Top-50 Catcher Ranks

I haven’t included catchers in the normal rankings since each league has a different total being rostered from 10 to down to the 48th one (12-team, two-catcher AL or NL-only leagues). I think the talent drops off around my 25th ranking. This finding leads to two takes. Unless I’m in a 15-team, tw0-catcher or deeper league, I’m not going to prioritize catchers. There are acceptable options for shallow formats. In the deeper leagues, I will set a line and try to roster my two catchers from the top-25.

Notes:

• The rankings start with a weighted average of several available projections. From there, I moved hitters up or down based on my perceived playing time (PA) or talent (Talent)
• I had to pick one format to rank off of and I went with 5×5 Roto.
• I didn’t give any player a multi-position boost or DH hit with each hosting site having its own settings.
• Replacement level is not included since that value will change based on each league’s settings.

Notes

• J.T. Realmuto: The projections had the 32-year-old catcher with over 560 PA so I brought that total down. He still ranks as the #1 guy.

• MJ Melendez: The projections had him playing fewer games than he did in 2022. I don’t think he’ll play every day but I did give him a 10-game (40 PA) bump.

• Will Smith: When I updated my projections, one projection system didn’t take into account the J.D. Martinez signing, so a small drop.

• Dalton Varsho: Several items have me low on Varsho. First, the last time Varsho started at catcher was June 9th, so I don’t expect him to be the catcher beyond a game or two next season. The second issue was that he was getting platooned at the season’s end.  Of the 18 lefty starters the team faced, he sat for 10 of them after because of a .615 career OPS against lefties (.781 OPS vs RHP). Finally, the Diamondbacks have five outfielders projected for similar production.

They are separated by nine points of wOBA. If one, who could be Varsho, struggles to start the season, he could be demoted to the minors or the bench.

• Alejandro Kirk: I just don’t believe in the mid-500 PA projections.

• Logan O’Hoppe: I know O’Hoppe doesn’t have a ton of experience, but when Max Stassi struggles (career .656 OPS), O’Hoppe should see more playing time.

• Francisco Alvarez: I bumped him up to half-time at-bats and I could see that number increase even more if McCann is traded.

• Nick Fortes and Jacob Stallings: I moved them to 50/50 on the playing time. They were effectively there over the second half of the season (Fortes 160 PA, Stallings 158 PA).  Also, I bumped up Fortes’s talent because he’s one of the few catchers who can steal a base (5 in 240 PA).

• Connor Wong and Reese McGuire: In September, Wong had 47 PA (proj .738 OPS) while McGuire had 56 PA (proj .660 OPS). I just put them at an even number of plate appearances.

• Endy Rodriguez: The Pirate prospect only has 23 PA in AAA, but is likely the team’s best-hitting catcher. I just put him at 50/50 with Austin Hedges.

• Gabriel Moreno: Right now, the Jays catchers are splitting playing time, and eventually, one will be traded. Moreno’s playing time will jump once the trade occurs.

Previous ranking articles with notes:

• Top-100 Hitters (December 7th)
• Top-200 Hitters (December 13th)