December 31, 2019

Gary Sanchez had a typical 2019 putting up huge power numbers when in the lineup but also spending two stints on the injured list. Sanchez missed time in April with a calf strain and was on the IL with a groin strain later in the season, the same injury that cost him time at the end of 2017. Unfortunately, injuries come with the territory being a catcher but when Sanchez is healthy he's the biggest difference-maker at fantasy baseball's weakest position. Sanchez led all catchers with 34 home runs last season and was top-5 at the position in runs (62) and RBI (77) despite being 10th in plate appearances. His .293 ISO led all catchers by a country mile and he was one of just two catchers to slug over .500. A look at his statcast data backs up the production, Sanchez was fifth in baseball with a 19.1 percent barrel rate and was second with 11.7 barrels per plate appearance. Unfortunately, the other side of that coin is a ton of grounders and strikeouts which severely suppresses Sanchez's batting average. He struck out 28 percent of the time last year while posting a 32.1 percent ground ball rate, a batting average killer for someone with Sanchez's lack of speed. Sanchez can be drafted as the first or second catcher off the board near 85th overall. J.T. Realmuto can be considered safer, but no other catcher matches Sanchez's power upside. --Mike Schwarzenbach - RotoBaller