Dodgers pitchers and catchers reported for spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona on Tuesday and barring any injuries or an unexpected trade, the Dodgers will start the season with Austin Barnes (age 29) and Russell Martin (age 36) sharing time behind the plate. Both are excellent defensive catchers, noted for their game calling, pitch framing, and blocking balls in the dirt, with reputations as hard-nosed ball players.

Offensively? Neither catcher is expected to replace Yasmani Grandal, who has been one of the best offensive catchers in the game over the last four seasons, not to mention a switch-hitter. But, what about collectively? The Dodgers would be overjoyed if the two catchers bounced back to their 2017 levels of run production which were remarkably similar to the 2018 Dodgers’ catchers as well as the average production for all MLB catchers:

Backing up Barnes and Martin at Oklahoma City is starter-in-waiting Will Smith, and veterans Rocky Gale and Josh Thole. The 23-year-old Smith is considered to be ready now defensively, needing only to demonstrate that his bat will play at the major league level. Andrew Friedman is on record that he expects Smith to help win games in the second half of this season and on Wednesday told reporters that he considers Smith to be a Gold Glove-caliber catcher.

Gale is a fine defensive catcher and has 3 minor league options remaining, which gives him an advantage over Thole, who is out of options and has a July 1 opt-out in his contract if not added to the Dodgers roster.

Baseball America’s top rated minor league catcher, Keibert Ruiz, will most likely start the season at Double-A Tulsa and is unlikely to be with Dodgers earlier than a possible September 1 call up.

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