Top 40 Catcher Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Rankings For 2027

1. Drake Baldwin, C, Braves

Across his first two seasons, Baldwin slashed .280/.351/.463 with 44 home runs and an 18.9 K% in 262 games, and he turns 26 at the end of March. In 2026, Baldwin sacrificed some contact for quality of contact, finishing with a 96th percentile .505 xSLG and 93rd percentile 50.6 Hard-Hit%. It didn’t negatively impact his production relative to expectations, but Baldwin’s O-Swing% surprisingly jumped from 29.8% to 34.8% in his second season.

Even so, Baldwin has the highest floor at the position and is in his early prime. He isn’t a good bet to be the No. 1 overall fantasy catcher in any one season vs. the field, but he is the best bet to finish in the top five at the position in each of the next three seasons.

2. Shea Langeliers, C, Athletics

A little older than you might guess, Langeliers is entering his age-29 season and hasn’t been quite the workhorse of some of the other top options at the position. He has two seasons with more than 500 plate appearances and has never topped 550 plate appearances in a season.

That said, if he played as much as William Contreras, Langeliers would be the clear top fantasy option at the position, and there is still an argument for him as the top catcher. He has hit over 22 homers in four straight seasons, and while his strikeout rate crept back up into the 20s (23.3 K%) after a stunning 19.7 K% in 2025, Langeliers actually had a higher xBA (.266) in 2026 than he did in 2025 (.251).

A torn meniscus suffered in late July limited Langeliers to 106 games in 2026, but he returned in September and started 105 of the 116 games he was available. He gets one more season in hitter-friendly Sacramento before heading to Las Vegas for his walk year in 2028.

3. Rainiel Rodriguez, C, Cardinals

I’ve never been more convinced in a catching prospect’s bat than I am with Rodriguez. It’s not clear how long he will be eligible at catcher, and I would prefer for the Cardinals to just make him a full-time designated hitter, as I think the payoff could be a Kyle Schwarber-caliber career. Not that Rodriguez will achieve the exact same statistical outlay, but that he’ll have enough offensive production to be a three-win player at DH. He’s tried some third base recently, and that could be an even better outcome, but we probably shouldn’t get our hopes up too much there.

There’s a chance he could be the clear best hitter in the minors from the start of the season until he gets promoted. If we assume the Cardinals plan on keeping Rodriguez at catcher, then an Iván Herrera trade makes the most sense, as they need to clear the DH spot so Rodriguez is in the lineup when Leo Bernal is behind the plate.

4. Hunter Goodman, C, Rockies

Goodman tied Ben Rice for most home runs by a catcher-eligible player last season (41), but unlike Rice, Goodman retains his catcher eligibility for 2027 and beyond. Among players eligible at catcher in 2027, Goodman had a 14-homer edge on Dillon Dingler and Carter Jensen, who tied for second with 27 home runs.

Goodman also ranked fourth at the position with five steals and he trailed only William Contreras in R+RBI (172). His SwStr% and Contact% are trending in the wrong direction, and his strikeout rate was a three-year worst 30.5%, so be careful about buying high, a la Cal Raleigh a season ago. Coors Field acts like bumper lanes on Goodman’s batting average, and he carries more value in batting average leagues than in OBP leagues (career .299 OBP).

5. Samuel Basallo, C, Orioles

Whenever Basallo is fully over the shoulder issue that impacted his second half, I expect him to be viewed as more of a top-three dynasty catcher. I just don’t know when that will be. He slashed .241/.305/.450 with 16 home runs, 34 runs and 46 RBI in 311 plate appearances before exiting a July 19 game with right shoulder discomfort. He was later placed on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, missing a full month, and he slashed .154/.239/.244 with a .090 ISO in 88 plate appearances after returning.

He is still so young, entering his age-22 season with 143 MLB games already under his belt, and pre-injury, Basallo’s trajectory looked special. The shoulder issue is murky enough that I’m not sure this is the low point of his value. If he opts for rest and recovery this offseason and then shows up to camp only to have his shoulder start barking again, his acquisition cost would likely be lower than it is right now.

