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Athletics' Shea Langeliers is dominating as an elite offensive catcher
Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Athletics' Shea Langeliers is dominating as an elite offensive catcher

Athletics star Shea Langeliers is putting up some serious, dominant numbers among elite offensive catchers this season. 

He's ranking first among MLB catchers in batting average (.336), home runs (11), OPS (1.011), fWAR (2.1), and sixth with 22 RBI. He also owns the highest wRC+ by a catcher this season (176 wRC+)

Langeliers is coming off a strong 2025 campaign where he batted .277 with 31 home runs, seven stolen bases, and an .861 OPS. Following his 31-homer season in 2025, he has capitalized on his past success by improving his contact rates to solidify his reputation as an all-around hitter

His aggressive approach with aiming to drive the ball for extra-base hits and home runs has reached ultimate highs, as he is projected to hit 40-plus home runs this season. 

Shea Langeliers is shining as a hot commodity for the Athletics 

The 28-year-old is in his prime and striving for a long-term deal. Acting as a core offensive catalyst for the Athletics, the team has shown interest in extending him. He provides a high-ceiling incentive with his early-season breakout performance. His electric performance also highlights how valuable he is to the team. 

Langeliers started his 2026 season on a high note as he became the second player in Athletics franchise history to crush three bombs in the first two games of a season.

His offensive batting metrics this season have established him as a reliable middle-of-the-order threat with raw power. 

Some batting metrics to shed light on are his .316 expected batting average (xBA) that ranks in the 99th percentile. xBA measures the probability of whether a batted ball will turn into a hit. 

He also owns an impressive average exit velocity of 92.7 mph, which ranks in the 92nd percentile and enhances his production. Lastly, his loud contact comes from sporting a barrel rate of 15.7%, which ranks in the 89th percentile. 

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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