We continue on in our fantasy baseball rankings, this time with catchers. This is typically the weakest position in fantasy baseball, and this year is no different. You basically have two options here: reach for talent, or draft a buy-low guy and hope he works out. If he doesn’t, you’ll find another on the waiver wire and try again. There are some exciting prospects like Francisco Alvarez, Diego Cartaya, and Logan O’Hoppe that could make fantasy baseball catchers stronger if they pan out.
This list is a ranking of the top 10 fantasy baseball catchers you should target for your team.
First, a few catchers who just missed the list:
Salvador Perez may have more games played at DH with the arrival of another catcher you’ll see later on the list, but he’ll still get some reps and should maintain positional eligibility here. He missed time due to a hand injury last year, but in the 114 games he played in, he slashed .254/.292/.465/.757 with 23 homers and doubles, 76 RBI, 48 runs scored, and an OPS+ of 110. Yes, he’s still got power, but strikeouts are a major problem for him and he doesn’t walk at all, so that combination impacts his fantasy value tremendously, which is why he just missed the list.
Keibert Ruiz had been one of the top catching prospects in the game for a few years before getting traded to the Nationals, and 2022 was his first full season as a big leaguer. He was okay, posting a .252/.313/.360/.673 with seven homers, 22 doubles, 36 RBI, and 33 runs scored with an OPS+ of 95. I think there’s more in the tank for Ruiz, and he’s still very young at just 24, so hopefully he can break out in 2023.
Jonah Heim had his best season in 2022. He slashed .227/.298/.399/.697 with 16 homers, 20 doubles 48 RBI, and 51 runs scored. His OPS+ was just a couple of ticks below average at 98, which plays at this position. He provides some power, but he doesn’t have the crazy strikeout problems that Sanchez or Perez do, so he’s a safer pick.
These are guys who could be solid on your fantasy baseball teams, or they could bust and you’ll have to play the waiver wire. With the honorable mentions out of the way, let’s look at the top 10 fantasy baseball catchers you should target for your team in 2023.