6. Carter Jensen, C, Royals

Jensen ranks sixth entering his age-23 season, which is a testament to the quality at the top of the rankings, as there’s little to find fault with in Jensen’s game. If we were to nitpick, his extreme flyball approach (52.2 FB%) caps his batting average upside (.217 xBA last season). However, Jensen hit 27 home runs with 80 runs and 81 RBI while holding up for 603 plate appearances as a rookie catcher, so he is understandably in high demand in dynasty.

Even with Salvador Perez still on the roster, the Royals rode Jensen, giving him 42 games at designated hitter, and he eventually settled in as the leadoff hitter against righties and lefties. This is Perez’s final year in Kansas City, and Jensen figures to once again be near the top of the position in power and playing time.

7. Gabriel Moreno, C, Diamondbacks

The first catcher to win a batting title since Buster Posey (2012) and Joe Mauer before him (2006, 2008, 2009), Moreno also finally had the power breakout in his age-26 season that many had been anxiously anticipating. He didn’t hit the ball harder than in recent seasons, but he had a career-best 16.4 AirPull% and he had a healthy season and a full-time job.

Moreno’s prior career high in plate appearances was 380 in 2023, but he logged 549 plate appearances in 2026 en route to a career-high 16 homers and also logged career bests in ISO (.175) and OBP (.388). He also tied for second at the position with six steals, and Moreno was top six in runs and RBI among catchers. If he can hold up while repeating 2026’s workload in the coming years, Moreno should be a steady source of across-the-board counting stats and an elite source of batting average/OBP.

8. William Contreras, C, Brewers

Contreras is as steady as they come, hitting over .260 with an OBP over .340 in five straight seasons while typically being among the positional leaders in runs, RBI and steals. After logging over 610 plate appearances in four straight years with 100-plus playoff plate appearances during that span, it would be reasonable to expect Contreras’ production and availability to start trailing off at some point in the next few years. This could be his last year with the Brewers (2027 club option), and he should once again get all the playing time he can handle.

One other small concern beyond the wear and tear on his body is that Contreras went 1-for-3 on stolen-base attempts last year after stealing at least six bases three years in a row. It may not seem like a lot, but the fact he was a threat to lead the position in steals was a nice bonus in roto leagues.

9. Ethan Salas, C, Padres

For so long, it seemed Salas was the ultimate “better in reality than fantasy” prospect, as an elite defensive catcher who hadn’t shown much offensive impact potential. However, after an incredibly impressive age-20 season in which he climbed from Double-A to Triple-A and then to the majors, Salas now looks like a catcher whose game is perfect for dynasty. Not only did he hit .296 with a .374 OBP and 14.3 K%, Salas hit 10 homers with 17 steals in 96 minor-league games.

Salas’ youth, athleticism, projected playing time and desire to steal bases make Salas a realistic threat to lead all catchers in steals as early as 2027. His burgeoning over-the-fence power was evident with a pair of home runs and .205 ISO in 40 MLB plate appearances, and given Salas’ projectable 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame and present pop, he projects for at least 20-homer power at peak.

It still seems a little underdiscussed how good he was in 2026 against upper-level pitching (5.4 SwStr%, 25.5 O-Swing%) given that he doesn’t turn 21 until June and projects to be an excellent defensive catcher.

10. Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners

Raleigh’s 2026 was a bust of epic proportions, as he followed up a career year in 2025 with by far his worst season since his 2021 rookie campaign. His 39.5 HardHit% and 36.5 O-Swing% both regressed to levels not seen since 2021, but Raleigh still finished tied for fifth at the position with 23 homers.

