pitching & catching in college

Rock 44,

Fungo hopefully will share some thoughts about this, as his son was a pitcher and catcher, then moved to mostly catcher in college but pitched some, and then moved on to the pros as a catcher.

My son's D3 had a catcher last year who also pitched a significant amount, and it seemed to work pretty well for him, but when he pitched he would then be relieved of catching duties for at least a few days.

Rock44,
No doubt pitching and catching are the toughest two position combination in baseball. Like MN-Mom said my son did both in high school and then for two years in college at Auburn before be allowed to choose one and he chose catching. There are VERY few that pitch and catch in the larger colleges. Matt Wieters of Georgia Tech is probabally the best I know of. Matter of fact there are very few 2-way players (hit and pitch) in the larger conferences. I would think you would find the P/C combination more in the smaller colleges but they are still very few that can do both or at least “allowed” to do both. I’m against a player pitching and catching for a few reasons. Number one it is an invitation for arm injury because of the over use. Secondly, common sense says something has to suffer. In order for a player to reach his full potential he has to practice. Catching, pitching, hitting and academics (you didn’t forget academics did you?) are four distinctively different tasks and require dedicated focus and time to achieve proficiency. Everyone is allotted the same number of hours in a day and if you try to do too many things they all begin to suffer. While my son was recruited as a two way player at a number of colleges we (he) stayed away from those colleges simply because we knew it could be a disaster in the making. So, how did it end up that he did both at Auburn that recruited him as a catcher only? ALL coaches find situations where they need pitching and if a player can pitch odds are he will be asked to help out. Auburn found themselves in that position. My son was excited about having the opportunity to pitch so he said he would pitch “some” and before he knew it he was asked to pitch on a regular basis and then became a weekend starter when the SEC play started. His catching skills suffered and his batting average also dropped.
Let me add something else here. The step from high school to college is a big step. Just because a player can do something well in high school doesn’t mean he can do it in college. Many college pitchers feel as if they can contribuite at the plate but are being overlooked as a hitter. So beware of a coach recruiting you as a pitcher with the promise of “allowing you the opportunity” to bat or play another position. I have talked to many parents and players of pitchers that feel as if they were misled in believing they were going to hit or play another position in college and that never happened. Rock44, if you still want to catch and pitch in college “allow” yourself to be recruited as catcher and the pitching opportunities will propbally happen. However, if you are recruited as a pitcher and are "promised" the chance of catching in the future you will probably never catch --- or hit.
Best of Luck
Fungo

thanks to both. Fungo, that makes alot of sense. especially the last part about being recruited as a catcher. i like to think as catcher as my primary position. if i can continue to get stronger and increase my velocity while still catching primarily it will keep both doors open.

Good post fungo!

Another situation on the 2-way player front, at UIC, the SS is also the closer. Besides the facts that fungo brought up, there is the backside where if you use a position player in those situations you have to have confidence in your bench depth because someone "cold" has to fill the new hole on the field when a position player goes to the mound. That luxury may not be availble at all schools especially at catcher.

Just played UNC this weekend where they used their catcher (Federowicz???) two ways.....catcher and relief pitcher. I would think it has to be tough.

CU has a position player also being used as a reliever. A few years back they converted a catcher to a pitcher (he was hitting 100 mph at one point) and drafted as a pitcher. Another player drafted a few years back, mainly position, drafted as a pitcher and one of the top prospects in his league. Kris Harvey, a starting pitcher, drafted for his bat. His junior year he was hitting unbeleivably, but his pitching, IMO, was suffering.

Most of these players have incredible talent, but eventually one position takes over another.
We played a team a few weeks back who had players playing multi positions, I think an outfielder came right into pitch. In fact they changed player positions so many times, the announcers couldn't keep up.

I agree with Fungo's post, but I think that nowadays with 11.7, coaches are using players to the max.

Definetly do believe that being recruited as a catcher or a position player opens more opportunities than pitcher only. These players will be asked to help out for pitching, but rarely is a starting pitcher asked to play another position. Ther is an exception to everything though take Doolittle from UVA, starting pitcher who played 1b but now only pitches and DH. I read an article it was taking its toll on him, not enough hours in the day , as Fungo states, to practice all AND go to school.

Matt Weiters has an incredible arm, and I have seen him catch and close in a few games (same day) and I didn't think that was healthy. I don't think he is doing that this year.

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but I think that nowadays with 11.7, coaches are using players to the max ....... Matt Weiters has an incredible arm, and I have seen him catch and close in a few games (same day) and I didn't think that was healthy. I don't think he is doing that this year.

Gotta agree w/ TPM about coaches being forced to squeeze the most out of the personnel on hand with the limited resources (i.e. 11.7 scholarships) available. And I'm impressed, TPM, you're correct that Weiters hasn't caught and pitched during the same game yet this year when I (a GT alum and huge fan) had falsely assumed otherwise (I've only been able to make it to 1 game so far this year). It was fairly common for him to catch and then close last year, it just had to take a toll by the end of the season.

I just posted Robert Stock's stats on a new thread.

Looks like he is going both ways. We'll see where he settles as the season progresses.

I am a Weiters fan. Much talent, it kind of bothered me his arm was being used so much. Last year I saw him warming up at ACC tourney in the bull pen with catching gear on (he was catching).

Not a way a top prospect should be handled, JMO.
I think he had some issues this summer with a sore arm at the cape, maybe they all realized he's not a machine.

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Weiters hasn't caught and pitched during the same game yet this year

I believe he sneeked one by you last Saturday

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I believe he sneeked one by you last Saturday

Is there a smiley face symbol for pulling a foot out of the mouth?

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Is there a smiley face symbol for pulling a foot out of the mouth?

not necessary unless it was the game you attended

if so use the "extreme tailgating" smiley

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:

quote:

Weiters hasn't caught and pitched during the same game yet this year

I believe he sneeked one by you last Saturday

I guess he did sneak it by me, shame, JMO.

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it just had to take a toll by the end of the season.

or sooner

Bee>,

Weiters caught 9, pitches an inning, goes back to catch.

Worries me. JMO.

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by TPM: Weiters caught 9, pitches an inning, goes back to catch.

the rest of the story, I'll try to learn something from this strategy clinic ...
top of 9 he enters for a potential save, faces a few, 2 HBP, then a dinger & a hit ties the game ... soo, goes back to catch ... theen one batter later he re-takes the mound & earns the "L" giving up the eventual winning run


he ought'a get "bonus miles" for all that travel

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:

quote:

by TPM: Weiters caught 9, pitches an inning, goes back to catch.

the rest of the story, I'll try to learn something from this strategy clinic ...
top of 9 he enters for a potential save, faces a few, 2 HBP, then a dinger & a hit ties the game ... soo, goes back to catch ... theen one batter later he re-takes the mound & earns the "L"

Gee, that makes a whole lot of sense to me too!

from the box score "c/p/c/p"

that's pretty unusual