The Fantasy Baseball catcher market always makes for interesting discussion. Some say the top guys are not worth paying up for and would prefer to shop at the bargain bin. Others love getting one of the top guys on the board. One thing is sure, paying up for a catcher was worth it in 2022. Today we will do an in-depth review of the position in 2022 and some strategies for 2023.
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Fantasy Baseball 2022 Catcher Review
If you play in a 10-12 team league that only starts one catcher, you can get away with waiting at the position. You may not get the desired results of higher-end catchers, but you likely were not upset with what Travis d’Arnuad provided. But in a league that is 15 teams or deeper and/or uses two catcher spots, it is crucial to get at least one high-end catcher. You can see in the image below the difference in ADP and finish on the Razzball player rater.
2023 Draft Strategy
It may be crazy, but 2023 Fantasy Baseball drafts are already live. Maybe you are drafting already? Regardless it is never too early to think about preparing for next season. As I previously mentioned, in a stand-alone ten or 12-team league, you can wait to get your catcher. Paying up for J.T. Realmuto or Daulton Varsho will give you an edge because they steal bases. In a 15-team, two-catcher league, they give you an even larger advantage. The disparity between a Realmuto or Varsho and a Carson Kelly is just so significant.
Personally, in a 15-team, two-catcher league, I want one of the top five at the position for my catcher one. For me, that includes J.T. Realmuto, Will Smith, Daulton Varsho, Adley Rutschman, and Salvador Perez. For my second catcher, I would love to get someone like Travis d’Arnuad or Sean Murphy, but that ties up a lot of draft capital in catcher early. If you are looking at some later targets who could return value, I like Logan O’Hoppe, Bo Naylor, and Joey Bart.
In a stand-alone ten or 12 team, I am fine getting a top catcher or waiting until the middle-to-late part of the draft. League context is so important when thinking about roster construction for catchers.
Catcher Review: 2022 Standouts
J.T. Realmuto, PHI
J.T. Realmuto became only the second catcher ever and the first since Ivan Rodriguez in 1999 to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases. Realmuto played 139 games in 2022 and finished with a slash line of .276/.308/.478 with 22 home runs and 21 stolen bases. He was by and far the best catcher for fantasy purposes and should be valued as such for 2023. I have no problem taking Realmuto as a top-40 pick in 2023 because there are minimal reasons why he couldn’t be 20/20 again, especially in the new stolen base environment.
Daulton Varsho, ARI
Varsho gets the added benefit of playing in the outfield, which allowed him to accrue 592 plate appearances. He finished the season with 27 home runs and 16 stolen bases. His batting average was far from great at .235, but it did not kill you considering his contributions in counting stats. Varsho started enough at catcher to maintain eligibility, but who knows if he will keep it beyond 2023.
Will Smith, LAD
Will Smith has been as steady as they come since debuting. He reached his higher plate appearance mark in 2022 with 578 plate appearances. Smith his 24 home runs and drove in 87 RBI. Smith hit .260, which aligns with his .261 career mark. He is a safe lock for next year to be a top-five catcher.
Alejandro Kirk, TOR
Kirk was a pleasant surprise, and someone Toolshed faithful would have been in on in 2022. He has been described by us as a “little freaking bowling ball” who does nothing but hit. Kirk mashed 14 home runs and posted a .285 batting average. Kirk is a safe bet for batting average that also provides decent power.
Salvador Perez, KC
Perez missed time with a thumb injury multiple times as well as a back injury and was limited to just 473 plate appearances. Despite that, he still managed to hit 23 home runs. Perez will turn 33 early next season but still feels like a safe bet to accrue a lot of plate appearances(if healthy) and hit plenty of HR.
Adley Rutschman, BAL
Adley debuted in late May and was dominant. In the second half, he finished as the third-best catcher for fantasy purposes. In 470 plate appearances, he hit 13 home runs, scored 70 runs, and hit .254 with a .362 OBP. Rutschman is a rare catcher that blends elite contact and power. He is a stud who stands a chance to be a top fantasy catcher for many years to come.
Sean Murphy, OAK
Murphy had an underrated season and finished as the sixth-best catcher for fantasy purposes. He surprised as he accrued 612 plate appearances in Oakland and hit .250 with 18 home runs. He improved his contact rates this year and looks like the catcher many thought he could be as a prospect. If he is traded out of Oakland, his stock will soar.
MJ Melendez, KC
Melendez finished the second half with the most plate appearances of any catcher, thanks to the Royals leading him off. He comes with big power and a decent feel to hit. Melendez finished the year with the largest difference in shifted BABIP and un-shifted BABIP. He was shifted 79.7 percent of the time and had a .203 BABIP against. On his 20 percent of unshifted plate appearances, he had a .412 BABIP.
Cal Raleigh, SEA
Cal, “The Big Dumper” Raleigh, mashed baseballs this year, hitting 27 home runs. He took a hit in batting average, but the process evolved him into what we hoped Mike Zunino would be/has been in the past. Raleigh will be an interesting buy in 2023, depending on ADP.
William Contreras, ATL
The Atlanta catcher duo of William Contreras and Travis d’Arnuad hit 38 home runs and drove in 105 runs. Contreras contributed 20 home runs and a .278 batting average in 376 plate appearances. If he can split regular time between catcher and designated hitter next season, Contreras has the pop to hit 25-30 home runs with a solid batting average.
Statistical Leaders from 2022
HR:
Cal Raleigh: 27
Daulton Varsho: 27
Will Smith: 24
Salvador Perez: 23
Willson Contreras: 22
JT Realmuto: 22
William Contreras: 20
SB:
JT Realmuto: 21
Daulton Varsho: 16
Keibert Ruiz: 6
Christian Bethancourt: 5
Nick Fortes: 5
Willson Contreras: 4
Adley Rutschman: 4
AVG:
Alejandro Kirk: .285
William Contreras: .278
JT Realmuto: .276
Christain Vazquez: .274
Rece McGuire: .269
Travis d’Arnuad: .268
R:
Daulton Varsho: 79
JT Realmuto: 75
Adley Rutschman: 70
Will Smith: 68
Sean Murphy: 67
Willson Contreras: 65
RBI:
Will Smith: 87
JT Realmuto: 84
Salvador Perez: 76
Daulton Varsho: 74
Sean Murphy: 66
Alejandro Kirk: 63
Cal Raleigh: 63
2nd Half Leaders:
PA:
MJ Melendez: 291
Adley Rutschman: 288
Sean Murphy: 273
Will Smith: 259
Daulton Varsho: 257
JT Realmuto: 240
Sal Perez: 237
Alejandro Kirk: 235
Carson Kelly: 210
William Contreras: 202
HR:
Daulton Varsho: 15
Cal Raleigh: 14
JT Realmuto: 14
Salvador Perez: 12
Will Smith: 10
William Contreras: 9
Willson Contreras: 9
MJ Melendez: 9
SB:
Daulton Varsho: 11
JT Realmuto: 9
Adley Rutschman: 3
AVG:
JT Realmuto: .307
Salvador Perez: .297
William Contreras: .294
Jacob Stallings: .289
Travis d’Arnuad: .277
Adley Rutschman: .275
Christian Vazquez: .275
R:
Adley Rutschman: 45
Daulton Varsho: 40
MJ Melendez: 35
JT Realmuto: 33
Will Smith: 31
Sean Murphy: 30
RBI:
JT Realmuto: 46
Salvador Perez: 42
Will Smith: 40
MJ Melendez: 37
Danny Jansen: 31
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Statistical References: Baseball Savant, Fangraphs