Wilin Rosario

Though defensive deficiencies have long plagued Rosario, the Rockies have exercised patience in developing him as a catcher because of his game-changing power. Rosario appeared set to blossom into a premier fantasy asset at his position after swatting 28 homers in fewer than 400 at-bats as a rookie in 2012, but he’s since backslid offensively while showing limited progress behind the plate, casting doubt on how long he may remain a catcher -- or even with the Rockies. A nagging hand injury and a severe case of the flu last season bears some blame for his decline in slugging, and if not for a mostly meaningless hot streak in the final two weeks, his .267 batting average and .305 OBP would have been less palatable. It’s conceivable that the 26-year-old could still refine his receiving skills and limit his vulnerabilities as a hitter against breaking pitches, but his leash will be much shorter this time around. If the Rockies don’t deal Rosario before spring training, he’ll likely be forced to battle for the starting catching job with Nick Hundley and Michael McKenry.

Despite being limited to 466 plate appearances due to late-season injuries, Rosario delivered his second consecutive 20-homer campaign, cementing himself as one of the top-tier fantasy catching options. While the power numbers were to be expected from the young catcher, his lofty .292 batting average was a more pleasant surprise. Much of that mark was aided by his unusually high .344 BABIP, and that combined with Rosario’s troubling 3.2 percent walk rate suggests some regression can probably be expected in that department. But even with a modest drop in batting average, Rosario’s uncommon power-hitting ability make him a coveted commodity at his position, though it remains to be seen how long he’ll remain catcher-eligible. Rosario has graded out as a well below-average defender the past two seasons, and his poor receiving skills were concerning enough for the Rockies to kick the tires on Carlos Ruiz in free agency before bowing out of the bidding. Unless he makes noticeable gains in 2014, a full-time switch to first base could be in his future, a move that could hurt his value in dynasty formats.

From a pure fantasy perspective, Rosario was magnificent in his rookie season, leading all catchers in baseball with 28 home runs and finishing with a commendable .270 batting average, 71 RBI and 67 runs scored in an efficient 396 at-bats. However, a position-leading 13 errors and 21 passed balls tested the patience of both coaches and a struggling Rockies pitching staff often reluctant to throw breaking pitches to Rosario, yielding an underwhelming 1.8 WAR for the young catcher. Rosario even showed some flaws offensively, striking out in 23.2 percent of his at-bats while walking only 25 times -- both of which were actually improvements from his Double-A campaign the season before. Rosario will enter the season as the Rockies' top catcher, but his ineptitude defensively and his weak plate discipline could allow veteran Ramon Hernandez to see more action than fantasy owners might like. Rosario was sent to winter ball to refine his catching skills, and if an improvement in defense keeps Hernandez's starts less frequent, 35-home run potential is not out of the question.

Rosario has the physical tools - raw power and a big arm - that make him a prized prospect in the Rockies' system. He swatted 21 homers at Tulsa over 405 at-bats before getting a taste of Colorado down the stretch. At 23 and having lost some development time to a torn ACL suffered in August of 2010, it's likely that Rosario will open the 2012 campaign at Triple-A. Although his plate discipline is a concern and he still needs some defensive polish behind the plate, Rosario's timetable to become the Rockies' starting catcher could be accelerated with the decision to trade Chris Iannetta to Anaheim.

Rosario, one of the top prospects in the Rockies' system, had a breakout season in Double-A Tulsa hitting .285/.342/.552 with 19 homers in 270 at-bats last year. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL in August, an injury that required surgery to correct. His rehab is expected to sideline him through the early part of spring training. Once healthy, expect Rosario to pick up where he left off and push for a late-season callup. Depending on what Chris Iannetta does, the job may be Rosario's by the time he arrives with the big club.

Rosario had a quiet 2009 at High-A Modesto before hitting .302 with four homers and 12 RBI in 15 games during the Arizona Fall League. Rosario looked very focused and sharp in the fall, perhaps finally healthy after dealing with an inflamed wrist in August. At best, he is an average defensive catcher and thus far at the plate, he's been a streaky hitter. It's possible his bat will play in Colorado because he has the bat speed and quickness at the plate to drive the ball to all fields. Still very young, Rosario should be able to improve his game at Double-A in 2010, and his offensive potential makes him worth targeting in keeper leagues.

Rosario is an excellent long-term catching prospect who can be expected to stay behind the plate as he gets older thanks to a strong arm. He'll reach full-season ball in '09 on his way to being 2012's Geovany Soto. Rosario's long-term future may well be in a different organization, so don't count on Coorsflation. He's a keeper, regardless.