4.3.25 Catcher News Clippings
Early Season Standouts and Waiver Wire Pick of the Week
Well, the first week of the regular season is in the books, and man, isn’t it good to have baseball back?
While it is still extremely early in the long marathon that is the baseball season, it’s helpful to shift through the noise, try to avoid the overreactions (unless there’s a buy-low opportunity that presents itself) and see if there are trends emerging that are worth monitoring.
These trends could be hot starts that will end up being career years or slow starts that could end up being prolonged slumps.
Catcher News Clippings
Adley Rutschman continued his Opening Day success by going deep twice on Opening Day. He’s hitting .250 through six games.
Ivan Herrera had the game of his life against the Angels this week, blasting three home runs and collecting six RBI. He’s gotten off to a scorching start hitting .467 and totaling eight RBI thus far. He will have to hold off Pedro Pages who is also hitting over .400.
William Contreras has gotten off to a slow start, going 2-20 with eight strikeouts. His only two hits both being singles.
Carson Kelly also had the game of his life this week, hitting for the cycle in a 18-3 win over the A’s. He was the first MLB player to hit for the cycle in March and only the 17th catcher ever to do it. Yes, the cycle was impressive but don’t rush out and add Kelly.
Dillon Dingler is getting some starts over Jake Rogers for the Tigers, and he’s someone to keep an eye on. Dingler struggled in 27 games in the bigs last season but hit 17 home runs and 52 RBI while slashing .308/.379/.559 in 71 Triple-A games last year. During his first start of the season, he hit a home run and a triple and knocked in three RBI. He also has a three hit game this season. As the season progresses, Dingler’s value could rise if he ends up winning the lion’s share of starts.
Austin Wells became the first catcher in MLB history to hit a home run on Opening Day from the leadoff spot. Unfortunately, Aaron Boone has been experimenting and trying different leadoff hitters, so Wells has moved down to sixth in the order. He is hitting .235 with two home runs in 2025.
The Dodgers look like they might win 120 games this season, and Will Smith has been a big reason for their early season success. Smith is hitting .450.
Waiver Wire Pick of the Week
Hunter Goodman
I was high on Goodman’s sleeper potential entering the regular season and it seems he has successfully won the starting catcher job over Jacob Stallings.
Goodman has been starting behind the dish for the Rockies and has hit from the cleanup spot in the lineup for three of those games. He is slashing .368/.400/.842 with two home runs, three RBI, and three doubles.
While still a small sample size, Goodman is hitting the ball harder than last season. His exit velocity is up 4.5 points and his Barrel % and Hard Hit % are way up over 2024. He could be amidst a breakout.
The regular playing time + money spot in the lineup + home games at Coors Field moves Goodman into the top 20 rankings, sniffing at top 15.
Action: Add him in two catcher leagues now; monitor him for one catcher leagues.
Catcher Rankings
1. William Contreras
2. Adley Rutschman
3. Yainer Diaz
4. Cal Raleigh
5. Salvador Perez
6. Will Smith
7. J.T. Realmuto
8. Willson Contreras
9. Shea Langeliers
10. Austin Wells
11. Gabriel Moreno
12. Logan O’Hoppe
13. Keibert Ruiz
14. Joey Bart
15. Connor Wong
16. Jonah Heim
17. Hunter Goodman
18. Ryan Jeffers
19. Alejandro Kirk
20. Patrick Bailey
On the bubble:
Bo Naylor, Ivan Herrera, Dillon Dingler, Miguel Amaya
