Welington Castillo (C, BAL) – Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 56% of Yahoo! Leagues  

ANALYSIS: Welington Castillo isn’t a flashy catcher but he posts consistent numbers, which is something to note for a position as thin as catcher. Much of Castillo’s profile has remained the same this season compared to seasons past, including his HR/FB rate, ISO, and flyball rate. With seven home runs on the season, he is on pace to hit around 15 home runs, which is in line with preseason expectations.

One thing that has changed is Castillo’s average as he is currently hitting .291 average, a mark that stands out in comparison to his .257 career average. Unfortunately, this change is not backed by legitimate changes as his strikeout rate has not changed. While his batter ball profile has changed slightly, it isn’t enough to back the massive change and his BABIP. Because of this, it should be expected that his average shifts back down as the season wears on.

Overall, Castillo provides a legitimate source of power at catcher and is a part of a good offense, which should help him post respectable counting stats. Not much else is needed from a catcher in deeper leagues or two-catcher leagues, making Castillo a solid add in 14+ team leagues and potentially a streamer in shallower leagues when his bat heats up again.