Even while his power surged in the second half (14 HR in 61 games), Raleigh hit .196, albeit with a .324 OBP. It is tempting to forecast a return to his 2022-24 levels, but those were also his age-25-27 seasons, so it’s possible he is post-prime and will be a ratio sinkhole as he moves into his 30s. Still, for a player who has shown Raleigh’s peak level and is still just 30, I don’t want to overreact too much to one disappointing season. He underwent a cleanup procedure on his left shoulder and will be ready for next season.

11. Dillon Dingler, C, Tigers

Very little about Dingler’s game changed from 2025 to his breakout 2026, but he got 138 more plate appearances while upping his flyball rate from 35.9% to 43.6% and upping his pull rate from 40.2% to 44.4%. Increased playing time and frequency of pulled flyballs led to Dingler hitting 27 home runs, up from 13 in 2025. His wRC+, BB%, K% and expected slash line were similar in 2025 and 2026, but the over-the-fence power just exploded. That 14-homer jump in his age-27 season feels unsustainable, but Dingler should continue to get as much playing time as he can handle thanks to his excellent defense behind the plate.

While many of the other top catchers chip in a handful of steals, Dingler has never attempted a steal in the big leagues. He has a career 5.2 BB% and is better in batting average leagues than OBP leagues, but Dingler should still be a starting-caliber catcher in one-catcher leagues for the foreseeable future.

12. Iván Herrera, C, Cardinals

Herrera is a bad enough defensive catcher and a good enough hitter that the risk of him losing catcher eligibility in the next year or two is probably higher than with any other player in the top 15. The fact that the Cardinals have two premium young catchers in Leo Bernal and Rainiel Rodriguez makes projecting Herrera’s role over the next couple years even more challenging.

In 2026, Herrera hit 19 home runs with eight steals for the second year in a row, but he was unlucky on balls in play after being fortunate on balls in play in a couple recent seasons. His .241 average should rebound, and he has logged an OBP over .350 in four straight seasons. Herrera feels like a potential trade candidate, but he should put up a big age-27 season regardless of which roster he is on.

13. Will Smith, C, Dodgers

Smith had an excellent September (160 wRC+) after missing three months with a neck issue and still has seven years remaining on his contract with the Dodgers. His 0.76 BB/K and 12.4 Barrel% were his best marks since 2020 and he should be fresh for the upcoming season after playing in a six-year-low 73 games.

Dalton Rushing didn’t do enough (1.1 fWAR in 253 PA) to turn this into something like an even timeshare heading into 2027, especially given Smith’s contract and trust from the pitching staff.

14. Vahn Lackey, C, Twins

Catcher is trending faster, at least with Ethan Salas and Lackey entering the picture. Lackey was one of the best athletes from the college crop in 2026 and stole 13 bases in his first 25 pro games. Even if he weren’t much of a factor on the bases, Lackey would have a chance to be a top-five fantasy catcher, as he had a .519 OBP this spring at Georgia Tech and a .435 OBP in his debut. His junior year (20 HR in 61 games) oversells his power potential, but he should play enough to be a threat for 20-plus homers throughout his prime.

Lackey doesn’t turn 22 until July and probably won’t need a full season in the minors before he is ready for the show. It’s a minor factor, but it’s nice that Lackey will face little competition for playing time in the coming years, as Ryan Jeffers is a free agent this offseason.

15. Joe Mack, C, Marlins

Mack is better in real life than in fantasy as his defense is ahead of his offense, but there were still a lot of positives to take away from his rookie season if you have him in dynasty. Mack’s swing decisions were very strong for a 23-year-old catcher and his 24.8 K% was lower than the 27.1 K% he had in the minors in 2025. In mid August, it was announced that Mack was dealing with a shoulder injury, and while he never ended up on the injured list, he was a different hitter prior to that news (.731 OPS, 39.6 HardHit%) than after (.558 OPS, 34.9 HardHit%).

Mack has consistently gotten better each offseason and is clearly the Marlins’ long-term answer at catcher, so this offseason could be a good chance to buy his entire prime before he shows how high his offensive ceiling is.

