We’re three weeks into the Dynasty Keepers for 2025 and right now we flip our consideration to catchers. It is a place that’s mind-numbingly weak as there’s not plenty of high quality depth.
Few catchers will allow you to throughout the board. It’s possible you’ll get a catcher who has energy however kills your common and on-base share. Or it’s possible you’ll get a catcher who hits properly and will get on base however has no energy in any respect. The typical main league hitter this season posted a slash line of .240/.309/.394. Of the 53 catchers I checked out, their common slash line was .238/.300/.381. Mainly, this can be a place that’s under the typical participant throughout the board.
Solely six catchers hit 20 or extra homers and just one reached 30. Solely three catchers drove in additional than 90 runs. Those who can do all of it are price their weight in gold as they gives you an enormous benefit at that place towards opponents in case you are fortunate sufficient to land considered one of these unicorns.
Anyway, let’s get to the rankings.
These Who Missed the Minimize
I don’t suppose any of the next gamers are going to make you upset that they aren’t listed in Tier 4.
Nick Fortes appeared in 107 video games for Miami, however he slashed .229/.259/.323 with 4 homers and 29 RBI. Christian Vazquez performed in 91 video games for the Twins, however he had a .226/.251/.333 slash line with seven homers and 27 RBI and he’s no spring rooster.
Henry Davis was purported to be the following up-and-coming catcher, however the Pirates backstop principally spent the entire season on the IL and when he did play, he slashed .144/.242/.212 and in 99 profession MLB video games he has a .191/.283/.307 slash line – although with eight house runs.
David Fry is a participant who definitely is a superb dynasty keeper. Whereas he qualifies as a catcher, I see his future extra within the discipline so I didn’t put him into my High 40. However if you happen to want a catcher for subsequent season, Fry can definitely be a drive for you at that place.
For those who want a catcher who isn’t ranked, then simply throw names of free agent catchers right into a hat and take whoever you pull out.
As a result of dynasty leagues fluctuate of their guidelines relating to prospects, I don’t listing them in my place rankings and Itch does an amazing job relating to the prospects. However for leagues that blend prospects and main league gamers into the identical pool of gamers, there are some stable catching prospects who you must watch. I received’t go into particulars, however under are my favourite catching prospects:
- Ethan Salas, San Diego Padres
- Kyle Teel, Boston Pink Sox
- Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles
- Harry Ford, Seattle Mariners
- Dalton Speeding, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Jeferson Quero, Milwaukee Brewers
Tier 4
*Age as of April 1, 2025
| RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | James McCann | BAL | 34 |
| 39 | Danny Jansen | BOS | 29 |
| 38 | Carson Kelly | TEX | 30 |
| 37 | Hunter Goodman | COL | 25 |
| 36 | Mitch Garver | SEA | 34 |
| 35 | Elias Diaz | SD | 34 |
| 34 | Jake Rogers | DET | 29 |
| 33 | Korey Lee | CWS | 26 |
| 32 | Ivan Herrera | STL | 24 |
| 31 | Freddy Fermin | KC | 29 |
This whole tier of gamers ought to solely be in your workforce as a result of you have to carry two catchers or you’re having to switch an injured catcher. In any other case, it’s principally a group of gamers who could be changed by nearly anybody with a pulse.
At Least He’s Younger
Hunter Goodman did one factor properly for the Rockies this previous season, and that was hit house runs. In 70 video games he hit 13 homers and drove in 36 runs with a .417 SLG. However Goodman additionally hit solely .190 with a .228 OBP, 28.6% strikeout fee and a measly 3.6% stroll fee. However if you happen to like catchers with 5.8% house run charges and are below the age of 30, Goodman is your man.
A Pair of Vets
Mitch Garver and Elias Diaz will each be 34 on Opening Day. That’s actually the one factor you really want to learn about them. Garver does have energy as he hit 14 homers this 12 months and has hit 10 or extra dingers in every of the final 4 seasons. For those who don’t care about his age and simply need a catcher who can slug, then Garver is usually a stable catcher to have as he does have a profession slugging share of .454. However he’s coming off considered one of his worst seasons on the plate relating to his slash line and he isn’t getting youthful.
Diaz was truly an All-Star for Colorado in 2023, however when Diaz just isn’t taking part in in Denver, his manufacturing takes a tumble. In 5 seasons with the Rockies he had a .403 slugging share whereas in 5 seasons with the Pirates his SLG was .355. After being traded to the Padres, he appeared in solely 12 video games and struggled with a .190/.292/.429 slash line.
