| 1 |
Buster Posey (SF - C,1B) | 55 |
1 |
10 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
44.0 |
-11.0 |
Posey has the big name so he may go higher in drafts than he deserves after seeing his batting average and power numbers plummet. Now, he may bounce back, but catchers rarely produce at the same rates when they pass 30 years-old so make of that what you will. |
| 2 |
Gary Sanchez (NYY - C) | 67 |
1 |
6 |
2.7 |
1.1 |
72.0 |
+5.0 |
At bat for at bat, Sanchez was one of the top hitters in baseball last season. Before being called up, however, he was merely mediocre in the minor leagues. While he may have actually taken a big step forward, it is safe to assume significant regression in 2017. Keep in mind, he batted just .222 in September. |
| 3 |
Jonathan Lucroy (TEX - C,1B) | 79 |
2 |
13 |
3.3 |
1.8 |
83.0 |
+4.0 |
The knock on Lucroy in the past has been that he isn't as durable as Posey, and that may be true, but his upside is 25 homers with a .300 batting average so he shouldn't be drafted much later, if at all. |
| 4 |
Willson Contreras (CHC - C,LF) | 129 |
3 |
13 |
6.1 |
2.5 |
128.0 |
-1.0 |
After batting over .350 with loads of power in the minors last season, we got to see the another young Cubs' slugger first hand. His bat is unquestionably good, the only concern is whether his glove and durability will allow him to ascend towards the top of the fantasy catcher ratings this season. |
| 5 |
J.T. Realmuto (MIA - C) | 146 |
3 |
15 |
7.1 |
2.1 |
137.0 |
-9.0 |
While Realmuto owners should expect some regression from his .303 batting average, he is now just 26 years old so still growing into some power and may be the only catcher in baseball likely to hit 10+ homers and steal 10+ bases. |
| 6 |
Yasmani Grandal (LAD - C) | 148 |
3 |
12 |
7.3 |
1.9 |
138.0 |
-10.0 |
Grandal has killed fantasy teams in terms of batting average with his extended slumps, but when he is hot, there is no better hitting catcher in the league. Last season, he put together an .876 OPS in the second-half and could continue that production straight into 2017. |
| 7 |
Salvador Perez (KC - C) | 149 |
3 |
13 |
7.4 |
2.1 |
111.0 |
-38.0 |
Perez has become one of the most consistent catchers in baseball. While his ceiling is limited to what he has been, fantasy owners can expect 20 homers and positive regression from his luck-driven .247 batting average last season. |
| 8 |
Kyle Schwarber (CHC - C,LF) | 75 |
1 |
17 |
3.2 |
2.8 |
98.0 |
+23.0 |
There is no catcher in baseball who can tear the cover off the ball like Schwarber (sorry Gattis), but does he have a position? The Cubs don't get a DH so they will have to sneak the beastly hitter in at LF or C where he will significantly hurt the team defense. If he gets over 400 at bats, however, he could knock 30 homers. |
| 9 |
Evan Gattis (HOU - C,DH) | 158 |
4 |
23 |
8.6 |
3.5 |
168.0 |
+10.0 |
Gattis is going to have a tough time getting in the loaded Astros' lineup every day this season, but when he plays, his bat is superb. He should knock another 25-35 homers this season and with the improved lineup, could work his way up to 90 RBIs in 2017.; |
| 10 |
Russell Martin (TOR - C) | 175 |
5 |
17 |
10.1 |
2.4 |
205.0 |
+30.0 |
