Cal Raleigh heads CBS Sports’ list of difficult 2027 catcher rankings
A sharp decline in catcher production after the All-Star break has complicated early valuations for the 2027 Fantasy Baseball season.
CBS Sports has identified Cal Raleigh as the most difficult catcher to rank for 2027 after the Seattle Mariners player endured the worst full season of his Major League Baseball career in 2026.
Raleigh’s regression followed an exceptional 2025 campaign, but CBS Sports believes his power remains significant enough to support a top-10 ranking at the position. A return to roughly 40 home runs is presented as a possibility, with recurring oblique injuries and the pressure of following his historic season cited as potential factors in his decline.
Dillon Dingler’s strong first half has also given way to a sharply weaker outlook. After hitting 19 home runs before the All-Star break, Dingler slumped heavily afterwards, making him a candidate to fall outside the top five despite earlier indications that he could rank among the position’s elite.
Samuel Basallo could move up draft boards despite modest production. CBS Sports points to his age, above-average contact quality and 30-home-run potential, while acknowledging concerns over plate discipline and strikeouts.
Iván Herrera is viewed as roughly a top-12 catcher, although limited power and uncertainty over his future role may reduce his appeal. CBS Sports also discusses Jensen and Hicks as breakout candidates whose valuations remain unsettled because of swing-and-miss concerns and role-related uncertainty.
The analysis notes that catchers generally develop more slowly, have shorter peaks and face heightened injury and attrition risks. Although the position’s production fell after the All-Star break, CBS Sports expects catchers to be drafted earlier than usual in 2027.
