Sleeper of the Week

When it comes to up-and-coming catchers, the spotlight this season is firmly on Minnesota’s Joe Mauer, and justifiably so. From everything we’ve seen, the former number one overall pick appears to be the real deal. But what should a fantasy owner looking for a catcher for the future do if Mauer is already locked up?

Enter Anaheim’s Jeff Mathis. Like Mauer, Mathis was chosen in the first round of the 2001 amateur draft and is a top-notch prospect behind the plate. A converted infielder, Mathis may still need time to develop defensively, but has already looked solid with the bat in his hand.

At A-level Rancho Cucamonga last season, Mathis hit for a .323 average. Thanks to an even .500 slugging, his OPS was an impressive .884. In a 24-game call-up to AA Arkansas, Mathis’ average dropped to .284, but his OPS remained high at .827. At twenty years old, Mathis is still developing his power; the next step is to begin converting a few more of the 39 doubles he hit last year into home runs (along with improving his patience at the plate).

Thanks to all the attention on Mauer, Mathis is being overlooked by many owners in minor league drafts. Yet catcher remains the shallowest fantasy position, and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon; a prospect of Mathis’ caliber shouldn’t be ignored. If you can afford to wait while he climbs up the minor league ladder, Jeff Mathis looks like a very solid investment for the future.