Former San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Poser is likely to get inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2027. Even though he had a shortened major-league career, he was among the best catchers from 2010 to 2021. Most notably, he was instrumental in the Giants winning the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014, including an MVP season in 2012.

Yet, after Posey, the number of viable catcher candidates for Cooperstown drops off dramatically. There are no sure-fire contenders like a Pudge Rodriguez or a Mike Piazza.

Former Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina appears to have the best chance in the near future. He will be eligible for election in 2028. A 19-year veteran, he was noted more for his handling of pitchers and his defense than his batting since he was below average (career 96 OPS+) as a hitter. His nine Gold Gloves and 10 All-Star selections will certainly work in his favor among the voting baseball writers.

After Molina, the only other viable catcher candidates whose careers are far enough along to judge their worthiness as Hall of Famers are currently active players Salvador Perez, Willson Contreras, and JT Realmuto.

Perez is currently in his 15th season with Kansas City. Like Molina, he is a solid defender behind the plate, as he is a five-time Gold Glove winner. But he is better at the plate than Molina, accumulating five Silver Slugger awards.

Realmuto is currently in his 13th season, his eighth with Philadelphia. He has a couple of Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards in his trophy case, but he could hardly be considered dominant in his era.

Contreras is in his 11th major league campaign, enjoying the best season of his career with the hot Boston Red Sox. He has four All-Star selections. His 162-game average over his career includes 27 home runs and 84 RBIs, stats which many teams would be happy to have.

While these three are solid major leaguers, none of them would likely be favorites for election to the Hall.

Looking ahead to less-tenured players in the game today, the Dodgers’ Will Smith and Red Sox’s Adley Rutschman are among those with the highest-potential for a bronze plaque in the Hall.

The 31-year-old Smith is an average defensive catcher, but his bat has played big for the Dodgers’ three World Series championship teams in 2020, 2024, and 2025. On incredibly talented Dodgers teams, he was the MVP in each of those Fall Classics.

Rutschman, the Number 1 overall draft pick of the Orioles in 2019, was a star-in-the-making in his first three major-league seasons. He was runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2022, followed by two All-Star years. Even though he earned a third All-Star selection this season, the Orioles appeared to have given up on his future when they traded him to Boston at the trade deadline.

Admittedly, the verdict is still out as to how the rest of Smith’s and Rutschman’s careers will pan out.

The last catcher inducted into the Hall was Minnesota’s Joe Mauer in 2024. In the 20+ years prior to him, the inductees included Ted Simmons (2020), Pudge Rodriguez (2017), Mike Piazza (2016), Gary Carter (2003), and Carlton Fisk (2000).

The next 20 years don’t look too promising for additional catchers in the Hall.