Let's just get this one out of the way up front: I have exactly zero shares of San Francisco Giants C Buster Posey on fantasy rosters because, indeed, I thought he was done as even a modest fantasy baseball statistical provider. Why wouldn't I think this? A battered Posey was a full-time catcher in 2018 and 2019 before sitting out the 2020 season. He hit .270 (which is fine) over those two seasons, but with a combined 12 home runs and 79 RBI -- meaning an average of only around six and 40. He scored 90 runs ... total!
Well, a healthy and rejuvenated Posey enters today's action with a .382 batting average and seven home runs -- plus a cool 17 runs scored -- through 19 games. Has Posey ever looked this good at the plate? Well, this future Hall of Famer won a batting title in 2012 and twice he surpassed 20 home runs, but he hasn't done that since 2014. He looked to be nearly done. Catchers rarely look this awesome at age 34, especially when Posey's last season as a strong fantasy option was back in 2017. I missed out on rostering Posey this season and, clearly, I was not alone.
Now, Posey is not going to hit .382 all season, although the current metrics on him are favorable. Having an OPS higher than 1.100 versus both left-handed and right-handed pitching is a promising sign, as is his OPS sitting higher than 1.000 in both road games and home contests. Posey, on the mend from a hip labrum tear in 2018 and multiple concussions, is hitting baseballs as hard as ever, with launch angle defending the home runs. Plus, his barrel percentage is nearly three times as strong as it was in 2019.
Anyway, I just thought I would share with everyone that I love being wrong about Posey. When he was great, he really helped fantasy managers -- and he appears to be great again. In general, I do not think we should re-evaluate how we view older catchers, because Posey is just different. I do hope this continues and someone else in all my fantasy leagues gets to enjoy it.
Catching lightning in a bottle?
By the way, Posey is not the only catcher doing great things. You know all about the Chicago White Sox and their "old rookie" Yermin Mercedes, who has never actually suited up as a catcher in the big leagues. Beyond that, there are myriad veteran options who fantasy managers had hardly coveted that are now producing intriguing statistics. Here's a look at just a few:
Carson Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks: He leads the position in fWAR, in part because of the 15 walks in 21 games over 82 PA. Kelly drew just six walks in 39 games and 129 PA a season ago. People change ... in good ways. Remember, this fellow hit 18 home runs in 2019. I see a repeat performance on the horizon, with a .270 batting average from here on out if the plate discipline follows. This is real.
Omar Narvaez, Milwaukee Brewers: A strained hamstring has him on the shelf for two weeks, but Narvaez is back to his underrated ways of hitting for average and getting on base, making him eminently valuable in points formats. He did this from 2016-2019 and holds a career .359 OBP. He actually could hit .300 this season with 15 home runs and that would make him a top-10 catcher in roto, too. This is also real.
Tucker Barnhart, Cincinnati Reds: A defense-first option who ditched switch-hitting a few seasons ago because he could not hit lefties, Barnhart is still mainly a platoon option, but one with a .940 OPS versus right-handed pitching. Why? He is hitting a ton of line drives, leading the position with a 36.8% mark, but also propped up by a .500 BABIP. Sorry, but this is a streamer, so be ready to run. Tyler Stephenson may the better fantasy option for the rest of the season. Not real.
Dom Nunez, Colorado Rockies: Striking out 42.2% of the time is a dangerous way to make a living, even for a catcher on a last-place team, but if Nunez continues to sell out for power, it could make him the Mike Zunino of the NL. He does get five more months of home games in altitude, so use him in those games. Kind of real.
Francisco Mejia, Tampa Bay Rays: Speaking of Zunino, it sure looks as if Mejia is poised to zoom past him on the Tampa Bay depth chart. Mejia always hit in the minors, but not for Cleveland and San Diego in the majors. His .316 batting average is mostly BABIP-fueled, but six doubles and a low K-rate portend well. I could see a .280 season with double-digit homers. He is back on the dynasty radar. Real.
Jacob Stallings, Pittsburgh Pirates: He has always been a walker and, in theory, that should lead to a safer batting average. Stallings is hitting .235, but with a 17.9% BB rate. He is tied with Barnhart and Yasmani Grandal in points leagues, where he offers his most value. Kind of real.
Kyle Higashioka, New York Yankees: His apparent takeover in New York was discussed on a recent Fantasy Focus Baseball podcast with noted Yankees fan Tristan H. Cockcroft, who said he would still take Gary Sanchez over him, even if the Yankees don't. Well, that is interesting. Higashioka is the better defender and he is not the one hitting .180. Higashioka has four home runs, but little indication of a power-driven past. He may hit .250 with 12 home runs, but I would not bet on it. Frankly, fantasy managers can avoid Yankees catchers in ESPN leagues. Not real.
Willians Astudillo, Minnesota Twins: Mitch Garver is not remotely back to his 2019 form. He has struck out 40.3% of the time and cannot hit right-handed pitching. Oh, he hits baseballs hard when he makes contact, but he deserves the .203 batting average. Astudillo would never hit .203. He is all contact and loads of fun with his .288 batting average and .283 OBP. That's not a misprint ... the second number is indeed lower. I see a versatile player (eligible at C, 1B and 3B) hitting .280 with 15 home runs, and about maybe six walks. He could sneak his way into the top-10 discussion for roto formats. Real.