Here, friend, are some catchers that I will be targeting at my 2024 fantasy drafts after the top options are gone. I’m not going to get into the strategy of punting catchers. Been there, half-drunkenly wrote that during the Ottoman Empire. Click on the player’s name where applicable to read more and see their 2024 projections and blurbs I wrote for them. This is a (legal-in-most-countries) supplement to the top 20 catchers of 2024 fantasy baseball. (Yes, I will go over each position.) Now, guys and five girl readers, I am not saying avoid catchers like Yainer Diaz if they fall, but, to get on this list, a catcher needs to be drafted after 200 overall, and, yes, I will go around the entire infield, outfield and pitchers to target very late. In regards to the ADP in the parenthesis, NFBC is for two catcher leagues, so that should be taken into account. Anyway, here’s some catchers to target for 2024 fantasy baseball:
Tyler Stephenson (NFBC 224, ESPN unranked, Yahoo 334) If he reaches his projections of 61/16/67/.284/1 in 443 ABs, he will be a top five catcher–Wait a second, those are last season’s projections. Good try, Slick! There’s no way a guy who is [looks up age] He’s only 27? Wow, are we sure we should be writing off a 27-year-old who everyone liked last year? Before last year, he was a career .296 hitter. Don’t let that fall on deaf ears because I actually went to one of those online batting average calculators and entered his stats. .296 career average in 533 at-bats! Yes, last year happened, but, once again, I’m asking you to see that he’s only 27. He’s only a career .274 hitter! Okay, done on this Stephenson thing.
Luis Campusano (ESPN 294, Yahoo 233) San Luis Campusano plans to have his annual returns of the swallows, when you gulp and look at his projections and remember people are excited for him. Oops, I forgot, this is supposed to be guys I like and for a reason. So, yes, Campusano is interesting even if his projections at 61/16/67/.284/1 in 443 ABs–Stop it! That’s last year’s Stephenson! Though, Campusano’s 2024 projections look surprisingly similar. The good thing with Campusano, as I believe I mentioned on the catchers podcast, the lack of guys in the Padres’ lineup actually is good for Campusano, because he could hit in a good place in the order.
Elias Diaz (NFBC 244, ESPN unranked, Yahoo 292) Admittedly, not the most fun guy to draft, but he was the 12th best catcher last year on the Player Rater, and that’s draftable in every league. Instead, he’s kinda barely being drafted anywhere.
Bo Naylor (ESPN 255, Yahoo 252) Bo knows this, Bo knows that, Bo don’t know jack, because Bo can’t Naylor. Kinda surprised there’s been so little made of Naylor — man’s honor, I suppose, don’t gossip! — because he was a highly touted prospect, came up last year and hit well in limited time, and nobody is making a peep about Bo.
Yan Gomes – (ESPN unranked, Yahoo unranked, NFBC 393) So, I had to give you one crazy boring one that is super late for deep leagues. Miguel Amaya is the more interesting Cubs’ catcher, but teams drag their feet making prospects their number one catcher, and Gomes was the 16th best catcher last year. He’s currently around the 30th catcher off the board.
Mitch Garver (Yahoo 244) I’m not much of a Mitch Garver truther. Not a Much Truver, so to speak. I think Mr. Prorater is tripping over his twig and berries when he sees what Garver prorates to in a full season, and is missing the forest for the trees. Garver might prorate to 40 homers if he gets 500 ABs, and could play DH, but there’s a reason why he’s never done that before, and 33 years old. Mitch, don’t kill my vibe, if the draft price is late enough, but don’t galaxy brain yourself into thinking he’s going to play 150 games. Or even 110.
Logan O’Hoppe (ESPN 248, Yahoo 204) Did I save the best for last? Bashfully, placing hand under chin and batting eyes, “Who me?” Yes! That’s exactly what I did! Logan O’Hoppe is the reason to be excited about the Angels. The only reason. Unless you have a weird side bet going on that Aaron Hicks retires by July and they still don’t play Jo Adell. Then that’s worth clocking in on. Otherwise, O’Hoppe or O’bust. That’s what my bumper sticker says as I drive through Anaheim. O’Hoppe’s shown 20+ homer power and, coming up through the minors, it was believed he’d be a .270+ hitter. That’s essentially number one catcher-type numbers. Are you depressed? Aw, don’t worry, get O’Hoppe-y!
