Becoming a catcher?

Question

I'm a high school senior and I want to play college baseball and play as a catcher. What are some drills that cathers do? Anything along those lines. Any advise would also be appreciated.

Answer 1

You have got to work on blocking balls and having good hands.

Stand in a crouched position five or six feet from a brick wall and play catch with yourself. Work on shifting your weight to block the ball. Keep your shoulders forward and towards the center of the field. This keeps an errant ball down and in front of you. The throws help you with your balance.

Footwork is very important. You need to have down perfect the pop out of your crouch and stepping into throwing motion.

The throw down to second in pretty long. That is something you have to practice over and over. It is all about repetition.

Read biographies of great catchers like Fisk, Berra or Johnny Bench. I got all kinds of great drill tips from book reports I did about players when I was in school. Get a video or two. When you watch games, pay attention to nobody but the catchers. Don't watch as a fan, watch as a player. Get a mental picture or what it looks like when things are done right. Then get a feel for the perfect block, throw or tag by practicing until you get it right in your sleep.

Answer 2

Wow, you want to become a catcher... First things first, make sure you got balls in the cup of yours cause catching is the most difficult, demanding, and unrewarding position in, I would say all of sports. Speaking from first hand experience, the first thing you need (besides balls/guts/courage) is TIME. If you want to become a catcher at the snap of a finger, you will fail miserably. You have to practice, practice, practice. Having played High School, Collegiate, and now Semi-Pro, the last thing I recomend is to go and learn a new position just to make a team. Your best bet is to just go and show them how good you are at 3rd Base and Outfield, otherwise you will have a long painful season at an unseasoned position. They have good players at 3rd and OF? So what? Show that you are better and deserve a spot on the team. If you are really set on becoming a catcher though, and you don't care what I say at all, then do the following. Get those legs into ridiculous shape otherwise you are going to strain alot of muscles. Have someone throw baseballs at you... Yes, AT you while you are in full catchers gear. No, don't catch the ball, let it hit you in the chest, face, head, leg, ankles, everywhere. Get comfortable enough so that there will never be any fear of getting hit by the ball. The most important skill you can have catching, would be to block the ball in the dirt and ALWAYS keep the ball in front of you. Pitchers are encouraged that if they are going to miss the strike zone, to miss by throwing too low. Next thing I would say is to be smart. You are the puppet master, and you are in control of a very volatile puppet. Watch alot of instructional videos, games (focusing on the catcher), and just catch alot of bullpen sessions.

Answer 3

Work on blocking balls like a hockey goalie, work on ur arm by lifting every other day, eat well...and LONG TOSS!! That is what everyone says to me since i'm a sophomore in high school and I pitch..My Varsity coach is a former mlb trainer soo I'd go with what I told you just now which came from him...

Answer 4

You know that you have to keep your legs and back strong because catching involves so much crouching. You should work with someone with a good variety of pitches, and who can occasionally throw errant pitches to get you use to all situations. It would be good to have someone at second base to throw to, to keep your arm strong. Go to ballgames, watch and learn.

Answer 5

If you happen to have AOL or AIM...IM this guy, Derrick Alfonso, catcher of the Univ. of Louisville and has started since his Fresh. year. WCLetterman1

Answer 6

You have to know the Fundamentals of Baseball, go to Baseball Camp, they'll Teach you how.