Two-Way Catcher on the Rise, Now a Power Bat with Plus Defensive Value
In the 2026 season, Saint Mary’s catcher Ian Armstrong emerged as one of the WCC’s most complete players, hitting .351 with 16 home runs, 51 RBI and a 1.070 OPS while starting 55 games behind the plate. He pairs legit middle-of-the-order pop with impact defense—reports also credit him with elite defensive metrics—and he was named WCC Tournament Most Outstanding Player and First-Team All-WCC. If you want a catcher who can punish mistakes, control a staff, and bring postseason edge, Armstrong checks a lot of boxes.
