
Getting a top catcher in fantasy drafts is sometimes imperative because there usually aren't many elite options. This year, William Contreras is the only catcher being selected within the first 50 picks of drafts. It makes sense, considering he hit .281 with 23 home runs, 37 doubles, and 92 RBI across 155 games last year.
After Contreras, Adley Rutschman, Yainer Diaz, and Cal Raleigh all come off the board next between the fifth and seventh rounds. But if you don't land any of those catchers early in fantasy drafts, there are plenty of other catches to pivot to in the middle-to-late rounds. All five catchers on this list go outside the first 90 picks in drafts.
So, who are the biggest undervalued catchers in fantasy drafts this season? Let's dive in and find out.
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Willson Contreras, St. Louis Cardinals
ADP: 92.3
It feels a little unfair to put Willson Contreras on this list because he will be the St. Louis Cardinals' primary first baseman in 2025. However, given that he will still have catcher eligibility, he is the perfect target for fantasy managers at this point in drafts.
He should be able to contribute above-average home run numbers while carrying a solid batting average and RBI numbers.
In just 84 games last season, Contreras hit .262 with 15 home runs, 36 RBI, 48 runs scored, and four stolen bases. If the veteran didn't miss time due to a fractured forearm and finger, he was looking at a 25-homer, 60-RBI, 80-run, seven-steal season.
He also posted some of the best metrics of his career in 2024, as his xwOBA (.365), average exit velocity (91.6 mph), and walk rate (12.6 percent) all ranked exceptionally well.
Here is the center field camera look at the swing by #STLCards 1B Willson Contreras, who hit a long two-run HR. The Statcast numbers:
Distance: 453 feet
Exit velocity: 113.9
Hang time: 5.8 seconds
Launch angle: 25 degrees
HRs in MLB ballparks: 30 of 30 pic.twitter.com/YF5LIkYoy6— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 1, 2025
As a result, Contreras should handily outperform his 92.3 ADP. His move away from catcher could help maximize his offensive potential and lead to an all-around solid season from him at the plate. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Cardinals slugger total career-highs in both home runs and RBI in 2025.
Shea Langeliers, Athletics
ADP: 127.3
Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers has become one of my favorite targets at the position in the middle-to-late rounds. Although Langeliers won't finish with a high batting average or steal more than five bases in 2025, he can contribute elite numbers in most other categories.
Last season, he hit .224 at the plate with 29 home runs, 18 doubles, and 80 RBI across 137 games.
So, if you are looking for more power at this point in drafts, Langeliers is a fantastic target at his 127.3 ADP. He is one of the best power-hitting catchers in the league and ranked second in homers, fifth in RBI, and eighth in runs scored (58) at the position in 2024. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect those numbers to decrease at all this season.
Most Home Runs by a Catcher in 2024:
🥇Cal Raleigh - 34 Home Runs
[LARGE GAP]
🥈Shea Langeliers - 29 Home Runs
🥉Salvador Perez - 27 Home Runs pic.twitter.com/fSk0cdmqZ5— SleeperMLB (@SleeperMLB) December 27, 2024
Langeliers has had a consistent barrel rate in each of the past two seasons, and his xSLG (.456) in 2024 went up 33 points from the prior year. That means the A's catcher should be in store for another strong offensive campaign.
Don't forget, he'll also be playing half of his games at Sutter Health Park, which has been known as one of the most hitter-friendly minor-league ballparks.
Logan O'Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels
ADP: 142.7
It was a season of two halves for Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe in 2024. O'Hoppe had a .276 batting average with 14 home runs, 13 doubles, and 42 RBI across 83 games in the first half before struggling at the plate in the second half.
In his final 53 games, the young backstop hit just .196 with six home runs, four doubles, and 14 RBI.
Following that rough second half, it makes sense why O'Hoppe is going in the later rounds of drafts. Still, he could be a nice pick at his 142.7 ADP. He has shown his potential at times at the plate and was one of just seven catchers to total at least 20 home runs last season. That power could help him take an even bigger step in 2025.
His launch angle sweet-spot rate (42.9 percent) ranked in the 100th percentile last year, and his hard-hit rate (46.3 percent) and barrel rate (12 percent) both ranked toward the top of the league as well. If he can improve his 29.7 percent strikeout rate, there's a chance that O'Hoppe could be the best catcher value in drafts. That's the type of upside he has in this Angels lineup.
Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
ADP: 226.3
Unlike the first three names on this list, Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno will not provide fantasy managers with big home run numbers. He has hit just 12 home runs over the past two years and likely won't pass the double-digit mark in 2025.
However, he should still be a target for some fantasy managers in the late rounds.
While Moreno won't hit many home runs or drive in many runs, he will likely carry a high batting average while not striking out a ton and drawing many walks. Since entering the league in 2022, the Diamondbacks catcher has a .280 batting average. His 21.6 percent chase rate, 14.8 percent strikeout rate, and 11.7 percent walk rate last season also all ranked in the top 10 percent of the league.
Therefore, if you are looking for a catcher with solid numbers in those categories, he can be a logical pick in certain roto leagues. Moreno's biggest fantasy asset will be that high average, and everything else he does will be a bonus for fantasy managers.
It's also interesting to point out that the 25-year-old hit .333 with three home runs, seven doubles, and 21 RBI over his final 37 games in 2024.
Ivan Herrera, St. Louis Cardinals
ADP: 239.3
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera will see increased playing time this season. With Contreras moving to first base, Herrera is set to be the team's primary catcher in 2025. That role could allow him to be a consistent fantasy option for managers who might need a high batting average in the later rounds.
In 72 games last season, Herrera hit .301 at the plate with five home runs, 12 doubles, and 27 RBI. Although the 24-year-old only saw 259 plate appearances, there's reason to believe he can carry that high batting average into 2025. His .293 xBA ranked in the top 10 percent in 2024, and his bat speed was a respectable 73.3 mph.
Back at work💪🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/N42rffzAZu
— Ivan Aaron Herrera (@herrera_ivan01) February 12, 2025
Now, Herrera likely won't contribute elite numbers in the home run, RBI, or stolen base department, but his potential high average makes him an intriguing target at his ADP. Catchers usually don't maintain high averages throughout the year, and only Diaz (.299), William Contreras (.281), and Salvador Perez (.271) had over a .260 AVG at the position in 2024. So, taking the Cardinals catcher here could be an advantage.
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