The rankings for catchers are broken into four parts: the top 10 prospects in order, the next five prospects in alphabetical order, an extensive list of age-21-and-under prospects worth following closely and a ranking of the five-best catching prospects from the 2015 draft. As always, these rankings are done from a scouting perspective but with fantasy baseball in mind, generally focusing on standard 5x5 league categories, though other statistics (e.g., OBP) are considered.
Follow @Rotoworld_BB and @GoldenSombrero on Twitter.
The Top 10:
1. Jorge Alfaro, Philadelphia Phillies (Double-A Reading, Eastern League)
2015 Stats: 52 G, 213 PA, .258/.324/.438, 22 R, 5 HR, 23 XBH, 22 RBI, 4.2% BB%, 28.6% K%
Alfaro posted a .746 OPS with 27 extra-base hits through 49 games at Double-A Frisco before suffering a dislocated ankle on June 12, an injury which required surgery and would likely cost him the remainder of the season. After heading to the Phillies at the trade deadline as part of the Cole Hamels deal, the 22-year-old backstop ultimately was able to get back on the field and appear in three games for the Phillies’ Gulf Coast League affiliate. Though he continued to produce when healthy this season against advanced pitching in the Texas League, his approach and plate discipline didn’t improve as hoped, evidenced by his 61/9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 207 plate appearances.
Beyond his offensive potential, Alfaro is incredibly agile and aggressive behind the plate with legitimate 70-grade arm strength. However, his blocking and receiving are inconsistent and even sloppy at times, which is why, despite having a cannon on his right arm, he’s thrown out only 28.6% of attempted base stealers and committed 28 passed balls in 126 games since the start of 2014. While his long-term projection as first-division backstop comes with risk - even more so now after losing part of 2015 - it’s important to remember that Alfaro still has time on his side.
Fantasy Upside: .260/.300/.420, 15+ HR, 7-10 SB
2. Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees (Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, International League)
2015 Stats: 93 G, 400 PA, .274/.330/.485, 50 R, 18 HR, 41 XBH, 62 RBI, 7.3% BB%, 19.5% K%
Sanchez’s prospect stock was down considerably headed into 2015 after another disappointing campaign at Double-A Trenton. However, the once-highly-touted prospect finally checked enough boxes to make it out of the Eastern League, receiving a promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in mid-July after 191 career games at Trenton. The 22-year-old swung the bat well during his 35 games in the International League, batting .295/.349/.500 with six home runs, nine doubles and 26 RBI. Sanchez also showed improvement behind the plate this season, posting a 35.6% caught-stealing rate while committing just two passed balls in 83 games. He won’t be catching for the Bronx Bombers anytime soon, but the bat should get him to the big leagues in some capacity in 2016.
Fantasy Upside: .260/.320/.420, 20+ 2B, 17-20 HR
3. Chance Sisco, Baltimore Orioles (Double-A Bowie, Eastern League)
2015 Stats: 95 G, 384 PA, .297/.376/.415, 39 R, 6 HR, 25 XBH, 34 RBI, 8 SB, 10.9% BB%, 14.3% K%
Sisco was named Orioles Minor League Player of the Year in 2014 after batting a robust .340/.406/.448 with five home runs, 27 doubles and 63 RBI over 114 games in his full-season debut for Low-A Delmarva. The 20-year-old opened the 2015 season on the disabled but caught fire upon returning, posting an .809 OPS with 19 extra-base hits in 75 games at High-A Frederick. The strong showing earned the left-handed hitting backstop a promotion to Double-A Bowie in mid-August, where he’s batted .257/.337/.392 in 20 games. Sisco is an offense-oriented catcher with advanced plate discipline and a short, line-drive swing that suggests a plus hitting talent at maturity. His defense will never be on par with his bat, but he should be able to improve to the point where he’s at least average behind the plate.
Fantasy Upside: .260+ AVG, 10-15 HR
4. Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs (Double-A Tennessee, Southern League)
2015 Stats: 126 G, 521 PA, .333/.413/.478, 71 R, 8 HR, 46 XBH, 75 RBI, 10.9% BB%, 11.9% K%
Contreras came out of nowhere this year to win the Southern League batting title with a .333 average, and he also established new career highs in on-base percentage (.413), slugging (.478), hits (151), doubles (34) and RBIs (75) while playing in 126 games - his previous high for games played was 86 in 2013 - for Double-A Tennessee. The 22-year-old hit eight home runs, scored 71 runs and posted a vastly improved 62/57 strikeout-to-walk ratio in that span. Signed by the Cubs as a third baseman in 2009, Contreras made the transition to catcher in 2012 and has since appeared in at least 72 games at the position in each of the last three seasons. This year, he threw out 28 percent (27 of 97) of attempted basestealers – 31 percent for his career – in 75 games behind the plate. He will continue to refine his game in the coming months after being selected to play in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.