The Better of Tier 4
Ivan Herrera is a stable backup catcher who received’t kill you when he’s within the lineup. In 72 video games this previous season he slashed .301/.372/.428 and in 96 profession video games his slash line sits at .289/.365/.398. He doesn’t hit for lots of energy, however that’s why he’s a Tier 4 catcher.
Freddy Fermin is among the greatest “backup” catchers on the market. He has to play second fiddle to Salvador Perez in Kansas Metropolis, however he seems in additional video games than the typical backup because of Perez typically taking part in at first base or DH. Fermin has respectable energy as he had six homers this 12 months and 9 final 12 months in 70 video games. However in 184 profession video games he has a .272/.316/.398 slash line and his 162-game common is 13 homers and 60 RBI.
Tier 3
| RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Travis D’Arnaud | ATL | 36 |
| 29 | Jacob Stallings | COL | 35 |
| 28 | Kyle Higashioka | SD | 34 |
| 27 | Alejandro Kirk | TOR | 26 |
| 26 | Adrian Del Castillo | ARI | 25 |
| 25 | Gabriel Moreno | ARI | 25 |
| 24 | Miguel Amaya | CHC | 26 |
| 23 | Victor Caratini | HOU | 31 |
| 22 | Jonah Heim | TEX | 29 |
| 21 | Patrick Bailey | SF | 25 |
The Outdated People
Travis D’Arnaud did an amazing job filling in for Sean Murphy this 12 months as he hit 15 homers, the fifth straight season he has reached double digits in homers (not together with 2020). He’s a mean catcher relating to the typical and OBP and he’s above common in slugging. A wholesome Murphy will depress D’Arnaud’s at-bats subsequent season, however I nonetheless like him greater than these Tier 4 catchers.
Jacob Stallings is a probable candidate to be a backup catcher subsequent season as he might be 35 and has a profession .239/.319/.353 slash line. Goodman stands out as the starter subsequent 12 months as Stallings has a mutual choice with the Rockies for 2025. However he has an honest sufficient bat that he is usually a respectable backup on somebody’s roster subsequent 12 months.
Kyle Higashioka produced 17 homers and 45 RBI for the Padres this previous season, a profession excessive, after hitting precisely 10 house runs in every of the earlier seasons. However the Padres have tons of catchers and being a free agent this offseason, who is aware of the place Higashioka will find yourself and what his position might be. However even when he’s a backup, he produces when he performs and could be stable No. 2 catcher in your roster.
What Will Arizona Do?
The Diamondbacks have an honest drawback in they’ve two catchers who they’ll flip to and certain be pleased with. However for dynasty homeowners, that isn’t an amazing state of affairs.
Gabriel Moreno has all the time been a stable hitter on the plate. He has a profession slash line of .280/.347/.393 – numbers method above the typical catcher. However Moreno doesn’t hit for energy. In 233 profession video games, he has 13 homers and a 1.4% house run fee. In the meantime, the Diamondbacks even have Adrian Del Castillo ready within the wings. As a catcher, Del Castillo has plenty of room to enhance.
However as a hitter, he’s harmful. He has above common energy as he hit 26 homers in 105 video games at Triple A this season and added one other 4 in 25 video games with Arizona. The facility is nothing new for Del Castillo. Throughout his three years on the College of Miami he had a profession slugging share of .499 and within the minors it’s .474.
Sneaky Good
Victor Caratini is the backup catcher for the Astros, however because of his potential to additionally play first base, he appeared in 87 video games this previous season regardless of spending time on the IL with a hip harm. Over the previous two seasons, Caratini has a .265/.332/.397 slash line with 15 homers and 55 RBI in 149 video games. As a result of he can play first base and is a swap hitter, he’ll probably get extra taking part in time than your typical backup catcher.
Tier 2
| RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | J.T. Realmuto | PHI | 34 |
| 19 | Sean Murphy | ATL | 30 |
| 18 | Bo Naylor | CLE | 25 |
| 17 | Keibert Ruiz | WAS | 26 |
| 16 | Luis Campusano | SD | 26 |
| 15 | Francisco Alvarez | NYM | 23 |
| 14 | Austin Wells | NYY | 25 |
| 13 | Joey Bart | PIT | 28 |
| 12 | Connor Wong | BOS | 28 |
| 11 | Ryan Jeffers | MIN | 27 |
What Occurred?