Gone are the days where Martin will hit anywhere close to .290, but he is a good bet to swat 15 or more homers with 60 RBIs once again and has been consistent in securing 400 at bats each season so he is a safe middle round investment in a tough position. |
| 11 |
Brian McCann (HOU - C,DH) | 188 |
5 |
15 |
10.4 |
2.0 |
177.0 |
-11.0 |
Even though he will be spending quite a bit of time as the DH for the Astros, he is at the stage of his career where we can know he won't eclipse 500 AB. With that said, he is a good bet to knock another 20 homers since he has done it nine straight seasons now, and while his BA will be low, 20 bombs from a catcher is difficult to come by at the position. |
| 12 |
Welington Castillo (BAL - C) | 220 |
7 |
17 |
11.9 |
2.2 |
206.0 |
-14.0 |
Castillo hasn't made his way into the lineup enough to be a true starting catcher in fantasy baseball, but if he can find his way into 500 PA, we could be talking about a catcher who hits 20 homers and drives in 75 runs without killing your team's batting average. |
| 13 |
Stephen Vogt (OAK - C,DH) | 239 |
9 |
21 |
13.3 |
2.7 |
304.0 |
+65.0 |
Vogt has found his way onto the all-star team each of the past two seasons, but the stats haven't been impressive at all. Just 32 homers despite playing more games than most catchers and now he is 32 years old so any progression seems unlikely. |
| 14 |
Yadier Molina (STL - C) | 242 |
8 |
20 |
13.8 |
2.6 |
219.0 |
-23.0 |
Quite possibly, the quietest .300 hitter from last season was Molina. He only knocked 8 homers and isn't stealing double-digit bases anymore, but seeing that he batted .365 with the majority of his power in the second-half, it isn't impossible for him to improve upon last year's strong offensive performance. |
| 15 |
Matt Wieters (WSH - C) | 240 |
7 |
37 |
14.3 |
4.4 |
220.0 |
-20.0 |
Wieters hasn't hit above .250 in any of the previous three seasons and has had a difficult time staying on the field which doesn't sound good for someone moving from Baltimore to probably Tampa's pitcher's park, but if they stick him at 1st base or DH for the most part, his playing time and offensive ratios should both jump. |
| 16 |
Cameron Rupp (PHI - C) | 297 |
9 |
30 |
17.3 |
3.6 |
307.0 |
+10.0 |
|
| 17 |
Travis d'Arnaud (NYM - C) | 319 |
13 |
25 |
18.7 |
2.9 |
318.0 |
-1.0 |
This former top prospect hasn't been able to stay on the field long enough to develop, but if he stays healthy this season, that 2015 OPS of .825 would look really nice on a fantasy catcher stretched out over a full season, especially for someone who is going undrafted in most leagues. |
| 18 |
Austin Hedges (SD - C) | 333 |
7 |
32 |
20.4 |
4.6 |
306.0 |
-27.0 |
|
| 19 |
Francisco Cervelli (PIT - C) | 362 |
15 |
34 |
20.4 |
4.0 |
356.0 |
-6.0 |
|
| 20 |
Mike Zunino (SEA - C) | 341 |
12 |
35 |
20.9 |
3.8 |
328.0 |
-13.0 |
Zunino was once considered a top 10 prospect thanks to starting his minor league career with a 1.137 OPS. He really disappointed in his first three MLB seasons, but came surging back late last season with 12 homers in just 55 games after posting an .898 OPS in Triple-A. If you stretch that out to a full season, he is going to lead all catchers in homers. |
| 21 |
Wilson Ramos (TB - C) DL60 | 329 |
9 |
30 |
20.9 |
4.6 |
321.0 |
-8.0 |
Ramos will see a drop off in his home ballpark factor this season and will start the season injured for an undisclosed amount of time, but it's tough to ignore 22 homers and a catcher who batted over .300. |