Fantasy Upside: .270+ AVG, 25+ 2B, 8-12 HR
5. Francisco Mejia, Cleveland Indians (Low-A Lake County, Midwest League)
2015 Stats: 109 , 446 PA, .243/.324/.345, 45 R, 9 HR, 22 XBH, 53 RBI, 8.5% BB%, 17.5% K%
Mejia quietly put together a solid full-season debut in the Midwest League, showing good power (nine home runs) while getting on base at a .324 clip against older pitchers. The only thing the 19-year-old switch-hitter didn’t do was hit for average, though it is worth noting that he batted .268 in 53 games during the second half – after batting just .218 during the first half – of the season at Low-A Lake County. Mejia stands out for his offensive upside, with excellent bat speed and power potential from both sides of the plate, but he’s still very raw defensively and years away from being ready for the major leagues.
Fantasy Upside: .260 AVG, .320+ OBP, 15+ HR
6. Justin O’Conner, Tampa Bay Rays (Double-A Montgomery, Southern League)
2015 Stats: 107 G, 444 PA, .231/.255/.371, 50 R, 9 HR, 39 XBH, 53 RBI, 10 SB, 2.9% BB%, 29.1% K%
O’Conner struggled through the first two-plus months of the season, batting just .192/.222/.305 with four home runs and a 62/6 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 44 games. Something clicked for the 23-year-old backstop in mid-June, however, as he’s rebounded to hit .261/.282/.424 with five home runs and 26 extra-base hits in his last 61 contests. But while O’Conner’s improved production during his second-half streak raised his overall batting line, it’s still difficult to ignore his ugly 129/13 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season in 107 games at Montgomery. Defensively, O’Conner’s athleticism and arm strength continue to produce pop times that consistently grade out as plus-plus on the scouting scale, and he manages to get something on every throw (with accuracy) from several different arm slots. He’s thrown out 29 of 60 (48.3%) of attempted basestealers this season.
Fantasy Upside: .250 AVG, 25+ 2B, 12+ HR
7. Jacob Nottingham, Oakland Athletics (High-A Stockton, California League)
2015 Stats: 119 G, 511 PA, .316/.372/.505, 73 R, 17 HR, 52 XBH, 82 RBI, 6.5% BB%, 19.6% K%
Nottingham continues to climb the list thanks to a breakthrough full-season debut during which he’s posted an .877 OPS with 17 home runs, 33 doubles and 82 RBI in 76 games between the Low- and High-A levels. Acquired from the Astros in July as part of the Scott Kazmir trade, the 20-year-old Nottingham stands out for his plus raw power to all fields, though he has never hit for much of an average prior to this year. On the other side of the ball, Nottingham has thrown out 35 of 92 attempted base stealers (38%) in 89 games behind the plate this season, while also making 18 appearances at first base.
Fantasy Upside: .250+ AVG, .450+ SLG, 18-22 HR, 20+ 2B
8. Aramis Garcia, San Francisco Giants (Low-A Augusta, South Atlantic League)
2015 Stats: 103 G, 447 PA, .264/.342/.431, 52 R, 15 HR, 35 XBH, 66 RBI, 9.8% BB% 22.2% K%
Garcia put up impressive numbers during his time in the South Atlantic League, posting an .817 OPS with 15 home runs, 15 doubles and 61 RBI in 83 games for Low-A Augusta. However, the 22-year-old’s production has dropped since moving up to High-A San Jose, where he’s batted just .227/.310/.280 with 22 strikeouts in 20 games. Garcia has impressed behind the plate, too, throwing out a combined 39.7% of attempted basestealers over 91 games between the Low- and High-A levels.