That could be a query many are asking relating to Luis Campusano and Francisco Alvarez this previous season. Each catchers have been anticipated to have robust seasons. As a substitute, we barely received common seasons from them.
Campusano was handed the beginning job this season after producing a .319/.356/.491 slash line with seven homers in 49 video games in 2023. However 2024 was not sort to Campusano and by September he was within the minors. For the 12 months he had a .227/.281/.361 slash line with eight house runs in 91 video games. The Padres should not going to surrender on him, however with Ethan Salas knocking on the door, Campusano’s future just isn’t a recognized commodity.
Huge issues have been additionally anticipated from Alvarez as properly. Nonetheless, he delivered a .237/.307/.403 season with 11 homers in 308 at-bats. Alvarez was simply too inconsistent in 2024. He slashed .375/.456/.667 with three homers and 12 RBI in 16 June video games, however in July these numbers have been .200/.263/.314-1-6 and .171/.213/.237-1-4. However Alvarez, who will solely be 23 subsequent season, ended the 12 months on a excessive word by smashing 5 homers and driving in 17 runs in September with a .254/.357/.542 slash line.
These are numbers that may make this rating look foolish by this time subsequent 12 months.
Future Stars (at the very least when in comparison with different catchers)?
Austin Wells can simply be ranked as a Tier 1 catcher by the tip of subsequent season. Whereas he didn’t have an amazing slash line this previous season (.229/.322.395), he did slug 13 homers to go along with 55 RBI in 115 video games. In 134 main league video games, he has 17 homers and 68 RBI and his 162-game common is 21 homers and 82 RBI. Within the minors he had a profession .260/.370/.476 slash line, so his historical past means that his slash line will enhance within the majors.
When Joey Bart was traded by the Giants to the Pirates on April 2, it was the most effective factor that might have occurred for him. Bart struggled to ever discover his footing in San Francisco, however as soon as in Pittsburgh, his expertise lastly began to return by means of. In 80 video games this 12 months he slashed .265/.337/.462 with 13 homers and 45 RBI. Bart will probably have to separate duties with Davis, however he ought to get the vast majority of begins behind house plate as he has been the higher hitter within the majors.
Connor Wong is a kind of catchers who can truly assist relating to the slash line, producing a .282/.337/.428 line this season in 124 video games with 13 homers and 52 RBI, a pleasant bounce from 2023 (.235/.288/.385-9-36). He additionally lowered his strikeout fee from 33.3% in 2023 to 23.4% this 12 months whereas additionally barely growing his stroll fee and residential run fee.
Ryan Jeffers has proven the power to provide a pleasant common and OBP (.276/.369 in 2023), however his profession slash line is .231/.310/.427. What Jeffers has been in a position to do properly is hit the ball over the fence and within the gaps. He slugged .432 this 12 months in 122 video games because of 21 homers and 22 doubles. His profession SLG is .427 with a HR% of 4.2%, above the MLB common of three.1%
Tier 1
| RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Logan O’Hoppe | LAA | 25 |
| 9 | Tyler Stephenson | CIN | 28 |
| 8 | Willson Conteras | STL | 32 |
| 7 | Will Smith | LAD | 30 |
| 6 | Shea Langeliers | OAK | 27 |
| 5 | Adley Rutschman | BAL | 27 |
| 4 | Salvador Perez | KC | 34 |
| 3 | Cal Raleigh | SEA | 28 |
| 2 | Yainer Diaz | HOU | 26 |
| 1 | William Conteras | MIL | 27 |
Strong and Regular
Logan O’Hoppe got here onto the scene for the Angles in 2023 when he appeared in 51 video games and hit 14 house runs and slugged .500. As an encore in 2024, he hit 20 homers, drove in 56 and slugged .409 in 136 video games. He isn’t going to provide a excessive batting common and OBP, but when I get 20 or extra house runs from my catcher, I’m a cheerful man.
When Tyler Stephenson performs a full season, he’s good for double-digit homers and an above common slash line on the catcher place. Stephenson is coming off his greatest 12 months as he hit 19 homers and drove in 66 for the Reds whereas slashing .258/.338/.444. His profession slash line is .267/.343/.427 and his 162-game common is 17 homers and 72 RBI. That’s nice manufacturing from a catcher.
