X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Top 10 Impact 2016 Fantasy Prospects: Catchers

Last season, several rookie catchers were promoted and had big seasons for fantasy owners wary enough to grab them. Guys like JT Realmuto, James McCann, Tucker Barnhart, and Blake Swihart all helped fantasy teams by providing value in a typically weak fantasy position.

Don’t expect that to happen again this season. There are not really any standout catching prospects who look like they will have a major impact in 2016 unless there are some injuries at the big league level. But if there were any injuries, the catchers below are the ones who will likely see playing time and could have a major impact with their team if given ample opportunities to start.

Editor's note: Be sure to also check out our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. Our rankings assistant tool combines all our staff's ranks in one place. You can easily filter and export all sorts of rankings and tiers - mixed leagues, points leagues, AL/NL only, top prospects, dynasty ranks, keeper values, and more.

 

Top 10 Dynasty Prospects: Catcher

Here are the top ten catchers for fantasy baseball in 2016:

1. Gary Sanchez (NYY, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 146 PA, .295/.349/.500, 6 HR, 1 SB, 7.5% BB rate, 19.2% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
Following the trade of JR Murphy to the Minnesota Twins, it appears that the New York Yankees are ready to give Gary Sanchez the role of backup catcher behind Brian McCann. The 23-year-old backstop has 20+ home run power and a very advanced approach to the plate which should help him hit for a high average if he gets enough playing time. Because Sanchez lacks a clear path to consistent playing time, he is not worth drafting, but he could have some value as a waiver wire add in deeper leagues and would have immense value in the event of a Brian McCann injury.

2. Willson Contreras (CHC, AA)
Stats: 521 PA, .333/.413/.478, 8 HR, 4 SB, 10.9% BB rate, 11.9% K rate
ETA: Early June
Willson Contreras has a similar problem to Gary Sanchez in that he is stuck behind an established backstop. The only difference is that while Sanchez will be the backup to his catcher, Brian McCann, Contreras will not enter as the backstop for Miguel Montero. In fact, Contreras is fourth on the catcher depth chart for the Cubs. If Montero is injured however, fantasy owners should expect to see Contreras leap all the way up because a team as competitive as the Cubs couldn’t afford to make David Ross their starting catcher and Kyle Schwarber may no longer be a fit behind the plate.

Contreras is sharp defensively and though he doesn’t have the jaw dropping power of Schwarber, Contreras would likely hit for a higher average. In a full season of work, fantasy owners could expect Contreras to hit .280 with 15 home runs. Like Sanchez, Contreras is not worth drafting, but he likely becomes a must-own commodity in the event of a Miguel Montero injury.

3. Tom Murphy (COL, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 136 PA, .271/.301/.535, 7 HR, 0 SB, 3.7% BB rate, 31.6% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
Tom Murphy is not the best bat of the catchers on this list, but he has one of the clearest paths to playing time. As it stands right now, it will be either him or Dustin Garneau backing up Nick Hundley for the Rockies and my money is on Murphy. Murphy grades out as an average defender with power that should be more than capable of hitting 20 home runs per season at the expense of a lower batting average. Unfortunately for Murphy, Hundley figures to eat up the bulk of the ABs behind the dish. Unless you are in a deep league or Nick Hundley gets hurt, Tom Murphy is not worth owning.

4. Jacob Nottingham (MIL, A+)
Stats: (with OAK A+) 182 PA, .299/.352/.409, 3 HR, 1 SB, 6.6% BB rate, 20.9% K rate
ETA: Early August
Though at a glance Jacob Nottingham could appear far from the majors, many see him as a potential replacement for Jonathan Lucroy in the event of Lucroy being traded. While I think it is a longshot seeing as how Nottingham has yet to play a game at Double-A, there is no doubting the fact that the Brewers are thin on catchers. Nottingham is dependable defensively behind the dish, but his bat is his true standout attribute. He has above-average plate discipline and a powerful bat capable of mashing 20 home runs in a season. Though he may not hit for as high of an average as Willson Contreras or as many home runs as Gary Sanchez, Nottingham is really just a slight step below those two in terms of potential offensive production. Though his bat is compelling, Nottingham is not worth drafting or owning unless it is clear that he would play catcher in the event of a Lucroy trade.