Fantasy Upside: .260 AVG, 12-15 HR, 20+ 2B
9. Reese McGuire, Pittsburgh Pirates (High-A Bradenton, Florida State League)
2015 Stats: 98 G, 412 PA, .254/.301/.294, 32 R, 0 HR, 15 2B, 34 RBI, 14 SB, 6.3% BB%, 9.5% K%
McGuire is going to be a better real-life catcher than a fantasy one, so it says something that he still ranks ninth on this list. The 20-year-old’s numbers this season at High-A Bradenton don’t jump off the page, but his respectable batting average (.254), strong strikeout and walk rates (39/26 K/BB), and penchant for making contact (89.6%) highlight his potential for a plus bat. In spite of a 25.2% caught-stealing rate this season - down from 38.9% in 2014 - McGuire is a plus, almost plus-plus, defender behind the plate, possessing an outstanding combination of athleticism, tools and baseball savvy that will allow him to remain at the position. McGuire’s offensive development lags behind his defense, but he’s showed enough aptitude at the plate to continue moving at a level-per-year pace through the minor leagues.
Fantasy Upside: .280+ AVG, .340+ OBP, 8-12 HR, 5-8 SB
10. Chase Vallot, Kansas City Royals (Low-A Lexington, South Atlantic League)
2015 Stats: 80 G, 333 PA, .219/.331/.427, 46 R, 13 HR, 29 XBH, 40 RBI, 12.3% BB%, 31.5% K%
While Vallot hasn’t offered much in terms of batting average in his full-season debut, the 19-year-old backstop has shown usable in-game power (13 HR) to go along with a knack for working counts and drawing walks (41 BB, 12.3% BB%). The 2014 first-rounder (No. 40 overall) has been much more consistent over his last 29 games for Low-A Lexington, with an .821 OPS, eight home runs and 23 RBI, and it should give him some traction heading into the 2016 season.
Fantasy Upside: .250/.320/.420, 12-15 HR
The Next Five (Alphabetical Order):
Kyle Farmer, Los Angeles Dodgers (Double-A Tulsa, Texas League)
2015 Stats: 120 G, 487 PA, .296/.343/.437, 58 R, 3 HR, 50 XBH, 66 RBI, 5.3% BB%, 16.4% K%
Spencer Kieboom, Washington Nationals (High-A Potomac, Carolina League)
2015 Stats: 71 G, 285 PA, .248/.344/.346, 30 R, 2 HR, 19 XBH, 26 RBI, 12.6% BB%, 10.5% K%
Andrew Knapp, Philadelphia Phillies (Double-A Reading, Eastern League)
2015 Stats: 118 G, 522 PA, .308/.385/.491, 77 R, 13 HR, 51 XBH, 84 RBI, 9.8% BB%, 20.3% K%
Tyler Marlette, Seattle Mariners (Double-A Jackson, Southern League)
2015 Stats: 89 G, 350 PA, .239/.291/.380, 32 R, 8 HR, 28 XBH, 32 RBI, 6.3% BB%, 18.9% K%
Tom Murphy, Colorado Rockies (Triple-A Albuquerque, Pacific Coast League)
2015 Stats: 105 G, 430 PA, .256/.314/.490, 55 R, 20 HR, 49 XBH, 63 RBI, 6.5% BB%, 28.6% K%
Dynasty Notables: 21 & Under Club (Alphabetical Order):
Nick Ciuffo, Tampa Bay Rays (Low-A Bowling Green, Midwest League)
Devi Grullon, Philadelphia Phillies (Low-A Lakewood, South Atlantic League)
Julian Leon, Los Angeles Dodgers (Low-A Great Lakes, Midwest League)
Tanner Murphy, Atlanta Braves (Low-A Rome, South Atlantic League)
Dom Nunez, Colorado Rockies (Low-A Asheville, South Atlantic League)
Jakson Reetz, Washington Nationals (Short Season Auburn, New York-Penn League)
Luis Torrens, New York Yankees (Out for season – labrum surgery)
Stryker Trahan, Arizona Diamondbacks (Low-A Kane County, Midwest League)
Top 5 Catching Prospects from 2015 Draft:
1. Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds (Rookie-level Billings, Pioneer League)
2. Taylor Ward, Los Angeles Angels (Low-A Burlington, Midwest League)
3. Chris Betts, Tampa Bay Rays (Out for season – Tommy John surgery)
4. Austin Allen, San Diego Padres (Short Season Tri-City, Northwest League)
5. Lucas Herbert, Atlanta Braves (GCL Braves, Gulf Coast League)
Previous installments from Prospect Positional series:
Shortstops (Sept. 2, 2015)
Third Basemen (Aug. 26, 2015)
Second Basemen (Aug. 19, 2015)
First Basemen (Aug. 12, 2015)
Outfielders (Aug. 5, 2015)
Starting Pitchers (July 29, 2015)
Catchers (July 22, 2015)
Rotoworld Season Pass Prospect Rankings (Updated weekly)
*All stats reflect games through Sept. 7.
