Sport: MLB<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all about at-bats. Well, let\u2019s be real, it\u2019s about the production too. For better or worse, we do need to fill out every spot on our fantasy baseball roster. Finding two catchers when you have the entire player pool is difficult to begin with. But when you chop that pool in half, things become even more difficult. That\u2019s the challenge I faced when I was building these 2026 NL-Only Catcher Rankings.<\/p>\n
What?! Your fantasy baseball league wasn\u2019t hosted on Fantrax last season? Preposterous! Check out what the Fantrax MLB Commissioner<\/a> has to offer, and we think you\u2019ll be singing a different tune for the 2026 MLB season.<\/p>\n The problem, though, is that the talent is not evenly split between leagues. Every National League team will be starting a catcher in each game, but the rankings do thin out quickly. That also leaves some room for other options to emerge throughout the season.<\/p>\n When building our team, we have to manage our draft and avoid reaching. Let\u2019s jump into the 2026 National League Catcher Rankings while searching for some value.<\/p>\n National League Catcher Notes As you dig into the rankings, there\u2019s a clear omission. After dealing with an elbow injury and being limited to being the designated hitter last season, Ivan Herrera no longer has eligibility at the catcher position in most fantasy baseball leagues. He had surgery in November and should be ready to go at the start of Spring Training. From our perspective, though, the problem is that it might take Herrera a while to regain eligibility behind the plate.<\/p>\n The one thing we can\u2019t question, though, is the production. In 450 plate appearances last season, Herrera hit .284 with 19 home runs and 66 RBI. That production would place him at the sixth spot in the rankings, but can we trust him?<\/p>\n Ultimately, it all comes down to the price on draft day and your roster construction. It also depends on your league settings as to how many games Herrera would need to regain catcher eligibility. Prior to that point, Herrera will clog up your utility spot. Until then, you will need a value option to start at catcher.<\/p>\n Pedro Pages, St. Louis Cardinals<\/p>\n And look at that segue. While Herrera works his way back, Pedro Pages will be starting behind the plate for the Cardinals. Not to say he\u2019s going to be a league winner, but he can be a solid option.<\/p>\n The batting average isn\u2019t going to be there. Pages hit .230 last year, but he was serviceable in 389 plate appearances. He finished with 11 home runs and 45 RBI and should produce at a similar level in 2026.<\/p>\n Keibert Ruiz, Washington Nationals<\/p>\n The best thing we can say about Keibert Ruiz is that he\u2019s likely going to play every day this season. For multiple reasons, 2025 was a disaster for Ruiz, and it was more than just his season-ending concussion.<\/p>\n In 68 games, Ruiz finished with just two home runs and 25 RBI while batting .247. Yes, Ruiz doesn\u2019t strikeout, but he also had a 47.8% ground ball rate last season. His ISO dropped from .131 to .071 to go along with a barrel rate of just 2.2%.<\/p>\n Since Ruiz\u2019s contract extension in 2023, things have gone downhill for the catcher. The good news is that he did have a .273 xBA last season, but the quality of the contact was just not good despite a .348 xSLG (.318 SLG).<\/p>\n While I\u2019m not too keen on the bounce back, Ruiz is still just 27 years old and will receive the at-bats.<\/p>\n Liam Hicks, Miami Marlins<\/p>\n If you are looking for at-bats, especially early in the season, Liam Hicks will be playing every day. The power isn\u2019t there as Hicks only hit six home runs in 390 plate appearances. He did walk 11% of the time while only striking out 14.4%, but Hicks hit just .247.<\/p>\n Between his 3.5% barrel rate and .099 ISO, Hicks isn\u2019t going to be a difference maker. But depending on where he bats in the lineup, he could be an RBI threat after driving in 45 runs last season.<\/p>\n Jeferson Quero, Milwaukee Brewers<\/p>\n The next at-bat Jeferson Quero takes in the major leagues will be his first. Injuries held Quero back from making his debut last season.<\/p>\n In his 55 games in Triple-A, Quero finished with six home runs and 44 RBI while batting .255. The defense is what sets Quero apart, and it\u2019s also going to get him to the big leagues and give him playing time. In deeper leagues, though, that\u2019s ultimately what we are looking for. But to be fair, he\u2019s not a total loss at the plate either.<\/p>\n Through multiple minor league levels, Quero finished with 11 home runs in 69 games with 57 RBI and a .271 average. Quero strikes out just 13.6% of the time to go along with a 10.9% walk rate. His defense should get his bat in the lineup, as the Brewers have shown a willingness to use William Contreras at designated hitter.<\/p>\n Keep an eye on the playing time, as you can do a lot worse than Quero.<\/p>\n 2026 National League Catcher Rankings<\/p>\n \tRnkPlayerTeam<\/p>\n \t1William ContrerasMIL<\/p>\n \t2Hunter GoodmanCOL<\/p>\n \t3Agustin RamirezMIA<\/p>\n \t4Drake BaldwinATL<\/p>\n \t5Will SmithLAD<\/p>\n \t6Gabriel MorenoARI<\/p>\n \t7Francisco AlvarezNYM<\/p>\n \t8J.T. RealmutoFA<\/p>\n \t9Tyler StephensonCIN<\/p>\n \t10Keibert RuizWSH<\/p>\n \t11Freddy FerminSD<\/p>\n \t12Joey BartPIT<\/p>\n \t13Carson KellyCHC<\/p>\n \t14Patrick BaileySF<\/p>\n \t15Dalton RushingLAD<\/p>\n \t16Pedro PagesSTL<\/p>\n \t17Liam HicksMIA<\/p>\n \t18Jefferson QueroMLW<\/p>\n \t19Miguel AmayaCHC<\/p>\n \t20Sean MurphyATL<\/p>\n \t21Harry FordWAS<\/p>\n \t22Joe MackMIA<\/p>\n \t23Luis TorrensNYM<\/p>\n \t24Henry DavisPIT<\/p>\n \t25James McCannARZ<\/p>\n Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we\u2019re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn\u2019t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sport: MLB It\u2019s all about at-bats. Well, let\u2019s be real, it\u2019s about the production too. 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\nIvan Herrera, St. Louis Cardinals<\/p>\n