5. Austin Barnes (LAD, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 335 PA, .315/.389/.479, 9 HR, 12 SB, 10.4% BB rate, 10.7% K rate
ETA: September
Though Austin Barnes could be an intriguing option at catcher, the path to playing time just is not there for him. Yasmani Grandal will be the starter for the Dodgers with the capable AJ Ellis serving as his backup and starter in the event of a Grandal injury. It would take a pair of injuries to give Barnes any fantasy value in 2016. And though crazier things have happened, I would not expect Barnes to see any playing time until September.

6. Jorge Alfaro (PHI, AA)
Stats: 207 PA, .253/.314/.432, 5 HR, 2 SB, 4.3% BB rate, 29.5% K rate
ETA: September
Jorge Alfaro is easily one of the best bats on this list, but I don’t see any way he sees the majors until September. When rosters expand, Alfaro could be an impact bat as he has a chance to see starting time and could have a major impact on fantasy baseball playoffs, but he is best left off fantasy rosters until then.

7. Justin O’Conner (TB, AA)
Stats: 444 PA, .231/.255/.371, 9 HR, 10 SB, 2.9% BB rate, 29.1% K rate
ETA: September
Even if Justin O’Conner were going to open the year on the Rays’ roster, he would be a desperation play at catcher. He is a defensive minded backstop with enough pop to make him only semi-relevant in fantasy leagues. As it is, he likely won’t see playing time until September when rosters expand. O’Conner should only be owned if things are looking really dire for fantasy owners in the playoffs.

8. Elias Diaz (PIT, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 363 PA, .271/.330/.382, 4 HR, 1 SB, 8.0% BB rate, 12.9% K rate
ETA: September
Elias Diaz could theoretically see Major League time in the event of an injury, but he is not starter material. He is a defensive first backstop who could potentially hit .260 with five home runs if he were to be given regular playing time. Like Justin O’Conner, Diaz would be a desperation play for fantasy owners in September.

9. Reese McGuire (PIT, A+)
Stats: 411 PA, .254/.301/.294, 0 HR, 14 SB, 6.3% BB rate, 9.5% K rate
ETA: September
Though there is some hope that Reese McGuire will eventually start at catcher for the Pirates, those hopes will not be coming alive at any point in 2016. He will likely begin the season at Double-A with a chance to reach the majors in September. Even then, McGuire would wind up splitting catching duty with Elias Diaz, Chris Stewart, and Francisco Cervelli so the odds of him being an impact fantasy bat even in September are slim.

10. Mike Ohlman (STL, AA)
Stats: 417 PA, .273/.356/.418, 12 HR, 0 SB, 11.0% BB rate, 18.5% K rate
ETA: September
There is nothing terribly exciting about Mike Ohlman’s bat and even given Yadier Molina’s recent injury struggles, it would be a stretch to see Ohlman providing any fantasy value. He may be promoted in September and get a few plate appearances, but expect that to be the extent of his fantasy value.

 

MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-12" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Austin Reaves20 mins ago

Ready To Go For Game 1
NFL22 mins ago

Bills Release Armani Rogers, Branson Deen
Luka Dončić26 mins ago

Luka Doncic Removed From Injury Report
Brandon Young30 mins ago

Set To Make MLB Debut On Saturday
LeBron James34 mins ago

Listed As Probable For Game 1
Ben Sheppard40 mins ago

Probable For Saturday's Game 1
Jacob Lopez41 mins ago

Recalled From Triple-A
NFL43 mins ago

Kolton Miller Absent From Raiders' Voluntary Offseason Program
Kevin Durant46 mins ago

To Houston Already Losing Steam
Matt Canterino58 mins ago

Twins Designate Matt Canterino For Assignment
Lauri Markkanen60 mins ago

Wants To Stay With The Jazz
NFL1 hour ago

Ross Blacklock Let Go By New York
Mickey Gasper1 hour ago

Sent To Triple-A St. Paul
Bennedict Mathurin1 hour ago

Expected To Play In Game 1 Saturday
Nicky Lopez1 hour ago

Designated For Assignment
Josh Smith1 hour ago

Still Out Of Lineup Friday Night
Pascal Siakam1 hour ago

Available For Playoff Opener
Zach Neto1 hour ago

Reinstated From Injury List, Will Make Season Debut Friday
Tyrese Haliburton1 hour ago