16. Adley Rutschman, C, Red Sox

Rutschman reversed a three-year decline from 2023-25 with a solid but unspectacular 2026 season, in which he was traded across the division to Boston. Much more valuable in real life than in fantasy, Rutschman has averaged 15 home runs and one steal per season over his five-year career, and he is entering his age-29 season.

According to Statcast, Rutschman would have had nine fewer expected home runs over the past five seasons with his home games in Boston versus Baltimore, but Boston is still a good park for overall offense and he should hit in the top six in a good lineup going forward. He is more appealing in deeper leagues where compilers have value than in shallower leagues where you should be chasing players with higher ceilings.

17. Alfredo Duno, C, Reds

Duno may not be quite ready to take over as the Reds’ primary catcher while also filling in at designated hitter when he isn’t catching, but the depth chart is wide open with Tyler Stephenson hitting the open market this winter. Duno consistently hits the ball really hard and can handle all pitch types while making sound swing decisions.

Despite being pushed aggressively, Duno has been at least 25% better than the average hitter in every league he has played in. Duno runs lower contact rates than the typical high-end catching prospect, but he also logged 32 games at Double-A and doesn’t turn 21 until January, so he is ahead of schedule. Heavier and potentially taller than his listed 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, the Venezuelan backstop has an XXL frame and will need to stay on top of his conditioning.

His bat would likely play at the bottom of the defensive spectrum, but the hope is that Duno can be solid enough defensively to remain eligible at catcher while also getting plenty of starts at DH when he isn’t behind the plate.

18. Francisco Alvarez, C, Mets

I feel like most people who play fantasy have had a Francisco Alvarez Phase, where they thought he was going to eventually ascend to top-five or at least top-10 status at the position. He may have missed his window to reach those heights, given how much talent is entering the player pool at the position each year, but it’s too soon to close that window, given he is entering his age-25 season.

Alvarez has never logged 425 MLB plate appearances in a season, and he hasn’t logged 40 runs or 50 RBI in a season since his career-best 2023 campaign. His ability to barrel the ball (15.4 Barrel% in 2026) is up there with any catcher, but he is also a whiff machine (34.8 Whiff%) who hasn’t shown he can handle a full season’s workload.

19. Kyle Teel, C, White Sox

It was a disastrous 2026 for Teel, as a hamstring strain and subsequent knee strain cost him the first 12 weeks of the season, and then a high-ankle sprain cost him six weeks in the second half. The lefty-hitting backstop logged a .336 OBP, .210 average, five home runs, a 13.2 BB% and 35.4 K% in 144 plate appearances and demolished Triple-A pitching during his rehab to the tune of a 149 wRC+. Given that he had a 25.9 K% in a larger 297-plate-appearance sample in 2025, I think we should assume the strikeouts will trend down in his age-25 season.

The one thing Teel has always done is take walks, and he has a career 12.7 BB% and .362 OBP, giving him more appeal in OBP formats. Teel hasn’t had a true power breakout yet, but his underlying metrics (47.1 HardHit%, 11.4 Barrel% in 2026, 113.7 mph max EV in 2025) suggest a 20-plus homer season is in there if he can stay healthy.

20. Leo Bernal, C, Cardinals

It’s tempting to call Bernal a sleeper, but he is the buzziest young catcher in early high-stakes 2027 drafts, so I think the secret is probably out in serious dynasty circles. Always young for his levels while being highly regarded defensively, Bernal hit 16 home runs with nine steals and a 19.9 K% in 101 games as one of the 10 youngest hitters at Triple-A.

The switch-hitter was even better in 102 MLB plate appearances, logging a 124 wRC+, 55.7 HardHit%, .284 average and five home runs, although he went 0-for-1 on the bases. In that small sample, Bernal was worth almost a full win (0.8 fWAR), and he seems to be getting better by the month.

