lefty catcher??/ 2 part question?

Question

2 part question 1. I'm planning on trying out for the houston astros next year I'm going to try out for 2 positions one of them is what i love to do wich is catch but I'm a lefty should i still go try out for catcher??, 2.how many lefty catchers have there been in the history of MLBl??

Answer 1

if you mean you are going to an open tryout for the astros..i visited a major league tryout in june just to get a feel for what to expect. i'm a pitcher and i'm 19 years old. first and foremost, you are only allowed to tryout for one position, which ever you are best at. you better have an amazing 40 yard dash time because they cut a huge portion of the tryoutees after those times. next they test your armstrength from center field. as i watched the catchers who made it to the catching portion, they were clocked throwing down to second and how accurate the throws were. if you are going out for catcher, make sure you know all the calls to shout when directing the outfielder to which base to throw to. such as " FOUR FOUR!!" when the throw should be thrown home. that was basically it for catchers. outfielders will be again tested for armstrength and sometimes clocked after the initial testing of armstrength. there is also a hitting portion in the cages (wooden bats provided). there are different cuts during the tryouts. lots were cut after the 40 yard dash, and majority cut after the first test of armstrength from the outfield. also, dont be too flustered if noone is paying attention to anyone else but the pitchers. the tryout i went to, only 1 guy was watching the outfielders and infielders, while 4 others were watching the pitchers alone. begin training right now. hit the weightroom and really work those legs and abs and start those 40's. you really need a good time on the 40 or you might get cut before you make it throwing. but back to your question, i would go for pitching if that is one of your choices. leftys are put way in front of the group of pitchers, plus if you have some giddy up. outfield is another good choice if you got a cannon for an arm and a big bat. catchers dont necessarily need the bat. i really dont think it matters if you throw lefty or righty as a catcher. if you got a powerful and accurate arm, thats all that really matters. and most importantly..dont let anyone tell you that something is impossible. they are just jealous that they dont have to guts or heart to pursue something extraordinary such as a major league tryout. plus, if you never make it in baseball, you can tell yourself that you tried out for the houston astros. how many people can say that? if you got any questions on tryouts, feel free to ask. good luck!

ps- pitchers dont have to do the 40

Answer 2

1) No, big mistake. Just try out in left field or first base first.(unless your a prodigy) Luckily you make it to AA or AAA then you work your way into catcher from there. But if your a good hitter forget about catcher and just play first base, it really won't make a big difference once you make it to the Show

2) Catchers almost always throw with their right hand. A catcher who throws left-handed would often have to avoid these right handed hitters for most of his throws from behind the plate. Thus players who throw left handed rarely play catcher. Another reason that there are no left handed catchers is because lefties with a strong throwing arm are almost always turned into pitchers at a young age. Lefty catchers have only caught 11 big league games since 1901. Jack Clements caught at least 1,000 games in the major leagues. Clements* had a 17 year career (1884-1900) also the best left handed catcher of All Time.
Also:
Fred Tenny
Jiggs Donahue
Benny Distefano
Mark Squires
Dale Long
There has been six left handed catchers in the history of baseball but, also there was a first baseman who had to fill in for a catcher who was injured in extra innings back in 1899 but no one cares

Answer 3

You've been given advice to give up the idea of catching lefty: DON'T!!!! It would be a good idea to make sure they know you are capable of playing the outfield and first base, but you can sell yourself -- and you ought to make sure they are made aware of this -- as a catcher. You would be valuable as a 3rd string catcher even if they didn't take you seriously as a starter there. Once given the chance, you could possibly change some minds.

Answer 4

1. It's really hard to play left-handed catcher, because there are more right handed batters. What I mean is that you would have to move out to throw the runner out, when the runner is stealing. So I suggest you to play OF, P, or 1B.

2. Babe Ruth was a left-handed catcher for a short while.

Answer 5

1) I think if you truly love the position you should go for it. The only disadvantage really is the throw to third with a righty batter, but if you are good enough that wouldn't really matter much.

2) There is a total of 33 catchers all-time that have at least caught 1 game, but only 23 that have at least caught 100 games.

Answer 6

If you try out as a lefty catcher they might laugh at you (assuming you mean throw lefty). I've heard stories of guys going to A-ball like that and the managers refusing to let them catch and sticking them at 1B or 3B.

#2. About one per decade. About as rare as the unassisted triple play.

Answer 7

there have been a few, but most learned to catch righty, and keep hitting lefty. I know there have been at least 3 good ones but their names escape me. In MLB it realy isn't that big a deal now, because at least a third of players are lefty, and few try to steal very much, and almost nobody steals third anymore, and if the do it is a hit and run and the hitter missed the sign.

Answer 8

4. Warren Spahn 6. Bill Dickey 7. Sandy Koufax 10. Satchel Paige 11. Daffy Dean. 12. Cy Young(511)

Answer 9

Don't even try it.

You will make pitchers lose focus and control because absolutely no player in MLB knows what is to work with a lefty catcher.

There are many options like P, LF or 1B

Answer 10

Don't try it. Left hand catchers are rare.