Returning From Two-Game Absence Saturday
Cade Cunningham2 hours ago

Available For Game 1 Against Knicks
Shohei Ohtani2 hours ago

Out Of Friday's Lineup For Birth Of First Child
Josh Hart2 hours ago

Back In Knicks Lineup Saturday
Eugenio Suárez2 hours ago

Eugenio Suarez Hits Grand Slam In Friday Afternoon's Loss
OG Anunoby2 hours ago

Good To Go For Game 1
Ian Happ2 hours ago

Hits Grand Slam In Massive Day At The Plate
Jalen Brunson2 hours ago

Available For Saturday's Game 1
Jazz Chisholm Jr.2 hours ago

Suspended For One Game, Will Appeal And Is Playing Friday
Karl-Anthony Towns2 hours ago

Returning To Action Saturday
Kyle Tucker2 hours ago

Hits Go-Ahead Homer In Cubs Win
Pelle Larsson2 hours ago

Good To Go Friday
Nikola Jović2 hours ago

Nikola Jovic Available Friday
Carson Kelly2 hours ago

Crushes Two Homers In Crazy Cubs Win
Trae Young2 hours ago

Officially Active On Friday
Giannis Antetokounmpo2 hours ago

Not On Game 1 Injury Report
NFL2 hours ago

Raiders Considering Drafting A Quarterback
Damian Lillard3 hours ago

Officially Out For Game 1
Irv Smith3 hours ago

Sticking With Texans
Ryan Lindgren3 hours ago

Set To Return Saturday
NFL3 hours ago

Texans Expected To Draft Wide Receivers
Greg Dortch3 hours ago

Returning To Cardinals
Josh Manson3 hours ago

Available For Game 1
Mark Andrews3 hours ago

Could Be Traded Soon
Ondrej Palat3 hours ago

To Return For Start Of Playoffs
David Savard3 hours ago

Will Retire After Playoffs
Gavin Sheets3 hours ago

In Padres Lineup Against Astros
NFL3 hours ago

Raiders, Falcons Could Have Interest In Jalen Ramsey
Robert Thomas3 hours ago

Good To Go Saturday
Shea Langeliers4 hours ago

Back In Lineup On Friday
Matthew Tkachuk4 hours ago

Expected To Return For Game 1
4 hours ago

Raiders Are High On Ashton Jeanty
Alex Verdugo4 hours ago

Hitting Leadoff In Season Debut On Friday
Jason Robertson4 hours ago

Considered Week-To-Week
Rome Odunze4 hours ago

To Hopefully Get More Involved
Dylan Moore4 hours ago

Not In Lineup On Friday
NFL4 hours ago

Dolphins Could Draft A Quarterback
Parker Meadows4 hours ago

Cleared To Begin Throwing Program
James Cook4 hours ago

Could Stay Away From Voluntary Workouts
Chandler Simpson4 hours ago

Called Up By Rays
Alex Bregman5 hours ago

Back From Paternity Leave
Noah Davis6 hours ago

Dodgers Recall Noah Davis From Triple-A
Pelle Larsson8 hours ago

Upgraded To Probable Against Hawks
Kevin Love9 hours ago

Away From The Team For Personal Reasons
Leon Draisaitl11 hours ago

Wins First Rocket Richard Trophy
Nikita Kucherov12 hours ago

Bags Third Art Ross Trophy
Bryan Rust12 hours ago

Scores Twice In Season-Ending Win
Igor Shesterkin12 hours ago

Shuts Out Lightning With 27 Saves
Dylan Cozens12 hours ago

Picks Up Three Points In Regular-Season Finale
Matvei Michkov12 hours ago

Caps Off Rookie Campaign With Three-Point Effort
Brady Tkachuk12 hours ago

Makes Early Exit For Precautionary Reasons
Jake Tonges20 hours ago

Signs Exclusive-Rights Tender
Denver Broncos20 hours ago

Broncos To Focus On RB Position In Next Week's Draft
Drew Lock21 hours ago

Sam Howell, Drew Lock Expected To Compete For Backup Job
New York Giants21 hours ago

Giants Leaning Toward Taking Best Player Available At No. 3
New Orleans Saints21 hours ago

