2025 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings & Analysis
2025 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings & Analysis This 2025 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings & Analysis is courtesy of Shawn Childs. Read Shawn’s expert fantasy analysis at his Substack. The catcher position in fantasy baseball offers a diverse range of Average Draft Positions (ADPs) and potential outcomes. Each fantasy drafter approaches the catcher pool with a unique perspective, influenced heavily by league format, ultimately dictating a player’s value. Drafting an early catcher aims to secure an advantage in batting order position, playing time, and overall production. Conversely, teams that punt on catchers seek to bolster other positions, targeting a modest 20 to 30 home runs and over 100 RBIs from the slot, while accepting a likely dip in batting average. Below are the top 12 catchers from 2024, ranked by Fantasy Points Gained (FPG) score. The average stat line for these players was a .257 batting average, with 66 runs, 21 home runs, 75 RBIs, and three stolen bases across 502 at-bats. Drafting William Contreras last season, for example, delivered approximately 3.92 fantasy points in league standings in 12-team formats. Only three other catchers provided a positive return in fantasy points gained. Note: I compiled the 2025 top 15 catcher rankings based on NFBC ADP. After evaluating all players, I adjusted their rankings to reflect my assessment of the catcher pool. 2025 Catcher Rankings & Analysis 1 – William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers (ADP – 25.1) Over the past three seasons, Contreras has emerged as a powerhouse, blasting 60 home runs in 1,469 at-bats while establishing himself as a reliable middle-of-the-order hitter, with RBI rates of 17% in 2023 and 18% in 2024. Last year, he started strong, hitting .307 with 52 runs, nine home runs, 48 RBIs, and five steals over his first 277 at-bats. A mid-season slump in late June (.208, five runs, two RBIs in 53 at-bats) was a blip, followed by a power surge in August (.295, 22 runs, nine home runs, 23 RBIs, one steal in 105 at-bats). Contreras posted career-best marks in strikeout rate (20.5%) and walk rate (11.5%). He excelled against left-handed pitching (.313, 22 runs, four home runs, 24 RBIs in 144 at-bats), hitting 19 of his 23 home runs off righties. The Brewers slotted him between second and fourth in the lineup for 94.8% of his at-bats. Despite his power, his groundball rate remains high (54.5% in 2024, 55.0% in 2023, 53.0% in 2022). His exit velocity (92.8 mph, 15th) and hard-hit rate (49.5%, 22nd) ranked among the league’s best for players with 400+ plate appearances, though his launch angle (6.1, 200th) highlights a swing path limitation. Fantasy Outlook: Contreras offers plenty of appeal, enhanced by Milwaukee’s use of him at DH (102 games over three years). He hits the ball hard, but unlocking a 30-home-run season requires more loft in his swing. His four-category upside is worth buying, with any stolen bases as a bonus. Priced high in drafts, I still believe he has room to grow. However, the lineup behind him may cap his run production. Projection: .290/85/25/85/5 2 – Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles (ADP – 66.9) Rutschman’s anticipated breakout in 2023 fell short despite leading all catchers in plate appearances (687) and at-bats (588). He finished second in FPGscore (0.27, 73rd among hitters), hindered by just one stolen base. In the first half of 2024, he hit .294 with 44 runs, 15 home runs, 55 RBIs, and one steal over 323 at-bats, projecting as an elite catcher. However, a second-half collapse (.194, 24 runs, four home runs, 24 RBIs in 248 at-bats) raised concerns, possibly injury-related, though no reports confirmed this. His fly-ball rate rose to 42.9% (from 34.6% in 2023), but his HR/FB rate dropped to a career-low 9.3%, with steady exit velocity (88.2 mph) and a lackluster hard-hit rate (36.6%). Rutschman thrived against lefties (.329, 19 runs, seven home runs, 33 RBIs in 164 at-bats) but saw declines in walk rate (9.1%, down from 13.6% over two prior seasons) and average hit rate (1.559), alongside a contact batting average of .306—both five-year lows. Fantasy Outlook: With Baltimore ranking fourth in MLB runs (786) in 2024, Rutschman’s pedigree and discounted ADP make him enticing. Drafters must look past his late-season fade, banking on a full-season resurgence. He has the potential for a .300/100/30/100 ceiling. At 27, hitting second in a potent lineup, he’s primed to rebound. I’d buy at a slight discount, leveraging his catcher edge and DH at-bats. Projection: .285/90/25/90/3 3 – Yainer Diaz, Houston Astros (ADP – 57.7) Diaz earned a roster spot in 2023 but saw limited early action (.226, nine runs, two home runs, five RBIs in 62 at-bats). By June, he forced his way into the lineup, finishing with a .294 average, 42 runs, 21 home runs, and 55 RBIs over his final 293 at-bats. In 2024, despite more at-bats (330), his run rate (35%, down from 46%) and HR/FB rate (10.6%, down from 17.7%) declined. His groundball rate rose (54.7%), fly-ball rate faded (28.0%), and average hit rate dropped (1.474, from 1.910 in 2023). Still, his contact batting average improved (.366, from .356), with a lower strikeout rate (17.3%) and minimal walks (3.9%). Diaz shone against lefties (.306, 22 runs, six home runs, 25 RBIs in 157 at-bats) and at home (.337, 45 runs, 10 home runs, 46 RBIs in 300 at-bats). After a weak May (.200), he hit .300+ over the final four months, peaking from June to August (.331, 42 runs, 13 home runs, 51 RBIs). His exit velocity (92.2 mph, 21st) and hard-hit rate (48.7%, 27th) graded well. Fantasy Outlook: Diaz’s swing path limits his power ceiling, but Houston’s use of him at DH (75 games over two years) and first base boosts his value. Likely batting fourth to sixth, he offers batting average strength and neutral-to-positive counting stats. Ranked 54th in FPGscore (0.93), he’s a solid catcher option. Projection: .280/80/25/90/2 4 – Logan O’Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels (ADP – 124.9) O’Hoppe’s minor league career (.279, 169 runs, 50