We’re nearly a full month into the MLB season, and a lot has happened in fantasy baseball. Unfortunately for the catcher position, disappointment reigns. No catcher ranks inside the top 150 on Yahoo! standard rankings. Only two of the top fifteen pre-season catchers currently rank inside the top 250, and only J.T. Realmuto (146) ranks inside the top 150. Nobody is happy with their catcher right now, but options always exist on the wire. Below you will find three catching options available in 75% or more of Yahoo! leagues, with one available in 90% or more of leagues.
[Jeff]
Austin Hedges, San Diego (25% owned)
Hedges owns a dismal batting average (.175), but he has smacked an astonishing five home runs in his last nine games. The hot streak won’t last but if you’re looking for a quick infusion of talent behind the dish, Hedges runs hot right now. Get him with an eye to the next player if Hedges falters. He may not be Mr. Right at catcher, but given how hot he’s running, he’s definitely Mr. Right Now.
Edit: He hit another home run while I wrote this. Make that six home runs.
Jett Bandy (13% owned) & Manny Pina (6% owned), Milwaukee
Both Brew Crew backstops hit the cover off the ball last week, giving a new meaning to super platoon. Bandy & Pina together are one of the best catchers in baseball but figuring out who will play when is a problem. Solve that problem and figure out how to get them both onto your roster. Then you simply start whoever starts and reap the benefits. Over the last week, they’ve combined to go 10/26 with 5 runs, 4 dingers and 6 RBI. No stolen bases, but if you’re looking towards catcher for stolen bases, you’re doing it wrong.
Austin Romine, Yankees (6% owned)
Romine doesn’t have a ton of breakout potential, but if you want a catcher who simply won’t kill your average, he seems to be your guy. He’s ideal for a second catcher in a two-catcher league, given his high average. Unfortunately, he hasn’t hit for an extra base hit in over a week, so he has limited appeal outside AL-only, deep leagues and two-catcher fantasy baseball leagues.