It’s clear the Rockies have some work to do if their catchers are to line up with premier talents like Bailey, Smith, and Moreno. With Jacob Stallings set to stabilize this position and a young, upside-based tandem of Hunter Goodman and Drew Romo backing him up, the Rockies have potential in their catching core, though a big year in 2025 will be necessary.
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