The catcher position in fantasy baseball is often overlooked, but the 2025 pool of backstops offers plenty of options for managers in need of a reliable option. While William Contreras stands out as the top choice at the position, there are several other catchers like Adley Rutschman, Salvador Pérez, Yainer Díaz, and Will Smith who can provide value in one-catcher leagues.
The increase in workload for catchers across the league has led to a deeper pool of viable fantasy options. With more catchers logging heavy at-bat totals and sharing the DH position, managers have more flexibility in keeping their offensive catchers in the lineup without overworking them behind the plate.
For proactive targets, William Contreras is a standout option with his all-around production and room for power growth. Cal Raleigh offers unmatched power at the position, while J.T. Realmuto provides a unique combination of speed and power, especially in a contract year.
On the other hand, Yainer Díaz and Francisco Alvarez are fades to consider due to potential limitations in their offensive production. As for sleeper picks, Austin Wells, Sean Murphy, and Joey Bart offer value in the later rounds of drafts with their potential for solid production and playing time opportunities. In his upcoming challenge, he will need to demonstrate his ability to maintain effectiveness with a larger workload, as the former elite prospect still holds plenty of potential. Similar to Wells and Murphy, Bart has the potential to hit 20 home runs without negatively impacting the batting average category.
Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks faced limitations due to injuries last season, playing only 97 games. Despite this, he displayed growth in his plate skills with notable improvements in both walk rate (11.7%) and strikeout rate (14.8%). While hitting only five home runs, Moreno showed promise for power growth by increasing his fly ball rate to 32.0%. He stands out as one of the late-round catchers who can provide a solid batting average and may compensate for a lower home run total with some stolen bases.
With Willson Contreras transitioning to first base, Iván Herrera now has the opportunity to step into the primary catcher role for the St. Louis Cardinals. The 24-year-old excels at hitting line drives, boasting a .301 average last season with a .293 expected batting average (xBA). Herrera’s fantasy profile resembles that of Moreno, projecting to hit under 15 home runs while maintaining a strong batting average and contributing 7-10 steals.
Top-12 Catcher Draft Rankings for 2025:
- William Contreras, Brewers
- Adley Rutschman, Orioles
- Cal Raleigh, Mariners
- Salvador Pérez, Royals
- Willson Contreras, Cardinals
- Will Smith, Dodgers
- Yainer Díaz, Astros
- J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
- Shea Langeliers, A’s
- Logan O’Hoppe, Angels
- Tyler Stephenson, Reds
- Austin Wells, Yankees
Yahoo consensus catcher rankings