How To Be A Good Catcher In Baseball

Before hitting the diamond for tryouts or a game, it is imperative for a young player interested in catching to learn how to be a good catcher in baseball. The catcher, along with the pitcher, controls the pace of the game, instructs the infield and in some cases even calls the pitches that the pitcher is going to throw. Here are some quality tips to learn how to be a good catcher in baseball.

1. Know the pitching staff. To be a good catcher in baseball it is imperative that a catcher know how each member of his pitching staff pitches. What is a pitcher’s best pitch? His worst pitch? How well does he locate the ball? And finally a good catcher knows how to keep a pitcher calm under pressure.
2. Know the opposing hitters. To be a good catcher in baseball, a catcher must keep notes about the batters on the opposing team. What pitches do they hit well, or poorly? Do they have an “out” pitch that retires them every time? Knowing the opposing batters will help the catcher call the rotation of pitchers during the game.
3. Know the pitching signs. A catcher needs to establish great communication with the pitcher so they are on the same page when a catcher throws down a sign. To be a good catcher in baseball, you must have pre-discussed and established those signs so that they can be used successfully in game play and retire the opposing hitters.
4. Have great communication with the infield. To be a good catcher in baseball, a catcher must establish signals with the players so that they are aware of what to do as defensive situations arise. Situations include things like signaling who’s covering a steal at second base, or bringing the infield in to cover a potential bunt. If those defensive situations go awry, the other team can score a lot of runs.
5. Have excellent defensive skills. To be a good catcher in baseball, a catcher must be able to block balls in the dirt and catch fastballs thrown off target. He must be able to throw out a runner at second or third base, and most of all, hang onto the baseball as an opposing runner comes barreling down the third base line!
6. Be a decent hitter at the plate. Historically catchers have had lower averages than some of the other defensive positions on the baseball field. However, a lot of managers overlook a catcher’s offensive shortcomings in favor of defensive prowess. To be a good hitter in baseball, put some extra time into the batting case and improve your offensive talent.
7. Have fun on the baseball field. Finally, to be a good catcher in baseball it is important to have fun on the field of play. In many ways the catcher is seen as one of the team leaders because of their responsibilities. If you have fun, the rest of the team will have fun, and a team that’s loose on the field, will play with more confidence.