:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67020609/usa_today_13171717.0.jpg)
The 2020 MLB season is going to happen! Maybe. And we could probably have baseball! So, that means it is time to take a look back at our draft prep from back in the pre-Covid era. What year was that?
Below I’ve got some interesting catcher sleepers for the 60-game season. The designated hitter coming to the National League should help some players see more work this season than they might have and you’ll see that play out in a couple of these suggestions.
Carson Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
Kelly is the 11th catcher off the board but he is available at ADP 205, which is still good value and about where I’d want to grab my catcher. Kelly has the starting job locked up, so he should be safe for at bats. He also has good plate discipline and has upside to raise his average by a nice margin. He’s also raised his launch angle and fly ball rate, which is a great sign moving forward.
Jorge Alfaro, Miami Marlins
Alfaro is set to start and has a higher exit velocity than J.T. Realmuto but has trouble getting the ball off the ground. When he does hit one out, it’s usually out by a good distance, as he averaged over 400 feet per home run. He undoubtedly is working to get his launch angle up and an increase in power is likely around the corner.
Sean Murphy, Oakland Athletics
Murphy’s power has started to develop while also showing good plate discipline. His exit velocity in his little time in the majors last season was 90.7 mph. The only worry is that he will share too much work with Austin Allen. He should be the starter and has the ability to take over the job fully.
Danny Jansen, Toronto Blue Jays
Despite Jansen’s poor start in the MLB last season, he did put together good enough metrics to believe in a big improvement. He’s better than Reese McGuire and should be able to carve out good usage with a shot an even more. His approach to the plate was strong in his first season, with a swinging strike percentage of 8.8 and a hard hit rate of 42.4 percent.
Kurt Suzuki, Washington Nationals
Suzuki isn’t going to get the at bats we’d like, as he will platoon with Yan Gomes. The good news is that he is solid in the at bats he does see. In 309 at bats last season, he hit 17 home runs and 63 RBIs with a .264 average. Those aren’t numbers you get at an ADP of 325.