Age Is a Issue
Willson Conteras is an impressive catcher. His 162-game common is 26 homers and 80 RBI and in solely 84 video games this season he hit 15 homers whereas driving in 36 with a .262/.380/.468 slash line. The one actual cause why he’s ranked eighth and never a bit increased is because of the truth that he’s 32. However in case you are wanting extra brief time period relating to the catching place, then seize Conteras early and be pleased.
Will Smith was an All-Star this season in addition to in 2023 and produced 20 homers and 75 RBI, principally the identical manufacturing he has posted since 2021. However there’s a development with Smith that I’m not liking – a lower in slugging share 12 months to 12 months to 12 months. In 2020 he slugged .579. Within the 4 seasons since, his SLG has been .495, .465, .438 and .433. His OBP has additionally slipped from a excessive of .401 in 2020 to a profession low .327 this 12 months.
Smith nonetheless hits homers and drives in runs, however these different numbers forestall me from rating any increased than seventh.
A Very Good Trio
I’m certain the truth that Shea Langeliers performs for the A’s is the rationale for this, but it surely appears nobody talks about him. All he does is play almost day-after-day, showing in 135 video games in 2023 and 137 video games this 12 months. And when he’s performs, he hits for lots of energy with 22 homers and 63 RBI in 2023 after which 29 homers and 80 this season. Like plenty of the catchers we’ve talked about, Langeliers just isn’t nice within the slash line division, however I’ll take his energy day-after-day of the week.
Adley Rutschman didn’t have a nasty season, however he hasn’t actually lived as much as expectations but. Don’t get me flawed, I’ll gladly take a catcher with a .261/.321/.421 profession slash line and 52 homers in 415 profession video games (and a 162-game common of 20 homers and 78 RBI). However the gamers I’ve ranked forward of him both have extra energy, are higher hitters, or each right now.
I’m not going to punish Salvador Perez for being outdated. Regardless of the actual fact he might be 34 subsequent season, he has proven no indicators of slowing down. Of the 158 video games he appeared in, 91 have been at catcher, with the opposite video games break up between first base and DH. Since his 48 homer, 121 RBI season in 2021, Perez has nonetheless managed to hit 23, 23 and 27 house runs with 76, 80 and 104 RBI. Since his debut season in 2011, Perez has by no means slugged under .400. He’s the Energizer Bunny…he simply retains going and going and going.
The Banger, The Hitter, The All-Round Dude
There may be one factor Cal Raleigh does properly, and that’s hit house runs and, by extension, drive in runs. After main all catchers in house runs in 2023 and rating sixth in RBI with 75, he once more led all catchers in homers this previous season with 31 whereas his 96 RBI ranked second. The draw back to Raleigh is his poor batting common and OBP (.218 and .312). And people low totals are the norm relating to Raleigh has his profession common is .218 and his OBP is .296. For those who don’t care about common and OBP out of your catcher, then Raleigh is the person for you.
Whereas Raleigh is all energy on the plate, Yainer Diaz is a real hitter. His slash line was .299/.324/.442 this previous season, rating first amongst catchers in batting common. He additionally hit 16 homers and drove in 84 runs (fourth amongst catchers). Diaz, who additionally qualifies as a primary baseman, has wonderful uncooked energy. In 2023 hit 23 homers in 377 at-bats because of a 6.1 HR% and 29.6 FB%. His house run fee fell to 2.6% in 2024 and his GB% jumped from 44.3% to 51.2% this previous season. If Diaz will get nearer to his 2023 charges, he can simply attain 30 homers and 100 RBI.
For those who mix Raleigh and Diaz collectively, you get William Contreras of Milwaukee. The Brewers catcher hit 23 homers, drove in 92 runs and slashed .281/.364/.468. His 92 RBI ranked third amongst catchers, and what he did this season just isn’t a one-time occasion. He slashed .289/.367/.457 final 12 months with 17 houses and 76 RBI and his profession slash line is .277/.358/.465. Discovering catchers who can produce his slash line whereas additionally hitting for energy may be very uncommon, and it’s why Contreras tops my rankings.
Thanks for studying and are available again subsequent week once I unveil my rankings for first basemen.
Earlier Rankings
High 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Relievers
High 100 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Beginning Pitchers