Catcher Throwing Is Making a Comeback

Relying in your perspective, it’s a really enjoyable time to be a catcher. Admittedly, I could also be imparting some private bias right here since my favourite a part of catching was at all times when a runner took off for second base. It’s the one time in a sport when the catcher is within the highlight. Most of your time as a backstop consists of serving your pitcher in no matter method they want, however with the rise in stolen base makes an attempt this 12 months, catchers have persistently discovered themselves with golden alternatives to indicate off their throwing expertise. Due to this, arm energy and pop time are as necessary as they’ve been in the previous few a long time, and a few catchers have been early standouts in the case of controlling the operating sport.

The significance of throwing out runners, and even limiting makes an attempt, has made a comeback. As we progress via the subsequent few months, we’ll acquire a extra exact understanding of simply how worthwhile this ability will be on this stolen base setting, however the early season traits point out that when you can throw out runners at fee, you’ll be one of the vital worthwhile defensive gamers within the league. And there are just a few catchers who’ve stood aside from the remainder of the sector in the case of this being a big a part of their total worth up to now. I’m going to spotlight two of them on this piece. The primary is Gabriel Moreno.

By the primary few weeks of play, no participant has produced extra defensive worth than the younger catcher in Arizona and far of that is because of his success throwing out runners. In Moreno’s 2022 prospect report, Eric Longenhagen reported that the catcher sat within the 1.95-1.98 pop time vary whereas within the Arizona Fall League. That may have been barely above the large league common. Nonetheless, up to now this season, he has been wonderful, averaging 1.90 seconds in keeping with Baseball Savant. The mix of his pop time and 5 caught stealing in eight makes an attempt (63%) has offered the D-backs with loads of enjoyable, but additionally with the reassurance that their catcher can nonetheless present worth regardless of struggling offensively (he has posted a meager 62 wRC+ in 52 plate appearances).

Moreno’s J.T. Realmuto-esque athleticism is an important facet of his defensive expertise. Whereas it’s clear that being athletic is useful to any catcher (or any participant for that matter), it’s nonetheless value mentioning the way it performs out for Moreno. As a clean and fast mover, he can shortly switch the ball from his glove to his hand in every a part of the zone whereas sustaining excellent footwork from a one-knee down stance. Relying on the catcher, this may be very tough, however Moreno makes it seems simple since his physique is so adjustable. Take a look at these two throws from a one-knee down stance on pitches in several places from a righty and lefty pitcher:

April 1 (Freddie Freeman operating, Madison Bumgarner pitching)

April 10 (Joey Wiemer operating, Zac Gallen pitching)

Madison Bumgarner was as sluggish as will be to house plate. With a protracted, excessive leg kick and large arm swing, even a runner with Thirty ninth-percentile dash pace like Freddie Freeman felt assured sufficient to swipe the bottom with a giant soar. Nonetheless, Freeman didn’t account for Moreno’s cat-like quickness and pinpoint accuracy on high of the bag. Accuracy is a vital piece of catcher throwing that’s nonetheless lacking from Baseball Savant’s metrics, however right here we are able to see why it’s so necessary to be correct on these throws. It may be the distinction between the runner being protected or out on a play like this, even when it wasn’t instantly clear to the umpire. The preliminary name was protected, however replay overview confirmed that Ketel Marte’s glove hit Freeman’s leg in time.

Moreno was simply as correct on the opposite throw. Zac Gallen was fast to house, however his crazy curve slowed issues down, resulting in Moreno having little room for error on the throw. Regardless of Joey Wiemer’s Ninety fifth-percentile dash pace, Moreno despatched him again to the dugout with a fast switch and a seed all the way down to second. Moreno didn’t get a strike name on a pitch that was within the zone, however his presentation to the umpire was nonetheless clear because of his one-knee stance making a lane for the umpire’s eyes to see the ball. That is an unbelievable ability to have. Many catchers don’t give the ump an opportunity to see the situation of the pitch, however with this stance, Moreno assures he can nonetheless safe strikes whereas making excellent throws.

One other catcher who doesn’t fairly have the framing expertise of Moreno however possesses an correct, rocket throwing arm is Willson Contreras .

April 3 (Ronald Acuña Jr. operating, Jake Woodford pitching)

April 17 (Alek Thomas operating, Jack Flaherty pitching)

Contreras has at all times been a standout thrower, however he hardly wanted to flex these muscle mass in the previous few years of his profession in Chicago. As a below-average receiver and blocker, Contreras’ defensive expertise and output weren’t suggestive of a protracted future behind the dish as he continues to age. Nonetheless, if he proves to be a top-tier thrower, his worth as a catcher will should be re-evaluated. To date, he has been the fifth-most worthwhile defensive participant within the league regardless of his limitations elsewhere as a fielder.

Throwing out Ronald Acuña Jr. and Alek Thomas is nothing to sneeze at both. Each runners had good jumps, however the mixture of Contreras’ rocket arm and Jack Flaherty and Jake Woodford’s fast deliveries beat them with loads of time. Contreras isn’t tremendous fast together with his switch, however his 87.4 mph common throwing velocity makes up for it. That mark is the very best within the league up to now in keeping with Baseball Savant. If he continues to couple his nice arm energy together with his present 123 wRC+, Contreras might be in for a profession 12 months with the Cardinals. They would definitely like to proceed having a catcher who baserunners worry.

There are extra catchers than simply these two who’ve offered their pitching workers with consolation in the case of dealing with the run sport. A few of these embrace Elias Díaz (5-for-10 versus can be basestealers), Connor Wong (4-for-6), and Martín Maldonado (4-for-8). Alternatively, some standout defensive catchers from earlier seasons have been a legal responsibility with throwing out runners: Jose Trevino (0-for-10) and Austin Barnes (2-for-17). In fact, a few of this has to do with pitchers letting runners take too massive of a lead and/or soar, but it surely’s notable nonetheless. For instance, if Trevino is unable to restrict the operating sport in any respect this season and going ahead, does his worth as a framer and blocker make up for his lack of hitting and throwing? Alternatively, a catcher like Connor Wong has been ready so as to add one other piece to his sport as his bat continues to develop on the massive league degree. This might be a key contributor in shopping for him time to stay round.

Gamers like Gabriel Moreno and Willson Contreras have given their groups an edge whereas different catchers have achieved the other. It’s nonetheless a bit early to know for certain, but when we proceed at this fee, we might have to regulate our prior understanding of catcher defensive worth.