Body type evolution for catchers?

I think this is a chicken or egg type question.

Meaning are catchers first bulky or do catchers get bulky by catching?  I believe the latter.  Consider the number of swats a catcher does during the course of the game.

This exercise causes thick thighs,butt, etc.  Catchers remain quick but no longer fast; he runs like a catcher.

Thanks Coach Rick, but I'm not just talking about the lower half mass and I totally get your point. My 2017 catcher certainly has some substantial lower half obvious strength from playing primary catcher for many, many years (but he's still very fast for a catcher). I'm talking about upper half too, as in, weight lifting to deliberately bulk-up.

Hope we get lots of great feedback and liven up this board.

Well, is he fast or "he's still very fast for a catcher"??!!

I caught for decades and got stronger and wider in the upper body BUT NEVER lifted weights.  I do not know why but it is typical of catchers... I believe from catching.

I can't find the thread but we have discussed this before.  The general consensus of the previous thread was that the position will likely move to a more shortstop agile body type.  However, in many ways it already has.  Right now if the player wasn't playing catcher he would likely be playing short stop, quick and agile are the trademarks of a great catcher, or so the other thread pointed out.

As for the very tall catcher becoming more common, I don't really understand that.  I thought in order to be a good catcher you had to have a bullet for an arm.  If you have a bullet for an arm and are 6'4 why aren't you on the mound learning how to pitch properly?

The past few years it feels as if the focus has moved to bigger, stronger, faster for all positions.  I've been looking at lots of college rosters close to us and I think it comes down to what the coaches believe.  For instance, at UofM and MSU, only one catcher is 6'0"; all others are 6'2"-6'5".  They're all BIG.  Then you look at Ohio State and some of the others in Big Ten and they're in the 5'10"-6'0" range.  When looking at the lower D1s, D2 and D3 in the area, they're all over the board.  So I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder?  One thing that is a constant is that they have to be strong and fast and close to fearless; as well as being able to hit the cover off the ball.