Being a catcher--how much does it impair hitting?

Has to be the former no doubt. Look at the MLB level. All those guys have to have been studs when they were youth and HS players. Meaning pretty sure they all were way better than average hitters then.

Can't argue that it helps their hitting when only about five of them hit over or around .300 and the bulk of them hit somewhere in the range of .200-.250 and their clubs are happy with that.

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All those guys have to have been studs when they were youth and HS players. Meaning pretty sure they all were way better than average hitters then.

Not necessarily. Yadier Molina was not drafted as a catcher/hitter. He was drafted as a pitcher. I'm sure he could hit a little, but he was a pitcher turned catcher. I'd say it's worked..


I wasn't much of a hitter, but I seldom got called out on strikes. Reason being I knew the strike zone much better than others did. Normally I caught at least one inning behind the plate before I came to bat so I already had an idea of the umpire's strike zone before I stepped into the batter's box.

Alot depends on the reps they can get in practice and if the coaches know the proper order to do a batting practice (most that I've seen are clueless). #1 Rule....catchers and pitchers ALWAYS hit first, no exception. Usually catchers get seriously short changed when it comes to BP if the coach doesn't pay attention.

And yes, over the course of a season the wear and tear takes its toll on most catchers' batting averages. Most smart coaches at the HS/college levels reduce the workload/drills of the catchers during practice as the season wears on.

Everybody knows catchers can't hit....

As of thjis weekend the kid leading all Division 1 hitters in HRs is a catcer...had to throw that in

At the highest level (MLB) the ability to catch allows some really bad offensive players to hang around the game with prominent (and even starting) roles. At that level, I'm not sure that catching affects the player's hitting as much as the ability to catch allows mediocre (or worse) offensive players to have jobs.

Look at guys like Snyder, Kendall, Avila, Olivo, Buck, B. Molina, Paulino, Hundley, Shoppach, etc...even Wieters (although I guess there is still hope that he will reach his potential).

http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sorta...2010&&sortByStat=OBP

If you hit like Piazza or Berra, not a bit!

Most of you, while knowledgeable, simply underestimate the workload of a MLB catcher.

They do about 150, or more squats just about everyday.

They make more than 150 throws per day.

They are mentally focused on many other issues of the game, pitching and calling the game, opposing hitter tendencies, speeds of other team members.......

Hard to believe but, hitting, is not the priority.

But, it has to be good enough and .250 is about what is expected which is about 1 for every 4 AB's instead of just under 1 for every 3 AB's, not really that much different.

Also, look at their overall offensive production rather than just BA.

Catching impact hitting much the same as pitching does. Either of these advanced skill positions takes priority focus away from hitting which becomes secondary in importance and concentration.

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Originally posted by FormerObserver:
Most of you, while knowledgeable, simply underestimate the workload of a MLB catcher.

WTF?

Catch me a shut out, kid, & my book shows two hits.