21. Ryan Jeffers, C, Free Agent

The only difficult thing to project with Jeffers is what team he will be on going forward. When he is in the lineup, he has proven to be an above-average hitter (wRC+ over 106 in four straight seasons) who is an asset in OBP leagues and won’t hurt you in batting average leagues.

He hits the ball hard and in the air more often than on the ground, but he has only hit 15 or more home runs once (21 in 2024), largely due to his inability to handle a full workload.

22. Yainer Diaz, C, Astros

Much more valuable in batting average leagues, Diaz has logged a walk rate below 4.0% each of the last four seasons, but he has hit over .280 in three of those seasons. In 2026, he had a .601 OPS in the first 27 games, missed six weeks with an oblique strain and slashed .305/.337/.506 with 12 home runs in 72 games after returning in mid June.

His defense isn’t great, but Diaz still logged over 560 plate appearances in 2024 and 2025. He is entering his age-28 season and will be a free agent after the 2028 season.

23. Liam Hicks, C/1B, Rays

Eligible at first base and catcher for the second year in a row, Hicks broke out for Miami last season (.282/.363/.432, 14 HR in 101 games) and didn’t slow down (.288/.379/.440, four HR in 41 games) after getting dealt to the Rays at the deadline.

The 2024 Rule 5 Draft pick turns 28 in June, and it’s quite possible that 2026 goes down as his career year. Still, he is in a good situation with the Rays and has a high floor in the short term.

24. Nathan Flewelling, C, Rays

I’m betting on Flewelling to be valuable in fantasy once he is playing regularly in the big leagues, and while he hasn’t tried another position in games yet, it’s possible he moves off of catcher down the road thanks to his above-average athleticism and high offensive ceiling.

As with Rainiel Rodriguez, I think it could be a boon for Flewelling’s long-term value if he did change positions, as it would put less stress on his lower body and allow him to be an everyday player. He first really impressed me by logging a 127 wRC+ in 107 games in full-season ball as an 18-year-old catcher in 2025 and followed that up with 21 home runs, eight steals, a .364 OBP and a .208 ISO in 106 games at High-A as a 19-year-old.

Flewelling has some swing-and-miss in his game, but he should consistently log high on-base percentages (career .378 OBP).

25. Caden Bodine, C, Rays

Bodine could be too low in these rankings, especially if the Rays are proactive about opening up a big role for him sometime in 2027. There is little doubt he will hit for a high batting average and log high on-base percentages in the majors — he walked significantly more (9.6 BB%) than he struck out (6.3 K%) last season across the top three levels of the minors and has never hit below .316.

Bodine is an opportunistic base stealer, swiping 10 bases on 13 attempts in 117 games despite below-average speed. He had a 109.5 mph max EV and 103 mph 90th percentile exit velocity (EV90), and org-mate Nathan Flewelling already hits the ball harder despite being three years younger. Still, that’s plenty of juice to eventually have some 15-homer campaigns thanks to his excellent bat-to-ball ability.

26. Franklin Primera, C, Red Sox

Primera could be in the top five of this list someday thanks to an excellent hit tool and projectable power. The 6-foot Venezuelan backstop had a 10.5 IZMiss%, 111 mph max EV and more walks (14.1 BB%) than strikeouts (10.6 K%) as a recently-turned 19-year-old catcher in rookie ball and Low-A.

He could stand to be a little more patient, but it’s hard to tell that to a teenager with a 176 wRC+.

27. Alejandro Kirk, C, Blue Jays

Kirk suffered a fractured left thumb in early April that cost him two months, but he delivered a vintage Kirk performance when on the field (.278/.351/.415 slash line, 114 wRC+). He’s a classic two-catcher league option who is probably close to replacement level in some one-catcher leagues.

Kirk lacks the upside to climb into the top 10 in any given season, but he is a reliable compiler who will help your average and won’t hurt your OBP. Kirk debuted young and is only entering his age-28 season. He is signed through 2030.

