Christian Vazquez (C, BOS) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 34% of leagues

ANALYSIS: It hasn't been a strong start to June for Christian Vazquez with a .604 OPS and zero home runs through 35 AB, but let's view it as a good time to buy low, because he's at a shallow position for a top-tier offense. After a four-homer start to the season in April, Vazquez turned in a three home run, .373/.397/.560 performance in 75 May AB before his struggles of June.

He is striking out at a 17.9% rate, but it is more important that he is making the highest quality contact of his career. Though he is hitting for a modest (though still career-best) 30.2% hard contact rate, he is limiting his soft contact to a minimal 12.8%, and applying it to a tolerable 1.21 GB/FB ratio. By limiting his soft contact, he has been returning pitches at an average speed of 89.5 MPH, netting a solid ISO of .176. In addition to his uptick in power, Vazquez has been an active part of the Red Sox offense, as he is tied for ninth with Mitch Garver and Jonathan Lucroy in runs scored among MLB catchers (25). He's even a backstop that can steal a few bases every once and a while despite his low-ranking sprint speed. With that span of statistical contribution, Christian Vazquez is a strong candidate to fill the catcher slot.