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Baltimore Orioles: Ranking the 5 best catchers of all-time

By Christopher Church

Jul 10, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) throws to first base for the force out of Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) (not pictured) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles defeated Washington Nationals 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) throws to first base for the force out of Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) (not pictured) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles defeated Washington Nationals 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baltimore Orioles catcher
Baltimore Orioles catcher /

3. Matt Wieters (2009-2016)

The former Georgia Tech standout Matt Wieters was drafted fifth overall in the 2007 amateur draft by the Baltimore Orioles and made his MLB debut at the age of 23 on May 29, 2009. Wieters stormed into majors with towering and even unrealistic expectations that any one player would have trouble meeting.

Now, after eight successful years in a Baltimore Orioles uniform, Wieters and the Orioles filed for divorce this offseason as newly acquired Welington Castillo will take over as the Orioles primary catcher in 2017. All of this comes after Wieters provided the Orioles with 117 home runs, 437 RBIs, a .256 batting average, and four All-Star selections in his 8-year career with the O’s.

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Wieters best seasons was in 2011 and 2012 where he earned back-to-back All-Star selections and Gold Glove along with helping the Orioles end a 15-year playoff drought in 2012.  He also finished 21st in MVP voting in 2012 where he hit .249 with 23 home runs and 83 RBIs in 144 games.

Then came the 2014 season where it went downhill for Wieters. After playing just 26 games in April and the first part of May, Wieters underwent Tommy John surgery on his right throwing elbow and sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Following the 2014 season, Wieters worked his way back from surgery and appeared in 75 games in 2015 hitting .267 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs. In his most likely last season with the Orioles in 2016, Wieters played in 124 games, most since 2013, and was selected to his fourth All-Star game. However, despite an All-Star selection, Wieters hit just .243 with 17 home runs and 86 RBIs.

Instead of picking just one play, here is a collection of clips displaying the veteran backstop’s defensive plays throughout his career.

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