Top 5 Keeper Catchers - Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide 2009

The catcher is a very important part of any baseball team, but the truth is there are quite a few starting catchers who aren't very useful from a fantasy baseball standpoint. The good news is there are a lot of young studs at the catching position who have the potential to be major producers for your team for many years to come. Here is a look a the top five keeper catchers going into 2009:

1. Joe Mauer- Mauer has one major weakness, the fact that he doesn't hit many home runs. Having said that, he is clearly the best pure hitter of any catcher in the major leagues and he is still very young. He wasn't the top draft pick for nothing, and I would expect his power numbers to creep up slightly in future years.

2009 Projected Stats- .332 average 14 home runs 89 runs batted in

2. Brian McCann- The argument could be made that McCann deserves to be at the top of this list. McCann has a lot more power than Mauer does and hits for a good average. I think McCann's potential is slightly lower than Mauer, but it is a very close call. At age 24, Brian McCann has a lot of good seasons in him.

2009 Projected Stats- .294 24 home runs 93 runs batted in

3. Geovany Soto- Soto had a huge rookie season last year, but one downer on him is that he is slightly older than most rookies, at the age of 26 now. Soto has lots of pop in his bat and can hit for an average as well. Expect Soto to have lots of solid years with the Cubbies.

2009 Projected Stats- .287 25 home runs 96 runs batted in

4. Russell Martin- Russell Martin has proven himself to be among the top catchers in the league. Martin gives you an extra that other catchers don't, some stolen bases production. Martin swiped 16 bases last year while having another solid year for the Dodgers. Martin is a complete player who isn't flashy, but does a great job.

2009 Projected Stats- .283 14 home runs 74 runs batted in

5. Buster Posey- This one is quite a ways off, but my will he be a force when he gets to the major leagues. Posey dominated at Florida State like no other college player in recent memory has and he is already on a tear in the rookie leagues in Arizona. Don't expect anything in 2009, but hold him in a keeper league for years to come and you'll be a very happy owner.

2009 Projected Stats- No major league action, Posey will likely rise to about double or triple A by season's end.