Fantasy Baseball Catchers #10: Tyler Stephenson
Tyler Stephenson dealt with injuries in 2022, but when he was healthy, he crushed the ball. He slashed .319/.372/.482/.854 with six homers, nine doubles, 35 RBI, and 24 runs scored in 50 games. That’s good for an OPS+ of 130, one of the strongest on this list. Since offense is so scarce at this position, he’s worth reaching for. If he can figure out how to hit the ball in the air more, and stay healthy throughout the 2023 season, he could become even more dangerous.
Fantasy Baseball Catchers #9: MJ Melendez
MJ Melendez came up early in the 2022 season and crushed the ball. He’s somewhat similar to his teammate, the aforementioned Salvador Perez, in that he has big power but it comes with big strikeout problems. Because of this, he slashed just .217/.313/.393/.706 with an OPS+ of 99, but he did hit 18 homers, 21 doubles, drive in 62 runs, and score 57. He mostly played the outfield last year, which means he’ll have eligibility there to start this season, which increases his value. Versatility is a huge advantage, especially if he takes a step forward offensively in 2023.