Finally... we are out of the water with our trade targets. I have definitely placed a lot of emphasis on the prospects in the Marlins system. Despite sucking all of the fun out of Miami (besides Jazz Chisolm), the Marlins have put together an exciting farm system. However, our focus is moving out of the sea, through land and into the sky as an Angel. This is because the next underrated catching star prospect is 2023 Dynasty Baseball Trade Target: Logan O'Hoppe.
A notoriously thin position, Catcher has seen its fair share of top prospects recently. Adley Rutschman topped the leaderboards for a couple of years, and is now tearing it up in the MLB. Gabriel Moreno and Francisco Alvarez headline the 2023 prospect class.
Beyond these three big names, another star is brewing behind the plate. Although not having the same name recognition as others, Logan O'Hoppe of the Angels has as bright of a future as any catcher in the MLB. His solid work as a catcher, coupled with big power and stellar on-base skills makes O'Hoppe a must-have on your Dynasty squad.
2023 Dynasty Baseball Trade Target: Logan O'Hoppe
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I'm perplexed as to how O'Hoppe continues to fly under the radar. He was sensational in 2022 both at and behind the plate. Even our own Dave Eddy has O'Hoppe outside of the top 20 Dynasty catchers, but his talent level should make him way closer to a top ten guy.
In just over 100 games at the AA level last year, O'Hoppe belted 26 homers. 11 of these homers came in just 131 at-bats with Rocket City (the Angels' AA team, also an appropriate name for the swings O'Hoppe was taking). Power is essential anywhere, but especially in fantasy baseball, where home runs are king.
Only one catcher (Cal Raleigh) hit over 26 homers in 2022. The Mariners backstop did belt 27 homers, but it came at the price of a .210 average. While there is an adjustment to major league pitching, there shouldn't be a trade-off of low average for O'Hoppe, who hit .270 in 2021 and .284 in 2022.
Mlbtraderumors.com glows about O'Hoppe, stating "His 2022 breakout included improved plate discipline without sacrificing aggression against pitches in the heart of the zone. This is a relatively rare adjustment. Should he seize the Opening Day job, keep an eye on his plate discipline metrics. If he retains his selective aggression, O’Hoppe could emerge as one of the top catchers in the league."
Predictions for O'Hoppe in 2023
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All signs point to O'Hoppe getting the starting job at catcher this season for the Angels. Rotochamp projects O'Hoppe to hit eighth in 2023, amassing about 300 at bats. 300 at bats allows O'Hoppe to make an impact both for the Angels and in fantasy lineups.
However, the only other catcher on the Angels roster currently poised to make the Opening Day roster is Max Stassi. On the wrong side of 30, Stassi limped to a .180 average and a 62 OPS+ in about 100 games last year. In order to keep a young and talented player seated on the bench, the veteran must be able to produce on a nightly basis, something which Stassi obviously did not do last year.
Barring a trade, O'Hoppe is the lone exciting backstop for the Angels. This could result in O'Hoppe surpassing his 300 at-bat projection if he can produce a little bit.
A common problem facing young players is defense. However, O'Hoppe seems to have that side covered, earning a 50-55 grade in both defense and arm, placing him as an average to above average defensive catcher with room to grow.
Furthermore, according to minor league staff, teammates also love playing with O'Hoppe. While this doesn't directly impact fantasy, O'Hoppe building a good rapport with pitchers gets him on the field more as the preferred battery mate for pitchers. This leads to more at-bats, with more hits and homers following.
Since O'Hoppe only has 14 MLB at-bats, his Baseball Savant page doesn't show many underlying stats. However, his stats so far have to make him a 2023 Dynasty Baseball Trade Target.
What Will You Have to Give Up?
While O'Hoppe is underrated, he did make his first appearance on the top 100 prospects list over the summer. Due to that, he won't come at a super cheap cost. However, he is still under the radar enough to get him at a steal, maybe just giving up a few prospects outside of the top 100
Final Thoughts
There are fewer than ten catchers that I would feel confident starting on your Dynasty squad. When presented with an opportunity to grab an all around future star at such a thin position, it is imperative to jump on that chance. This is why the next league winner is 2023 Dynasty Baseball Trade Target: Logan O'Hoppe.
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