28. Moisés Ballesteros, C, Angels

It is tempting to treat 2026 as kind of a lost year for Ballesteros as a hitter, as he was a 22-year-old working hard to be playable behind the plate with the Cubs while primarily being used in games as the designated hitter before getting demoted to Triple-A and then traded to the Angels at the deadline. After the trade, Ballesteros went from the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate to the Angels’ starting lineup, making 17 of his 45 starts at catcher for his new club.

It’s unclear how committed the Angels will be to developing Ballesteros behind the plate in the coming years, but he is eligible there for now and looks like a prime post-hype sleeper, given the ugly surface stats and contextual factors that can help explain away some of his struggles as a hitter in 2026.

Retaining his catcher eligibility is key to his value in 2-catcher and deep 1-catcher leagues, as he probably wouldn’t provide quite enough offensive punch to be desirable as a UT-only fantasy option.

29. Endy Rodriguez, C, Pirates

There was a point in the calendar where Rodriguez was one of the better breakouts at the position. He missed the first month and a half with a finger injury, but slashed .267/.373/.467 with seven home runs, six steals and a 132 wRC+ in 45 games, only to need surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip.

Missed time has been a theme with Rodriguez, whose 2024 was wiped out due to an elbow surgery, and he has played 120 total games in the majors since debuting in 2023. Rodriguez, who turns 27 in May, could return sometime this summer and is under club control through 2029.

30. Rafael Flores, C, Pirates

Flores spent time at Triple-A in 2025 and 2026 and was never as productive at that level as he was in the majors last season. The hulking 6-foot-3, 232-pound catcher was actually below average (97 wRC+) in 65 games at Triple-A last season, but he slashed .264/.331/.527 with 11 home runs and a 130 wRC+ as a 25-year-old rookie. His .506 xSLG and 14.6 Barrel% were elite marks across 163 plate appearances.

Flores also saw time at first base, and if his 2026 breakout is real, he could continue to get starts at first base and DH when he isn’t catching.

31. Josue Briceño, C, Tigers

Briceño may not retain catcher eligibility deep into his career, but he enters 2027 eligible at catcher, and the recent trend is that teams give players like Agustín Ramírez and Moisés Ballesteros a shot at sticking there in the majors, even if the odds are low.

Briceño missed the first half of 2026 after undergoing right wrist surgery, and he impressed during his rehab at Low-A (160 wRC+) and in 17 games at Double-A (166 wRC+) before falling flat in his first 15 games at Triple-A (65 wRC+, zero home runs, 32.2 K%). He had an average EV of 94.1 mph and 107.1 mph EV90, so there was still plenty of power in his bat post-surgery. He will probably begin his age-22 season back at Triple-A and could compete for playing time at catcher, first base and designated hitter this summer.

32. Keibert Ruiz, C, Nationals

He only logged 354 plate appearances in 2026, but Ruiz was quietly very productive when he was in the lineup, slashing .280/.316/.443 with a .165 ISO and 105 wRC+. Ruiz also turned in his best defensive season.

Given that he was worth almost two wins in 105 games, Washington could dial up his playing time in 2027—he handled 430-plus plate appearances from 2022-24. Even without the bump in playing time, Ruiz is a decent second catcher in two-catcher formats.

33. Axiel Plaz, C, Pirates

A hard-hit data darling, Plaz had a 110.1 mph EV90 and 116.7 mph max EV while slashing .305/.389/.513 with a 9.5 BB% and 17.2 K% in 94 games as a 20-year-old catcher at High-A. An aggressive hitter (51.0 Swing%) who hits the ball on the ground too much (52.0 GB%), Plaz’s power potential is certainly appealing.

Plaz’s lack of polish on defense could slow his ascent through the upper levels, though, and could even negatively impact his offensive development.

34. Daniel Jackson, C, Rockies

Jackson played more at designated hitter than catcher at Low-A after signing for a hair under $2.3 million, and like with Nathan Flewelling, I’m not sure where Jackson ends up—I’m just sure I’m intrigued by his fantasy potential.

