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**Note: NFBC draft ADP for Melendez and Soderstrom are for outfield and Util eligibility respectively. **

 

2024 Catcher Targets

 

Adley Rutschman

Adley Rutchman is a stud who’s only getting better. Rutchman is far and away the best fantasy catcher coming into his prime in a lineup that keeps improving. Draft Rutchman confidently, as the Orioles will do their best to keep his bat in the lineup even when he’s not catching. Rutchman is even more valuable in an OBP league, as he takes plenty of walks. 

I believe Rutchman is one of a few catchers with the hit tool to hit .300 and the power to pop 25+ homers. Expect Rutchman’s consistency to remain as he grows into the league’s best catcher. You may have to draft Rutchman early, but he is good enough to be worth the draft position, especially in two catcher leagues where you can draft him early and wait on a 2nd catcher. 

Adley Rutschman called GAME. pic.twitter.com/quYQmQ5nb6

— BMOREcenter (@BMOREcenter) January 28, 2024

 

 

Yainer Diaz & Mitch Garver

If you take a look at my sleeper's article, I look into depth on both Yainer Diaz and Mitch Garver. I won’t bore you with the nitty gritty again. Diaz provides a high batting average and power with the upside of more at-bats coming this year since he’ll be the starting catcher. For Garver, he gets to be a full-time DH, and despite going to Seattle, his plus power plays anywhere, and he should finally get 500 ABs, which I expect to translate into hefty amount of homers. 

 

 

Bo Naylor

Bo Naylor offers something that most catchers do not: steals. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect a J.T. Realmuto-esque 20 steals, but 10 steals from a position that rarely puts up more than 2-3 has value. It lets you target a player who is strictly a power guy later without worrying about falling behind in steals. Additionally, Naylor, the younger brother of Josh, who also plays for the Guardians, consistently posts high OBP and mid-tier homers, which gives him a good baseline for being able to score a decent amount of runs.

Cleveland signed Austin Hedges to be the backup, and his incredible defense should steal a good amount of time from Naylor, who is not an above-average defender. That said, Naylor is young and has so much more potential with the bat that he should be a consistent contributor. Target him as a higher-upside 2nd catcher. 

 

Logan O’Hoppe

Logan O’Hoppe, a former top Phillies farmhand, was supposed to be the Angels catcher last year but had multiple injuries, which limited him to just 182 at-bat's last year. O’Hoppe did well in his limited time, and I would not be surprised to see him build on that in 2024. O’Hoppe offers a good amount of pop, as evidenced by his 15% barrel rate and 47% hard hit, which makes me confident he can hit 20+ homers in an entire season. As far as younger catchers goes, O’Hoppe is a higher floor player for me. 

 

Logan O’Hoppe.
pic.twitter.com/c2rodwxthD

— LTBU (@LTBUpod) March 3, 2023

 

 

Luis Campusano

Luis Campusano seems like he has been on prospect lists forever. Campusano peaked in 2022 at 26, and from 2019 to 2022 (not including covid 2020), he had three straight seasons in the minors of at least a .295 average, 14 homers, and at least a .185 ISO. Campusano will finally be handed the keys to the full-time starting job as he split time with Gary Sanchez in 2023. Campusano cannot be expected to break out with any league-winning numbers, but he will consistently provide you with good numbers and can be drafted late. In two catcher leagues, I would love to pair him with a Cal Raleigh or Francisco Alverez to help save your BA. 

 

Danny Jansen

Danny Jansen has to deal with the Jays catcher depth despite being the first guy to break into the majors. After the Jays flipped Gabriel Moreno to the Arizona Diamondbacks last year, many thought that Jansen would get the reins at DH, with Alejandro Kirk spending most of the time starting behind the plate. Injuries and Brandon Belt stole a lot of Jansen's at-bats, ending the season with only 268. Despite the limited at-bats, Jansen still posted 17 home runs.

If Jansen can stay healthy this year (big if), he has little to no competition at DH and can put up 20+ homers with a .240-.250 average, which where he is being drafted is an absolute steal. At that point in the draft, I see it as a roster spot that can be flipped out for another upside player if he gets hurt again.