Please find a list below of several top catching prospects which I have attempted my best to rank. For the purpose of this exercise I have left out 08' draftees (which you can feel free to opine as to where they should rank on this list) as well as players that look to have graduated to the bigs.

Also, bear in mind that my rankings are based solely on fantasy value/hitting ability so whether or not they are good defensively makes no difference as I believe most leagues do not use defensive categories. However, for catchers, defensive ability does come into consideration as their ability to stay at the position comes into question.

Again, if I've left anyone else off the list whether by mistake or otherwise I'm sure I'll hear about it real soon.

1. Matt Wieters - Baltimore (22 yrs old) - .347/.449/.592 total minors - currently with AA bowie. has enormous power potential as evidenced by his 25 homers and plate discipline is outstanding with a 77/70 bb/k ratio. simply put, the best prospect in baseball.

2. Jesus Montero - New York AL (18 yrs old) - .321/.372/.494 for low A charleston - huge power potential with 16 bombs. his 35/74 bb/k ratio is not bad but could stand some improvement. huge ceiling guy, we'll see how he progresses from here as he moves up but very, very promising. hopefully, he'll be able to stay at catcher as his size is cause for concern as he's already 6'4", 225/lbs.

3. Max Ramirez - Texas (23 yrs old) - .354/.450/.646 for AA frisco - this guy can flat out mash. 17 homers in a little more than half a season w/ frisco. has shown good plate discipline as evidenced by 37/56 bb/k ratio. had a decent showing when called up to the big club and is currently on a rehab assignment. the only question here is whether or not he'll qualify at catcher.

4. Pablo Sandoval - San Francisco (22 yrs old) - .350/.394/.578 total minors - currently in the bigs before being called up from AA connecticut. another catching prospect who exploded this yr. to the tune of 20 homers. his 31/59 bb/k ratio is not bad at all and overall has acquitted himself quite nicely so far w/ the big club. very nice prospect to be sure.

5. Carlos Santana - Cleveland (22 yrs old) - .332/.434/.568 total minors - currently with high A kinston. carlos has really burst onto the scene this yr. to the tune of 18 jacks and an outstanding 81/73 bb/k ratio. i haven't heard anything negative about his ability to remain at the position. what's not to like here?

6. Tyler Flowers - Atlanta (22 yrs old) - .289/.429/.492 with high A myrtle beach - very nice power numbers with 16 long balls to go along with tremendous plate discipline as evidenced by a strong 92/91 bb/k ratio. tyler could stand to cut down on his strikeouts but that's kind of nitpicky. also considering his 6'4", 245/lb frame one would have to think he has the same concerns as Jesus Montero about staying behind the plate.

7. J.P. Arencibia - Toronto (22 yrs old) - .302/.324/.540 total minors - currently w/ AA new hampshire. kind of a mixed bag in his first professional season. on the one hand he's shown big power having already jacked 26 long balls and on the other he's shown dreadful plate discipline as evidenced by 16 walks vs. 92 k's. ouch! 

8. Wilson Ramos - Minnesota (20 yrs old) - .274/.332/.425 with high A ft. myers - nice power output so far with 13 homers. could use some improving in the pd dept. with a 33/98 bb/k ratio but overall not bad considering he's played most of the season at age 20 which, for a catcher, is especially young for being in high A. i see enormous potential here. again, lots to like.

9. Angel Salome - Milwaukee (22 yrs old) - .364/.416/.560 with AA huntsville - gives new meaning to the term "mighty might". has jacked 11 homers despite his 5'7" frame (although at 195/lbs he must be considered stocky). i'm not sure he'll hit for enough power at the big league level but he sure can hit. angel also sports a decent 29/54 bb/k ratio.

10. Jonathan Lucroy - Milwaukee (22 yrs old) - .303/.377/.489 total minors - currently with high A brevard county. has shown nice power with 18 homers overall. has also shown nice plate discipline as evidenced by a 53/76 bb/k ratio although this has slipped a bit since being promoted. still a very nice prospect.

11. Taylor Teagarden - Texas (24 yrs old) - .217/.331/.378 total minors - currently assigned to AAA oklahoma but playing in the olympics for Team USA. definitely a mixed bag here. has only 8 homers on the season vs. 27 last year. he also hasn't shown any improvement in the pd dept with a 36/76 bb/k ratio. there is no question about his ability to stay behind the plate but injuries are a cause for concern as i suspect they've played a large part in his development. personally, i think he will hit as long as he stays healthy.  

12. Josh Donaldson - Oakland (22 yrs old) - .271/.334/.450 total minors - currently with high A stockton. josh has defintely heated up since being traded to oakland. josh has 14 homers overall, 8 since moving to the cal league in july. his 32/63 bb/k ratio is also trending way up since the move as it went from a modest 17/41 to a very respectable15/22.  we'll see if this keeps up. 

HM - Bryan Anderson, Hank Conger, Lou Marson, Devin Mesoraco, John Jaso, Luis Exposito, J.R. Towles