Derek Norris (C/1B, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 36% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: Derek Norris looked like a fantasy regular in the making during the first half of his breakout 2014 season. He hit an excellent .294/.402/.477 with eight HR over the season's first half, and rightfully earned himself an All Star nod. That type of production sustained over the course of a full season would have made him one of the most valuable catchers in fantasy baseball, as his .879 OPS would have been tops among full time catchers that season. However, a disastrous second half hurt his overall production, and he was unable to right the ship in 2015, now catching for the San Diego Padres. Norris' downturn in production has turned a lot of owners away from him, and his .212 batting average this season hasn't re-inspired much confidence from fantasy players in the former Oakland A's backstop.

However, in this incredibly thin catching environment, Norris is under-owned at 36 percent. He has been as consistent of a power source as there is at catcher this year, as his 12 HR ranks fourth in all of baseball at the position (second among NL backstops.) His career-high isolated power of .192 also ranks as fourth best. Additionally, there are some reasons to believe that Norris' poor batting line will improve. Norris has always been a decently high BABIP player, as he's posted marks of .301, .324. and .310 in that regard from 2013 to 2015, respectively. This year, his BABIP is sitting at just .246 despite a career-high hard hit rate that also ranks tops at the position this season. While his improved contact has showed up in his power numbers, he has yet to see a BABIP boost yet. Norris could be a very intriguing option at the position for the remainder of 2016 if his BABIP begins to positively regress and his power output remains at its current level. For owners in two-catcher leagues, or owners of disappointing catcher options like Russell Martin and Yan Gomes, Norris could be a much needed shot in the arm.