Top 50 Catcher Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Rankings For 2024

Image credit: Adley Rutschman (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Last week we kicked off our dynasty rankings with the Top 50 Overall for Dynasty and this week we begin our positional breakdowns starting with catchers.

Adley Rutschman ranked No. 34 overall in our Top 50 and naturally is our top-ranked catcher for dynasty.

Just as a reminder, these rankings are not measuring 2023 value or projected 2024 value. These rankings look at a three-to-five-year window and look to balance a variety of scoring types, with proximity and peaks being highly weighted in the analysis.

This was the handwork of the entire team at Baseball America but was curated by Geoff Pontes and Dylan White.

Top 50 Dynasty Catching Players

*updated February 7th

1. Adley Rutschman, Orioles (No. 34 overall player)

The top catcher in dynasty baseball, the switch-hitting Rutschman hit .277/.374/.435 with 20 home runs in his first full major league season. Rutschman enters 2024 at 26 years old heading into his prime years with a rapidly improving Orioles lineup and core. Rutschman is the only catcher in consideration among the top 50 dynasty players.

2. Francisco Alvarez, Mets

Prior to the 2023 season, we projected Alvarez to have a wRC+ at peak of around 130. After putting together a 97 wRC+ in his 423 plate appearance major league debut at age 21, that prime projection remains the same. If anything, his improved defense and ability to handle a rotation makes him an even more desirable target.

3. Will Smith, Dodgers

Although Smith hit fewer than 20 homers and his wRC+ dropped 10 points from the previous two years, there is a compelling rationale that he deserves a mulligan, and the downturn can be acutely attributed to nagging injuries. He is still only 28 years old and hits in the middle of a dangerous Dodger lineup, which will probably be even more dangerous in 2024 and beyond.

4. William Contreras, Brewers

Getting 600 plate appearances from the catcher position by also getting 150 plate appearances as the team’s designated hitter translates to huge fantasy value. Contreras has no real holes in his game and is only 26 years old. He has Top 100 dynasty talent.

5. Gabriel Moreno, Diamondbacks

After a big NLCS and WS where he batted third, restricted the running game and generally showed impressive composure at 23 years old, Moreno’s dynasty value skyrocketed. Already a good hitter who will bring batting average and OBP, Moreno showed that there is thump in his bat, too.

6. J.T. Realmuto, Phillies

Since 2021, JTR has been the No. 2, No. 1 and No. 4 catcher, respectively, in 15-team batting average formats, and was by far the biggest contributor to the stolen base category of any catcher. The bad news is that he will be entering his age-33 season and produced his lowest fWAR season since 2017 (along with his lowest walk rate and highest strikeout rate over that same period). The end is not necessarily near, but this may be his last season in the top 10 for dynasty.

7. Yainer Diaz, Astros

If you hit 20+ home runs in fewer than 400 plate appearances and are not yet 25 years old, it generally implies that you will be a 30-homer hitter at some point in the next few years. Translation: dynasty asset. If you’re doing all that while a catcher? Even more valuable.

8. Bo Naylor, Guardians

Although it was only 230 plate appearances, Naylor had little fanfare considering he had a higher wRC+ in 2023 than Will Smith, Jonah Heim and Cal Raleigh. He is better in OBP leagues than batting average leagues. Naylor is only entering his age-24 season and is a legitimate threat for double-digit steals, so his dynasty arrow is way up.

9. Samuel Basallo, Orioles

RoboScout’s favorite catcher, Basallo projects to be a 30–home run bat at peak. Unfortunately for him—and fortunately for the Orioles—Adley Rutschman won’t be relinquishing his position any time soon. That’s okay, though, because Basallo’s bat is so good it would play at DH or 1B.

10. Logan O’Hoppe, Angels

Offensively, O’Hoppe is an above-average slugger who should annually hit 20+ home runs. Behind the dish, though, the Angels catcher struggled to control the running game and was in the lower percentile of defensive metrics. That may ultimately move him off the position (where he will still be an asset).

11. Cal Raleigh, Mariners

In the last two years, Raleigh hit the most home runs of any catcher, averaging 30 per season. Now 27, this fan favorite should easily be counted on to average 25 homers for the next four years assuming health.

12. Sean Murphy, Braves

After a torrid start to the 2023 season, nagging injuries led to a terrible second half. Still, on the year as a whole, he was a top-10 catcher and set his career best in home runs, batting average and OBP. In his prime and in one of the most prolific batting lineups, he should be a solid fantasy contributor for a while.

