Podcast Summary: The Dan Patrick Show – "Our 2025 Catcher Tier List (with Jolly Olive)"

Release Date: February 5, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Episode Title: Our 2025 Catcher Tier List (with Jolly Olive)

Introduction

In this episode of The Dan Patrick Show, hosts Justin Penick, Bobby Bones, and Maurice Jones-Drew delve into the intricacies of baseball's catcher position, collaboratively creating a comprehensive tier list for the year 2025. Joined by guest catchers Jolly Olive and Big Baby David Mendelson, the discussion revolves around evaluating current catchers, analyzing their performances, potential, and placing them into distinct tiers based on their skills and contributions.

Tier List Overview

Justin Penick initiates the segment at [02:00], explaining the purpose of the tier list:

"Today we are doing the Backstops Catchers with my catcher Jolly Olive and my catcher's catcher Big Baby David Mendelson as we break them up, rank them and split them up in Wake and Jake fashion."
— [02:00]

The hosts emphasize the complexity of evaluating catchers, noting the balance between offensive prowess and defensive reliability. They aim to categorize catchers into six columns this year, expanding from previous iterations to accommodate emerging talents and fluctuating performances.

Top Tier Catchers

1. William Contreras

Bobby Bones asserts Contreras's dominance in the catcher role:

"No one is better than William Contreras at playing catcher right now."
— [07:22]

Contreras is lauded for his offensive achievements, including a 23 home run season and a 129 OPS+, which positioned him fifth in MVP voting. At 27 years old, Contreras is seen as a cornerstone for the Brewers' lineup, with expectations of continued growth.

2. Cal Raleigh

Justin Penick praises Raleigh's extraordinary performance:

"Cal Raleigh, what he has done behind the plate, as a switch hitter, and then five WAR, 34 homers last year is nothing short of remarkable for a catcher."
— [08:33]

Raleigh's ability to hit over 30 home runs consecutively places him in elite company, reminiscent of legends like Ken Griffey Jr. His contributions both offensively and defensively make him a pivotal player for the Seattle Mariners.

Second Tier Catchers

1. Adley Rutschman

Justin Penick discusses Rutschman's potential resurgence:

"I actually expect Adley to find his way atop the leaderboard coming into next season."
— [17:11]

Despite a challenging previous season marked by increased strikeouts and decreased walk rates, Rutschman's foundational skills and young age suggest a strong comeback and elevated performance.

2. Yener Diaz

Bobby Bones highlights Diaz's consistent offensive output:

"Catchers that can slug like Yener are few and far between, and he's among the best right now."
— [18:19]

With back-to-back three WAR seasons and impressive OPS+, Diaz is a key asset for the Astros. His role in the middle of the lineup and potential to ascend further solidify his position in the second tier.

3. Will Smith

Bobby Bones underscores Smith's reliability:

"Will Smith is such a consistent catcher defensively and never below league average offensively. He could suddenly have that elite season we're waiting for."
— [21:06]

Smith's defensive prowess and steady offensive contributions make him a valuable player, with the potential to elevate his status if he breaks out offensively.

Middle Tier Catchers

1. JT Rimuto and Salvador Perez

Justin Penick and Bobby Bones pair Rimuto and Perez, recognizing their consistent performances but acknowledging areas for improvement.

"JT Rimuto's contract and consistent offensive output make him a strong contender, while Salvador Perez's defensive metrics keep him in the conversation."
— [23:40]

Both players are viewed as reliable, with Perez's framing skills and Rimuto's hitting making them indispensable to their respective teams.

Hope or Nope

This new tier captures catchers who have shown potential but are on the brink of either solidifying their status or regressing.

1. Patrick Bailey

Justin Penick expresses cautious optimism about Bailey:

"Patrick Bailey has the defensive skills to be one of the best, but his offensive inconsistency keeps him in Hope or Nope."
— [42:05]

Bailey's exceptional defense is overshadowed by his fluctuating hitting statistics. The hosts discuss whether his potential to improve offensively can elevate him out of this tier.

