Fantasy Baseball: Catcher preview and top draft targets
Saves may be fantasy baseball’s scarcest commodity, but catcher remains its thinnest position. Per Yahoo’s final 2021 rankings, only one catcher, Salvador Perez, finished inside the top-150 fantasy players. Only three finished inside the top-250. Perez ranked No. 22, making him arguably fantasy’s most valuable player last season given replacement level discrepancies.
Perez not only led MLB in homers last season, but he also finished with the most home runs by a player whose primary position was catcher in baseball history. His 620 at-bats were a whopping 144 more than the next-most by a catcher, as Perez (and fantasy managers) benefitted from seeing a lot of time at DH (playing 161 games). He posted a 162 wRC+ during 2020’s shortened season, so last year was hardly some fluke.
There’s certainly an argument for taking Perez early in fantasy drafts (he’s still just 31 years old and had a Hard Hit% in the top 1% last season), but realize it was J.T. Realmuto who projected as easily the best hitting catcher last year, and it’s a taxing position even with DH breaks.
Catcher draft strategy
Catcher drafting strategy depends on format, as leagues vary starting one or two, and it’s obviously much easier filling the position in the former. While getting an edge at the game’s thinnest position is a clear advantage — and would be more apparent in a 12-team league than a 15-teamer — the stats aren’t as impactful as other positions because of less volume. In fact, just five catchers reached even 400 at-bats last season.
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The expected addition of the universal DH will increase the fantasy value of the NL’s better catchers, but it’s tough to expect more than 450+ ABs from the position. THE BAT X doesn’t project a single catcher to hit more than 35 homers, score more than 80 runs, record 100 RBI or hit .270.
You likely won't be hurt if you don't prioritize the position in drafts.
Catchers to target
Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Smith posted a .936 OPS with 15 homers and 44 RBI over just 56 games after the All-Star break last season, and he might be the favorite to end 2022 widely considered as baseball’s best hitting catcher. With Smith just now entering his prime, hitting in a loaded Dodgers lineup and with the likely benefit of the DH, he’s going to help win a lot of fantasy leagues this year.
Daulton Varsho, Arizona Diamondbacks
Varsho is the rare catcher who will get steals, and he’s locked in an everyday role in Arizona’s outfield. He was top-five among catchers in batting average, homers, RBI, runs and stolen bases over the final two months last season, and few eligible players at his position are scheduled to play regularly more than he will.
Keibert Ruiz, Washington Nationals
Ruiz put up big numbers in the minors and more than held his own during his first real taste in the majors last season. He’s now set to become Washington’s everyday catcher and could easily find himself hitting toward the middle of the Nationals’ lineup. Steamer is projecting Ruiz to hit .271 with 21 homers, and his early Yahoo ADP has him going outside the top-200.
Mitch Garver, Texas Rangers
Garver is two seasons removed from swatting 31 homers over just 93 games when his 155 wRC+ easily led all catchers. After a forgetful 2020, Garver bounced back last year with 13 home runs over 207 at-bats, including a .256 xBA and a 137 wRC+ that was better than Salvador Perez’s. Injuries remain a concern, but Garver’s bat is plenty good enough to warrant DH time as well. He’s someone to target.
Editor's Note: Mitch Garver was traded to the Texas Rangers.
Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
Kirk will have to continue fighting for at-bats in Toronto, with Danny Jansen entering the year as the team’s starter and one of the best catcher prospects (Gabriel Moreno) set to make his MLB debut at some point in 2022. Still, Kirk is worth grabbing in fantasy leagues anyway, as his bat has a bunch of upside. The 5-8, 265-pounder hit .347 in Triple-A last year and has real power. A loaded Blue Jays lineup should boost his counting stats, helping offset lesser playing time. There’s no chance Kirk's ADP is this affordable in 2023 fantasy drafts.
[Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP]
Joey Bart, San Francisco Giants
It’s possible numerous players having career seasons in their mid-thirties all at once was a big coincidence; or the Giants’ front office (multiple hitting coaches, “advanced” hitting machines, etc.) is a reason to target San Francisco hitters moving forward (it also helps Oracle Park has become less of a pitcher-haven). Bart hasn’t quite lived up to expectations after being taken with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft (although he certainly wasn’t overmatched in Triple-A last season), but almost all catchers require extra patience with in development. With Buster Posey retiring, Bart is set to become San Francisco’s starting catcher in 2022, yet the prospect is a total afterthought in fantasy drafts (300+ ADP in two-catcher NFBC leagues).
Catcher to fade
Yasmani Grandal, Chicago White Sox
I’m not truly avoiding any catcher this season, as I don’t exactly hate Grandal. But he sports a career .229 expected batting average (.207 xBA in 2020), so Grandal could easily finish with a similar line to Mike Zunino, whose ADP is 150+ picks later.