13. Willson Contreras, Cardinals

Despite a much-maligned season in a lost year for the Cardinals, Contreras still put up the second highest wRC+ of his career. That plays offensively even if he becomes a DH only, the position he played one quarter of his games at last year.

14. Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays

After an undoubtedly disappointing season with the bat from Kirk, we can still expect around a .270/.350 BA/OBP from him. Although he will likely share catching duties with Danny Jansen, he (they) should still provide value for your fantasy team.

15. Ethan Salas, Padres

Salas played in Low-A as a 16-year-old and ultimately finished the season in Double-A as a 17-year-old. It’s not impossible that he reaches San Diego in 2024 at — checks notes — 18 years old. Whether it happens this year or not, Salas will undoubtedly be the Padres’ catcher well into the 2030s.

16. Henry Davis, Pirates

Although he only crouched behind the plate in Pittsburgh twice in 2023, the Pirates have indicated that they intend for Davis to play a lot of catcher in 2024 and beyond. The former first overall draft pick can hit upward of 20-25 homers and his athleticism should give him double-digit steals. The only thing keeping him from being ranked higher is his positional uncertainty.

17. Keibert Ruiz, Nationals

In his age-24 season, Ruiz finished with a .260 batting average and 18 home runs, but it was his .300/.342/.467 triple slash in the second half that sparked the most optimism. If he has a .270+ batting average while hitting in the middle of the Nats lineup, he is a strong dynasty catcher. If he doesn’t improve his defense, though, he may find himself at 1B or DH.

18. Luis Campusano, Padres

The fact that the Padres received Kyle Higashioka in the Soto return and are rumored to seek a reunion with Gary Sanchez suggests that they are not convinced that Luis Campusano and his career 104 wRC+ (albeit in fewer than 300 plate appearances) are the long-term answer to their catcher needs.

19. Salvador Perez, Royals

Although he’s two years removed from his 48–home run season, Perez still manages to garner more plate appearances than most players qualified at catcher. HIs ability to accumulate production (and home runs)—though with more than one-third of his at-bats as a 1B or DH—still gives him quite a lot of value provided he stays catcher eligible. The mid 30s cliff, though, might be beckoning as his wRC+ has declined three years in a row.

20. MJ Melendez, Royals

Having only played 10 games at catcher in 2023, Melendez may not qualify at the position in your league. If he does, though, getting 25+ home runs, 10 stolen bases and rate stats that would be average for an outfielder is excellent catcher fantasy contribution. His future behind the plate, though, will not be long and he may not have eligibility beyond 2024, reducing his dynasty value.

21. Jonah Heim, Rangers

Even in this loaded Rangers lineup, don’t expect Heim to get 95 RBIs again. Still, the 28-year-old has elite framing skills and ability to control the running game. He is a solid, no frills fantasy contributor.

22. Austin Wells, Yankees

In the final weeks of the season, the Yankees batted Wells in the middle of the order. Although perhaps more a testament to how decimated the team was, it signaled the confidence that Boone and management has in Wells’ bat.

23. Mitch Garver, Mariners

A career 123 wRC+, Garver is now more of a DH than catcher, though still remaining qualified heading into 2024. Although a few years removed hitting 31 home runs in 2019—and now 32 years old—Garver is an underrated offensive force and only held back in these ranks because he may not retain eligibility at catcher for 2025 and beyond.

24. Hunter Goodman, Rockies

Projected to be a potential 30–home run bat in the majors, Goodman debuted at Coors last year, though in the outfield and at first base. The best-case scenario is that Goodman manages to get full-time at-bats while still qualifying at catcher.

25. Ryan Jeffers, Twins

Who had the highest wRC+ in 2023 amongst catchers with at least 300 plate appearances? It may surprise you that it was Ryan Jeffers. Still only 26 years old, his defensive deficiencies may eventually move him off of the position. At least for now, though, he should be a fantasy contributor as a top 15 catcher in 2024—and looking to build momentum into 2025.

26. Kyle Teel, Red Sox

27. Dalton Rushing, Dodgers

28. Harry Ford, Mariners

29. Endy Rodriguez, Pirates

30. Danny Jansen, Blue Jays

31. Jeferson Quero, Brewers

32. Tyler Soderstrom, A’s

33. Ralphy Velazquez, Guardians

34.Tyler Stephenson, Reds

35. Miguel Amaya, Cubs

36. Shea Langeliers, A’s

37. Edgar Quero, White Sox