Young catchers are usually taught at a young age that one of their main jobs behind the plate is to frame pitches.
Especially at younger levels this can get pretty extreme.
As you get to higher levels of baseball and umpires are no longer teenagers trying to make a few extra bucks, framing not only becomes ineffective, but can have a negative effect if the umpire feels you are constantly trying to turn clear balls into strikes.
What’s the alternative, done by the best catchers at the highest levels of baseball?
Glad you asked.
Today we are joined by Mets’ catching prospect Blake Forsythe. After a monster career at University of Tennessee, Blake was a 3rd round draft pick and is now playing AA ball for the Oakland A’s.
In the quick video below he shares some of the best catching tips he’s learned in pro ball and breaks down the difference between receiving and framing the baseball.
Many thanks to Blake for taking the time to hang with us and share his knowledge.
[leadplayer_vid id=”53ECF541684CC”]
