With the havoc that foul tips to the face, collisions at the dish and extended periods of squatting can wreak on the body, it’s no surprise that big league catchers are, on the whole, less productive hitters than elsewhere on the diamond. Yadier Molina, Brian McCann, and Joe Mauer have proven in recent years that 'everyday catcher' and 'offensive leader' do not have to be mutually exclusive. Still, the greatest hitters at the catching position often find themselves first basemen or designated hitters by the time they reach their early thirties. The following young backstops are all aged 27 and under, and are among the most valuable fantasy hitters to qualify at catcher. These present and future position leaders are on this list for their overall hitting prowess as well as their potential to remain eligible at the position for the next two to three seasons.
Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
The clear-cut leader of this pack, 2012 Most Valuable Player Buster Posey is a fantasy stud, and being a high-average, power-hitting catcher at a notoriously shallow offensive position makes him that much more valuable. Posey entered last season with something to prove after a gruesome knee injury resulting from a collision at the plate, and his .336/.408/.549 line, 24 home runs, 39 doubles and 103 runs batted in more than assured fantasy owners that the former Rookie of the Year had returned to form. An All-Star for the second time this season, Posey is hitting .308 and slugging .511, contributing 14 home runs and 59 RBI for a struggling San Francisco team. Giants brass has been giving Posey more starts at first base, which increases the amount of playing time he would have had as a full-time catcher. Fantasy owners should continue to view Posey as an early-round pick, regardless of what position he plays, though insight says that he will remain a fantasy-eligible catcher for at least the next few seasons.
Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles
Tall, lanky Wieters may have given Orioles fans visions of a young Jayson Werth when he first came up, but unlike Werth, the 27-year-old has remained at the catching position for the five years he’s been a big leaguer. Wieters is a consistent threat to contribute 20-25 home runs per season, and he gets his share of RBI opportunities hitting behind Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Chris Davis. If his hitting trends continue, Wieters is not likely to be a .300 hitter any time soon, with a career average of .257 that hasn’t deviated far over his five years in the Majors. Still, his ability to reach base and drive in runs make him an incredibly valuable fantasy catcher. What’s more to like is that Wieters has suffered no major injuries, and has averaged approximately 140 games played per season with Baltimore.
Wilin Rosario, Colorado Rockies
In any other season but 2012, Rosario could have easily walked away with the National League Rookie of the Year Award with his .270 batting average, .530 slugging percentage, 28 home runs and 71 RBI in 117 games. This season, the 24-year-old has continued his hot-hitting ways, both in and away from the thin air of Colorado. Even considering the positive effect that both Coors Field and his .327 BABIP have likely had, 15 home runs and 52 runs batted in are nothing to scoff about when his home/road power splits are virtually the same. Rosario is a free swinger, and improved discipline at the plate could boost his on-base percentage from the .311 he has averaged over the past two seasons. A power threat as strong as Rosario will have a certain role on a resurgent Colorado team, and should be considered a top catcher in all leagues.
Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians
Santana is one of the greatest-hitting young catchers in the league, with one “catch,” so to speak. He starts the majority of his games for Cleveland at first base, though in the fantasy game, his eligibility at catcher combined with the boost in playing time he receives by splitting his time at two positions makes him even more of a commodity. With solid home run and doubles power, Santana hit 27 long balls and 35 two-baggers in 2011, and followed up with a 18-homer, 27-double campaign the next year. He does have a tendency to strike out, but reduced his whiff percentage from 20 to 16 percent from 2011 to 2012, which in turn boosted his batting average 12 points and his on-base percentage 14. This season, his .271 average and .377 on-base percentage are the highest of his career. Hang on to him as your catcher in dynasty leagues - Cleveland’s second-best option behind the plate is Yan Gomes, which leaves plenty of room for Santana to receive enough starts there to remain eligible.
Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
Perez bursted onto the scene after his callup in 2011, murdering baseballs to the tune of a .331/.361/.473 line in 148 at-bats as a 21-year-old rookie. He missed the first half of last season with a torn meniscus in Spring Training, but still finished strong with 11 home runs, 16 doubles and 39 runs batted in. 2013 has been his most extensive showing in the big leagues, and his All-Star selection is proof to his legitimacy as a big league hitter. His numbers are actually down across the board, with a .276/.307/.384 line, but an abysmal homerless July in which he’s batted only .188 has hurt his totals. Perez has big-time potential as a hitter, and after signing a 5-year deal in the offseason, looks to remain Kansas City’s catcher for years to come.