Tucker Barnhart (C, CIN) - Week 2 Waiver Wire Pickups

April 6, 2019

Brady Grove profiles Cincinnati Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart as a potential waiver wire acquisition of value for fantasy baseball leagues in Week 2 of the 2019 MLB campaign.

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OWNED IN: 31% of leagues

ANALYSIS: In 2017, Tucker Barnhart officially announced his arrival in Cincinnati with seven HR, four SB (in four attempts), a .270/.347/.403 slash, and a highly impressive Gold Glove award at the catcher position. In 2018, while his defense remained top-tier and he hit a career-high ten homers (in an albeit career-high 460 AB), he finished with disturbingly mediocre OPS of .699 with zero swiped bags in four attempts at running the base paths. He had an absolutely horrendous time at the plate during Spring Training (.135/.256/.243), but has gotten off to a nice start for the 2019 regular season with his usual mix of savvy and plate discipline that manifests into successful BA and OBP.

His prowess from behind the plate has continued to earn him the majority of starts at catcher for the Reds over Curt Casali, and the Cincinnati prospect pipeline isn't supposed to produce any top catching prospects such as Tyler Stephenson or Chris Okey for another year at a bare minimum. Encouragingly, "Barney" was able to end his humdrum 2018 season on a positive note, producing a .723 OPS  and five HR over the 175 AB through the second half of the season (as compared to five knocks and a .685 OPS in 285 first half AB). Though the Cincinnati Reds may be struggling with the bat, Tucker Barnhart has all of the makings of a consistent and safe offensive option at catcher in most leagues.