The Challenges of Being a Catcher

Players like Johnny Bench, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez and Joe Mauer don’t come around too often. And there’s a reason why there are so few legendary catchers in baseball history. While many receivers are talented at managing pitchers, framing a throw and rocketing the ball to second base, most of them are average to subpar hitters. When they’re better hitters, they’re usually a liability behind the plate. Catching is a grind that only so many players can handle.

Coaches can use team websites to talk about the difficulties of catching. Playing the position is hard enough. Trying to do that on top of hitting is a real challenge. However, through proper instruction on both the offensive and defensive parts of the game, a youngster can perhaps excel as a two-way player.

Red Sox catcher already a leader

Christian Vazquez, the starting catcher for the Boston Red Sox, is an elite defensive player who is still working on his abilities as a hitter. The organization already has the talented catcher Blake Swihart rising quickly through the minor leagues, perhaps adding some pressure on Vazquez to improve his offensive skills. However, few can deny his work with pitchers. Knuckleballer Steven Wright recently praised Vazquez for his willingness to work, according to NESN.

“He was probably the first catcher that I’ve ever thrown to that was excited to catch me,” Wright told the news outlet. “The first game I threw to Christian, he was on the left field line before I was out there because he was so excited about catching. He did a great job.”

Cubs prospect trying to silence doubters

Kyle Schwarber has the opposite area of focus compared to Vazquez. The top prospect in the Cubs organization is a great hitter with raw skills as a catcher. However, according to CSN Chicago, he plans to stay there all the way through his time in the minor leagues, before making it to the big league club. In fact, Schwarber dislikes it when people even doubt his ability to stay at the position.

“I saw a lot of promising things,” Class-A Kane County manager Mark Johnson told the news outlet. “He’s never really been taught how to catch, even to set up with his throwing or his glove or the way he catches and receives the ball. He’s always just been kind of a snatcher and just had to get the glove to the ball. And now he’s kind of receiving like you’re supposed to.”