Fantasy Baseball 2019 Catcher Rankings

With fantasy football behind us, let’s get ready for fantasy baseball with my top-25 catcher rankings.

The catcher position is the one position where your mentality should be “If I’m not first, I’m last.” That’s not always a bad thing. If your fantasy baseball team lines up where you can afford to use an early pick on a top-tier catcher, then do it. But don’t just get a catcher because you need to fill that position.

If you don’t get a J.T. Realmuto or Gary Sanchez, then wait until Round 20 and get a guy in the low teens. You can stock up on good players at other positions. There are plenty of great players available in the fifth and sixth rounds that you can afford to pass on the top options and wait a few more rounds.

Most fantasy leagues only use one catcher spot. Unless you’re drafting a catcher in a clear platoon because of lefty-righty splits (like Atlanta or Arizona), it doesn’t make sense to roster a second one for a one off-day per week.

Yasmani Grandal led all catchers with 140 games played. That’s 22 games without a catcher. If your fantasy championship hopes rest on those 22 games, you lost before the season even started.

Only two catchers had batting averages over .260, Realmuto and Yadier Molina. Six had at least 20 home runs and just one had at least 80 RBIs. There is value to be had at the position. But not enough to draft before Round 10. Realmuto and Sanchez, as of now, are the only two catchers drafted before pick 100.

Because most leagues use only one catcher spot, I ranked my top-25 catchers for the 2019 season. Let’s get the list started with the bottom five.

25. John Hicks – Hicks is listed as the backup behind Grayson Greiner. However, with his .260 batting average and first-base eligibility, Hicks is a solid No. 2 catcher for owners in deep leagues.

24. Isiah Kiner-Falefa – Kiner-Falefa has catcher, second base and third base eligibility but will stay at catcher this season. The Rangers have Rougned Odor at second and just signed Asdrubal Cabrera to likely play third. The lineup isn’t the best but he can still hit .260 and drive in 35 runs this season. Another AL-only option.

23. Kurt Suzuki – Back in Washington, Suzuki will serve as the backup to Yan Gomes. He played a similar role in Atlanta. Even with the shortened playing time, Suzuki hit .271 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. He’s still in the same division, which helps. If you want two catchers, Suzuki is a good target.

22. Brian McCann – McCann goes back to Atlanta. He’ll be the lefty option, splitting time with the next player on my list. He played in just 63 games with Houston last season, hitting .212 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs. At 34 years old, McCann is in the twilight of his career. Though, I think he can get back to double-digit home runs with a modest .230 average.

21. Tyler Flowers – Flowers will be limited in his playing time again. In 82 games, he hit .227 with eight homers and 30 RBIs. He’ll drive in and score some runs of his own but not enough to be your only catcher. Like the rest of this group, he’s a good off-day fill in.

This group features some veterans that have had good seasons before but may not be long for fantasy relevancy. There’s also a rookie that could be a nice late-round stash.

20. Jonathan Lucroy – Lucroy will play in Los Angeles with the Angels for the 2019 season. The front office needed to give Mike Trout some help on offense. I like this team on paper. Lucroy batting towards the bottom of the order will help him rebound and drive in a few runs. A 10 HR/50 RBI/.255 line is not a bad one. Though, keep an eye on his health. He hasn’t played a full season since 2014.

19. Tucker Barnhart – The Reds are going all-out this season. Adding two big bats and revamping their starting rotation. Hitting in Great American Ballpark will help Barnhart and the rest of the Reds lineup. He hit 10 home runs, drove in 46 runs and finished with a .248 average. I think the RBIs will go up a bit, over 50 while maintaining a .255 average.

18. Austin Hedges – Hedges is one of the worst hitting catchers in the league. He has a career .210 average. Though, he does provide a good amount of pop from the position, hitting 18 and 14 home runs in his last two seasons. Hedges’ value will rely on both his performance and how the rookie prospect performs.

17. Robinson Chirinos – The Astros filled McCann’s spot with Chirinos. He’s familiar with the division. He joins a better team in Houston. While Max Stassi is behind him on the depth chart, Chirinos will be the starting catcher. He also has a bit of pop but will hit .230 in the process.

