BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues
ROSTERED IN: 53% of Leagues
ANALYSIS: With starting catcher Max Stassi out for the first month of the season because of a hip injury, the Angels came into the season with Logan O’Hoppe as their primary catcher.
O’Hoppe came over to the Angels in the trade that sent Brandon Marsh to Philadelphia. He would start his Angels tenure in Double-A, where he slashed an eye-popping .306/.473/.673 with 11 home runs in 29 games. The Angels would make him a September call-up, but he had an unspectacular .307 wOBA. While the Angels were likely happy with average offensive production from a non-Ohtani player, they were still taking a gamble by assigning the primary catcher role to a rookie.
That gamble has more than paid off to start the 2023 season. The 23-year-old has appeared in 10 games this year and is slashing .257/.308/.629 with a .385 wOBA, four home runs, 11 RBI, and five barrels.
Your Angels Home Run & RBI leader: @logan_ohoppe 😤#GoHalos pic.twitter.com/KAVnb4p9mP
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 12, 2023
The New York native leads catchers in average exit velocity at 93.4 MPH. He is also tied for the positional lead in home runs and barrels. He’s also second in RBI, second in SLG%, second in barrels, fourth in wRC+, and sixth in fWAR at the position. Pretty good for a rookie.
That offense production might’ve pushed Max Stassi out of a starting job. The 32-year-old struggled last year with a terrible 63 wRC+ and just nine home runs in 102 games.
However, it’s not all sunshine and roses for the rookie backstop. He currently maintains a 30.8% K rate and a 17.9% SwStr rate as a major leaguer. He has also already amassed -1 framing runs this year.
The pros far outweigh the cons in this situation. The Angels should keep O’Hoppe in the primary catcher role. His high home run ceiling and ability to make good contact put him on track to have a better fantasy season than heavily rostered guys like Salvador Perez and Tyler Stephenson..
More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Tommy Pham - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 8)
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Mixed Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Chicago White Sox have been hit hard by the injury bug thus far in 2024, which prompted them to go out and sign veteran outfielder Tommy Pham. Pham was inserted into the White Sox lineup on April 26 and has seen solid production... Read More
Michael Kopech - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 25% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Michael Kopech may be the only truly defined closer on your waiver wire. The starter-turned-reliever has tallied two saves in the past two games by throwing two ⅓ shutout innings. On the season, he has a 3.66 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with... Read More
Trevor Megill - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 35% of Leagues ANALYSIS: With All-Star closer Devin Williams (back) on the 60-day injured list, the Brewers have split ninth-inning duties among three relievers: Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and Joel Payamps. Currently, Payamps has the most out of the group with four saves, and Uribe and Megill... Read More
Christian Scott - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 8)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 20% of Leagues ANALYSIS: After posting elite strikeout numbers at Triple-A this April, Christian Scott made his major league debut on May 4 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Scott looked strong as he tossed six ⅔ innings of one-run ball. He allowed five hits and one... Read More
Yennier Cano - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 35% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Baltimore Orioles primary closer Craig Kimbrel has dealt with back soreness earlier in April and has not looked sharp since his return. Kimbrel holds a 13.50 ERA and 3.00 WHIP and was pulled from two consecutive save situations over his past three... Read More
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!