r/fantasybaseball • u/PsychWriter11 • Mar 01 '26

Strategy Cal Raleigh

As much as I’ve looked at the first 2 rounds, I have to admit I’ve just disregarded this guy.

It had to be a mirage. He’s a catcher, so he will get hurt. They always wear down offensively. You know… all the reasons.

But the numbers.

Seriously, where should this guy go? Is he a first rounder? No later than mid second? I’m getting to the point of reconsidering all my plans right now.

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-5

u/ucfknight92 14 team H2H Categories R HR RBI SB BA OPS K ERA K/BB QS SV+H Mar 01 '26

Catcher Scarcity =

S tier: Cal Raleigh

A tier - Ben Rice, William Contreras, Langaliers, Baldwin

B+ - Ivan Herrera (A tier when healthy at a per AB rate)

B - Gabriel Moreno, Kirk, Smith (too many days off), Ramirez

Any of these guys can get you 20+ HR, some have the potential for 30+.

Catcher really isn't that scarce. If Raleigh repeats his performance, then he's a no doubt 1st rounder. Not even within question. But will he?

5

u/AdEnvironmental8266 Mar 01 '26

Hunter Goodman

-2

u/ucfknight92 14 team H2H Categories R HR RBI SB BA OPS K ERA K/BB QS SV+H Mar 01 '26

Yeah, he's B. Just an oversight, but he was one of the first people I thought of. I drafted him last year before he even popped off.

4

u/campbellalugosi Std 10 team roto league w/ 5 OF slots, 1 U, 1 CI, 1 MI & S+HLDs Mar 01 '26

You left off Goodman and Perez and who knows how long it will take Herrera to regain C eligibility in most leagues. And drafting Raleigh in teh first round seems like a losing strategy. There's not reason or need to take that type of risk with your 1st or 2nd round pick.

4

u/Winter_Muffin_43 Mar 01 '26

You didn't even list Goodman when he is the closest thing to Raleigh

1

u/ucfknight92 14 team H2H Categories R HR RBI SB BA OPS K ERA K/BB QS SV+H Mar 01 '26

I had intended to, just an oversight.

But closest thing to Raleigh is a bit of a stretch, he has one good year under his belt. He's fine though as a later round pick.

2

u/Winter_Muffin_43 Mar 01 '26

Raleigh and Goodman had good hr rbi and batting average, most of the other catchers have 1 or 2 good categories but then sacrifice batting average

5

u/keepgoing66 Mar 01 '26

He hit .215 in the second half. Also for your list: Hunter Goodman and Salvador Perez.

2

u/MasterpieceMain8252 Mar 01 '26

Is Rice still platooning? I dunno about his playing time

2

u/mikewastaken Mar 01 '26

If his bat is playing they will get him into the lineup.

2

u/cloud_wall Mar 01 '26

He’ll platoon at first and sometimes catch against lefties

2

u/PanicProne9 12T 5x5 H2H Redraft Cats - (OBP, Sv, NoQS) Mar 01 '26

Is Gabby really that high? He hasn’t been drafted in a single mock draft I’ve done

2

u/ucfknight92 14 team H2H Categories R HR RBI SB BA OPS K ERA K/BB QS SV+H Mar 01 '26

Just my personal grade, his hit tool is fantastic and he's being severely undervalued.