In 2022, Adley Rutschman was called up to the majors as the number one catching prospect in baseball, runner-up in Rookie of the Year votes, followed by All-Star selections in 2023 and 2024. But in 2025, Rutschman struggles at the plate, and his loss of multiple games with two separate oblique injuries has sunk his draft value. As if this was not enough, he also has the 2026 top catching prospect, Samuel Basallo, slated to make the Orioles opening-day roster.

As scary as all of this may be, I am finding value in the former first overall drafted catcher. Rutschman has plenty of positives to make him a top catcher again in 2026. Defensively, Rutschman is a top catcher; a career fielding percentage of .994 will keep him as the Orioles #1 catcher in 2026. Rutschman improved his walk rate in 2025, showing more patience at the plate, and batting from both sides of the plate builds on his case to remain the everyday catcher for the Orioles.

Currently drafted around pick 150 in drafts and the definite top pick in his tier, I am looking for a bounce back from Rutschman in 2026. He will likely contribute 20-plus home runs and a healthy amount of RBI, batting 5th in a solid Orioles lineup.

In 2023, Francisco Alvarez was also the number one-ranked catching prospect in baseball. Alvarez broke out in 2023 with 25 home runs as a catcher. He has shown continuous improvement at the plate, raising his walk rate by 1.7% to 9.7% in 2025 and his OBP from .284 in 2023 to .339 in 2025. The only thing holding Alvarez back is his well-documented injury history.

Multiple hand injuries in 2023, a thumb injury at the start of 2024, and a wrist injury at the beginning of 2025; all lowered his games played and have been a huge disappointment for fantasy managers who were counting on his 25-plus home run power.

His current ADP is 223. A healthy Alvarez in a superstar Mets lineup could lead to some major upside in 2026. Playing time is the only concern with Alvarez, who has Luis Torrens as the secondary catcher on the Mets. Torrens’s defense is far superior to Alvarez’s, and the Mets may be looking to keep Alvarez healthy for the postseason. I like taking a chance on Alvarez in 15-team or deeper and especially in two-catcher formats.

The Mariners drafted Harry Ford 12th overall in the 2021 MLB draft. The following year, Cal Raleigh blasted onto the scene with 27 homeruns across 370 at-bats. This would begin the questioning of when we would see Ford in the majors. Raleigh, who is also a premier defensive catcher, would improve his home run total each year until hitting 60 home runs in 2025, confirming that Ford would remain blocked for the foreseeable future.

So what does this have to do with Ford? The Mariners have no use for their top catching prospect if they have a generational talent behind the plate already. This off-season, Ford was traded to the Washington Nationals, which may wind up the best move he could have asked for. Ford gets a huge park upgrade and, most importantly, a chance at making the roster or replacing Keibert Ruiz as the Nationals’ everyday catcher.

There is not a lot of Statcast data on Ford yet, but from what we can tell, the 23-year-old should have modest power but will produce a high OBP. His BB% in the minors was above 15%, and he had 3 years with over 20 stolen bases in the minors. Ford has the potential to be a late find 15 home run, ten stolen base catcher, with a .330 plus OBP.

Ford still needs to overcome Keibert Ruiz and is not a lock to make the opening day lineup. This would definitely be a stash pick in leagues with minor slots and leagues with 15 teams and deeper. Currently drafted around pick 400, the speculation will not cost you much, but should pay for itself in the future with steady production and a few stolen bases out of the catcher spot.