Paired with Reese McGuire in a veteran tandem, Kelly didn’t just survive — he thrived, slashing .258/.331/.432 with 17 HR, 50 RBI, and elite metrics in pitch blocking and caught stealing percentage. His consistency ended years of revolving-door chaos at catcher, guiding the Cubs to 92 wins and their first real postseason push since 2017.
“Kelly’s impact went beyond the box score,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He managed games, controlled the running game, and gave our pitchers confidence. That’s championship-level catching.”
Kelly vs. 2024 Chaos: A Tale of Two Seasons
Year
Primary Catchers
Games Behind Plate
bWAR (Top C)
CS%
Postseason?
2024
Amaya, Bethancourt, Gomes, Nido
162 (4 different)
1.2 (Amaya)
18%
No
2025
Kelly (111 G), McGuire
162 (2-man)
3.6 (Kelly)
32%
Yes (NLDS)
Last year’s carousel — Tomás Nido’s brutal .128/.143/.234 (5 OPS+) in 17 games among them — was a disaster. Nido was cut in August, only to resurface with Detroit on a minor-league deal after a fluky .343 AVG in 10 injury-fill-in games. Now, he’s back in Motown as depth behind Jake Rogers and Dillon Dingler — a quiet insurance move.
But in Chicago? Kelly erased the memory.
Carson Kelly’s 2025 Breakout: The Numbers That Mattered
Stat
2025 Performance
Rank (MLB Catchers)
bWAR
3.6
Top 10
HR
17
Top 8
Caught Stealing %
32%
Top 5
Pitch Blocking (Runs Saved)
+8
Top 3
Hard-Hit %
42.1%
Above average
Kelly’s 17 HR were a career high. His 50 RBI from the No. 8/9 spot were clutch. And his defense — ranking near the top in framing, blocking, and pop time — saved dozens of runs for a rotation decimated by injuries.
Why Kelly Must Stay: The Foundation of 2026
The Cubs can’t go back to 2024’s patchwork. With Amaya recovering and McGuire a free agent, re-signing Kelly (arb-eligible, ~$5–6M) is a no-brainer. He’s:
Pitcher whisperer: Guided Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and young arms through chaos
Durable: 111 G behind plate (most since 2019)
Affordable: Proven at a fraction of Willson Contreras’s old deal
“We finally had someone we could count on every day,” one Cubs pitcher said. “Kelly’s the guy.”
Nido’s Detroit Encore: A Minor-League Lifeline
Meanwhile, Tomás Nido — the ghost of 2024 — returns to the Tigers on a minor-league pact. After being released by the Mets in June 2024, his Cubs stint was forgettable. But a 10-game hot streak (.343 AVG) in Detroit earned him another shot.
Role: Depth behind Rogers and Dingler
Fit: Defense-first (career 28% CS%), familiar with staff
Risk: Low — no roster pressure
It’s not a comeback. It’s insurance. And it works.
The Verdict: Kelly Is Chicago’s Catcher of the Future
The Cubs don’t need a superstar behind the plate. They need stability. They need defense. They need Carson Kelly.
2025 wasn’t luck. It was proof.Keep the catcher. Build the dynasty.
Track Chicago Cubs catcher plans, Carson Kelly arbitration, and Tomás Nido minor-league updates.