Ryan Ramczyk Announces His Retirement
Buffalo Bills21 hours ago

Tre'Davious White Reunites With Buffalo
Aaron Rodgers21 hours ago

Willing To Play For $10 Million A Year
Jakob Chychrun1 day ago

Returns Against Penguins
Rasmus Andersson1 day ago

Out Against Kings
Jonathan Huberdeau1 day ago

Sits Out Regular-Season Finale
Ryan Pulock1 day ago

Out On Thursday
Jake Sanderson1 day ago

Back In Action Thursday
Thomas Chabot1 day ago

To Be Rested Against Hurricanes
Claude Giroux1 day ago

Active On Thursday
Dallas Cowboys1 day ago

Cowboys Add Hakeem Adeniji To Offensive-Line Room
Lucas Glover2 days ago

Looks To Rebound After Poor Performance
Daniel Berger2 days ago

Looking To Continue Solid Play At RBC
Sepp Straka2 days ago

Looking To Bounce Back At RBC
Justin Thomas2 days ago

Looking To Shake Off Poor Masters At RBC Heritage
Xander Schauffele2 days ago

Still Looking For Year's First Win At RBC Heritage
Maverick McNealy2 days ago

Is An Intriguing Play At RBC Heritage
Shane Lowry2 days ago

Looks To Shake Off Poor Masters Sunday At RBC Heritage
Will Zalatoris2 days ago

Eyes A Bounce-Back At RBC Heritage
Gary Woodland2 days ago

Could Add Some Surprise At Hilton Head
Sam Burns2 days ago

Hoping For Better Times At RBC Heritage
Sahith Theegala3 days ago

Still Trying To Put It All Together
Aaron Rai3 days ago

Might Be That Guy For Hilton Head
Robert MacIntyre3 days ago

All Or Nothing At RBC Heritage
Tom Hoge3 days ago

Still Playing Solid Heading To Hilton Head
Nick Dunlap3 days ago

Continues To Have Rough Stretch
Keegan Bradley3 days ago

Looks To Move On From Masters Performance
Matt Fitzpatrick3 days ago

A Boom-Or-Bust Option At RBC Heritage
Patrick Cantlay3 days ago

A Strong Play At RBC Heritage
Jordan Spieth3 days ago

Targets Another Strong RBC Heritage Showing
Collin Morikawa3 days ago

Eyeing Victory At RBC Heritage
Max Homa3 days ago

Breaks Through At The Masters
Alexander Volkanovski4 days ago

Reclaims Featherweight Title
Diego Lopes4 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC 314
Paddy Pimblett4 days ago

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Michael Chandler4 days ago

Suffers TKO Loss
MMA4 days ago

Patricio Freire Gets Dominated In His UFC Debut
Yair Rodriguez4 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Bryce Mitchell4 days ago

Gets Submitted At UFC 314
Jean Silva4 days ago

Gets Submission Win At UFC 314
Dominick Reyes4 days ago

Wins Third Fight In A Row
Austin Dillon4 days ago

Nabs His First Top-10 Finish Of The 2025 Season At Bristol
Ryan Blaney4 days ago

Bold Strategies Fall Flat, Still Musters A Top-Five Finish At Bristol
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Finishes In The Top 10 After Falling Back Midway At Bristol
Ty Gibbs4 days ago

Earns His First Top-Five Finish Of The 2025 Season At Bristol
Chase Briscoe4 days ago

Quietly Scores First Career Top-Five Finish At Bristol
William Byron5 days ago

Denny Hamlin Cuts Into William Byron's Points Lead
William Byron5 days ago

Makes Best Of His Mediocre Qualifying Run With Sixth-Place Finish
Alex Bowman5 days ago

Despite Engine Failure, Alex Bowman's Improved Speed Looks Promising
NASCAR5 days ago

A.J. Allmendinger Enters Playoff Picture With Surprise Bristol Top-10 Finish
Kyle Larson6 days ago

Will Compete For The Win At Bristol
Chase Elliott6 days ago

Is One Of The More Favorable DFS Options Available For Bristol
William Byron6 days ago

Is A Solid DFS Option For Bristol Lineups
Tyler Reddick6 days ago

Could Tyler Reddick Be A Sneaky DFS Option For Bristol?
NASCAR6 days ago

Is Bubba Wallace Worth Rostering For Bristol This Week?
Ross Chastain6 days ago

Could Ross Chastain Be A Worthy DFS Choice For Bristol?
Carson Hocevar6 days ago

Is Carson Hocevar Worth Rostering For Bristol DFS Lineups?
NASCAR6 days ago

Should Fantasy Managers Avoid Rostering A.J. Allmendinger In DFS For Bristol?
Ryan Preece6 days ago

Is Ryan Preece Worth Rostering For Bristol Lineups?
Austin Dillon6 days ago

May Be One Of The Top Value Options For Bristol DFS This Week
Noah Gragson6 days ago

Should DFS Players Consider Noah Gragson For Bristol Lineups?
Riley Herbst6 days ago

Is In Play For Bristol DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF