It doesn’t seem that long ago when we were all celebrating Christmas and the New Year. Unbelievably, however, it is the last week of January. Anyone that is excited for baseball knows that Spring Training camps are just around the corner. In fact, the Arizona Diamondbacks are the first team to require pitchers and catchers to report. That date is February 14, just a little over two week away! That has to get your blood pressure up reading that. I’ve had articles published already in 2024 and I will add this fantasy baseball rising catchers edition to the list.

For sure, most managers would just as soon not even have a catcher on their rosters. That is completely understandable. After all, catcher’s bats overall aren’t the greatest and they must have regular days off. However, any league that considers itself worthy has to require at least one catcher be included on a roster. In my view, it is the best strategy to avoid those ranked at the top of the pyle and wait on a catcher. Of course, to do that, one must be aware where the values lie. No worries, as that is where this article will help. With no further interruptions, let’s get started.

Bo Naylor, Cleveland Guardians

Surprised by Bo Naylor being the first entry? Don’t be. In a short 69 game trial last season, Naylor announced himself by hitting 11 homers with 32 RBIs in 198 at bats. At just 23 years old, his arrow will be pointing up for several seasons beyond this one.

Without question, his .237 BA isn’t golden, but check out his OBP (.339) and his OPS (809). In the current era of massive gaps between strikeouts and walks, Naylor doesn’t have that issue (53 K vs. 30 BB). In the majors and minors combined, he finished with 24 homers and 80 RBIs. If he comes anywhere close to that, Naylor will be a massive value for the manager that selects him.

Further, he is one of the few catchers that hits from the left side. Perhaps that will keep him in lineups more often than if he was a righty. In any case, Naylor is ranked 13th by FantasyPros and 17th by ESPN. There is a very good chance he could outperform many of those ranked above him. Waiting on a catcher like Naylor and using earlier picks on better hitters or highly regarded pitchers is a solid strategy.

Logan O’Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels

Like Naylor, Logan O’Hoppe came up for a cup of coffee in 2023. Expect that he will be in the majors for all of 2024. Also like Naylor, O’Hoppe is 23. When he was called up, O’Hoppe appeared in 51 games. He showed that he has a power bat with 14 homers and 29 RBIs in 182 at bats. Additionally, O’Hoppe struck out 48 times while walking 14.

Truly, where O’Hoppe needs to improve is simply hitting the baseball. His .236 BA and .296 OBP must improve. There is every reason to expect an increase on that front as he hit an impressive .375 with a .464 OBP before his recall. While in the minors, O’Hoppe got on base at a .364 clip. While with the Angels, he had a .797 OPS. In the minors, it was .853.

On draft day, managers can wait a bit to select O’Hoppe. FantasyPros has him ranked as the 15th best catcher and ESPN has him 16th. If he can match his power numbers with increased at bats, O’Hoppe will have great value in 2024. He definitely belongs on this fantasy baseball rising catchers edition.

Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks

Without doubt, managers will not be able to wait as long to select Gabriel Moreno as the two catchers discussed above. FantasyPros has him ranked at 11 and ESPN has him even higher at seven. Even so, those rankings indicate just how much Moreno has elevated himself from last season to this one. Unlike the two above, Moreno was on the field for the majority of 2023.

What we saw from him indicates that he is a player with massive upside. In 111 games, Moreno hit .284-7-50 with 32 runs scored. Further, he put together a .339/.408/.747 slash line. Also 23 years old, expect Moreno’s power to increase, but probably not to the level of the other catchers listed here. Even so, he will be in lineups for most of Arizona’s games.

Moreno’s Gold Glove defense will demand it. At the same time, he will be playing with an excellent offensive team. He will have plenty of opportunities to generate runs. In my opinion, the top two catchers are better values. However, drafting Moreno in the 14th or 15th round will provide a nice return for fantasy managers willing to draft him a little earlier.

Francisco Alvarez, New York Mets

Last, but not certainly not least, we move to discuss Francisco Alvarez. Like Moreno, fantasy managers won’t be able to wait as long to draft him as the first two catchers. According to FantasyPros, Alvarez is a top 10 fantasy catcher. ESPN has him ranked not far behind at 12. Even younger than the others at 22, Alvarez appeared in 123 games last season, his first in the majors.

In those games, Alvarez produced 25 homers and 63 RBIs. Impressive totals, no question. However, he has to be downgraded just a bit because he only hit .209 with a .284 OBP. Further, he struck out 110 times against 34 walks. To truly take the next step, Alvarez will have to ensure his bat meets the ball more often.

His minor league numbers indicate that he can do just that with a career .273 BA and a .384 OBP. Without doubt, there is no question regarding his power potential. In 2022, Alvarez hit 27 homers at two different levels. In 2021, he hit 24 homers. If power at the catching position is the desire, picking Alvarez on draft day makes all the sense in the world.

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy baseball rising catchers edition! Debate and discussion are always encouraged when it comes to my fantasy articles. Do you agree or disagree? Have another catcher or two in mind? Let’s talk about it.

The Sports Stove Fantasy Baseball Show will be live every Sunday at 8 pm Eastern from here to the end of the fantasy season, at the least. Don’t miss out! In our last episode, we discussed closers and compared our starting pitching tiers. Check it out here!

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