X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Catcher Risers and Fallers for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball

Logan O'Hoppe - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB News

Eric Cross discusses five risers and fallers at the catcher position heading into 2025 and recommends if you should buy low, sell high, hold, or avoid in fantasy baseball leagues this offseason.

It's hard to believe that the 2024 fantasy baseball season is in the rearview mirror and we now have to look ahead to 2025.

Those who play dynasty leagues always have some eye on the future, but now 2025 is the sole focus. As I've said several times before, there's never a bad time to make moves to improve your team(s) for the upcoming season and beyond. Part of that is identifying player values that are shifting positively or negatively and making the determination of whether to buy, sell, hold, or avoid.

That's what this series over the next several weeks is going to focus on. I'm going position by position, discussing players whose values are rising or falling right now and what we should be doing with them. Leading off this series is the catcher position, which has more intrigue now than it did a few seasons ago.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Catcher Risers and Fallers for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball

Logan O'Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels

At this point, maybe it's time to stop expecting a high AVG and/or OBP from Logan O'Hoppe after being impactful in those categories in the minors. But even without a higher AVG/OBP, O'Hoppe still has the profile of an annual top-10 fantasy catcher, and his perceived value has taken a hit with how poorly he performed down the stretch in 2024.

After being one of the top fantasy catchers during the first half of the season, O'Hoppe found himself dropped in some fantasy leagues in mid to late August, given how poorly he was playing.

And while the second-half numbers overall look downright dreadful, it was really just a terrible August when O'Hoppe slashed .099/.163/.176 with a whopping 44.9% strikeout rate. In September. O'Hoppe rebounded with a .266/.338/.453 slash line.

The strikeout rate will probably always be on the higher end, but O'Hoppe has shown that he can keep it in check more often than not while providing impactful power.

O'Hoppe recorded a 12% barrel rate, 90.4 mph AVG EV, and 46.3% hard-hit rate, marking the second straight season he's been above 12%, 90 mph, and 46%, respectively. He also hit plenty of flyballs and line drives and finished with an elite 42.9% Sweet-Spot rate.

Given his quality of contact and batted ball data, O'Hoppe should be a lock for at least 20 home runs annually and could easily get into the 25-30 range in 2025 and beyond. While his strikeout and contact rates aren't the greatest, O'Hoppe was 77.3% in zone and 66.4% overall, which aren't detrimental. Maybe he's not the .276 hitter we saw in the first half, but an AVG around .250 is certainly possible.

Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

It's time to give "Big Dumper" his due. Outside of having one of the best nicknames in the game, Cal Raleigh has become one of the most consistent power sources in the game.

After cranking 34 home runs with 100 RBI in 2024, Raleigh's 91 home runs over the last three seasons are 18 more than any other catcher has during this span. He also ranks fourth in runs, tied for second in RBI, 4th in SLG, and first in ISO.

When it comes to Raleigh, I understand the hesitancy from most centers around the lower batting AVG. Raleigh hit .232 in 2023, .220 in 2024, and is just a .218 career hitter over his four Major League seasons.

But having one hitter on your team in the .220-.230 range isn't going to kill your overall team AVG, and Raleigh provides more positive value with his power and run production than he provides negative value with his AVG.

Speaking of that power, Raleigh has cemented his status as one of the best power bats in the game, and not just at the catcher position. In 2024, Raleigh posted a 15.4% barrel rate, 91 mph AVG EV, and 48.1% hard-hit rate while being tied for 12th in home runs.

And over the last three seasons, Raleigh is tied for 15th in home runs. At this point, there's zero reason to have him outside any top-5 rank at the catcher position. Raleigh's stock is rising, and I'm buying.

Francisco Alvarez, New York Mets

Given his former top prospect status, Francisco Alvarez's name carries plenty of weight and hype at the catcher position. But after a lackluster 2024 season and terrible showing in the second half, his stock is definitely trending in the wrong way entering 2025.

Overall, Alvarez slashed .237/.307/.403 with 11 home runs in 343 plate appearances in 2024 and slashed .187/.257/.337 in 183 second-half plate appearances.

At this point, is his best-case outcome Cal Raleigh? Sure, that's in the realm of possibilities, but Alvarez isn't quite on the same level as Raleigh for power. Alvarez even saw his power metrics drop in 2024, going from a 12.8% barrel rate, 90.1 mph AVG EV, and 45.1% hard-hit rate in 2023 to a 6.7% barrel rate, 88.8 mph AVG EV, and 42% hard-hit rate in 2024.

However, while his Quality of Contact metrics ticked down, Alvarez increased his zone contact rate and overall contact rate by 2.5% and 2.2%, respectively. At this point, I'm projecting Alvarez as a .240/20 type with the upside for more.

If his perceived value has fallen enough in your leagues, I'm not opposed to buying low. But at the same time, I'm probably lower than most on Alvarez and don't see him as a future top-5 catcher for fantasy.

Dalton Rushing, Los Angeles Dodgers

While Dalton Rushing transitioned to the outfield late in the season in Triple-A, he was still seeing starts at catcher and might be able to play enough behind the plate as Will Smith's backup to retain eligibility moving forward.

And if he does, Rushing could become a Top-10 fantasy catcher who plays primarily in the outfield and racks up more plate appearances than most catcher-eligible hitters. That's a beautiful thing for fantasy baseball.

In 114 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Rushing slashed .271/.385/.512 with 21 doubles and 26 home runs. Rushing showed a nice blend of contact and power with a 76.3% contact rate, 90.8 mph AVG EV, 40.6% hard-hit rate, and a 10.4% barrel rate while maintaining his strong approach at the plate as well.

If he's able to secure regular playing time in 2025, Rushing could become a Top-10 fantasy catcher immediately. His stock is definitely on the rise heading into the offseason.

Ethan Salas, San Diego Padres

Around this time last year, I was blue in the face proclaiming that Ethan Salas was criminally overrated and over-ranked in fantasy-focused prospect rankings. That wasn't me denying that he was a talented young catching prospect, but he was pushed to elite ranks, partially due to the Padres pushing him to Double-A as a 17-year-old. But even I wasn't expecting Salas' offensive performance to be this bad this season.

In 469 plate appearances in Hi-A, Salas slashed .206/.288/.311, and his .599 OPS was the 6th worst mark out of the 386 minor leaguers that had at least 450 plate appearances this season. And rightfully so, Salas' prospect ranks plummeted. I have him in the 150 range right now.

I'm not ruling out Salas being a Major League catcher or one with a bright future, but as of now, he's done nothing to show that he's going to be an impact fantasy bat, so I can't put him inside my Top 100 for now.

But should you buy low? That answer is hard to answer as the perceived value for Salas is still all over the place right now. If the price tag is still in the top-100 range, I'd hold off. But if you can get him for a top-150 or lower price tag, I wouldn't be opposed.



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!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jaylen Waddle

Questionable for Week 3 Against Buffalo
Joe Burrow

Bengals Not Closing the Door on Joe Burrow Returning This Year
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

Progress has "Plateaued"
Isaac Paredes

has "Outside Chance" to Return This Weekend
CFB

Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
Willson Contreras

Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
Justin Fields

Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
Jayden Reed

Out Indefinitely After Foot and Shoulder Surgery
Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP