Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2011	IL	AAA	109	420	52	121	19	1	18	67	0	36	98	.288	.348	.467
2011	AL	MLB	18	61	9	20	4	0	4	12	0	7	17	.328	.406	.590

2. Devin Mesoraco – Bats: R Throws: R – 6’1″ 220 – CIN – 6.19.88. High School: Punxsutawney (PA) Drafted: 1st Round (15th Overall) 2007. I was squarely in the doubter camp following Mesoraco’s rebound 2010 season but a solid 2011 that culminated with a September call up has put those doubts to rest. While I still think it was not without risk and premature to deal Yasmani Grandal to San Diego, the path is clear for Mesoraco to get significant AB’s in Cincinnati this season sharing time with personal favorite Ryan Hanigan.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2011	IL	AAA	120	436	60	126	36	2	15	71	1	52	83	.289	.371	.484
2011	NL	MLB	18	53	5	9	3	0	2	6	0	3	10	.180	.226	.360

3. Yasmani Grandal – Bats: B Throws: R – 6’2″ 205 – SD. 11.8.88. College: Miami. Drafted: 1st Round (12th Overall) 2010 – Cincinnati. Grandal and Devin Mesoraco were two of the top rated prep catchers in the 2007 draft and the Reds spent 1st round picks on both of them. Grandal slid to Boston in the 27th round that year but honored his college commitment to Miami (FL) where he started as a freshman on an Omaha bound 2008 team that included fellow first rounders Yonder Alonso and Jemile Weeks. Grandal and Alonso (along with Brad Boxberger) were dealt to San Diego in exchange for Mat Latos. I’m higher on Grandal than most but I’m partial to switch hitting catchers. While his defense lags behind his offense at this stage, he did throw out 34% of would be basestealers last season.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2011	CAL	A+	56	206	47	61	14	0	10	40	0	41	57	.296	.410	.510
2011	SOU	AA	45	156	20	47	15	0	4	26	0	13	39	.301	.360	.474
2011	IL	AAA	4	12	2	6	2	0	0	2	0	5	1	.500	.667	1.33
2011	TOT	3 Lgs	105	374	69	114	31	0	14	68	0	59	97	.305	.401	.500

4. Travis d’Arnaud – Bats: R Throws: R. 6’2 195 – TOR – 2.10.89. High School: Lakewood (CA). Drafted: 1st Round Supplemental (37th Overall) 2007 – Philadelphia. I was a fool to leave him off this list last year. A better all-around skill set than J.P. Arencibia, d’Arnaud should be the Blue Jay’s catcher of the future. The Jays acquired him, along with Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor (since traded to Oakland for Brett Wallace) from the Phillies in the Roy Halladay 2009 trade. He’ll start the year in AAA Las Vegas but should finish in Toronto if they don’t deal him at the deadline if the Jays find themselves competing this season.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2011	EL	AA	114	424	72	132	33	1	21	78	4	33	100	.311	.371	.542

5. Gary Sanchez – Bats: R Throws: R – 6’2″ 220 – NYY – 12.2.92. Signed: Dominican Republic 2009. Though not close to contributing, Montero’s exit has seemingly crowned Sanchez as the catcher of the future in the Bronx. Like Montero however, Sanchez’ defense will make him a long shot to remain behind the dish. He has a strong arm but his receiving skills are primitive.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2011	SAL	A-	82	301	49	77	16	1	17	52	2	36	93	.256	.335	.485

6. Wilin Rosario – Bats: R Throws: R- 5’11” 195 – COL – 2.23.89. Signed: Dominican Republic 2006. There is almost nothing I enjoy more than catchers that love to show off their arms and Rosario does just that and for good reason. Defensive prowess and pop will be his calling cards at the next level but take a walk for crying out loud!

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2011	AA	TL	102	405	52	101	15	3	21	48	1	19	91	.249	.284	.457
2011	NL	MLB	16	54	6	11	3	1	3	8	0	2	20	.204	.228	.463

7. Blake Swilhart – BOS – Bats: B Throws: R – 6’1″ 175 – BOS – 4.3.92. High School: Rio Rancho (NM). Drafted: 1st Round (26th Overall). I already admitted that I’m a sucker for switch hitting catchers and Swilhart is no exception. He projects as a complete catcher though he has more to prove than anyone on this list. A ranking this high is an admitted leap of faith.

Year

LG

Level

G

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

SB

BB

K

AVE

OBP

SLG

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

8. Christian Bethancourt – Bats: R Throws: R – 6’2″ 195 – ATL – 9.2.91. Signed: Panama 2008. Still just 20 years old, Bethancourt is a veteran to this list, coming in at the #9 spot in 2010. His arm and athleticism make him a sure fire bet to stick at catcher but he’ll likely need to develop patience to realize his power potential at the plate.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2011	SAL	A-	54	221	25	67	10	3	4	33	6	8	27	.303	.323	.430
2011	CAR	A+	45	166	11	45	6	0	1	20	3	3	35	.271	.277	.325
2011	TOT	2 lgs	99	387	36	112	16	3	5	53	9	11	62	.289	.304	.385

9. Sebastian Valle – Bats: R Throws: R – 6’1″ 170 – PHI – 7.24.90. Signed: Mexico 2006. Like Bethancourt, Valle has always been one of the younger players at each level he’s played and therefore hasn’t put up the types of numbers that correlate with his scouting reports just yet. He has the type of quick hand that suggest he’ll hit for above average power while also giving you average to good skills behind the plate.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2011	FSL	A+	91	348	34	99	19	2	5	40	0	13	84	.284	.312	.394

10. Tommy Joseph – Bats: R Throws: R – 6’1″ 210 – SF – 1.16.91. High School: Scotsdale (AZ). Drafted: 2nd Round (2009). A sub par full season debut in 2010 both offensively and defensively prompted discussions of Joseph moving to 1B. While he did play some there last season, he also caught 91 games and threw out an impressive 37% of basestealers. His 2012 assignment is to take draw more walks. He won’t be in the hitter friendly California league this year so I expect a regression, however his 2011 improvements were more than just league induced. I was tempted to throw fellow Giants farmhand and 2011 Oregon State draftee Andrew Susac on this list instead of Joseph but since Susac has yet to debut, I’ll give Joseph the slight nod based on performance.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2011	CAL	A+	127	560	80	139	33	2	22	95	1	29	102	.270	.317	.471