Colorado Rockies: Who will be the Starting Catcher in 2018?

The catcher position is one of the hardest positions to play in all of team sports. It is also one of the most important. For the Colorado Rockies, a number of players are making an attempt to be the starter in the 2018 season, which is fast approaching. For most people, the man starting behind the dish in a couple months could be one of three guys: Tom Murphy, Tony Wolters, and Chris Iannetta. Here’s the case for all of them.

Tom Murphy: Ready to be called up

Murphy didn’t necessarily make the most of his opportunities in the big leagues last season, but that doesn’t mean he’s not ready to make the jump.

In 2016, Murphy proved Triple-A was below his level. He mashed 19 home runs in only 80 games while also maintaining an incredible .327 average. That didn’t exactly translate to the majors last season, but it could definitely this year.

Unfortunately for him, the Rockies aren’t in position for a long term development project. But if they are willing to give Murphy some time, he could turn into a great player, which could make the wait worth it.

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Tony Wolters: Young but experienced

Wolters is the youngest of the three catchers vying for the spot, but that doesn’t make him a long term project.

Wolters has played in more than 150 games between the last 2 years and in that time, he has been below low major league average. He never had the minor league stats Murphy has, but he has shown he can be a decent catcher, which might be all the Rockies need to make a push into the playoffs.

Given his age, you would also have to assume his numbers will get better next year. He is a safe option that the Rockies could make just to keep them treading water while the stars, like Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon, take charge and push this team into contention.

Chris Iannetta: He’s been there before

Chris Iannetta has always been a spotty, inconsistent hitter, but last year, he proved he still has a lot left in the tank. If he can put up even close to the numbers he produced last year for the Diamondbacks, he would easily be the most valuable player between the three players.

But that is not why Iannetta is a clear option for the spot. The real reason why is because he has been there before.

Iannetta was on the 2007 Rockies team to make the World Series and the 2009 team that made the postseason. He also played in the NLDS just last year.

Next: Could 2018 be a bounce back year for Ian Desmond?

While his numbers in the playoffs are hard to look at, the fact he has experience playing playoff baseball easily gives him an edge over the competition.