Top Catcher Prospects for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball: 2024

Chris Clegg breaks down his top 50 catcher prospect rankings for dynasty fantasy baseball.

*Cover photo with images by Charlie Neuman and Patrick Cavey

The catcher position is on the rise for dynasty purposes and even with some studs graduating from the prospect circle over the last several years, it is still a talented group. Catcher is a tough position to evaluate for fantasy purposes because in most dynasty leagues not that many are rostered. Even for deeper leagues, 50 catching prospects being rostered may be a lot. But I hope this list is catered well to all league types and formats.

Let’s discuss the top 50 catcher prospects for dynasty fantasy baseball.

Top 50 Catcher Prospects for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball

Tier 1 - Catcher Prospect Rankings

1. Ethan Salas, C, SD, 17, 6’2”/185

If I told you that a 16-year-old catcher would be getting reps in Major League Spring Training, would you have believed me? What if I told you that same catcher reached Double-A shortly after turning 17 years old? Well, Ethan Salas did those things in 2023 after signing for $5.8 million that same January.

Salas shows maturity well beyond his age, considering he should still be in high school. The contact skills and plate discipline were impressive for his first professional season. Checking in with a 77.5 percent overall contact rate and a zone-contact rate north of 85 percent is highly impressive and even better when you factor in a chase rate of 20 percent. 

The power is already quite advanced for his age, hitting nine home runs in 66 games, but the exit velocities stood out for a 17-year-old. Salas checked in with an 87 mph average exit velocity and a 90th percentile above 102 mph, which would both be elite if we compared him to people his age. The frame also has a ton to dream on, and you can expect the power to tick up even more. 

With elite makeup both behind the dish and at the plate for his age, the Padres have a lot to dream on. There is still plenty of development to be had there, and even though Salas reached Double-A, he probably needs at least another one to two full seasons of Minor League ball, and even if he debuted in late 2025, Salas would only be 19 years old. You can dream of the upside of one of the top catchers in baseball with Salas and not only becoming the Padres top prospect but also one of the top prospects in all of baseball.

2. Samuel Basallo, C/1B, BAL, 19, 6’3”/180

Signing in 2021 for a $1.3 million bonus, the largest in the Orioles class that year, Basallo has done nothing but improve every year and now looks like a potential star hitter. At the complex level in 2022, Basallo showed good power and a feel for contact, and then in 2022, Basallo fully broke out, reaching Double-A by season'ss end.

Between three levels and 114 games, Basallo slashed a smooth .313/.402/.551 with 20 home runs and 53 extra-base hits while even stealing 12 bases. Spending time at first base and catcher, it is highly possible that we see Basallo play first base long-term due to the Orioles having Adley Rutschman behind the dish, but he could still catch enough to keep C eligibility in some fantasy leagues.

The power is still eye-popping, and the hit tool has developed very nicely. Basallo’s 90th percentile exit velocity was one of the best for his age, checking in over 106 mph. The contact skills also play as Basallo posted a 73 percent contact rate on the season.

Basallo will be 19 for the majority of the 2024 season and starting the year in Double-A with a chance to further solidify himself as a top prospect in the game. If you have not invested yet in dynasty, it may be too late, but Basallo is a stud in the making.

Tier 2 - Catcher Prospect Rankings

3. Harry Ford, C, SEA, 20, 5’10”/200

Ford is a strong athlete behind the plate who was selected 12th overall in the 2021 draft. Since being drafted, Ford has hit, got on base at a high clip, seen his power tick up, and stole bases effectively. While there is a possibility that Ford could move off the position, his athleticism and abilities at the plate will play at any position in the field.

While being a bit undersized, Ford gets to more power than you might think from his 5’10” frame. While hitting just 15 home runs, Ford sprays line drives to all fields with authority with a 90th percentile exit velocity close to MLB average of 103 mph.

Ford is a passive hitter, swinging at just 39 percent of pitches in 2023 while making contact at a rate of 73.5 percent. The chase rates as a professional have been some of the best in the Minors over the last two years. 

As a strong athlete, Ford has nice speed and has shown to be very effective in stealing. Over 241 professional games, Ford has stolen 50 bases and has been caught just 13 times. 

Whether Ford sticks behind the dish long-term or not is still a question, but regardless, the skillset will play as he profiles as a high OBP bat with power and speed.

4. Kyle Teel, C, BOS, 22, 6’1”/190

The Red Sox had Kyle Teel fall into their lap at 14 overall in the 2023 draft, one of the highest floor catchers in the last few draft classes. Teel spent just three games at the complex before skipping Single-A completely and was shipped off to High-A Greenville. 14 games later, Teel moved up to Double-A Portland to end the season. 

Teel brings strong bat-to-ball skills and a great eye at the plate, creating high OBPs. For his career at Virginia, Teel posted a .433 OBP, but during his 2023 season he posted an impressive .407/.475/.655 slash line. He has some sneaky power thanks to a quick bat and hands, and could hit 20 home runs per season. Teel has quick pop times and catches a high amount of runners attempting to steal which helps his chances of sticking behind the plate.

His swing and stride can get a bit long at times, but it has not affected his contact ability to this point. The profile suggests hit over power, but Teel is also capable of getting into solid power, especially to the pull side. Teel is a strong athlete and gives 110 percent on every play, and I have seen him turn singles into doubles because of the hustle.

A plus catcher behind the plate could lead him to be on the fast track to the Majors where his defense behind the dish could already play. If the bat continues to develop, it would not surprise me to see Teel in All-Star games in the future, being the Red Sox catcher of the future.

5. Dalton Rushing, C, LAD, 22, 6’1”/220

After spending his first two college seasons at Louisville sitting behind Henry Davis, Rushing broke out in a major way on the Cape and then in his junior year at Louisville, hitting 23 home runs and slashing .310/.470/.686 vaulting his stock to second-round status where the Dodgers selected him.

He picked up where he left off after debuting his pro ball in 2022, having one of the best performances of any draftee, hitting .404/.522/.740 with eight home runs in 30 games. Expectations were high entering 2023, and while some would consider his season a bit disappointing, Rushing still showed elite OBP skills with strong power. 

The power comes easily from the left side and his strong frame. In 2023, Rushing posted a 105 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, hitting several balls over 110 mph. From a plate discipline standpoint, it is easy to see why he walks at such a high clip, as Rushing chased just 15 percent of pitches out of the zone. The contact percentage was also substantial at 75 percent and is a much better indicator of his hit tool than the .228 batting average. 

If Rushing cannot stick behind the plate, his bat will still be the carrying tool, even at first base or a corner outfield spot. He is one of the few Minor Leaguers who could post .400 OBPs regularly while showing plus power.

Subscribe below to get access to the full top-50 catcher prospect rankings plus much much more.