Jackson is a physical 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, and he hit 32 home runs while stealing 26 bases in 67 games at Georgia before hitting six homers with three steals in 22 games at Low-A. Not only is Jackson a better fantasy prospect than a real-life prospect due to his shaky defense, but he gets another bump in dynasty because of his future home in Coors Field.

35. Dalton Rushing, C, Dodgers

Everything counts, but it was difficult to time Rushing’s fantasy production in 2026. He had a 1.429 OPS in 12 games from March 30 to April 26, then had a .387 OPS over his next 19 games. He rattled off another solid stretch in June and early July before striking out 38.3% of the time over his final 25 games.

He is still Will Smith‘s backup for the foreseeable future, but his prospect pedigree and flashes of offensive brilliance keep him on the dynasty radar entering his age-26 season.

36. Eduardo Valencia, C, Tigers

Never a prospect of note, Valencia played one game at Double-A in 2022 and never got back to the upper levels until 2025, when he had a 159 wRC+ as a 25-year-old at Double-A and Triple-A. The part-time catcher, part-time designated hitter mashed 17 homers with a 119 wRC+ in 81 games as a 26-year-old at Triple-A and made his big-league debut just before the All-Star break.

Valencia hit an unsustainable .341 (.404 BABIP) with eight home runs in 138 plate appearances, but there is no denying he has been nothing but productive since the start of the 2025 season. His 4.3 BB% and 35.6 O-Swing% are worrisome, but there isn’t enough hype around Valencia for him to be overpriced, at least at this stage of the offseason. He was available for 63 games and got 29 starts and 11 pinch-hit appearances, which is a reasonable projection of his usage for 2027.

37. Salvador Perez, C/1B, Royals

By most auction calculators, I’m guessing Perez will be considered a top-20 catcher for 2027, which is why he is on the list, even though 2027 could be his last year. He obviously showed decline again in 2026, but Perez still ranked seventh among catchers with 21 home runs, so there is a place for him on 2027 rosters in two-catcher leagues and even deeper one-catcher leagues.

Perez is more valuable in batting average leagues than OBP formats.

38. Ryder Helfrick, C, Diamondbacks

Helfrick is a very good bet to remain a relevant and respected real-life prospect over the next year-plus, but it’s unlikely he is ever a top-10 fantasy catcher. He had a strikeout rate over 22% in each of his first two years at Arkansas until cutting it to 19.1 K% this spring. For reference, Vahn Lackey struck out 17.5% of the time as a freshman and was down to 13.4% this spring.

A good outcome for Helfrick would be for him to be a solid second catcher in two-catcher formats.

39. Boston Smith, C, Mariners

Smith hasn’t gotten off to a great start in the Arizona Fall League, but his regular season was excellent. He had a 16.5 Chase% and 106.3 mph EV90 while slashing .274/.424/.566 with 31 home runs, 11 steals, a 19.7 BB% and a 29.2 K%.

Smith is fully optimized to lift and pull (34.2 GB%, 54.1 FB%) and he is a patient hitter, but his contact issues could be exposed at the highest level. He was playing some outfield even before the AFL, so obviously catcher is not a given to be Smith’s long-term home.

40. Owen Ayers, C, Cubs

I am probably the low man on Ayers in dynasty, due almost entirely to his age (25) and lack of success at Triple-A or the majors, but I recognize he probably has more dynasty trade value than the players in my honorable mention section. I’m not ruling out Ayers having a multi-year run as a viable second catcher, but I’d be stunned if he turned into more than that.

Consider that Ayers is only a few months younger than Dalton Rushing, and he is eight months older than Drew Cavanaugh, who was considerably better than Ayers at Triple-A last year.

Honorable Mentions: Tyler Stephenson, Agustín Ramírez, J.T. Realmuto, Carson Kelly, Austin Wells, Victor Caratini, Luis Campusano and Drew Cavanaugh