| 22 |
Tom Murphy (COL - C) DL10 | 324 |
7 |
30 |
21.3 |
5.0 |
397.0 |
+73.0 |
Yes, it was a small sample size when Murphy put together a 1.006 OPS last year in the bigs, but he also went .327/.361/.647 in Triple-A over 300 at bats so there is plenty to be excited about and he is worthy of a flier in case we get a breakout here. |
| 23 |
Yan Gomes (CLE - C) | 334 |
13 |
27 |
21.5 |
3.9 |
384.0 |
+50.0 |
|
| 24 |
Devin Mesoraco (CIN - C) | 357 |
15 |
35 |
23.8 |
3.6 |
369.0 |
+12.0 |
|
| 25 |
Derek Norris (TB - C) | 372 |
13 |
42 |
25.5 |
5.7 |
|
|
|
| 26 |
Sandy Leon (BOS - C) | 379 |
17 |
37 |
24.8 |
3.9 |
378.0 |
-1.0 |
|
| 27 |
Tony Wolters (COL - C) | 370 |
15 |
38 |
26.1 |
5.5 |
383.0 |
+13.0 |
|
| 28 |
James McCann (DET - C) DL10 | 389 |
15 |
32 |
27.2 |
4.2 |
380.0 |
-9.0 |
|
| 29 |
Tyler Flowers (ATL - C) | 469 |
18 |
38 |
28.6 |
4.4 |
421.0 |
-48.0 |
|
| 30 |
Jett Bandy (MIL - C) | 450 |
17 |
36 |
28.5 |
3.8 |
391.0 |
-59.0 |
|
| 31 |
Chris Herrmann (ARI - C,LF) | 438 |
17 |
43 |
33.8 |
6.4 |
|
|
|
| 32 |
Andrew Susac (MIL - C) MiLB | 451 |
16 |
42 |
31.3 |
5.6 |
|
|
|
| 33 |
Tucker Barnhart (CIN - C) | |
18 |
44 |
37.2 |
5.4 |
|
|
|
| 34 |
Jason Castro (MIN - C) | 423 |
24 |
37 |
29.9 |
3.4 |
405.0 |
-18.0 |
|
| 35 |
Chance Sisco (BAL - C) NRI | |
18 |
53 |
38.9 |
9.4 |
|
|
|
| 36 |
Martin Maldonado (LAA - C) | 417 |
22 |
48 |
34.6 |
5.6 |
|
|
|
| 37 |
Nick Hundley (SF - C) | |
24 |
49 |
34.4 |
5.2 |
|
|
|
| 38 |
Chris Iannetta (ARI - C) | 506 |
25 |
56 |
38.5 |
7.1 |
|
|
|
| 39 |
Bruce Maxwell (OAK - C) MiLB | |
25 |
48 |
37.2 |
4.7 |
|
|
|
| 40 |
Geovany Soto (CWS - C) DL60 | |
26 |
47 |
39.6 |
6.1 |
|
|
|
| 41 |
Josh Phegley (OAK - C) | |
27 |
51 |
39.1 |
4.7 |
|
|
|
| 42 |
Kurt Suzuki (ATL - C) | |
27 |
50 |
41.6 |
4.5 |
|
|
|
| 43 |
Jorge Alfaro (PHI - C) MiLB | |
28 |
47 |
34.2 |
4.2 |
|
|
|
| 44 |
Carlos Perez (LAA - C) MiLB | |
29 |
54 |
43.4 |
6.3 |
|
|
|
| 45 |
Roberto Perez (CLE - C) | |
30 |
56 |
42.1 |
8.7 |
|
|
|
| 46 |
Curt Casali (TB - C) MiLB | |
31 |
52 |
41.8 |
4.4 |
|
|
|
| 47 |
Miguel Montero (CHC - C) | |
31 |
48 |
41.6 |
5.1 |
|
|
|
| 48 |
Blake Swihart (BOS - C,LF) MiLB | |
31 |
47 |
37.8 |
4.5 |
|
|
|
| 49 |
Omar Narvaez (CWS - C) | |
32 |
51 |
45.0 |
6.1 |
|
|
|
| 50 |
Robinson Chirinos (TEX - C) | |
34 |
52 |
42.8 |
6.0 |
|
|
|
| 51 |
Austin Barnes (LAD - C) | |
34 |
51 |
42.9 |
4.2 |
|
|
|
| 52 |
Carlos Ruiz (SEA - C) | |
35 |
52 |
48.2 |
3.8 |
|
|
|
| 53 |
Christian Bethancourt (SD - C) MiLB | |
37 |
50 |
45.0 |
4.5 |
|
|
|
| 54 |
Dioner Navarro (C) FA | |
38 |
50 |
45.4 |
3.4 |
|
|
|
| 55 |
Alex Avila (DET - C,1B) | |
39 |
55 |
47.7 |
4.4 |
|
|
|
| 56 |
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (TOR - C,1B) DFA | |
39 |
52 |
43.7 |
5.9 |
|
|
|
| 57 |
Jose Lobaton (WSH - C) | |
39 |
49 |
44.3 |
2.6 |
|
|
|
| 58 |
J.R. Murphy (MIN - C) | |
41 |
53 |
49.0 |
5.7 |
|
|
|
| 59 |
A.J. Pierzynski (C) FA | |
45 |
49 |
47.2 |
1.1 |
|
|
|
| 60 |
Caleb Joseph (BAL - C) | |
47 |
54 |
51.8 |
2.9 |
|
|
|
| 61 |
Kevin Plawecki (NYM - C) MiLB | |
49 |
51 |
50.0 |
1.0 |
|
|
|
| 62 |
Chris Stewart (PIT - C) | |
50 |
60 |
55.0 |
5.0 |
|
|
|
| 63 |
Carson Kelly (STL - C) MiLB | |
55 |
58 |
56.5 |
1.5 |
|
|
|
| 64 |
Luke Maile (TOR - C) | |
59 |
62 |
60.5 |
1.5 |
|
|
|
