Making the Grade: Ranking Catchers in the AL Central

No. 3: Kurt Suzuki, Minnesota Twins

Sep 26, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki (8) hits a two RBI single in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Kurt Suzuki was quietly productive in 2014 and made his first All-Star appearance at the age of 30.

The Hawaii-native batted .288 over 131 games in his first season with the Minnesota Twins. Though he was likely not the primary catching target for the Twins last offseason, Suzuki outperformed the other bigger name signings and recorded his best offensive season since 2009.

Questions, though, exist about whether or not Suzuki can sustain his offensive output.

He is a career .257 hitter, so there is no real reason to believe he will continue his 2014 production over another grueling 162 game schedule – especially with the depth of pitching currently residing in the AL Central.

Defensively, Suzuki is a sure-handed backstop with excellent instincts and game-calling ability. He posted a .995 fielding percentage in 2014, committing just four errors in 780 chances. Over his entire eight-year career, Suzuki has just 43 errors to his name in well over 900 games of work.

Next: No. 2

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