16. Willians Astudillo – Astudillo played in just 29 games last season, 97 plate appearances. He hit three home runs, 21 RBIs and .335 in the short time span. The Twins do have Jason Castro in the starting spot, but Astudillo is four years younger and can hit for more contact. Castro hit .242 in 110 games in 2017. He played in 19 games last season. If you are looking for a young option at the position Astudillo is a good target.

This group of catchers features a couple more veterans but their ceilings are a bit higher. The two rookies in this class could move into the top 10 at the end of the season.

15. Francisco Cervelli – Cervelli rebounded nicely last season. He played 110 games and hit .259 with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs. The Pirates may be the worst team in that division but they have some good offensive pieces. Cervelli is another catcher with health concerns. If he plays in 115 games, he’ll hit 10 home runs, 47 RBIs and .248.

14. Yan Gomes – Gomes will be a steal if he falls in your draft. He hit 16 home runs, 48 RBIs and .266 in 112 games last year. Despite Suzuki on the team, Gomes is more consistent on both offense and defense. Even without Bryce Harper (just had to get his name in here somehow), The Nationals have a great lineup and Gomes’ fantasy baseball value will benefit.

13. Jorge Alfaro – Alfaro doubled his power numbers but his batting average took a hit. If the Phillies can sign either Harper or Manny Machado, the whole offense will get a boost. As it stands, though, the offense is still solid with Rhys Hoskins, Odubel Herrera and the additions of Jean Segura and Andrew McCutchen. Alfaro will hit well at the bottom of the batting order.

12. Danny Jansen – The Blue Jays, like many other teams, are rebuilding but can win some games in the process. Jansen is listed as the starting catcher and will bat ninth in the order. That will reduce his at-bats by 60 compared to the lead off hitter. However, hitting in some hitter-friendly parks will help him get close to 10 home runs with a .250 average. A good catcher for deep mixed leagues.

11. Francisco Mejia – The big prospect is now in San Diego. He may not be the starter on Opening Day but it won’t be long before he’s behind the plate. Mejia hasn’t shown much in his short time in the majors but if his Triple-A numbers are anything to go by, Mejia will be the best offensive catcher in fantasy baseball

This group of catchers has performed well in recent seasons. They can provide you with good power and enough of a batting average to keep their fantasy value. Three of the five will play for a new team, so there could be an adjustment period.

10. Welington Castillo – Castillo played in just 49 games last season, down from his 96 in 2017. The White Sox are also in the hunt of Machado but we are still waiting for his decision. Castillo will hit behind Jose Abreu and Yonder Alonso and ahead of Daniel Palka. I think a 12 HR/40 RBI/.260 line is possible, he has to play in at least 100 games to make him worth drafting and we won’t know that until the end of the season. James McCann is also on the team and could play a big role for the White Sox.

9. Mike Zunino – Zunino moves from Seattle to Tampa Bay. He has five straight seasons of at least 11 home runs. He’s not going to hit more than .220 but as is the norm with this position. Zunino will hit towards the bottom of this weird Tampa Ray lineup. The AL East doesn’t have a threatening group of pitchers and favors hitters some. Zunino will hit another 20 home runs.

8. Yasmani Grandal – Grandal passed on the Mets and will play with the Brewers. He is coming off a 24 HR/68 RBI/.241 line with the Dodgers. The Brewers continue to build and compete in the NL Central. Playing with Christian Yelich, Ryan Braun, Jesus Aguilar and Travis Shaw will give Grandal a lot of batters to drive in. He’s another power-hitting catcher with a low average.

7. Wilson Ramos – Ramos will play with the Mets in the NL East this season. Very familiar with the division, Ramos hit 15 home runs, 70 RBIs and .306 between the Rays and Phillies last season. The Mets lineup improved a lot compared to last season. Listed as the Mets cleanup hitter, Ramos could reach 20 home runs again while hitting .280, making him a must-have for those who pass on Realmuto and Sanchez.

6. Yadier Molina – Death, taxes and Molina. The only constants in baseball. Molina hit .261 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs, his first 20-home run season since 2012. His batting average has fallen over the last three seasons but unlike most catchers, Molina is running. He had nine steals in 2017 and four last season. Those extra steals could help move you up the standings in Roto leagues.