2. Joey Bart and Ryan Jeffers

Bobby Bones and Maurice Jones-Drew evaluate Bart and Jeffers as emerging talents:

"Joey Bart has shown glimpses of success but needs consistency, while Ryan Jeffers has had solid performances but faces questions about long-term reliability."
— [60:20]

Their abilities to perform under pressure and contribute consistently will determine their future placements.

Bottom Tier Catchers

1. Austin Hedges and Elias Diaz

Justin Penick categorizes Diaz at the bottom due to his inconsistent performance:

"Elias Diaz's career OPS and recent performance place him at the bottom, but his youth offers hope for improvement."
— [64:47]

Hedges faces similar scrutiny, with concerns about his defensive limitations and offensive output:

"Austin Hedges is struggling defensively and his offensive numbers are just not meeting expectations, landing him in the bottom tier."
— [65:06]

Debates and Key Points

Throughout the episode, the hosts engage in lively debates over certain players’ placements:

• Adley Rutschman's Potential vs. Current Performance: While Rutschman faced challenges last season, his foundational skills and potential for growth argue for his higher placement.

• Patrick Bailey’s Offensive Inconsistency: The team grapples with Bailey's elite defensive capabilities versus his fluctuating offensive performance, debating whether he should remain in "Hope or Nope" or be elevated based on future improvements.

• Jonah Heim vs. Ryan Jeffers: A nuanced discussion arises regarding Heim's last season's underperformance compared to Jeffers' solid contributions, questioning tendencies to favor Heim due to name recognition over Jeffers' reliability.

"Sometimes, catchers get Twitter fights because fans are invested in their favorites, but we need to maintain objectivity in our tier list."
— [70:24]

Conclusions

By the end of the episode, the hosts finalize their 2025 Catcher Tier List, categorizing players based on a combination of past performance, potential for growth, and current season projections. They acknowledge the fluid nature of player performance and the impact of external factors like injuries.

Summary of Tiers:

• Top Tier:

  • William Contreras
  • Cal Raleigh

• Second Tier:

  • Adley Rutschman
  • Yener Diaz
  • Will Smith

• Middle Tier:

  • JT Rimuto
  • Salvador Perez

• Hope or Nope:

  • Patrick Bailey
  • Joey Bart
  • Ryan Jeffers

• Bottom Tier:

  • Austin Hedges
  • Elias Diaz

The episode wraps up with the hosts encouraging listeners to engage with their tier list, providing feedback and participating in the ongoing conversation about catcher performances in baseball.

"Enjoy the catcher tier list. What did you like? What did you hate? Please comment below."
— [72:35]

Notable Quotes

• Bobby Bones on William Contreras:

  "No one is better than William Contreras at playing catcher right now."
  — [07:22]

• Justin Penick on Cal Raleigh:

  "Cal Raleigh, what he has done behind the plate, as a switch hitter, and then five WAR, 34 homers last year is nothing short of remarkable for a catcher."
  — [08:33]

• Justin Penick on Adley Rutschman:

  "I actually expect Adley to find his way atop the leaderboard coming into next season."
  — [17:11]

• Bobby Bones on Will Smith:

  "Will Smith is such a consistent catcher defensively and never below league average offensively. He could suddenly have that elite season we're waiting for."
  — [21:06]

• Justin Penick on Patrick Bailey:

  "Patrick Bailey has the defensive skills to be one of the best, but his offensive inconsistency keeps him in Hope or Nope."
  — [42:05]

Final Thoughts

This episode provides an insightful analysis of the catcher position in baseball, balancing statistical evaluation with experiential insights from seasoned hosts. The tier list serves as a tool for fans to gauge player performances and anticipate future developments in the 2025 season.

Listeners are encouraged to join the conversation, share their opinions, and participate in shaping the ongoing discourse around baseball's elite catching talents.

Note: Timestamps correspond to the provided transcript and are approximate due to the formatting of the source material.