David Ross

48-Year-Old CatcherC

Free Agent

2025 Stats

AVG

.000

RBI

Rest-of-Season Projections

AVG

RBI

Unlock Our Projections

2025 Fantasy Outlook

There was no outlook written for David Ross in 2025. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.

Bats R

Throws R

40 Man No

Height 6'2"

Weight 230

DOB 3/19/1977

Born Bainbridge, GA

College Florida

Drafted 7th Rd 1998 LA

Returning to field with independent team

CFree Agent

July 9, 2017

Ross is coming out of retirement to play for an independent league team, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Analysis
Ross hung up his spikes after riding off into the sunset with the 2016 World Series champion Cubs last fall, but he tweeted Sunday that he's returning to the diamond. He's reportedly set to join the Kansas Stars -- a team that boasts several former big-leaguers like Roger Clemens, Chipper Jones and Tim Hudson -- and compete in the National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series starting on July 22.

Read More News

Batting Stats

Loading Batting Stats...

Minor League Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Loading Minor League Batting Game Log...

Advanced Batting Stats

Loading Advanced Batting Stats...

Additional Stats

Games By Position

Defensive Stats

Loading Games Played by Position...

Loading MLB Defensive Stats...

Batted Ball Stats

Loading Batted Ball Stats...

Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers

Want more matchup stats?

View David Ross vs. Pitcher Stats

Loading Matchup Stats...

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

In what is expected to be his final season, Ross saw definite improvement in his numbers on the road to a Cubs World Series victory. He appeared in 67 games, making 205 plate appearances. He hit double digit home runs for the first time since 2007 while also improving his walk and strikeout rates. He walked in 14.6 percent of his plate appearances, and dropped his strikeout rate to 26.3 percent, his lowest since 2010. This helped him to slash .229/.338/.446, a huge jump from his paltry 2015 numbers of .176/.267/.252. He remained relatively productive throughout the entire year, all the way to the final game, when he hit a homer in Game 7 of the World Series, which is impressive for a 39-year-old, regardless of his reduced playing time. Assuming he follows through on his intent to retire, he certainly went out on top.

Ross hit 21 home runs for the Reds…in 2006. While it's nice to know he can hit home runs if given the opportunity, he's rarely given the opportunity anymore. Both the Red Sox (in 2013 and 2014) and the Cubs (in 2015) were content with mostly letting him catch only Jon Lester, and the 39-year-old Ross is fine with that. The power is long gone - Ross had just an .076 ISO last year - but Ross will get his 150 at-bats regardless. He's not even worth a buck in deep NL-only leagues anymore.

Ross served as Boston's backup backstop for a second straight season, initially working behind free-agent signee A.J. Pierzynski and then guiding rookie catcher Christian Vazquez over the final few months of the season. His stat line mattered little to Boston, though he has hit 11 homers in 254 at-bats the past two seasons. A foot injury cost him time in the second half of the season, but he avoided surgery and managed to return in late August. Ross is a clubhouse guy who has industry knowledge and can handle a pitching staff. He'll likely serve in a similar capacity with the Cubs after signing in the offseason and figures reprise his role as Jon Lester's personal catcher.

Ross battled through two concussions during the 2013 season and finished with 36 games caught. Despite his clear role as the team's backup catcher, Ross was the preferred backstop in the postseason, catching eight of Boston's 16 postseason games, including four of six in the World Series. He was better at handling pitchers than starter Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but not quite the hitter that Salty was. The soon-to-be 37-year-old will return to Boston in a similar role, only now he'll be backing up A.J. Pierzynski.

Ross was the backup catcher for four years in Atlanta before leaving the Braves to sign a two-year deal with the Red Sox this offseason. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will remain the starter in Boston while prospect Ryan Lavarnway knocks on the door, so Ross seems unlikely to become a full-time starter with Boston. He has a ton of value to an MLB team as an excellent game caller. He's got decent power and draws enough walks that his batting average shouldn't be a drag if he gets extended at-bats.

Ross is the backup to Brian McCann and last year became the personal catcher for Jair Jurrjens. He's got decent power and draws enough walks that his batting average shouldn't be a drag if he gets extended at-bats.

Ross provides a solid backup to Brian McCann and offers some pop at the plate. He draws enough walks that his batting average shouldn't be a drag if he gets extended at-bats. However, McCann's durability limits his playing time.

Ross has good power for a backup catcher and draws walks, which should prevent his batting average from being a drag. He's got upside if he gets extended playing time, but doesn't get many at-bats behind Brian McCann.

Ross played little for the Reds before being traded to Boston where he played even less. He dropped from 17 homers to just three as he went from a starter to backup. He hooked on with the Braves to back up Brian McCann, most likely playing on Sundays and against select lefties.

Ross never did get himself out of the hole he dug with an extended early season slump, at least in terms of hitting for average, which isn't his strongest suit to begin with. Even in such a down year, he hit 17 homers, so he wasn't entirely worthless, but those homers came at a price in 2007. He does a great job of controlling the running game, so he won't lose too much playing time even when he's not hitting.

Ross' big breakout with the Reds didn't come completely out of the blue—he slugged .556 in a 40-game sample for the Dodgers in 2003. The onus will be on him to produce over the course of a full season in 2007, following the trade of Jason LaRue. A small decline should be expected.

Ross didn't step up to claim Benito Santiago's starting job with the Pirates last year, but he did hit well in a September call-up after being traded to the Padres midseason. The depth chart at catcher is still in flux for San Diego, but in leagues deep enough to draft backup catchers, you could do worse.

Ross didn't do much last year with the opportunity for increased playing time after the Paul Lo Duca trade to Florida. The Dodgers are expected to acquire a catcher either through free agency or trade. Ross will have to try to win a backup job.

Ross was a nice surprise for the Dodgers. After playing poorly at the beginning of the year in Las Vegas, the team called him up due to an injury to Todd Hundley and found they had a reliable backup catcher with some pop. Ross finished the year with 10 home runs and will battle Hundley for the backup catcher's spot.

If the Dodgers have a strength (and that's debatable), it must be at catcher. With the Hundley trade, Ross sits third on the depth chart despite having a nice season at AAA hitting .297/.384/.519. Plenty of teams would welcome him in a backup role.

More Fantasy News

Joins Cubs' front office

CFree Agent

January 19, 2017

Ross will end his playing career after he was named a special assistant to the baseball operations with the Cubs on Friday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Analysis
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.