Salvador Perez is one of the more consistent hitting catchers in fantasy baseball. He has four straight seasons of at least 21 home runs. While the Royals may not compete for a Wild Card spot, Perez will do more than his fair share for the offense.

The offense will struggle to score four runs a game. Whit Merrifield and Perez are the two best hitters in the lineup. The RBI totals will be low for both players.

The AL Central features some pitcher-friendly parks in terms of home runs but with the spacious outfields, hitters will be able to rack up singles and extra-base hits. Perez has 177 doubles and 10 triples in his career.

Perez currently has an ADP of 131.7 in ESPN leagues. If you play in a 10-team league, that’s a 14th round pick. He becomes an 11th round pick in 12 team leagues. His power helps his fantasy value but the lack of RBIs and low batting average may hurt.

Buster Posey has seen a gradual decline in his power. He hit 22 home runs in 2014 and five in 2018. Posey’s batting average has fluctuated between .280 and .310 during those seasons.

The Giants attempted to compete last season with the additions of Evan Longoria and McCutchen but that didn’t go well.

The front office hasn’t done anything of significance this off-season to help Posey and the rest of the hitters. There are some good pieces but no superstar that will take the pressure off of them. Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Brandon Belt and Mac Williamson have their place in fantasy baseball.

The new Oracle Park stifles power. The park ranked 29th in home runs according to ESPN Park Factors. Posey’s age with his declining power does not mesh well with his home ballpark.

Fantasy owners are drafting Posey in the 12th round of standard leagues. If they are expecting the Posey of old, they will be disappointed. However, a catcher that can hit 10 home runs with a .285 average is hard to find.

Willson Contreras took a big step back last season. In 138 games, 21 more than last season, he hit just 10 home runs, 54 RBIs and .249. He was a big disappointment to any fantasy owners who drafted him.

We will see an improvement on all fronts from Contreras this season. His average will move back up to .260 while his home runs go back to 16 and RBIs are up to 65. With the current Cubs lineup, it’s possible.

The NL Central does not feature the best starting pitching so these hitters will feast. The ballparks also favor the hitters. Great American Ballpark, Miller Park and Wrigley Field ranked in the top half for home runs with PNC Bank Park and Busch Stadium are in the mid-20s.

Contreras, hitting sixth in the Cubs lineup, will have plenty of chances to drive in Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and others.

As of this writing, Contreras is the third catcher being drafted with an ADP of 111.0. As an early 12th round pick, Contreras is the starting point of when I would think about drafting a catcher.

After his All-Star 2017 season, Gary Sanchez suffered a big setback in 2018. He played in just 89 games, hitting .186 with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs. He and Greg Bird were the two biggest letdowns in the Yankees lineup.

Sanchez is the hardest catcher to project for this fantasy baseball season. Should we project him to be like his 2017 season or is this the new Sanchez? The easy thing to do would project him in the middle.

And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. If he exceeds them, then awesome. If he falls short, the threshold for a good season wasn’t that high to begin with. In 120 games, Sanchez will hit 23 home runs, 70 RBIs and .246. A good season but not top-100 worthy.

Sanchez is slated to hit fifth behind Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton. It’s a righty-heavy lineup but they can do some damage.

JT Realmuto is my No. 1 catcher for the 2019 fantasy baseball season. Even if he stays in Miami for the whole season, he has power, contact and even some speed.

I don’t like that he’s being drafted in Round 7 because there is so much better talent but having the best player at a shallow position is a good strategy.

Realmuto stole only three bases after stealing 20 combined in the previous two seasons. He did have an increase in power with a career-high 21 home runs and 74 RBIs with his .277 average.

He will have his hands full against the starting pitchers in the NL East. He’ll face Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Aaron Nola, Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg. That’s a lot of good talent on the mound.

Realmuto doesn’t have the best surround cast. Starlin Castro, Martin Prado and Brian Anderson can get on base but Realmuto is the big power threat for the Marlins, which is why he’s hitting third.

Realmuto will hit 16 home runs, 65 RBIs and .276 in 2019. I don’t think he finishes as the best catcher in fantasy but it’s hard to see someone taking that spot from him.

If you build your team right, you should be able to afford a dip in batting average and draft one of these catchers. The majority can hit for power while hitting .240. This shouldn’t hurt your fantasy championship hopes.

Next position up will be first base. Stay tuned!