Developing Defensive-Minded Baseball Catchers

• By Grant Young

The role of the catcher in baseball cannot be overstated. It's not just another position on the field—it's the heartbeat of the game. 

From calling the perfect pitch to thwarting the opposing team's base runners, catchers are the ultimate game managers. Their ability to form a tight bond with pitchers while reading and reacting to game situations gives them a level of influence that extends far beyond their defensive duties.

A good baseball catcher possesses a unique set of skills and qualities that set them apart on the field. These players have exceptional defensive abilities, including framing pitches effectively, blocking wild pitches, and throwing out base runners with precision. They need to be leaders who can effectively communicate with the pitching staff and read the game situations to make strategic decisions. 

Additionally, mental toughness and resilience are crucial for a catcher, as they are constantly in the thick of the action and face physical demands throughout a game. 

In essence, catchers are the unsung heroes who hold the key to a team's success on the field. This is why the ability to develop good, defensive-minded catchers is of paramount importance. Luckily, Danny Scheaffer has a few excellent training drills for catchers that all coaches can glean from. 

Coach Scheaffer began his career with the Boston Red Sox after being selected in the first round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft. During his 18-year playing career, he spent 8 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Red Sox, Indians, Rockies, and Cardinals. Since then, he spent 19 years as a manager or a catching coordinator in the Cardinals, Astros, and Rays organizations before deciding to retire from coaching in a professional capacity. Danny has managed every level of Minor League Baseball and created a developmental catching program for the St. Louis Cardinals and then the Houston Astros. During his years in player development, he has won awards in each of the organizations he has been a part of. 

Coach Scheaffer’s ‘Firm Foundation Catching’ course conveys the most crucial fundamental components a catcher must know if they’re to effectively lead their team’s defense. Regardless of what level you or the catcher in your life is currently at, this course will include many great lessons. 

Plays at the Plate

When it comes to plays at the plate for a catcher, Coach Scheaffer asserts that priority number one must always be catching the baseball. Even if the throw beats the runner by 50 feet, you’ll never get an out if you can’t catch the baseball. 

Coach Scheaffer also prefers that a catcher keeps their mask on throughout the entire play (even when applying the tag) because it’s safer and will keep the catcher out of serious danger. 

Catchers will also want to stay as low as possible when receiving the ball and making a tag. Because most throws will arrive at the catcher on a hop, they essentially become an infielder when making the play. This is why they will want to start with their glove basically on the ground because it’s a lot easier to work from the bottom up than it is going up to down. 

In addition, catchers should keep the outside of their left root on the right side of home plate, and always give the runner a proper sliding lane. And when applying the tag, the catcher should have their knee directly facing the runner, going parallel with the third base line. In other words, don’t put the inside of your knee in a position to come into contact with the runner because that can result in serious injury. 

Bunts

Knowing how to field a bunt is an absolute must for any catcher. Coach Scheaffer says that the priority is always to get an out, no matter what. 

The path a catcher takes to a bunted ball depends on two things: the ball’s location and the runner’s speed. For a bunt down the first base line, if a catcher has time and the runner isn’t very fast, the catcher should take a step toward the pitcher’s mound to create a throwing lane to first base. 

If the runner is fast and it will already be a close play, the catcher must field the ball with their bare hand and throw it to the inside part of first base. 

For a bunted ball down the third base line, the catcher should circle around the left side of the ball with a slow runner, set their feet, and make an accurate throw. With a fast runner, the catcher will want to circle around the ball to the right side, pivot, and throw to first base. 

Wild Pitch-Passed Ball

Wild pitches and passed balls are inevitable for any catcher to deal with. The first goal when a catcher is trying to field a wild pitch or passed down with a runner on third is to get to the ball as soon as possible. 

From there, the catcher will want to break down their footwork so they can be under control. At that point, there are two ways of retrieving the ball. A catcher can slide to it or get the ball while remaining upright. 

While this is up to the catcher’s preference, the only requisite is that the catcher must be able to deliver a firm, accurate throw to the pitcher covering home plate with whichever retrieving option they choose. 

The catcher also does not want to throw the ball into the runner’s line, which might put the pitcher at risk of injury. Catchers would rather have the run safe at home plate than put their pitcher in a position that makes them susceptible to injury.